The Official Wharfedale Speakers Thread!

[kiwijunglist]

Hi

Speakers in New Zealand are a lot more expensive, and unfortunately it's a lot more difficult to audition speakers. It's also harder to repair reviews, because there is a huge variation in mark up between different brands and speakers in New Zealand. These are the options I'm considering, including the local prices, and I was hoping to get some opinions as to which speakers you would go for if you were in the same situation as me. There are less speakers to choose from here, and the ones I've listed are available at a local dealer who can give me close to wholesale prices on most things because I work at the local hospital. There are some specialist audio shops, but their prices are just ridiculous.

Wharfedale Jade Speakers
Jade 7 Fronts (DEMO) 2200 NZD
Jade 1 Rears (DEMO) 750
Jade 2c Center (NEW) 1550
Total = $4500 NZD + Subwoofer (3500USD)
http://www.whathifi.com/wharfedale/jade-5/review
http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/product-list.php?cid=1
http://www.stereophile.com/content/w...-7-loudspeaker

Wharfedale Diamond 100 Pack
155 Fronts + 121 Rears + 101 Center + SPC10 Sub = $1500 NZD (Incl Sub) (1170 USD)
http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/tv-and...r-package.html

Kef Speakers
KEF Q500 Front 880
KEF Q100 Front 400
KEF Q200 Front 400
Total = $1600 NZD + Sub (1250USD)

Polk TSX Speakers
TSX330B Fronts 580
TSX220B Rears 480
TSX250C Center 390
Total = $1450 NZD + Subwoofer (1250 USD)
http://www.polkaudio.com/search/products?q=tsx

Yamaha NS Series
Yamaha NS-777 Fronts + NS-333 Rears + NS-C444 Center = $1925 NZD + Subwoofer (1500 USD)
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio...77/?mode=model
http://soundgroup.co.nz/yamaha_ef_series

KEF LS50
They are $1500NZD / pair, but I might be able to get them for around $1400 NZD/pair (ie 1100USD)
So that would be 3300USD for 6 speakers (or 2750 for 5, if I could get a single) + Cost of 4x stands + Sub woofer.

I'm leaning towards either one of the wharfedale options, as they seem to have a price that is online with overseas pricing, whereas most of the other speakers seem to be overpriced in NZ. I know there is a large price difference between the jades and the wharfedales, but I list the jades because I can afford them and from reading around on the net, it seems like they are a steal (pricewise) in New Zealand... or I could be more sensible and just get the Diamonds The amplifier i'm using is quite a good one, it's pioneer sx-lx87 which does 220W into 9 channels @ 6 ohms, so I don't think I'll have a problem with hard to drive speakers. My room size is medium.

The sub I have had recommended by harvey norman, which gives me cost price on everything (because I work at the local hospital) is
Velodyne Impact 10" Sub - 588 NZD (460 USD)

Thanks
Mike

[Billy13]

I can't speak for the sq of the Jades, but I can for the Diamond's.

I have 9.6's and 9.1's, and to me they sound superb. Great low and mid bass frequencies, and smooth, warm mids and highs. I like my diamond series.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by kiwijunglist

Hi

Speakers in New Zealand are a lot more expensive, and unfortunately it's a lot more difficult to audition speakers. It's also harder to repair reviews, because there is a huge variation in mark up between different brands and speakers in New Zealand. These are the options I'm considering, including the local prices, and I was hoping to get some opinions as to which speakers you would go for if you were in the same situation as me. There are less speakers to choose from here, and the ones I've listed are available at a local dealer who can give me close to wholesale prices on most things because I work at the local hospital. There are some specialist audio shops, but their prices are just ridiculous.

Wharfedale Jade Speakers
Jade 7 Fronts (DEMO) 2200 NZD
Jade 1 Rears (DEMO) 750
Jade 2c Center (NEW) 1550
Total = $4500 NZD + Subwoofer (3500USD)
http://www.whathifi.com/wharfedale/jade-5/review
http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/product-list.php?cid=1
http://www.stereophile.com/content/w...-7-loudspeaker

Wharfedale Diamond 100 Pack
155 Fronts + 121 Rears + 101 Center + SPC10 Sub = $1500 NZD (Incl Sub) (1170 USD)
http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/tv-and...r-package.html

Kef Speakers
KEF Q500 Front 880
KEF Q100 Front 400
KEF Q200 Front 400
Total = $1600 NZD + Sub (1250USD)

Polk TSX Speakers
TSX330B Fronts 580
TSX220B Rears 480
TSX250C Center 390
Total = $1450 NZD + Subwoofer (1250 USD)
http://www.polkaudio.com/search/products?q=tsx

Yamaha NS Series
Yamaha NS-777 Fronts + NS-333 Rears + NS-C444 Center = $1925 NZD + Subwoofer (1500 USD)
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio...77/?mode=model
http://soundgroup.co.nz/yamaha_ef_series

KEF LS50
They are $1500NZD / pair, but I might be able to get them for around $1400 NZD/pair (ie 1100USD)
So that would be 3300USD for 6 speakers (or 2750 for 5, if I could get a single) + Cost of 4x stands + Sub woofer.

I'm leaning towards either one of the wharfedale options, as they seem to have a price that is online with overseas pricing, whereas most of the other speakers seem to be overpriced in NZ. I know there is a large price difference between the jades and the wharfedales, but I list the jades because I can afford them and from reading around on the net, it seems like they are a steal (pricewise) in New Zealand... or I could be more sensible and just get the Diamonds The amplifier i'm using is quite a good one, it's pioneer sx-lx87 which does 220W into 9 channels @ 6 ohms, so I don't think I'll have a problem with hard to drive speakers. My room size is medium.

The sub I have had recommended by harvey norman, which gives me cost price on everything (because I work at the local hospital) is
Velodyne Impact 10" Sub - 588 NZD (460 USD)

Thanks
Mike

Id go with the Jade or the LS50 speakers first and then the KEF 500 setup. After that I don't think theres gonna be much performance advantage to any of the other choices, just a sound preference.

[DangeRuss]

When am I gona see some photo's ?

[kiwijunglist]

Lol ok. Ill put something up tonight. I got jade 7 fronts jade 5 rear jade 2c Centre

[kiwijunglist]

No sub just bought some power tools last week gonna diy

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by kiwijunglist

Lol ok. Ill put something up tonight. I got jade 7 fronts jade 5 rear jade 2c Centre

Anxiously awaiting those pics! Those Jade's look amazing!

[kiwijunglist]

^ 60" LCD TV. Jade 7 Fronts (8" woofer) + Jade 2c Center

[Cole 46]

I noticed that there wasn't too much activity on this thread...

Thought I'd chime in to say,... I just purchased my "first" pair of Wharfedales !

Music Direct is having a Sale, so I got the Diamond 10.1 Bookshelf Speakers.

So far, they sound wonderful and appear to be a nice built quality speaker.
I am using them for 2 channel music listening only at this point.

I guess there's not many of us Wharfedale Owners here....

Hello !!!.........(echo....echo....echo)

[darkpoet25]

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-281602-...good@yahoo.com
The new Diamond 200 series towers look to have the same woofer as the Jade series.

[kiwijunglist]

Nice. Yup driver in that pic looks the same as my speakers.

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by kiwijunglist

^ 60" LCD TV. Jade 7 Fronts (8" woofer) + Jade 2c Center

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

[pastorjohnnorman]

I definitely enjoyed looking at all pic's and would enjoy seeing more! I am a Wharfedale fan as well, my first Wharfedales were a set of Diamond 8.2's with the Diamond 8 center and Wh2's for surrounds. Now i use Diamonds 9.5's with 9.cs center and 9.2's rears for my living room. In my bedroom I am running Wharfedale Emeralds 97's with the Emerald center and Wharfedale Wh2's for the surrounds.

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by kiwijunglist

^ 60" LCD TV. Jade 7 Fronts (8" woofer) + Jade 2c Center

Thanks ...................................

That shot was well worth the wait

[sandman922]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Thanks ...................................

That shot was well worth the wait

Is that crazzdogg on the TV? beautiful set up

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by sandman922

Is that crazzdogg on the TV? beautiful set up

............ No ..... But he does own his fair share of cans

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by pastorjohnnorman

I definitely enjoyed looking at all pic's and would enjoy seeing more! I am a Wharfedale fan as well, my first Wharfedales were a set of Diamond 8.2's with the Diamond 8 center and Wh2's for surrounds. Now i use Diamonds 9.5's with 9.cs center and 9.2's rears for my living room. In my bedroom I am running Wharfedale Emeralds 97's with the Emerald center and Wharfedale Wh2's for the surrounds.

I just finished browsing your gallery, very nice!

[pastorjohnnorman]

Originally Posted by Billy13

I just finished browsing your gallery, very nice!

Thanks!

[cme4brain]

Originally Posted by kiwijunglist

Lol ok. Ill put something up tonight. I got jade 7 fronts jade 5 rear jade 2c Centre

I just bought your exact set of Wharfedale speakers- the Jade 7's and Center C2 along with the surrounds for my home theater (see my photos). I find these incredible speakers, and for the discounted price at MusicDirect, they were a steal (sort of) for such high end speakers. I agree with the posters that there are not many Wharfedale threads here, we are the under-the-radar satisfied owners!

[kiwijunglist]

Cool. What rears are you using?

If i was to do it again I'd go for the jade 5 fronts over the jade 7. The crossover of the jade 5 better suits crossing over into a sub. The jade 7 cross over is at 150hz, so the mid driver is forced to go lower compared to the jade 5 which has a higher crossover into the woofers.

If you cross your sub at 80hz then the dual 8" woofers only do 150-80hz on the jade 7.

As a result of this i run the jade 7 as full range ("large") in my 5.1 while the other speakers cross at 80hz.