2. speakers
  3. 148632-18279

Wharfedale Linton Heritage 85th Anniversary

These are fun speakers.  They are musical and smooth. An absolute pleasure to hear with tubes.

I cannot believe how well made they are at this price point.  I'd like to wheel in a pair of Harbeths or Spendors (classic type) to have a shootout.  The stands are well executed.  Everything feels substantial and high end.  Color me impressed.  


128x128jbhiller
avanti1960
1,458 posts
 
They aren't even close and it might not be about quality- it's about voicing.  They are voiced differently and I prefer the Harbeth sound by a mile.  
harley62
2 posts
 
Avanti 1960
Can you give a short description of the difference you hear between the Harbeth and the Wharfdale's.
Thanks,
Steve
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,094 posts
 
Very nice product especially with the matched stands.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,716 posts
 
I heard them at AXPONA and wasn't impressed. Maybe it was the source and amplification but they had an exaggerated upper midband and sucked out lower midband lending the sound a slight boom-tizz effect. 
sunnyjim
927 posts
 

I owned a pair of Denton 80th Anniversary speakers for two years as an alternative speaker.  They did sound musical and engaging  I did not find the highs shrill or edgy, but I could tell they were not all there and somewhat rolled off. 

If what Eric Squire said about the tweeters being cheap, then I would be reluctant to buy a pair of the Linton's based on the fact that they sound musical like the Denton's 80s   Despite their overall musicality, I felt the sound was somewhat constrained and imaging was average.  They also did not offer a different perspective or presentation of the music which is the failing IMHO of many speakers.

Yes, musicality is a key factor in musical enjoyment, but so is imaging and "wide-range" transparency, not just in the mid-range. I would venture to say there are other (or some $1500) speakers on the market like the Magneplanar .7 or the PSB Imagine XT model that may offer superior performance at $1500-$2000. Also, would suggest hunting down either Audio Physic Virgo I and II which can be had between $1500- $2000 if you haggle with the seller, especially the Virgo II. The new AP line, which seems to change yearly, are too expensive and offer poor price/performance ratio. 

All that said, I would give the Wharfedale  Lintons  a listen. 

More to discover