Short answer: the Diapason Emera for better sound quality, the Chesky LC1 for the lower price. The Diapason Emera ranks #95 of 105 bookshelf speakers at $1050. The Chesky LC1 ranks #96 at $1000, $50 cheaper.
The case for the Diapason Emera: A direct-driven woofer with no crossover component in the bass path is a distinctive design choice shared with Totem Acoustics speakers, and fit and finish on the handcrafted Italian cabinet is very good. The catch: CEA2034 spinorama shows an aggressively engineered response with attenuated bass and peaks/dips scattered through the rest of the spectrum, and directivity falls apart around the 4.8kHz crossover point.
What the Chesky LC1 offers: Premium build details: silver-soldered crossover with film capacitors, dual inertially-balanced 8” passive radiators, and a multi-layer, non-resonant cabinet construction. Watch for: Overall tonal balance sounded dull, hollow, and unengaging in extensive listening, with recessed vocals (both male and female) and minimal bass - the reviewer independently confirmed the same impressions auditioning the speakers at an audio show, ruling out a fluke with his own pair.
Buy the Diapason Emera if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Chesky LC1 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 105 bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Diapason Emera | Chesky LC1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1050 Discontinued | $1000 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #95 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #96 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 90Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 71Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 170mm direct-driven (crossoverless) mid/woofer, 20mm Kapton isodynamic tweeter | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | not published by manufacturer | 10"H x 8"W x 10"D (254.0 x 203.2 x 254.0 mm) |
| Weight | not published by manufacturer | 17.6 lbs / 8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | passive radiator |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 81.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | - | 8 ohms nominal (8.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Diapason Emera: $1050 Discontinued
Pros: A direct-driven woofer with no crossover component in the bass path is a distinctive design choice shared with Totem Acoustics speakers, and fit and finish on the handcrafted Italian cabinet is very good. Distortion is reasonable at 86dB SPL.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows an aggressively engineered response with attenuated bass and peaks/dips scattered through the rest of the spectrum, and directivity falls apart around the 4.8kHz crossover point. Distortion gets notably worse at 96dB SPL. The reviewer’s first impression out of the box was “disappointing… bright, with no bass and dull,” and while EQ made a dramatic improvement, the conclusion was “I can’t recommend the Diapason Emera speaker.” A 2002-era design no longer listed among Diapason’s current models. Discontinued.
Full Diapason Emera review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 90Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | not published by manufacturer |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 170mm direct-driven (crossoverless) mid/woofer, 20mm Kapton isodynamic tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | not published by manufacturer |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
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Chesky LC1: $1000 Discontinued
Pros: Premium build details: silver-soldered crossover with film capacitors, dual inertially-balanced 8” passive radiators, and a multi-layer, non-resonant cabinet construction. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60-70° through the midrange, in the reviewer’s preferred range. Extremely easy to drive electrically (minimum impedance about 8.4 ohms, minimum EPDR 5.4 ohms). Distortion shows good separation between second- and third-order harmonics at both 86dB and 96dB. The reviewer took the unusual step of verifying his measurements weren’t due to a defective unit - he impedance-swept both speakers, then corresponded directly with the manufacturer, whose own measurements matched his, confirming the sound reflects the actual product design.
Cons: Overall tonal balance sounded dull, hollow, and unengaging in extensive listening, with recessed vocals (both male and female) and minimal bass - the reviewer independently confirmed the same impressions auditioning the speakers at an audio show, ruling out a fluke with his own pair. Essentially no meaningful bass below about 90-100Hz in-room (F3 71Hz, F10 49Hz), well short of the 50Hz frequency-response spec, and measured sensitivity (about 81.4dB) runs well below the 86dB claimed. A pattern of peaks and dips across the spectrum, rather than a simple tilt, makes different instruments sound inconsistent depending on what frequency range they occupy - an unusually difficult profile to characterize or EQ around. Center-image focus never locked in properly regardless of listening position - traced to a measurable mismatch between the two individual speaker samples’ on-axis response, an unusual quality-control issue for a simple dome-tweeter design. A cancellation/lobing region just below the tweeter axis, likely from shallow first-order crossover slopes and some crossover-region overlap, means listening position needs to stay right at or slightly above tweeter level. Elevated multitone distortion in a region tied to a cone-edge/surround resonance (a known issue across several driver brands), only marginally improved by adding a subwoofer. Sample-to-sample driver measurements showed real inconsistency between the two review units’ tweeters and midwoofers. A cosmetic gap around the tweeter’s flush-mount cutout suggests room for tighter fit-and-finish. Discontinued.
Full Chesky LC1 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 10"H x 8"W x 10"D (254.0 x 203.2 x 254.0 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (8.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 81.4dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs / 8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons