Wharfedale Diamond A2: Floorstanding speakers with built-in 100 W amplifier

It is difficult to surprise anyone with a wireless connection now – almost any home and car audio system can receive a signal from a source via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. But Wharfedale specialists have taken the next step, getting rid of wires almost everywhere. Wharfedale has introduced the Diamond Active series of speaker systems, which retain the classic shelf design, but keep up with the times in everything that concerns connections to sound sources. Each Wharfedale Diamond Active A2 speaker has a built-in 100 W amplifier, and the signal from the source comes via a wireless channel. But the Bluetooth aptX module is not built into the speakers themselves and is a separate small Wharfedale H1 controller unit: it connects to the source, and then transmits the signal to the speakers via a 5.8 GHz radio channel. This design allows you to get rid of power and signal cables between the speakers and spread them out at a distance of up to 20 m from the unit. The unit has volume control and source selection keys, so it can partially replace the included remote control. Wired connections supported include optical and coaxial S/PDIF and two RCA.

At first glance, the Wharfedale Diamond Active A2 seems like a classic stereo system consisting of a receiver and a pair of bookshelf speakers. Upon closer inspection, the differences from the standard layout become obvious. Instead of placing the amplifier in the central unit, the choice was made in favor of active acoustics. This format allows for optimal matching of the amplifier with the speakers, physically isolating the right and left channels, and eliminating long high-level connections. In this case, the low-level analog path is also shortened – resistance to interference is guaranteed to increase. The developers not only implemented the popular concept of “dual mono” in practice, but also completely eliminated the need for cable switching. The digital signal can be transmitted over the air without noticeable losses, which has become an important advantage of the Wharfedale Diamond Active A2. All three components of the system do not require any wires other than power outlets, which opens up tempting prospects for maintaining the harmony of your home interior. However, from an aesthetic point of view, this is not the only plus – the speakers are designed in a modern way, made of high-quality materials and look great. The finish of the speaker bodies with artificial leather makes them stand out from the usual wood and plastic. Two color solutions are available for the front panel. The receiver is very reminiscent of a Mac Mini or Apple TV, so it should fit into the “apple” ecosystem as a native one.

Despite the fact that the Wharfedale Diamond Active A2 series marks the dominance of air communication, there is a place to connect wired sources. The receiver has optical and coaxial digital ports, as well as a standard analog input on two RCA connectors. Wireless interfaces are limited to Bluetooth with support for the aptX protocol. In terms of compatibility, ease of setup and ergonomics, this is the most trouble-free format today. The digital-to-analog processor works with a digital stream with parameters up to 24 bit / 96 kHz. The connection of the central module with the speakers is adaptive, at a frequency of 5.2-5.8 MHz, not loaded with signals from Wi-Fi access points and other household devices. The distance between the components should be within 20 meters – this is more than enough for any residential building. There is even an option for a two-room installation, where each speaker switches to mono mode and voices its own separate section of the living space. The standard remote control is not forgotten either. Power supplies for all components are external. Each speaker is equipped with a 50 W amplifier, a broadband speaker with a Kevlar fiber diffuser and a fabric dome tweeter. The latter is located in a recess, imparting a horn effect. Acoustic design – phase inverter, ports on the back.

If at first glance the price tag for the Wharfedale Diamond Active A2 seems too high for the system, even despite the high-quality design, then listening puts everything in its place. The Wharfedale Diamond Active A2 plays full-bloodedly, well-bred, completely unlike the soulless performance that is usual for ready-made stereo sets. The midrange is especially reliable, here the vocals, piano and string instruments appear as if alive. The upper range is characterized by both clear detailing and an extraordinary level of comfort, which are often considered mutually exclusive things. The presentation of sound material occurs in a calm, balanced way. For dance music, this can be considered a disadvantage, but we have an intelligent cabinet microsystem in front of us, and not a couple of nightstands with color music. Here, all the inevitable compromises are resolved correctly.  The bass component does not go beyond the physical capabilities of floor-standing acoustics. If your musical tastes require special talents in the lower register, then it is worth considering the A2 model, which has full-size floor-standing speakers in its composition. At first, I must admit, there were doubts about how much wireless audio transmission channels would affect the naturalness of the Hi-Fi system’s sound, whether they would add digital coloring. After all, this is not a cheap “balalaika”, where such things are expected and inevitable. However, the system managed to dispel them completely. The innate advantages of active acoustics, the correct organization of the analog and digital paths, the use of its own wireless communication format – all this together gave the desired effect and the original method of inter-unit connections did not affect the musicality of the set in any way.