Short answer: the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1. It ranks #73 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Chesky LC1 ranks #80.
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… Watch for: All current new ones sold today are the crap version.
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…
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 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 84 bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 | Chesky LC1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | $1000 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #73 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #80 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms nominal (8.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB | 81.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Kevlar cone woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg (good version), 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kg (bad version) each | 17.6 lbs / 8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | passive radiator |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.6"W x 10.9"D (296.0 x 194.0 x 278.0 mm) | 10"H x 8"W x 10"D (254.0 x 203.2 x 254.0 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 71Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1: Discontinued
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 |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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 |
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