Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 stereo vs Q Acoustics 1010i Surround

[Bobquest]

Hello,

I'm stuck with a couple of questions and doubts, and I hope to find answers here.

Right now, all i've got is a stereo amp, which is out of date, but it'll do for now.

What would be wise to start with?

A pair of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 that go for £199? A great pair of speakers which won the Whathifi awards of 2009, though the costs are more than double compared to the Q Acoustics 1010i's.

Or perhaps 4 Q Acoustics 1010i speakers that go for £75 per pair which wont be on the market for long, and they're being sold for discount prices. The stocks are running out, thus I should make up my mind fast.

Right now, I'm slightly on the Q Acoustics side as they are way cheaper, and still have great sound, and later expanding the setup with new center speaker, a sub and a cinema amp and I'm done. I've also thought about getting the Q Acoustics 2000 cinema package, but I can't afford that right now.

So, What's your advice? Take a longer route to a 5.1 cinema set, or take a shortcut, with less attractive looking speakers?


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[Bobquest]

links to the speakers:

Q Acoustics 1010i

Warfedale Diamond 10.1

 

[Bobquest]

Bumb

I don't mean to be impatient or anything, but I might be too late otherwise and miss the opportunity.

 

[Passingbat]

I think you need to decide if you're going to go with home cinema or stick with stereo.

If going the home cinema route, then how about getting these floporstanders AND the entre.

Q ACOUSTICS 1030i SPEAKERS (PAIR) - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/3866 for details

Q ACOUSTICS 1000Ci CENTRE SPEAKER (CHERRY) - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/3695 for details

In my opinion, the QA 1010is won't work for music without a sub because of their limited frequency range. The 1030is have a better low end response, and around the same as the Wharfdales.

If you go with any of the QA range now and are going to 5.1, it's important that the centre and L&R match tonally and the 1000is series centres may have gone when you are ready to buy. Surrounds are not as important to match, so no panic to get the QA surrounds. The Wharefdale 10 series is new, so the centres will be around for a long time.

So I would go for either the Wharfdale 10.1s or the QA 1030is + centre, but not the four 1010is unless you plann to get a sub in the near future.

 

[Bobquest]

Although I'd like to have standards, there isn't any space for it.

I was thinking about expanding the setup with a center, cinema amp and a sub later, in a month or 2. So speakers only is just temporary.

Earlier, I read that the QA 2000 center speaker works excellent with the 1000 series, is this true?

5.1 is eventually the idea, so would you recommend me to get 4 QA 1010i's first (or 2 1020i's and 2 1010i's), so I only need 3 more components?

Or the wharfedale route, for a higher price, but better looking and slightly higher quality speakers?

 

[BlueWizard]

It is somewhat unfair to compare the Diamond 10.1, which has just been released, to the Q Acoustic 1010i, which has been discontinued and is on close-out.

More fair would be to compare the Diamond 9.1 (£100/pr) to the Q Acoustic 1010i.

I think it you look at the specs on the two speakers, especially for stereo, the Diamonds definitely win.

The 1010i and 1020i are very well regarded speakers, but they are typically used in a surrounds sound system where their limited bass response isn't much of a problem.

The Diamonds, however, has sufficient bass response for their size to stand alone as a stereo speaker to a much greater degree.

Also, for the price of Diamond 10.1, you can get Diamond 9.4 floorstanders with a larger 6.5" woofer. Or, the very similar Diamond 9.2 bookshelf, also with a 6.5" woofer.

But, in the same price range as the 1010i or 1020i, you can get Diamond 9.1 which are well regarded speakers capable of standing well as stereo speakers.

Steve/bluewizard

 

[Passingbat]

]Earlier, I read that the QA 2000 center speaker works excellent with the 1000 series, is this true?

Do you remember where you read that? I would like to know wheather that is the cse or not as if it is, it would make suggestions a lot easier for people looking at the outgoing 1000i series deals.

]5.1 is eventually the idea, so would you recommend me to get 4 QA 1010i's first (or 2 1020i's and 2 1010i's), so I only need 3 more components?

As I said earlier, I wouldn't recomend the QAs if you are not planning on getting a sub in the near future --- they just don't have the low frequency response needed without a sub.

If a sub would be not too far in the future, then I would [possibly] live with the limitations as you will be getting a good deal.

The best combo would be 4 1020is, next one down 1020is fior the fronts and 1010is for the surrounds and of course the last best 4 X 1010is.

If a sub is not on the near horizon, then I would go with something like the wharfdales. 9.1s if you can get them or 10.1s.

 

[Bobquest]

@ BlueWizard

Yes, it's somewhat unfair maybe, but I was looking at an angle of value for money

I'll take the Diamond 9.1/9.2 into consideration, thanks!

If the Diamonds indeed do fine without a sub due to their sufficient bass, then I'll be able so save for a longer period of time to get better equipment in the long run.

I'll check out the Diamond 9.1 and 9.2 for availability in The Netherlands. The 9.X verions are quite expensive in our Dutch e-shops compared to the UK e-shops, I'm yet to find a good shop, the only shop I came across that supports paypal is AudioAffairs, but they have discontinued the Diamond 9.1 unfortunately.

@ dicklodge

No sorry, I can't recall where I read it.

If the QA speakers really that much of a limitation without a sub, than I'd rather go for speakers that can stand alone while saving money for the remaining parts.

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Thanks lads, really appreciated the input

 

[chemicalx666]

I am going through a similar process myself, wanting 2 speakers for music now, but be able to add to them at a later date, see this thread

http://www.avforums.com/forums/speakers/1128374-mordaunt-short-speaker-decision.html#post11454057

I was originally looking at the MS speakers but seem like they will be a bit harsh with my amp, if your amp is less clinical though, maybe a good option as they have a surround set in a lower range that may go well.

I am looking at superfi to buy my 9.1s from.

 

[chemicalx666]

The set would have been Mezzo 2s and then bough Alumni 2s as surrounds.

 

[chemicalx666]

Does anyone know if I bought 9.1 front speakers, would a 10 series centre speaker match tonally? Or would it be way out?

 

[BlueWizard]

Does anyone know if I bought 9.1 front speakers, would a 10 series centre speaker match tonally? Or would it be way out?

I would suspect that the Diamond 9 and Diamond 10 would be very compatible. The changes in the new line were very minor, just some adjusting and tweeting of the sound. But they both use cone of the same composition (Kevlar) and very similar tweeters, so I would expect them to be very tonally matched.

Only listening could determine for sure, but I would not expect a significant difference in the over all tone and character of the speakers.

But then...that's just one man's opinion.

Steve/bluewizard