Short answer: the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #109 of 131 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 2.8/5); the Chesky LC1 ranks #123 (rated 2.3/5). Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 131 bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Perlisten S4b instead, ranked #2 at $8,000.
Why pick the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1: 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. The tradeoff: All current new ones sold today are the crap version.
The case for the Chesky LC1: Premium build details: silver-soldered crossover with film capacitors, dual inertially-balanced 8” passive radiators, and a multi-layer, non-resonant cabinet construction. The tradeoff: 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.
One note: the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 is discontinued and no longer widely available new.
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Chesky LC1.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 | Chesky LC1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | $1000 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #109 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #123 of 131 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 |
| 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 (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Hi-Fi World) | 71Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.21 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.87 |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Wharfedale Diamond 9.1:
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- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
- ELAC DBR62 vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
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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
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- 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 Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
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Chesky LC1: $1000 per pair Discontinued eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 71Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 81.4dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 10”H x 8”W x 10”D (254.0 x 203.2 x 254.0 mm) |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.21 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.87 |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons