The Wharfedale (more open sound) for instrumental music, folk music, vocal music, acoustic music, some classical music, pop music, country music, more detailed music. The Kef (punchy sound) for rock music, heavier rock music, edm music and concert type music. They both sounded very detailed. Go for the speaker with best value, want go wrong with either speaker.
I found the 12.2 a bit more clear or resolving in the mids. The Q350 seems to have a bit more weight at some tracks. Can't really fault any of them, nice relaxed sound with the NAD. Both excellent choices. I own the 12.2 and can verify this is close to how they sound. Nicely done E Project, thanks.
Recently I have bought amp Onkyo-A9150 and KEF Q350. Played very well together but I have listen to this review and thought that I can try Wharefedale 12.2 and compare them. So I have ordered them also. Both played well but something was still missing to me. I couldn't feel the greatness. Fortunately my new jack-2xRCA cable arrived (nothing expansive) and after replacing them the real 'magic' began (source was my old LG G6). Speakers started to sound amazing. W12.2 are much brighter, Q350 much warmer. After couple of days of listening to various music that's my general conclusions: Q350 are louder at the same volume, W12.2 lacks bass until I used amp corrector significantly. I also use CD as a source and the sound from both speakers was just great, much much better comparing to other sources . Bottom line: to me listening to Q350 was WOW vs W12.2 I LIKE IT. At the end Q350 stayed. Remarks: use all these online reviews as a guide, not something granted. The best way is to listen for yourself and decide :)
Mna moje juz zmeczone ucho to z tym Nadem lepiej graja Q350. Wiecej basu i glebi. W 12.2 jest poprawnie ale mniej zywiolowo. Choc np w klasycznej (Seasons) 12.2 lepiej zabrzmialy. Ale zblizam sie juz do decyzji pomalu ;)
@@adamkorolow9021 Tak, gdybym słuchał głównie muzyki klasycznej to prawdopodobnie WH12.2 byłyby moim wyborem, aczkolwiek słuchanie Q350 jest ogólnie przyjemniejsze.
@@tomaszw5606 Ok, dzieki za info. Ja chyba zaszaleje i kupie swoj pierwszy wlasciwie powazniejszy zestaw HIFI i bedzie to Arcam SA10 i Polk Audio R200. Brzmi mi najprzyjemniej. I jak dla mnie ten zestaw powinien mnie zapokoic na kilka lat ;) Gdybym dysponowal 2x wiekszym budzetem skomponowalbym cos na miare Kef R3 z Audiolabem 6000a.
These demos are a nightmare for comparisons, you usually change speakers right when the song passage changes to something else and you have no way of comparing
Yes, and another thing is, generally with these tests: are the speakers all burnt-in? At least a few hours. That can make quite a big difference. Especially in the mid high range, sometimes also bass and the whole Resolution of the LS. So that would be interesting if the testers took that time before…
I have the KEF Q150 and Wharfedale 12.1 and they are quite close but the 12.1 plays cleaner and less bass comes into the midrange with the 12.1. Love both of them though.
Warm amp warm speakers…….very sweet laid back sound whatever you put sound the same……not revealing of bad recordings……lots of coloration……..safe choices no brightness or harshness
You've got a point there. I like the NAD, but it's surpassed by other amps, especially re. mids and details. It sounds like everything is recorded in the same studio, like you said. A more revealing amp can give a bit more acoustic clues, although not monitor qualities.
@@34332 Nad is always a safe choice would be a better choice for B&W 606s2 and Klipsh rpm-600……..12.2 and Kefs sound excellent with Cambridge audio ca x61 and Rotel Ra 11 i have test them….sounds great also with the audioab 6000a specially the dales
kef q350s really good :) feels in some songs that you in there. and D12.2 is good but when you compare it sounds like multiband is on and sound is tamed. very good test, thank you
Wow! You actually did it! You put some DM and acoustic in the mix for me. hahaha, thank you! You even indicated that on the thumbnail hehe. You didn't have to do that, I was just playing around with my comments. But thank you! The acoustic track is nice! but I think you need some lessons on what death metal can REALLY sound like! Cheers!
You're welcome, It is my pleasure and thanks for your thoughts. I wanna try to listen a real Death Metal you mentioned. could you give me some title or artist so that I can listen?
@@eprojectEllie Great! here are some recommendations for the type of DM that many people listen to. Believe it or not, speaker quality is important for this type of (horrible) music haha. Autopsy - ruclips.net/video/g5IHWtvU2zo/видео.html Phrenelith - ruclips.net/video/fxkeifHEXPE/видео.html Immolation - ruclips.net/video/cfZgCe5nRko/видео.html Dead Congregation - ruclips.net/video/oaTKrSQfMsQ/видео.html There's plenty more if you need! P.s. your acoustic inclusion at the end was very nice! I would have chosen something like a Neil Young, or something with a lot of strumming, but that selection was excellent!
Looks like Wharfedale has got the influence of the enclosure/box, while KEF sounds more realistic, as if live, and enclosure doesn't affect the sound much. The Wharfedale sounds wider, and there is so much space (empty space?), while KEF has body, sounds fuller.
Diamond more open end accurate on high and mid (especially) frequencies, Kef a little bit..."boxed" in some cases (not always) I think...I love Kef but this time I could prefer Diamond...a good sub is a suggested companion anyway...
Wharfadeale better mids and smoother highs and better balance speaker.Kef just a little shrill and sharp! It´s a matter of taste , so it does not mean it has to sound the same for you!
Wow, man, this one is really close for me. The Q350's manage to be warmer and more full bodied than the 12.2''s, yet slightly cleaner and more refined. The Diamonds are more lively, open and have a broader soundstage, but the acoustic guitar seems to have more depth and sound more like a live guitar on the Q350. The metal drivers (not usually my favorite thing) in the KEF seem no harder on the ears than the 12.2's. Even death metal doesn't hurt.. but the Wharfedale's keep $250 clams in your pocket.. I could go on and on ...butt no one cares 🤣
.....they're kind of both on opposite sides of a nuetral midrange ground to me...the 12.2 is very slightly lifted in the upper mids, leaner in the lower mids The KEF, less air and harmonic detail in the upper mids, a bit too heavy in lower mid to mid bass. But they're small imbalances in both cases. I don't think it's fare to call these colored speakers. In this price range few are much smoother. They're just both on the less bright side than most speakers these days
you could at least keep the same part of the song to compare clearly, most of the time you were switching when the song was switching to a different part, difficult to compare in this way. Diamonds sounds brighter anyway, kef maybe more pleasant and relaxed.
If possible, I would like to read "E Project" opinions on those exact speakers paired with a AXR85. I'm looking into upgrading an old pair of Infinity P153's in a medium size room, sadly they'll have to be placed only an inch from the wall (no way around it). There's not a lot of front ported options and I'm reading mixed results on the Triangle BR03's and front vs rear ports in general. Not really hearing a significant difference when I plug the P153 ports, so I guess I could plug the rear port on a rear ported one. These videos are great, and I understand sound is subjective, but nonetheless I'd like to read from someone who have experienced these.
Yo tengo las KEF q350 conectadas a un AVR yahama RX-V4A, suenan muy bien en cuanto medios y bien a altas frecuencias. Las voces en las canciones se escuchan bastante limpias y se realzan muy bien. Sin embargo, es necesario considerar un 🔊 subwoofer por qué los bajos son débiles. Por decir mi harman kardon portable suena mejor que me mi sistema costoso. Tengo la esperanza que mejorará cuando le adicione un subwoofer. También, es necesario jugar con las posiciones de las bocinas. Suenan bien, pero necesito ajustarlas bien en altura y distancia de separación de la pared. En estos momentos por decir no noto de manera positiva la inversión económica de las KEF.
I don't hear as much difference as Mark or others are hearing. They sound very similar to me, except for a little punchier midbass and brighter tweeter on the KEF, especially on the song Crash and Burn, where the Diamond sounds a bit muffled and muddy. But, on the last song Fields, the guitar has more body and upper harmonics on the 12.2
I thought they sounded extremely close as well to my 63 year old ears. My main impression was the 12.2's were ever so slightly more airy/open on some of the tracks but on the majority of the tracks the differences were so small they aren't even worth mentioning except for the fact I would go for 12.2's since they're significantly cheaper.
@@AbsoluteFidelity Wrong, the past series didn;t have sibilance, this one has it, so he is right. The 12 series isn't as smooth sounding as the other series, even the metal dome in the Q350 sounds smoother.
@@ctr289 absolutely wrong again, as usual. There is absolute no sibilance on the 12. Zero. And I have the 225. The 12 is superior in every way, subjective and objective wise. There is nothing to be discussed subjectively but Im waiting for you to show me ONE hard data that the 12s are bright as you claimed. Stop avoiding this subject and show me ANY data that suggests the 12s are brighter than neutral.
![SOUND BATTLE - KEF Q350 vs Monitor Audio Bronze 100 [Sound Comparison] Marantz PM7000N](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SC9Y2mGBgNg/mqdefault.jpg)
![[BLIND TEST] Three Amps with Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 - Cambridge AXA25 vs AXA35 vs NAD C316BEE V2](/img/1.gif)
The 12.2’s are a little more clearer and detailed, very nice sound.
Very close but for me i do like the Wharfedale Diamond.
The Wharfedale (more open sound) for instrumental music, folk music, vocal music, acoustic music, some classical music, pop music, country music, more detailed music. The Kef (punchy sound) for rock music, heavier rock music, edm music and concert type music. They both sounded very detailed. Go for the speaker with best value, want go wrong with either speaker.
The Q350 on sale for $499 are a hard to beat value.
I found the 12.2 a bit more clear or resolving in the mids. The Q350 seems to have a bit more weight at some tracks. Can't really fault any of them, nice relaxed sound with the NAD. Both excellent choices. I own the 12.2 and can verify this is close to how they sound.
Nicely done E Project, thanks.
Thanks for sharing!
Nice comparison. Please do one with KEF 350 and Dali Oberon 3.
Recently I have bought amp Onkyo-A9150 and KEF Q350. Played very well together but I have listen to this review and thought that I can try Wharefedale 12.2 and compare them. So I have ordered them also. Both played well but something was still missing to me. I couldn't feel the greatness. Fortunately my new jack-2xRCA cable arrived (nothing expansive) and after replacing them the real 'magic' began (source was my old LG G6). Speakers started to sound amazing. W12.2 are much brighter, Q350 much warmer. After couple of days of listening to various music that's my general conclusions: Q350 are louder at the same volume, W12.2 lacks bass until I used amp corrector significantly. I also use CD as a source and the sound from both speakers was just great, much much better comparing to other sources . Bottom line: to me listening to Q350 was WOW vs W12.2 I LIKE IT. At the end Q350 stayed. Remarks: use all these online reviews as a guide, not something granted. The best way is to listen for yourself and decide :)
Mna moje juz zmeczone ucho to z tym Nadem lepiej graja Q350. Wiecej basu i glebi. W 12.2 jest poprawnie ale mniej zywiolowo. Choc np w klasycznej (Seasons) 12.2 lepiej zabrzmialy. Ale zblizam sie juz do decyzji pomalu ;)
@@adamkorolow9021 Tak, gdybym słuchał głównie muzyki klasycznej to prawdopodobnie WH12.2 byłyby moim wyborem, aczkolwiek słuchanie Q350 jest ogólnie przyjemniejsze.
@@tomaszw5606 Ok, dzieki za info. Ja chyba zaszaleje i kupie swoj pierwszy wlasciwie powazniejszy zestaw HIFI i bedzie to Arcam SA10 i Polk Audio R200. Brzmi mi najprzyjemniej. I jak dla mnie ten zestaw powinien mnie zapokoic na kilka lat ;) Gdybym dysponowal 2x wiekszym budzetem skomponowalbym cos na miare Kef R3 z Audiolabem 6000a.
These demos are a nightmare for comparisons, you usually change speakers right when the song passage changes to something else and you have no way of comparing
you are perfectly right , I have noticed the same thing
Agreed!
Yes!
it's bothers me so much
Yes, and another thing is, generally with these tests: are the speakers all burnt-in? At least a few hours. That can make quite a big difference. Especially in the mid high range, sometimes also bass and the whole Resolution of the LS. So that would be interesting if the testers took that time before…
Love the open warm spaciousness of the Diamond 12.2 compared to the tighter narrow focused sound of the Kef.
I have the KEF Q150 and Wharfedale 12.1 and they are quite close but the 12.1 plays cleaner and less bass comes into the midrange with the 12.1. Love both of them though.
Warm amp warm speakers…….very sweet laid back sound whatever you put sound the same……not revealing of bad recordings……lots of coloration……..safe choices no brightness or harshness
You've got a point there. I like the NAD, but it's surpassed by other amps, especially re. mids and details. It sounds like everything is recorded in the same studio, like you said. A more revealing amp can give a bit more acoustic clues, although not monitor qualities.
@@34332 Nad is always a safe choice would be a better choice for B&W 606s2 and Klipsh rpm-600……..12.2 and Kefs sound excellent with Cambridge audio ca x61 and Rotel Ra 11 i have test them….sounds great also with the audioab 6000a specially the dales
kef q350s really good :) feels in some songs that you in there. and D12.2 is good but when you compare it sounds like multiband is on and sound is tamed. very good test, thank you
Kef is natural and well resolved. WD have personality, but sounds a bit behind. Great test
Wow! You actually did it! You put some DM and acoustic in the mix for me. hahaha, thank you! You even indicated that on the thumbnail hehe.
You didn't have to do that, I was just playing around with my comments. But thank you!
The acoustic track is nice! but I think you need some lessons on what death metal can REALLY sound like!
Cheers!
You're welcome, It is my pleasure and thanks for your thoughts. I wanna try to listen a real Death Metal you mentioned. could you give me some title or artist so that I can listen?
@@eprojectEllie Great! here are some recommendations for the type of DM that many people listen to. Believe it or not, speaker quality is important for this type of (horrible) music haha.
Autopsy - ruclips.net/video/g5IHWtvU2zo/видео.html
Phrenelith - ruclips.net/video/fxkeifHEXPE/видео.html
Immolation - ruclips.net/video/cfZgCe5nRko/видео.html
Dead Congregation - ruclips.net/video/oaTKrSQfMsQ/видео.html
There's plenty more if you need!
P.s. your acoustic inclusion at the end was very nice! I would have chosen something like a Neil Young, or something with a lot of strumming, but that selection was excellent!
Looks like Wharfedale has got the influence of the enclosure/box, while KEF sounds more realistic, as if live, and enclosure doesn't affect the sound much. The Wharfedale sounds wider, and there is so much space (empty space?), while KEF has body, sounds fuller.
Female vocal sound sweet and lovely in wharfedale 12.2 ?
I love the sound of this NAD amp. Wish i chose it over my Marantaz Pm5005.
Diamond more open end accurate on high and mid (especially) frequencies, Kef a little bit..."boxed" in some cases (not always) I think...I love Kef but this time I could prefer Diamond...a good sub is a suggested companion anyway...
Thanks for sharing
Wharfadeale better mids and smoother highs and better balance speaker.Kef just a little shrill and sharp! It´s a matter of taste , so it does not mean it has to sound the same for you!
Nice background
Glad you like it
i go for soundstage ....Kef
Wow, man, this one is really close for me. The Q350's manage to be warmer and more full bodied than the 12.2''s, yet slightly cleaner and more refined. The Diamonds are more lively, open and have a broader soundstage, but the acoustic guitar seems to have more depth and sound more like a live guitar on the Q350. The metal drivers (not usually my favorite thing) in the KEF seem no harder on the ears than the 12.2's. Even death metal doesn't hurt.. but the Wharfedale's keep $250 clams in your pocket.. I could go on and on
...butt no one cares 🤣
Basicly they sound the same, but different! 👍
.....they're kind of both on opposite sides of a nuetral midrange ground to me...the 12.2 is very slightly lifted in the upper mids, leaner in the lower mids The KEF, less air and harmonic detail in the upper mids, a bit too heavy in lower mid to mid bass. But they're small imbalances in both cases. I don't think it's fare to call these colored speakers. In this price range few are much smoother. They're just both on the less bright side than most speakers these days
Wharfedale is meant for home theatre if its what u say it does.
thank you very honest entry
Thanks
Kef sound the best
you could at least keep the same part of the song to compare clearly, most of the time you were switching when the song was switching to a different part, difficult to compare in this way. Diamonds sounds brighter anyway, kef maybe more pleasant and relaxed.
If possible, I would like to read "E Project" opinions on those exact speakers paired with a AXR85.
I'm looking into upgrading an old pair of Infinity P153's in a medium size room, sadly they'll have to be placed only an inch from the wall (no way around it). There's not a lot of front ported options and I'm reading mixed results on the Triangle BR03's and front vs rear ports in general. Not really hearing a significant difference when I plug the P153 ports, so I guess I could plug the rear port on a rear ported one. These videos are great, and I understand sound is subjective, but nonetheless I'd like to read from someone who have experienced these.
Yo tengo las KEF q350 conectadas a un AVR yahama RX-V4A, suenan muy bien en cuanto medios y bien a altas frecuencias. Las voces en las canciones se escuchan bastante limpias y se realzan muy bien. Sin embargo, es necesario considerar un 🔊 subwoofer por qué los bajos son débiles. Por decir mi harman kardon portable suena mejor que me mi sistema costoso. Tengo la esperanza que mejorará cuando le adicione un subwoofer. También, es necesario jugar con las posiciones de las bocinas. Suenan bien, pero necesito ajustarlas bien en altura y distancia de separación de la pared. En estos momentos por decir no noto de manera positiva la inversión económica de las KEF.
Super
Super
I don't hear as much difference as Mark or others are hearing. They sound very similar to me, except for a little punchier midbass and brighter tweeter on the KEF, especially on the song Crash and Burn, where the Diamond sounds a bit muffled and muddy. But, on the last song Fields, the guitar has more body and upper harmonics on the 12.2
Always thanks for your commens
I thought they sounded extremely close as well to my 63 year old ears. My main impression was the 12.2's were ever so slightly more airy/open on some of the tracks but on the majority of the tracks the differences were so small they aren't even worth mentioning except for the fact I would go for 12.2's since they're significantly cheaper.
hm the NAD C 316BEE V2 has no coax or optic in or out? :(
Super close. Would like to hear them in person. With this comparison, the Q350 somehow just sounds slightly more "satisfying" to me.
To me KEF sound tighter and less bright or open than wharfedale. Need KEF 350 vs Polk r200 match. I listen to mostly black metal and techno.
What or who is the Chemtrails song? I can't find it. Anyone know?
🤔🎧🎶🎶🎶🎶Kef ✌🏻👍👍👍👍👍👍✌🏻🇵🇱
*^^*
kef sounds better and more clean
thanks for sharing
Diamond 12.2 the best
i just just about afford Diamond 9.0 idk why im here :(
Digital distortion!
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 Чище
Can't tell any difference between them honestly.
Bit biased here, Kef q' they sound like a 7.2 surround sound system, I want my soundstage in front of me . So I will stay out of this one .
Мне больше варфы понравились.
Kef is better.
There is something in the highs of the 12.2's that really annoys me. Some siblinance like a prolonged efect of the word s. I can't stand them.
Sibiliance is non existant on wharfedales. Not one model, even ones with AMT, have a sibilance problem.
@@AbsoluteFidelity Them i don't know what is it or how to call it but it it surely there and it bothers me.
@@AbsoluteFidelity Wrong, the past series didn;t have sibilance, this one has it, so he is right. The 12 series isn't as smooth sounding as the other series, even the metal dome in the Q350 sounds smoother.
@@cristim9779 Cristi, you heard it right, it's sibilance and it's there, buy something else, like maybe the Diamond 225
@@ctr289 absolutely wrong again, as usual. There is absolute no sibilance on the 12. Zero. And I have the 225. The 12 is superior in every way, subjective and objective wise. There is nothing to be discussed subjectively but Im waiting for you to show me ONE hard data that the 12s are bright as you claimed. Stop avoiding this subject and show me ANY data that suggests the 12s are brighter than neutral.
Kefs more uncolored