Short answer: neither, which is the honest answer here. The Wharfedale Diamond 9.1’s first design was a pretty good sounding speaker, but every current new one sold today is the crap version, so that reputation does not apply. The Aperion Verus V8B delivers low-distortion bass that reaches a reasonable level for an 8-inch mid-woofer, yet a large scoop from about 100-500Hz strips the meat out of vocals and leaves it dull and subdued. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 134 bookshelf speakers; for better sound, the Perlisten S4b ranks #2 at $8,000.
Buy the Aperion Audio Verus V8B, since the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 | Aperion Audio Verus V8B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | $1,499 per pair |
| Ranked | #112 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #117 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 5.7 ohms nominal / ~3 ohms EPDR minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Kevlar cone woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 8” Woven Kevlar long-throw woofer, 1.1” Custom Aperion ASR dome tweeter with ferrofluid |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) (good version), 9.9 lbs (4.5 kg) (bad version) each | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Dimensions | 11.7”H x 7.6”W x 10.9”D (296.0 x 194.0 x 278.0 mm) | 17”H x 10.6”W x 13”D |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Hi-Fi World) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | - | 30Hz - 35kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 20-150W |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.79 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
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- ELAC DBR62 vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
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. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-3dB).
Cons: All current new ones sold today are the crap version. Discontinued.
Full Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Hi-Fi World) |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7”H x 7.6”W x 10.9”D (296.0 x 194.0 x 278.0 mm) |
| 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 Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs Triad In-Room Gold LCR
- Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2
- See all 25 comparisons
Aperion Audio Verus V8B: $1,499 per pair Aperion Audio eBay
Pros: Low-distortion bass that reaches a reasonable level for an 8-inch mid-woofer: the reviewer had no complaints about bass cleanliness, just extension. Wide-enough horizontal radiation to give some room involvement without being uncomfortably narrow. HDF (high-density fiberboard) cabinet construction instead of the more typical MDF. Nice aesthetic in the gloss cherry finish (also available in black); solidly built at nearly 28 lbs each. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: A large mid-range scoop from about 100Hz-500Hz strips out the “meat” of male and female vocals, giving the speaker an overall dull, subdued character the reviewer specifically didn’t care for. Two back-to-back resonant peaks (around 4kHz and 10kHz) cause sibilance and an overbearing hi-hat crispness on some tracks; toeing the speakers 30 degrees off-axis helps a little but doesn’t remove the underlying resonances. At $1499/pair, the reviewer felt EQ shouldn’t be necessary to get a satisfying result out of the box. Minimum impedance (EPDR) dips to around 3 ohms despite a 5.7-ohm nominal rating, so a Class AB amplifier needs to be 4-ohm capable. Bass extension is modest for an 8” driver: measured F3 55Hz/F10 39Hz, getting into the mid-40s Hz in-room rather than truly deep bass.
Full Aperion Audio Verus V8B review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 17”H x 10.6”W x 13”D |
| Drivers | 8” Woven Kevlar long-throw woofer, 1.1” Custom Aperion ASR dome tweeter with ferrofluid |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 35kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 5.7 ohms nominal / ~3 ohms EPDR minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 20-150W |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.79 |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs B&W 805S
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs Triangle Borea BR03
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs Klipsch RP-600M
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs KEF Q350
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs HSU Research CCB-8
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs Klipsch RP-600M II
- See all 15 comparisons