Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 - i.e. hidden boss of speakers!

[wim1983]

I got purchase a used pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 not long ago, I sent the speakers to someone for repair, but then it's been long time with no updates, so I decide to take back the speakers, and have a listen, drive via Class D Audio SDS-400C power amp, DAC is JDS Labs ODAC, you won't believe, it sound stupidly and crazily good, fit everything I'm looking for, amazing wide sound stage, non-fatigue sound pressure, be it low, mid or high freq., transparency and clarity is the best I've heard, so clear and free of resonance, I'm not sure the front ported design help in control bass resonance, it sound just so right, even more so than my Diamond 122 and Denton. I'm wondering, why would anyone look for other speakers, this speakers should be the end of the search. Unfortunately, inside the crossover there are spoiled electrostatic capacitors, I think I need to find some help to replace with polypropylene capacitors instead, total should be 4 to fix the tweeters problem and to enhance the woofer sound control (though I don't there's the problem, most probably is the tweeter capacitors problem). I think I can stop hunting for speakers, Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 fit all my sound criteria of audio nirvana. What do you all think? I shall contact the Wharfedale distributor to get some help

 

[wim1983]

I had them and the newer ones are so much better, to me.

I found the 9.1's rolled off too much on the extremes for me.

Roll off on high and bass? hmm, I got some problems testing with some high freq. tracks, but some parts of the tracks I can listen very clearly, much better than my Denton, very relax sound to listen to. By new series, did you mean the new Diamond 122 or Diamond 200 series? Or Diamond 10.1? Hmm, maybe I'm listening it through near field, I feel that it's very free of resonance and bloated bump, very clear sound and great sound stage, the tweeter seem to be a very very nice one, as I remember the Wharfedale distributor told me it's very expensive to replace the tweeters, most probably the amp is doing it's nice job here too. I'll replace the speakers capacitors, and report back soon, stay tuned!

 

[wim1983]

The Diamond 10.1's - which were stellar compared to the 9.1's. Also the Dentons are a throwback to the older Dentons, meaning voicing them like the original with modern drivers. It was quite a stunning feat of engineering to do that.

I have not heard the newer Diamonds -122's and that series. They do get fab reviews from the press though.

oh no, I just bring 9.1 over to for repair, he put on the music via NAD 375bee integrated amplifier, sound not right to my ears, I think gear matching plays a trick here, how come so much different? I back home and play back the same song by Sade - Your Love Is King, definitely sound right on the Denton, I expect it will even smoother on the Diamond 9.1

Have you try to drive the Diamond 9.1 with other amplifiers? A quick search reveals that a lot of good and bad reviews on the 9.1, if it's good it can sound as good as 6x price speakers, if it's bad people said it's no mid no emotion, dull and boring...

 

[taineasy]

oh no, I just bring 9.1 over to for repair, he put on the music via NAD 375bee integrated amplifier, sound not right to my ears, I think gear matching plays a trick here, how come so much different? I back home and play back the same song by Sade - Your Love Is King, definitely sound right on the Denton, I expect it will even smoother on the Diamond 9.1

Have you try to drive the Diamond 9.1 with other amplifiers? A quick search reveals that a lot of good and bad reviews on the 9.1, if it's good it can sound as good as 6x price speakers, if it's bad people said it's no mid no emotion, dull and boring...

With a couple of minor tweaks this became one of the best smalls I've heard. New high quality capacitors made a huge difference. swapping out that iron core inductor for and air core inductor and and a couple sheets of Dynamat and took it to a new level.