Short answer: the Klipsch RP-600M II. It ranks #73 of 125 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 ranks #104.
What the Klipsch RP-600M II offers: Redesigned waveguide extends flush to the baffle edge, reducing diffraction compared to the original RP-600M. Roughly 10-20° wider horizontal radiation than the original, giving more soundstage envelopment while retaining precise imaging. A major step up in overall tonal neutrality compared to the original RP-600M, largely eliminating that model’s midrange resonance issues. Unusually, sounds better with the grille on - the grille smooths out the elevated treble rather than degrading the sound, a rare trait among speakers the reviewer has tested. More refined back-panel hardware, including anodized binding posts and jumper cables for optional bi-amping. Responds well to EQ correction (verified using measurement software and a miniDSP), letting the on-axis response be made genuinely linear. Watch for: On-axis, the treble runs notably hot - even hotter than the original RP-600M in some respects - and needs about 20° of toe-out or the grille installed to sound balanced. Horizontal dispersion is very slightly less linear across angles than the original RP-600M, a minor trade-off for the wider overall radiation pattern. Klipsch’s marketed sensitivity (about 94.5dB) is, like the original, a half-space rating roughly 9dB above the anechoic reality (closer to 85-86dB). In-room bass rolls off around 60Hz in practice, and a 120Hz boost paired with a midrange scoop gives kick drums their “tambour” without real low-end weight - a subwoofer is still recommended. Vertical listening tolerance is limited to about ±10° from the tweeter axis. Toeing the speaker out for better on-axis tonality (rather than using the grille) introduces slightly more diffuse imaging from added sidewall reflections.
What the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 offers: The first design was a pretty good sounding speaker, the speaker was then outsourced to China and lost 1.5kg and was made with cheap parts and sounds much worse. Slightly rolled off in the treble by about 3dB Watch for: All current new ones sold today are the crap version.
Buy the Klipsch RP-600M II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1. It ranks near the bottom of the 125 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-600M II | Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $489.99 | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #73 of 125 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #104 of 125 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Dimensions | 15.7"H x 8"W x 12.5"D (398.8 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) | 11.7"H x 7.6"W x 10.9"D (296.0 x 194.0 x 278.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87dB |
| Drivers | 6.5" Cerametallic cone woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn | 6.5" Kevlar cone woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg (good version), 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kg (bad version) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Polk Reserve R100 vs Klipsch RP-600M
- Revel Performa M22 vs Klipsch RP-600M
- ELAC DBR62 vs Klipsch RP-600M
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Klipsch RP-600M II
- Infinity Reference R162 vs Klipsch RP-600M II
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The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch RP-600M II: $489.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Redesigned waveguide extends flush to the baffle edge, reducing diffraction compared to the original RP-600M. Roughly 10-20° wider horizontal radiation than the original, giving more soundstage envelopment while retaining precise imaging. A major step up in overall tonal neutrality compared to the original RP-600M, largely eliminating that model’s midrange resonance issues. Unusually, sounds better with the grille on - the grille smooths out the elevated treble rather than degrading the sound, a rare trait among speakers the reviewer has tested. More refined back-panel hardware, including anodized binding posts and jumper cables for optional bi-amping. Responds well to EQ correction (verified using measurement software and a miniDSP), letting the on-axis response be made genuinely linear.
Cons: On-axis, the treble runs notably hot - even hotter than the original RP-600M in some respects - and needs about 20° of toe-out or the grille installed to sound balanced. Horizontal dispersion is very slightly less linear across angles than the original RP-600M, a minor trade-off for the wider overall radiation pattern. Klipsch’s marketed sensitivity (about 94.5dB) is, like the original, a half-space rating roughly 9dB above the anechoic reality (closer to 85-86dB). In-room bass rolls off around 60Hz in practice, and a 120Hz boost paired with a midrange scoop gives kick drums their “tambour” without real low-end weight - a subwoofer is still recommended. Vertical listening tolerance is limited to about ±10° from the tweeter axis. Toeing the speaker out for better on-axis tonality (rather than using the grille) introduces slightly more diffuse imaging from added sidewall reflections.
Full Klipsch RP-600M II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.7"H x 8"W x 12.5"D (398.8 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Cerametallic cone woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: The Truth about Klipsch’s “NEW” Sound. RP-600M Update. More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Klipsch RP-600M II
- GR-Research: We Bought The “NEW” RP-600M II Is KLIPSCH Listening?! More from GR-Research →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Klipsch RP-600M II Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Dynaudio Emit 20
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs JBL Studio 630
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Behringer B2030P
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Ascend CBM-170 SE2
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Infinity Reference R162
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Infinity IL10
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Dynaudio Special Forty
- See all 37 comparisons
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1: Discontinued eBay
Pros: The first design was a pretty good sounding speaker, the speaker was then outsourced to China and lost 1.5kg and was made with cheap parts and sounds much worse. Slightly rolled off in the treble by about 3dB
Cons: All current new ones sold today are the crap version. Discontinued.
Full Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.6"W x 10.9"D (296.0 x 194.0 x 278.0 mm) |
|---|---|
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 6.5" Kevlar cone woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg (good version), 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kg (bad version) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs Klipsch RP-600M
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs Triangle Borea BR03
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs B&W 805S
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs KEF Q350
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs Aperion Audio Verus V8B
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs Triad In-Room Gold LCR
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2
- See all 17 comparisons