Wharfdale Super Linton vs Kef R3 Meta

[Zxypher]

I'm considering a new pair of speakers in my living room and want to try new brands (I've never had Wharfdale before). I'm currently using Kef R3 meta in my listening room and went to demo Wharfdale Super Linton expecting to actually buy it from the dealer on the spot after demo them. I like the design of Super Linton a lot since it is very much fit my living room decor and set up.

But after demo them for about 45 min in a listening room at the dealer, I felt underwhelmed and somewhat (for the lack of better words) disappointed. For clarity, I'm not saying that Super Linton is not good speakers, it is just that the sound I heard yesterday was quite hollow and lack mid vocal presence with a bit low dynamic. Admittedly, I've more experiences with Kef and prefer Kef R3 and R3 meta sound profile. Bass performance is better than Kef R3 meta but mid and treble is less pronounced. This, in effect, make Super Linton to me a bit flat. Hard to explain.

What is your experiences with Super Linton? I wants to like it so badly since I love its design and I'm avoiding to get another pair of Kef for wanting to try new brands.

Can someone recommend a good set of DAC and AMP for the Super Linton? The dealer used Audio Lab 9000A with, I think 6000 Streamer playing Tidal). I've never used AudioLab so not sure if it is because DAC and Amp.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Zxypher! Welcome to ASR.

What I can tell you is that, objectively, the Super Linton is not hollow, does not lack mid vocal presence, and does not have inferior dynamics and bass performance to the R3 Meta, or less pronounced mids and treble.

What you heard was 99% differences in the listening environment, not differences in base loudspeaker performance.

Wharfedale Super Linton Speaker Review

Wharfedale Super Linton

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

KEF R3 Meta Bookshelf Speaker Review

Kef R3 Meta

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Easily compare loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

Comparing the sound of your speakers in your room to some other speakers in a different room simply does not give meaningful insight into loudspeaker performance and any resulting impressions of perceived loudspeaker qualities are likely misplaced.

 

[IanForumUser]

Does anyone happen to know at what height the speaker terminals are mounted in the Super Linton cabinets? I want to use some JBL raked back stands with them, rather than the horrible Wharfedale offerings (please don't flame me)! I I've looked everywhere for detailed dimensions, but alas...

 

[staticV3]

Does anyone happen to know at what height the speaker terminals are mounted in the Super Linton cabinets? I want to use some JBL raked back stands with them, rather than the horrible Wharfedale offerings (please don't flame me)! I I've looked everywhere for detailed dimensions, but alas...

Here's a picture of the rear:


The cabinet is 605mm in height.

Use Photoshop or https://www.photopea.com/ with the Ruler tool to measure the ratio of bottom edge->terminals divided by bottom edge->top edge, then multiply by 605mm.

That's the terminal height.

 

[IanForumUser]

Here's a picture of the rear:
View attachment 438774

The cabinet is 605mm in height.

Use Photoshop or https://www.photopea.com/ with the Ruler tool to measure the ratio of bottom edge->terminals divided by bottom edge->top edge, then multiply by 605mm.

That's the terminal height.

You're a good man, and thorough! Thanks so much!

 

[testp]

...what staticV3 said, plus just resizing the pic until height = 605mm will suffice as well

 

[swampbrain]

I've narrowed my new speaker choices to The Linton, Super Linton, or R3 meta. Also considered a few others but....
Did you ever choose? Seems like the Kefs and Wharfedales have somewhat different sound profiles. Unfortunately I have no way of listening to any of these speakers in person.

 

[staticV3]

I've narrowed my new speaker choices to The Linton, Super Linton, or R3 meta. Also considered a few others but....
Did you ever choose? Seems like the Kefs and Wharfedales have somewhat different sound profiles. Unfortunately I have no way of listening to any of these speakers in person.

The Super Linton (dashed) has an upper mids/lower treble emphasis, relative to the R3 Meta:


For reference, use this helpful frequency chart from @solderdude:


The Linton 85 has a similar, but mild emphasis relative to the R3 Meta:


More importantly though, it is optimized for considerable distance to the front wall, whereas the Super Linton and KEF are designed for close proximity placement with their distinct bass notch.

Here are their directivity patterns:


If you want consistency off-axis, the KEF is the obvious choice.

Other performance characteristics can be compared here:

Wharfedale Super Linton Speaker Review

Wharfedale Super Linton

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary Speaker Review

Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

KEF R3 Meta Bookshelf Speaker Review

Kef R3 Meta

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

THD:
R3 Meta > Super Linton > Linton 85

Dynamic headroom:
Super Linton > R3 Meta > Linton 85

 

[ehabheikal]

I've narrowed my new speaker choices to The Linton, Super Linton, or R3 meta. Also considered a few others but....
Did you ever choose? Seems like the Kefs and Wharfedales have somewhat different sound profiles. Unfortunately I have no way of listening to any of these speakers in person.

I also had no way of listening Bought the r3 m based on measurements. They are amazing especially with a subwoofer and room correction.

 

[swampbrain]

The Super Linton (dashed) has an upper mids/lower treble emphasis, relative to the R3 Meta:
View attachment 462903

For reference, use this helpful frequency chart from @solderdude:
View attachment 462905

The Linton 85 has a similar, but mild emphasis relative to the R3 Meta:
View attachment 462904

More importantly though, it is optimized for considerable distance to the front wall, whereas the Super Linton and KEF are designed for close proximity placement with their distinct bass notch.

Here are their directivity patterns:
View attachment 462908 View attachment 462907 View attachment 462906

If you want consistency off-axis, the KEF is the obvious choice.

Other performance characteristics can be compared here:

Wharfedale Super Linton Speaker Review

Wharfedale Super Linton

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary Speaker Review

Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

KEF R3 Meta Bookshelf Speaker Review

Kef R3 Meta

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

THD:
R3 Meta > Super Linton > Linton 85

Dynamic headroom:
Super Linton > R3 Meta > Linton 85

Interesting. I was under the impression, for some reason, that the r3 had a brighter upper range (more emphasis) than the linton but they look very similar in room if im viewing it right. I have watched Erin's reviews - that's, in large part, how I got to this point. Closer to the wall (meta or supper) would be better for me but 1k better? I'll sacrifice the space. My biggest fear would be the Lintons would lack upper mid and/or lower tweeter range lack of clarity. I'm looking for newfound clarity and aha moments from this purchase. Considering I'm running 30 year old Athena f2s as my stereo pair I'd imagine almost any 21st century speaker will be an audible upgrade - definitely any of these 3

 

[swampbrain]

I also had no way of listening Bought the r3 m based on measurements. They are amazing especially with a subwoofer and room correction.

Thanks .