Short answer: the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1. It ranks #73 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Dayton Audio MK602X ranks #83.
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 Dayton Audio MK602X offers: Inexpensive, compact two-way with a 6.5-inch glass-fiber woofer and 1-inch silk dome. Watch for: The top end sits roughly 5dB above the midband, producing brightness that can masquerade as detail.
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Dayton Audio MK602X 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 | Dayton Audio MK602X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | $149/pair |
| Ranked | #73 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #83 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified; Erin’s impedance measurement confirms a low-impedance load) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB | Approximately 85dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Kevlar cone woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter | 1" silk-dome tweeter; 6.5" glass-fiber midwoofer |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg (good version), 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kg (bad version) each | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.6"W x 10.9"D (296.0 x 194.0 x 278.0 mm) | 15.1"H x 8.6"W x 11.8"D |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz (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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Dayton Audio MK602X: $149/pair Amazon Parts Express
Pros: Inexpensive, compact two-way with a 6.5-inch glass-fiber woofer and 1-inch silk dome. Erin measured respectable small-box extension—72Hz F3 and 43Hz F10—and roughly 85dB sensitivity. The cabinet and removable grille are tidy for the price, and the response can be made less bright with broad treble EQ when listening close to the reference axis.
Cons: The top end sits roughly 5dB above the midband, producing brightness that can masquerade as detail. More seriously, the low-order woofer filter creates a 4-5dB directivity discontinuity around 2kHz; because the reflected sound differs from the direct sound, equalization cannot fully fix it. Erin also found multiple resonances around 900Hz and rising distortion/compression from the woofer at higher levels. Its 4-ohm nominal load and modest 85dB measured sensitivity demand more amplifier current than the price suggests, while the 72Hz F3 makes a subwoofer advisable despite the relatively low F10.
Full Dayton Audio MK602X review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.1"H x 8.6"W x 11.8"D |
| Drivers | 1" silk-dome tweeter; 6.5" glass-fiber midwoofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified; Erin's impedance measurement confirms a low-impedance load) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 85dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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