Wharfedale Jade-5 review

One of the biggest hi-fi launches of the year, the Wharfedale Jade-5 speakers bring power and poise Tested at £1650

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

These aren’t your average floorstanders. The Wharfedale Jade-5s bring immense power and poise to the party

Pros

  • +

    Seriously impressive bass weight and control

  • +

    superbly detailed

  • +

    good integration between individual drivers

Cons

  • -

    Won’t work well with electronics that have a characteristically lean sound

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Wharfedale’s new Jade range is one of 2011’s big hi-fi launches. And, the first model up for evaluation is the Jade-5, a stocky, yet elegant floorstander.

Wharfedale has pulled out all the stops designing these new speakers. The curved cabinet is made from a proprietary new substance called Crystalam.

Instead of using MDF, Wharfedale claims that its new multi-layer composite helps to dampen and reduce the effect of cabinet vibrations.

The Jade-5 also uses Wharfedale’s new cone material, Acufiber. The company claims it brings together the best elements of glass and carbon fibre with a self-damping woven matrix for a responsive yet neutral sound.

The Jade-5’s twin 15cm bass drivers and single 7.5cm midrange driver both use this cone material.

A traditional 25mm aluminium dome tweeter competes the three-way driver arrangement.

Hard-hitting but detailed
Instead of using a bass port or a sealed cabinet, Wharfedale has used an unusual solution – aperiodic bass-loading – and their bass makes its presence felt.

Low notes sound weighty and powerful, yet they’re handled with great care and control.

Spin The Prodigy’s Invaders Must Die and, given the brute force of the track’s bass output, the level of composure shown by the Jade-5s is outstanding.

But besides revelling in heavyweight tracks, they can handle the pitter-patter of more delicate tunes and instruments with equal aplomb.

A play of Sufjan Stevens’ Jacksonville highlights the detail that the speakers pick up. Leading edges are crystal clear: you can peer into the soundstage and follow any instrument that takes your fancy.

You might be worried about integration between the four drivers, but the Jade-5s knit each element together well. It’s only when you bi-wire that that the track starts to unravel: single-wired gets better results.

Take extra care when matching them up to a system, though. Using our reference Bryston amp the Wharfedales sounded a little lean in the midrange and treble.

Switch to an amp with a richer, fuller sound, such as the brilliant Roksan Caspian M2 (£1595), and they’re an instant hit.

These are seriously capable speakers. We wonder how the rest of the range will fare…

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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