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Wharfedale Emerald 97 - compare to?

I've read a lot of speaker reviews lately and found the Wharfedale Emerald 97 gets a fairly good review. Looking on Ebay I have seen many of these sell for under $300/pair new with claims of retail being $1000/pair for black ash to $1800/pair for walnut. They come with floor spikes too. I do not know of any plce in the area I live that carries any so I cannot go to listen for myself. Does anyone out there have a pair or heard them, and what is your opinion? What do they compare to? Good bass with 30-20000 response? Are they exagerating the retail price? Are they worth $300?
Also, as long as I am on here, I live west of the Minneapolis-St.Paul area about 75 miles so I don't get there often, can anyone tell me some places to go there to listen to different high end speakers?
Thanks
tgi
lmkaz
2 posts
 
For around $300 new they are very good speakers. If you get the urge to try the Emerald 99s with the larger woofers, I would advise against that. For some reason the 8" drivers of the 99s don't blend as well with the tweeter as the 97s do (or 95s or 93s for that matter). If you can, go for any of the stained wood veneers instead of the black ash finish. They look very nice and sound much better than you would expect for the price. Disregard the list price but if you want a floorstanding, almost full-range speaker for around $300 then I don't know of anything better.
scottht
398 posts
 
There are at least 6 pairs of speakers under full range for sale that I saw quickly, just for the heck of it. All of them better in every way than the Wharfedale.
There are B&W's and Deftech's available.
But, To each his own. Don't come cryin here when you get them.
scottht
398 posts
 
You could also pick up a pair of used Thiel 1.2's for about $350.
aroc
760 posts
 
As a former wharfedale owner, I echo the comments here. I had a pair of emerald 97s about two years ago (two speakers ago). Mine were finished in walnut veneer. I paid under $200 from ubid.com. I think the retail prices are inflated, but for the price if you can get them with wood veneers they aren't bad. But beware with the two 6 inch woofers, they do not have a lot of bass. I like the used entry level magnepans a lot better - even for rock music. You will still need a monster sub to mate with these. I did. Plus they will not play as loud and clean as maggies will.
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
Yeap I would avoid them at all cost!!!
I have a friend who sells and trades alot of gear.I get to bring some of this stuff home a play with it before it is sold.He had several pairs of new Wharfedales. We set up a pair at my house...I kid you not those were probably the worst monitors I have ever heard! In the dictionary under boxey these speakers should be listed as a reference! Him and I sat there and laughed ...I could hardly concentrate on listening to them.

Also had a small pair of Monitor Audio B2s here the same day to play with... absolutely no comparison. The little B2s disappeared and I could detect hardly a hint of boxey colouration. You can do a lot better!
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