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Wharfedale DX-3 HCP
The Wharfedale DX-2 is the standard bearer for entry-level home cinema solutions – the crowned champion of ‘Best Speaker Packages under £500’ in the annual What Hi-Fi? awards, for FIVE consecutive years!
Now updated for 2023, with a clean-new aesthetic and inheriting performance and styling tweaks, based upon the Wharfedale Diamond 12 series, the new DX-3 is the blockbuster sequel and the new system of choice for those yearning for a home cinema experience but limited on space or budget.
The Wharfedale DX-3 is compact, stylish and offers incredible value for money. Marking the 3rd iteration of the acclaimed system, the satellite speakers bring in new heritage and are now styled closer to the award-winning Diamond 12 series, making for a more contemporary solution. The cabinets have also been revised in looks but also with a new structure, not only to enhance the aesthetic but also to aid with the resonant control and dynamic performance, resulting in an even more impressive mini loudspeaker cabinet. Handling dialogue, sound effects and music with ease, solidity and detail, the DX-3 is extremely versatile.
As with the preceding DX-2, the DX-3 includes four satellite speakers for the front and rear, a compact centre speaker, and an powered subwoofer that has also been tweaked in conjunction with the satellite speakers. Offering a more sophisticated performance, each of the satellite speakers employs a silk dome HF unit and 75mm bass driver engineered from a polypropylene base, which offers a performance akin to the PP cones featured in the Wharfedale Diamond 12 series.
For bass extension and impact, the DX-3 system relies on the 200mm long-throw driver in the powered DX-3 subwoofer, modelled upon the best-selling Wharfedale WH-D8.
Whole system tuning means the subwoofers rapid and controlled low-frequency extension has also evolved to match the satellite speaker’s new appearance and enhanced dynamics.
Overall, home cinema systems are subject to high demands in terms of audio performance. Despite being compact and affordable, the DX-3 is feature-rich and built upon a strong foundation to provide a space-saving, budget-friendly system without sacrificing a thrilling home cinema experience.
Same but different
Updated cabinets with design traits taken from the Wharfedale Diamond 12 series mean the system is recognisably different, and all for the better!
Traits of more than one legend
Cabinets, drivers, structure and performance are closer to the Diamond 12 series – an award-winning home theatre system of its own right!
Surround Sound
The DX-3 5.0 system includes 4 x satellites and 1 x Centre speakers. The satellite speakers are also available in 2.0 and 5.0 configurations, allowing for expansion beyond 5.1
Bass race
The included WH-D8 is an active subwoofer that offers lively, deep bass, perfect for AV and music applications.
Awards Season
The DX-2 is arguably the most award-laden speaker system in recent history, so you can be sure that the DX-3 is more than just a B-movie and more of a blockbuster sequel!
Dealers selling Wharfedale near you
Punchy dynamics and broad, cinematic sound give the DX-3 HCP surprising scale for compact speakers. Wharfedale's small satellites and 8" powered sub deliver controlled, weighty low end, crisp treble and clear imaging, ideal for action-heavy soundtracks. Reviewers at What Hi-Fi? praised its detail and value while noting a slight loss of warmth versus its predecessor.
Pros
- Punchy, dynamic presentation with strong macrodynamics for action and orchestral passages.
- Powered 8" subwoofer provides controlled, weighty bass that extends the system's impact beyond the small satellites.
- Crisp, detailed high frequencies and convincing imaging that enhance cinematic clarity and on-screen placement.
- Excellent value for money—delivers home-cinema scale and detail at a budget-friendly price compared with many soundbars and larger packages.
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Cons
- Midrange can sound a touch lean, with vocals lacking some of the warmth and richness of the DX-2.
- Finish uses a black wood veneer that reviewers found less premium-feeling than the previous glossy/faux-leather styling.
Sound Quality
86/100
Bass
86/100
The active 8" subwoofer is repeatedly praised as providing "plenty of low-end while remaining controlled," giving the small satellites much greater apparent extension and punch. Satellites themselves roll off around 100Hz (-6dB), so the system bass is driven by the sub—excellent for the package's size and role in home cinema.
Mid
82/100
Mids are clear and defined, but reviewers note a loss of the DX-2's warmth and richness; vocals can sound a touch flatter and less emotive. Overall timbre is precise and detailed, but with slightly reduced body compared with the predecessor.
Treble
88/100
The 19mm silk dome delivers crisp, detailed high-frequency information ("twinkling of shattering glass"), with good refinement and no repeated complaints of harshness or sibilance. Treble gives strong definition and contributes to the system's cinematic clarity.
Soundstage Imaging
86/100
Reviewers highlight spaciousness and directional cues (good sense of engine placement and on-screen positioning), making the package feel broader than its predecessor. Imaging can be slightly unfocused at times, but overall the package presents a convincing, widescreen soundstage for home cinema.
Dynamics
88/100
Described as "punchy" with strong agility during orchestral and action sequences; the subwoofer and satellites combine to deliver immediate, weighty transients and convincing macrodynamics for a compact HCP. Dynamics are a clear strength of the DX-3.
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Build Quality
80/100
Drivers and basic construction are solid, but reviewers flag the new black wood veneer as a cheaper-feeling finish compared with the previous glossy/faux-leather styling. Overall construction is competent but finish choices lower the perceived premium feel.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive satellite/centre speakers: passive baseline applied. Subwoofer includes LFE and stereo RCA inputs, LFE line-in and useful controls (low-pass slope, phase inversion, auto on/off), but no DSP/app—appropriate for a passive speaker package.
Value for Money
90/100
Multiple reviewers call it competitively priced and note it delivers more than many soundbars and undercuts pricier packages ("half the price of most models we recommend"). Strong performance-to-cost makes it an easy recommendation for budget home cinema users.
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