Dali Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: which five-star bookshelf speakers are better?

Colourful new kids take on established champs

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Two excellent affordable options - but which should you buy? If you thought hi-fi speakers were big, old-fashioned and expensive, then you clearly haven't seen the Dali Kupid.

These chirpy little boxes come in a range of cheerful colours, are compact enough to sit on a bookshelf and are very reasonably priced, too. They also earned five stars in our review.

So you should just buy them, right? Well, not so fast. Because the Kupid is up against some stiff competition in the form of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1. These speakers actually started life more than 40 years ago with the introduction of the original Diamond model. They have come a long way since then, of course, and offer a similarly compelling package.

Wondering which is more deserving of your hard-earned? Let's help you decide.

Dali Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: price

These two are very evenly matched in terms of price. The Dali Kupid is the newer of the two models, having launched in the summer of 2025 for £299. That's not too far off the Diamond 12.1's price of £249. That doesn't tell the whole story, of course, but the slightly lower price tag has to give the win to the Diamonds.

WINNER: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1

Dali Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: build & design

The Kupid is the smaller of the two designs, being shorter, narrower and less deep than the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1. This makes them more versatile in terms of placement, by simple dint of the fact that more surfaces will be able to accommodate a smaller speaker footprint. They come ready for wall-mounting too, with wall brackets and fixing screws included in the box.

But of course it's the colours that are the most noteworthy aspect of the Kupid design. The two standout finishes are the Chilly Blue of our review unit and Golden Yellow which will bring a welcome pop of colour to even the drabbest of interiors.