Wharfedale D310

Commendable budget standmounters with an easygoing, laid-back nature and plentiful bass

Even before hearing these Wharfedale D310 standmounters, we can tell they have a lot going for them. Their heritage lies with one of the most successful budget speaker ranges, the Wharfedale Diamonds. These aren’t new additions to the legendary series, but the smaller of two standmounters in a new entry-level D300 range that borrows engineering from the Diamond 11 series above it.

The resemblances are present in everything from the drivers to the downward ported cabinet, and considering the Diamonds 11.1s had a favourable four-star review last year, that puts these D310s in good stead.

Basket case

The D310s’ 25mm tweeter has been lifted from the Diamond 11.1 standmount and retuned, while the 10cm mid/bass driver uses Wharfedale’s latest woven Kevlar cones. The driver is mounted in a ribbed rigid basket, which the company says improves transient response. The chassis behind the cone is designed to be as open as possible to reduce reflections and allow the internal cabinet absorbent material to function properly.

While the D310s’ internally braced cabinets don’t have the side curvature of its Diamond 11 siblings, they do retain their friendly curves. The black-finished boxes of our review sample (the D310 is also available in white) are solid and nicely finished for a speaker at this price. They sit between traditional hi-fi design and modern speaker elegance (which is enhanced by removing the grilles).

To create a controlled, precise bass response, the D310’s downward-firing port has been developed from the one in the Diamond 11 Series. Rather than fire down into a gap between the cabinet base and a built-in plinth, it is simply fired straight onto the surface of your stands or shelf between the D310’s feet.

Their low-end performance, and overall balance too, is best when the speakers are placed near a rear wall. When backed up against the wall, the Wharfedales maintain a decent balance and stereo image – good news for those who are restricted on space.

Fine delivery of vocals

The D310s kick out as much bass as you’d expect for a speaker this size, and it's about as precise as you could hope for at this price. We play Anthony And The Johnsons’ Kiss My Name, and the underlying drum beat marches the rest of the composition along to good effect.

But it’s further up the frequency range where these Wharfedales really sing. We play The Tallest Man On Earth’s Love Is

All and soon realise they’re capable of the kind of vocal delivery you’d associate with more expensive speakers.

The midrange is clear and faithfully reproduced, and the D310s capture the deep-rooted raspiness of Kristian Matsson’s vocal beneath the melodic honey glaze. And, like everything else in their soundstage, it’s projected with a clarity that makes you sit up and listen – not a given at this end of the market.

The D310s echo the bold, clear and well-integrated character of the slightly larger D320 standmounts – a nod to Wharfedale’s consistency. But there’s a comforting warmth and refinement to their presentation that ensures the clarity isn’t too cutting.

This laid-back temperament has one drawback: a lack of get up and go. Next to the livelier Dali Spektor 1 (£150) and 2 (£200) speakers, the D310s feel a little too polite. The Prodigy’s anarchic

Firestarter doesn’t sound its usual grubby self, which isn’t something that affects the D310s’ similarly priced rivals. Ultimately, that self-restraint prevents these Wharfedales from topping our budget speaker list, currently led by the Award-winning Dali Spektor 2s.

If you can stretch your budget to £200, you will reap the rewards of those speakers’ livelier, more insightful and larger-scale performance. But if £150 is the absolute maximum you’re prepared to spend, these Wharfedales are commendable buys. They certainly won’t disappoint.