Wharfdale Denton Anniver spks. Excellent or hype?

FYI, audiokarma has a huge thread on these speakers in the British section.

@Sunnyjim: No hype, the Denton could be the last best value speakers that ever exists, attractive and beautiful craftsmanship, and most important musical sound, the speakers already been designed to enjoy a wide range of music without harshness, it's sound close to LS 3/5, but better fun bass. You just need some transparent gears include CD player, DAC and amp. It need clean power to sound best, though it still can sound with something like Marantz PM6005, but will sound a bit less clarity in treble and distortion handling. I own several Wharfedale speakers include Diamond 122, Jade 3, so far the Denton is the best value for me, I can spend whole day to listen to music, and stare at them, lol. But of course the Denton got some dynamic limitations due to the driver size, I'm still looking a better dynamic version of larger Denton, xD

For $500 your really can't go wrong. I bought a pair for a second system and drive them with a Primaluna Dialogue 1 tube amp. Quite nice, although I think I might like to hear them through a good SS amp voiced on the warm side of neutral like a Hegel. Excellent mid range (which has a somewhat forward soundstage when compared to my main system's speakers). It is not bright per se, but does not have the smoothness in the upper mids/highs I prefer (which costs a lot of money!). Bass is very good for a small box but you really do need clearance from the back wall or it becomes somewhat boomy/muddy (About 3 feet in my room). Hope that helps a bit.

In this price range, a listen to the NEW Andrew Jones designed ELAC speakers may make sense.

+1 on the Elacs. I have heard before, both the B5 and B6 in addition to the F5 at RMAF.

They are indeed something special for the money.