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How petite are the Wharfedale DX-2 speakers? Standing just 19cm tall \u2013 they\u2019re roughly the same dimensions as the\u00a0Sonos One<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 the four satellite speakers are small enough to fit almost anywhere.<\/p>\n While we\u2019d recommend placing them on dedicated supports where possible, the compact speakers are designed to feel at home on top of shelves, on bookcases, on the TV rack \u2013 anywhere you can find a spare spot in your room, really.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t have the space or budget for stands? You can wall-mount them instead, thanks to the brackets at the back of each speaker.<\/p>\n The entire package has been redesigned. The glossy front remains, but the cabinets now have curved edges and the smooth leather-like finish wrapped around the speakers removes the need for spikes or rubber feet – so you can place them directly on surfaces without fear of scratches.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a sleeker, smarter and more luxurious look.<\/p>\n Further cosmetic flourishes, such as the chrome rings surrounding the fixed speaker grilles for each driver \u2013 a neat design that protects the drivers without completely covering up the front \u2013 and lack of any grille holes make the whole package look even tidier. The DX-2 comes in two colours: the black of our review sample or a white finish.<\/p>\n Build quality is good for the money, although we do have trouble getting our reference cables (with standard 4mm banana plugs) to fit into the speaker terminals. It’s too tight a fit, with the terminals feeling a tad undersized.<\/p>\n Just like its previous iterations, each satellite has a 19mm silk dome tweeter and a 7.5cm mid\/bass driver, with the centre channel using two of the mid\/bass drivers to flank the same tweeter.<\/p>\n The satellites are all closed-box designs \u2013 there\u2019s no port \u2013 making it easier to place them closer to walls without affecting sound quality.<\/p>\n The centre channel has an aperiodic bass loading system (a small hole at the back filled with special foam) helping reduce low-frequency distortion and control bass performance from a small cabinet.<\/p>\n The WH-D8 active subwoofer completes the set. Comprising a forward-firing 20cm long-throw driver powered by a 70W amplifier, it\u2019s compact enough to be tucked away in a corner.<\/p>\n If you regularly watch movies, we\u2019d keep the \u2018auto sense\u2019 switch toggled on: the sub automatically goes into standby when not in use, switching itself on when a signal is detected.<\/p>\n Speakers this size often struggle to handle Hans Zimmer\u2019s epic score for\u00a0Inception<\/em><\/a>, but the Wharfedale DX-2 package delivers a respectable scale of sound \u2013 larger and heftier than its diminutive stature would suggest. It sounds punchy, detailed and surprisingly expansive.<\/p>\n The DX-2 may be designed for smaller rooms, but it copes admirably even in our large AV test room. There\u2019s abundant detail, it handles dynamic shifts with ease and not once does it fail to fill the room.<\/p>\n That\u2019s an impressive feat for any small, sub-\u00a3500 surround package.<\/p>\n Of course larger speakers will fill a room more easily, but as the dream collapses in the final act of\u00a0Inception<\/em>\u00a0the Wharfedale speakers deliver deep, resonant notes and thunderous crashes with utter composure.<\/p>\n The DX-2 speakers are well-integrated too. Surround effects ping around the room, engulfing you in an articulate cocoon of sound. The haunting whispers on the island in\u00a0Star Wars: The Last Jedi<\/em>\u00a0<\/a>are clear, precise and evoke a chilling atmosphere as they echo across the surround speakers.<\/p>\n The package does a grand job of going quiet, too: echoes in a cave die abruptly, plunging you into silence. The edges of notes are precise and clean, allowing the Wharfedale to keep a snappy, agile sense of timing. It\u2019s a hugely listenable speaker package.<\/p>\n Dialogue cuts through the busy special effects clutter, although we would prefer more texture and depth to voices. Rey\u2019s hopeful entreaties contrast nicely against an elderly Luke\u2019s grumbles, but more solidity and low-frequency detail would flesh out the emotion in their voices.<\/p>\n More subtlety in the lower frequencies would help overall, but that shouldn\u2019t take away from the rumble to punches, explosions and soundtrack crescendos. It\u2019s a satisfying amount of grunt and weight \u2013 especially at this price \u2013 to keep us hooked to the action.<\/p>\n Push the volume too high and the Wharfedale package starts to struggle. But the DX-2 holds our attention at lower volumes \u2013 a sure sign of subtle and expressive dynamics.<\/p>\n Verdict<\/p>\n Go up the price scale and you\u2019ll find speaker packages (such as the\u00a0Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack<\/a>) that are more articulate, more precise and bigger-sounding. But they cost double what the Wharfedale does.<\/p>\n The entertaining performance, the compact-yet-stylish build and appealing price tag \u2013 it\u2019s impressive how much Wharfedale has bundled into the petite DX-2 package. It\u2019s a great solution for AV fans tight on budget and space.<\/p>\n \n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Build and compatibility How petite are the Wharfedale D … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/NmxwtGf6sCeU27ckqzi9Wk-650-80.jpg\")
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