This is just unbelievable value for 500e Wharfdale DX3 HCP Review

ducurguz
19 minutes ago
9 min read

Sudden meeting in audio shop

Looking for a small subwoofer to review, I accidentally caught wind of this 5.1 system. I never planned to buy it, I was there to buy Wharfedale Super Linton, and some potential subwoofer.

But while browsing the store, I noticed this whole package at a discount. Only 400 euros, for the entire Wharfedale 5.1 system, at that price I would be crazy not to buy it. I know that it is not their full price, it is around 500 euros, but even at that price that is some crazy value to how much you get. And they looked premium so much for the puny price point they are.

And of course I bought it, and of course I am doing a review now.

It is after all out of a brand that I love so much, so how much can it get wrong.

Home audio setup with wooden speakers on stands and console, a flat screen TV above, and a white cabinet with electronic devices.

History of DX series

After all Wharfedale is one of Britain's oldest and most respected loudspeaker brands, and its DX series has long been the benchmark for compact, affordable home cinema speaker packages. The DX-3 HCP (Home Cinema Package) is the third generation of this celebrated line, arriving in 2023 as the successor to the DX-2.

The DX-3 doesn't just rest on its predecessor's laurels. It brings meaningful improvements in cabinet design, driver technology, and acoustic performance by borrowing heavily from Wharfedale's acclaimed Diamond 12 hi-fi speaker series. A speaker that I, with Dali Spektor, think are the absolute best you can get at budget level. The result is a system that punches well above its weight and remains, at its 500 euros price point, one of the most compelling home cinema packages on the market.

The package includes four identical satellite speakers (used for front left/right and surround left/right channels), one dedicated centre channel speaker, and a powered subwoofer — everything you need for a complete 5.1 surround sound setup, all arriving in a single box.

Build Quality

The DX-3 HCP makes a confident first impression out of the box. The satellite speakers and centre channel are finished in a black wood veneer. I personally have walnut. Now I have read on forums that some people felt that the aesthetic feels slightly less premium than the glossy black and faux-leather finish of the DX-2, and I don't know how much more premium you can get in this price level. So I will not say it is or it is not, as I don't have experience with DX2. But the build quality itself is solid and well-considered for the price.

Wharfedale has clearly invested engineering effort where it matters most: inside the cabinets. The enclosures have been structurally redesigned with an additional internal panel to brace and reinforce the front baffle, reducing unwanted vibrations and improving resonance control. The cabinet shape itself is inspired by the Diamond 12 series, with a straight-edged box.

The drivers are well-mounted and securely fitted. Each satellite uses a 19mm silk dome tweeter paired with a 75mm woven polypropylene mid/bass driver — materials that are directly descended from the Diamond 12 family. Magnetic grilles are included and attach cleanly, adding a neat, minimalist appearance to any room.

The subwoofer enclosure is compact and tidy, with a matte black finish and rear-panel controls that feel functional rather than flashy. Connection terminals on all speakers accept bare wire or banana plugs and are firm without being overly stiff. Overall, for the asking price, the build quality is well above average.

But let's speak a little bit about every speaker itself.

Satellite Speakers

Wooden speaker on a white stand, labeled "Wharfedale." Background shows light gray wall, wooden floor, and power outlet with cords.

Each of the four identical satellite speakers uses a two-way design comprising a 19mm silk dome tweeter and a 75mm woven polypropylene cone mid/bass driver. The crossover has been refined over the DX-2, offering improved driver integration and a stable, wide acoustic performance across a broad listening angle — making placement more flexible than typical satellite…

Keyhole mounting slots are built into the rear of each satellite, allowing them to be wall-mounted without additional hardware. This is a genuinely useful feature for those looking to keep their floor space clear and achieve a clean, cinema-like installation.

Centre Channel

The centre speaker follows the same driver configuration as the satellites — a 19mm silk dome tweeter flanked by two 75mm mid/bass drivers — but in a wider, horizontal enclosure measuring just 12 x 31 x 12cm (HxWxD). It can sit comfortably on a shelf directly below a TV or be wall-mounted. Its aperiodic bass loading is designed to deliver the clearest possible dialogue and vocal reproduction, which is critical for movie watching.

Subwoofer

A black Wharfedale speaker on a carpeted floor with a background of colorful, upright records. Warm, cozy home setting.

The powered subwoofer is built around a 200mm (8-inch) long-throw woven polypropylene cone, driven by a 70W Class D amplifier (with 150W peak power). The cabinet is a sealed, front-ported design measuring approximately 30 x 27 x 30cm — compact enough to tuck beside a sofa or into a corner without dominating the room.

The rear panel offers stereo RCA line inputs, a dedicated LFE (Low Frequency Effects) input, a variable crossover (adjustable from around 50–150Hz), a phase switch (0°/180°), and a volume control. An auto-sense mode powers the subwoofer on and off automatically based on signal detection — handy for those who prefer a fully automated setup.

Expandability

One standout feature of the DX-3 ecosystem is its scalability. The satellite speakers are sold separately in stereo pairs and 5.0 configurations, meaning the system can be expanded to 7.1 or even Atmos-ready configurations by adding extra pairs. This makes the DX-3 HCP a solid foundation for a future-proofed home cinema setup.

Size & Weight

One of the DX-3's most celebrated attributes is its diminutive footprint. The satellite speakers are genuinely tiny — the kind of tiny that makes you do a double-take when placed next to a conventional bookshelf speaker. Despite this, they do not feel like toys; the cabinet rigidity and finish convey a quality product.

The compact dimensions of the entire system mean it integrates naturally into living rooms of any size without the visual intrusion of larger speaker packages. The subwoofer is the bulkiest component, but even it is substantially smaller than the subs included with competing systems at similar or higher prices.

Three black Wharfedale speakers on a white shelf in a modern room. A TV screen is in the background. Audio equipment is below.

Sound Quality

Here is where the DX-3 HCP truly earns its accolades. Despite their small stature, these speakers produce a soundstage that belies both their size and their price tag.

Midrange & Treble

The silk dome tweeter delivers clean, detailed high-frequency reproduction without harshness or fatigue. Dialogue through the centre speaker is notably clear and well-defined — a crucial attribute for movies. The midrange is smooth and cohesive, and the transition between the tweeter and the polypropylene mid/bass driver is well-managed thanks to the revised crossover, which draws on the DNA of the Diamond 12 series.

Across a wide listening angle, the DX-3 satellites maintain a stable and consistent soundstage. This is particularly beneficial in living room environments where viewers are spread across the sofa rather than sitting in a single sweet spot.

Alone these diminutive satellites are probably not the best option neither for movies nor music, as they would seriously lack low end. With its modest 100Hz frequency range. But they are not built to act as standalone speakers, rather than part of a system. And as part of that system they are clear, detailed and punchy. Enough to compliment the centre speaker and subwoofer. Especially helping with crossover.

I think they work fabulously both for music and movies when paired with the sub. Especially as they have such a talented treble borrowed from the Diamond brother. That shocked me so much, that this system is not built just for movies. I listened to everything with it and was truly satisfied. Not just Blade Runner Blues and to be satisfied with its gravitas and bass. No, this has details in treble and clarity that it is great for all recordings. Just amazing how it can be versatile.

Bass Performance

But the biggest star definitely is the excellent subwoofer, that with also the centre speaker completes this package's sonic mastery.

Now this is not the deepest, or most sprawling sub you can find on the market. But as part of this package, what can I say, it was excellent. It is how much effortlessly it conveys low end, and that low end has presence is just showing how much it can master details and textures, while sacrificing on explosiveness and just massive scope. It is most similar to Wharfedale's SW10 and SW12 subwoofers.

The subwoofer is the engine room of the system. Its 200mm long-throw driver and 70W amplifier deliver bass that is tight, controlled, and impactful. It doesn't try to compete with much larger, more expensive subwoofers in terms of sheer room-filling low-end extension, but within its class it performs admirably — providing genuine physical sensation for action sequences and cinematic soundtracks without muddying the overall sound.

But it works perfectly in synergy with the centre speaker and satellites, with a cohesive hand-off that avoids the bloated or disconnected bass that plagues cheaper systems. The variable crossover gives users the flexibility to tune the bass blend to their room and preference.

Surround Performance

For movies, the DX-3 HCP is genuinely thrilling. Surround channels are precise and directional, and fast-moving audio — such as flyovers, explosions, and crowd effects — pan convincingly around the room. The system shines with action films and big orchestral scores, delivering the kind of immersive, enveloping soundfield that only a true 5.1 speaker system (as opposed to a soundbar) can achieve.

Central speaker is on a bit warmer side, it gives voices a neutral heft and gravitas. Making them smoother and a bit pleasant to listen to, while not working hard to remain perfectly true to life.

The centre speaker incorporates the same 19mm silk dome tweeter flanked by two identical 75mm mid/bass drivers, combined with an aperiodic bass loading system consisting of a vent filled with resistive porous foam to control airflow.

It does what all good centre speakers should do, it provides clear articulation in vocals. It truly is clear, even in dense situations like Oppenheimer when soundtracks are “eating the scene” you can feel Cillian's vocals clearly and articulately.

Now if you expect that you will hear in something like Maestro, Bradley Cooper's detailed forced accents, you know when in movies you get those acted accents that make characters unique like Marisa Tomei and Joe Pesci, it will lack special textures that will help your entire system give all nuance of performance. It is clear with a bit weighty presentation, but not perfect.

For music listening, the DX-3 acquits itself well in stereo. The front pair produces a pleasingly open and detailed stereo image, and while it naturally can't match a dedicated stereo hi-fi speaker setup, for a home cinema package it shows commendable musicality.

Wooden speakers on white shelves in a living room, with vinyl records on a shelf in the background and subtle plant decor.

Limitations

No product is without compromise. At very high volumes, the satellites' small mid/bass drivers begin to show their limits — dynamic headroom compresses and the sound can lose some of its composure. This is not a party system designed for large rooms; it is optimised for medium-sized living rooms at realistic listening levels. The subwoofer, while punchy and well-integrated, also has a ceiling in terms of the deepest sub-bass that larger, more expensive units can access. And that goes as well as already mentioned problems with the centre speaker.

Now these are cons only compared to more expensive systems. Who just offer more extension, more texture, more spatial effects, more insight into what is happening in the movie and placement of DTS-X sound objects in space. But to achieve that you need to add a lot more money to get something like that. Like 1200 euros or above. But this gives you 80% of that for so much less money.

Conclusion

I am shocked that you can get this much quality system for your house for cheap, just add an AVR. It is a true textbook definition of insane value. That I can recommend to everyone who is interested to try something in this price range that is not a soundbar. If he has space, and an AVR to compliment them. But as they are not large they can literally fit any room and space.

The Wharfedale DX-3 HCP 5.1 speaker package is a remarkable product. It takes the winning formula of the DX-2, injects meaningful technological improvements drawn from a much more expensive speaker family, and delivers the result at a price that leaves competitors struggling to keep pace.

Its compact size makes it accessible to almost any living room. Its sound quality — detailed, cohesive, dynamic, and genuinely immersive — punches well above its weight class. Its build quality, while not glamorous, is solid and appropriate for the price. And its expandability means it can grow with your system over time.

If there is a criticism, it is that all of these components individually are not the best. Satellites are small, they don't have nor reach neither bass. Same thing for bass which is great for what it is, but it is not going to shake your house, or bring all the sensations of bombs falling, pin dropping and sudden cello and soundtrack bites from it. And the centre speaker is great and all but it just lacks a bit more finesse in extracting details and textures to be amazing. But

For anyone seeking a capable, award-winning 5.1 surround sound system that won't break the bank or overwhelm a living room, the Wharfedale DX-3 HCP is, quite simply, the one to buy.