I just came from Spectra with my friend. Thanks Jim for the great service once more.
I really wanted to like this speaker since for the price, it's a no-brainer. I plan to use this for bedroom speakers.
We listened to the 9.1s using a highly awarded NAD C542 cd player (which I used to have and still plan to buy by Christmas) and the HK 130 AVR. We listened using the Audiophile Voices II cd.
Our immediate impression was that it didn't have bass. Looking at the spec sheet, it should reach down to 50Hz but it didn't sound that way. The highs of the 9.1s were also incomplete. It sounded veiled. It was definitely missing something up there. The vocals were excellent and quite enjoyable to listen to. I used to have the Diamond 8.1s and I would have to say that I liked that one better since that had a better low-end.
I was disappointed. I had to take the MRT from Ortigas during my lunch break, just to listen to this and I was expecting more. We then asked Jim to play the 9.3s. These were bookshelves as well but a lot bigger. The woofer is even bigger (I think) than the B&W 602S3.
With the 9.3s, the treble sound came out. I wonder why this had more detail since I assume that it had the same tweeter as the 9.1s. Maybe the 9.1s were not broken-in yet. The mids of the 9.3s seem the same, but again, the low-end bass was not there. It had more bass than the 9.1s but I would expect more just by the size of the woofers.
They have a Monitor Audio Bronze 2 at the store and I am certain that that speaker would sound a lot better than the Diamond 9.1 or 9.3. But of course, it is also a lot more expensive. If you plan to audition at Spectra, listen to the B2 also just so that you can have a comparison.
Conclusion:
I know the sound of the NAD C542 and the Audiophile Voices CD very much and I was very disappointed with what I heard. Right now, I'm thinking that it could possible be the HK AVR 130. Maybe it was not powerful enough for the 6-ohm Diamonds. It could also be break-in since I know that kevlar cones take a long time to burn-in.
After our audition, we went to the next shop, (I forgot the name) the one which sells Rotel and B&W and where Ed is the shop owner. They were also selling the 9.1s and they had it on display. We said, "meron ka rin palang 9.1s. What Hi-Fi product of the year iyan!" and you know what he said... "Ang pangit tumunog." Medyo natawa kami sa reply niya since he was selling it! also for P5,500.
ANYWAY, please don't let this review stop you from auditioning the speakers. Go to Spectra, listen to the Diamonds, and write your own review here. But for me, my search for a bedroom speaker less than P10,000 goes on.
I will audition the Diamond 9's again at Sights and Sounds in Shangri-La. Maybe I will have a better experience there.
But wait! P5,500 for a pair of speakers?! Sobrang mura talaga and maybe I'm expecting it to sound like a P10,000 or even P30,000 speaker. Besides, what other P5k speakers around are there that can already sound a bit audiophile-like.