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 Dayton Audio MK602X ranks #122 (rated 2.4/5). 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.
The case for 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.
What the Dayton Audio MK602X does well: Inexpensive, compact two-way with a 6.5-inch glass-fiber woofer and 1-inch silk dome. The catch: The top end sits roughly 5dB above the midband, producing brightness that can masquerade as detail.
Worth knowing: the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 has been discontinued and is hard to find new at this point.
Buy the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dayton Audio MK602X.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 | Dayton Audio MK602X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | $149 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #109 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #122 of 131 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 |
| 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) | 40Hz (measured, Hi-Fi World) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.39 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.91 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 compares with other leading options:
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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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- See all 25 comparisons
Dayton Audio MK602X: $149 per pair Discontinued eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 72Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
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. Discontinued.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.39 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.91 |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons