Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary Speaker Review

[Confused]

Somewhere on this website I found a table of tested speakers with points rating. There was also a recommendation for a pair of budget speakers that tested very good for its price. Can someone please help me find this page again?

 

[Petevid]

This one?

Master Audio Review Index

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Confused]

This one?

Master Audio Review Index

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thanks, but this isn't the page I'm looking for. I'm looking for a list in order of ranking.

 

[Petevid]

You have to click on speakers on this link, then if you click on the preference heading it re-orders them according to preference score.

For some reason the site won't let me create a link straight to the Speakers review page where they can ordered according to preference ranking

Master Audio Review Index

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Confused]

You have to click on speakers on this link, then if you click on the preference heading it re-orders them according to preference score.

For some reason the site won't let me create a link straight to the Speakers review page where they can ordered according to preference ranking

Master Audio Review Index

www.audiosciencereview.com

Great, thanks! It's still not the page that I'm looking for but very useful.

 

[whislai]

I'm not sure what's wrong with your `scienctific` review, I'm with this only Wharfedale heritage model for years, 2 sets, older or newer models does not win me over and over again, always my cup of tea this model...and I bet 100% this is the only model that strike price, performance, and music fidelity...people always said this Denton 80th is warm and rich...that is not the correct description for me.

 

[ameerm]

I bought a pair of these speakers locally used for $200 a few weeks back. I think they sound pretty good other than some bass bloom on the lower end. Just because I was curious after seeing these measurements and the resonances I decided to take them apart and see how they were made. Thought I'd share the pictures here for others to enjoy.

First, there is quite a lot of batting material in the box and it sounds pretty inert when knocking on it. Also there's a cross brace in the middle of the speaker.
Second, the basket of the woofer is plastic, I've never seen this before and it surprised me. I went ahead and added some dynamat material to the basket in case it's causing some of the resonances.
Third The tweeter is very heavy, magnet structure is rather large from what I've seen.

This is interesting. I opened my denton which was purchased almost 10 years ago and the basket is metal.

 

[DOuG pRATt]

This is interesting. I opened my denton which was purchased almost 10 years ago and the basket is metal.

As HAL would say, "Yes... it's puzzling." I'm not going to open up my two pairs of Denton 80's, but perhaps the 9-year-old units have a metal basket. It appears to be a cast basket.

 

[BDE]

The Super Denton (6,5" + 2" + 1"):

SUPER DENTON – WHARFEDALE

www.wharfedale.co.uk

Wharfedale Super Denton 3-way Bookshelf Speaker

Wharfedale SUPER DENTON is based on classic designs from Wharfedale’s past but brought right up to date with modern drive unit.

hifimart.com

 

[cavedriver]

The Super Denton (6,5" + 2" + 1"):

SUPER DENTON – WHARFEDALE

www.wharfedale.co.uk

Wharfedale Super Denton 3-way Bookshelf Speaker

Wharfedale SUPER DENTON is based on classic designs from Wharfedale’s past but brought right up to date with modern drive unit.

hifimart.com

ouch, I like the Linton, very good speaker for the money, but that design screams anachronism. At least put the drivers in a line. It would be a miracle if that dome midrange measured well, but hopes are not high.

 

[AJM1981]

Thanks, @amirm. That EIR is definitely a deal breaker to me...

To my knowledge, this has been discontinued for a while. The actual Denton is the 85th Anniversary, released back in 2019, before the (very good) Linton 85th :
View attachment 346176
I hope it would do better...

Should be. It is built differently and also has a different sound signature. Some reviews speak of a "hot tweeter" because they compare it to the previous Denton which is reviewed here (the reviewer even went as far to adding a resistor to 'tame the tweeter.. bit ridiculous for a review in my opinion) , but I think they have made improvements. I own this 85th anniversary edition and I wonder about the review here in the future. Wharfedale recommends to keep the grilles attached to counter standing waves. But I don't know if that makes so much of a difference on average listening volumes, probably slightly measurable (?).. but haven't noticed any difference. I do like the optical design more with the grilles on.

 

[AJM1981]

It's pity they degrade the trust earned from Linton. I chose revel because of trust..

The current Denton 85th anniversary edition (not the previous model reviewed here) is a scaled down version of their current Linton 85th anniversary edition. So, no reputation problems. The 80th anniversary edition has its fanbase too, but I have never used it personally. I like the bottom-room the Denton 85th has and everything feels well balanced. I would be surprised if measuring results would be negative, but numbers tell as well.

 

[Anatoly70]

This is interesting. I opened my denton which was purchased almost 10 years ago and the basket is metal.

Mine also metal.
BTW I have measured Impedance and Phase curves of my pair and neither indicates any resonance around 300Hz.

 

[Mr Vinyl]

I've had 80th since a number of years now and they not bright at all. I'm sensitive to treble and these things can make you fall asleep to Rammstein. My Arcam Solo isn't a particularly dark amp either. The Dentons sound very similar to my 1994 Paradigm Studio Monitors.

 

[fatherbowie]

I bought the 80th a few years ago, but in the past year I've moved them from my main listening room to my office and used them for near field listening. Subjectively, I think they perform well in that situation, at least for my taste, which is for a more "relaxed" speaker. For the price, I've certainly heard speakers that I like far less.

 

[DMill]

I bought the 80th a few years ago, but in the past year I've moved them from my main listening room to my office and used them for near field listening. Subjectively, I think they perform well in that situation, at least for my taste, which is for a more "relaxed" speaker. For the price, I've certainly heard speakers that I like far less.

I think Wharfedale got on board quickly with measurements when sites like ASR started gaining popularity. They have a lot of great speakers that measure amazing. I think the 80’s probably sound really good btw as this site tends to focus on its flaws where otherwise it’s great. In an office like you describe with casual listening it’s probably overkill. And they look cool. Kudos to reviewers here and Wharfedale for fixing the holes with the 85 series and lintons

 

[fatherbowie]

In an office like you describe with casual listening it’s probably overkill.

What’s more, I have them hooked up to an older 100 wax Yamaha receiver. It’s absolutely overkill for my office! Which is obviously at home.

I do like the way they look. When I bought them, I was hoping they would remind me more of my old Large Advents that I haven’t been able to get out of my head. The Wharfedale 80th are not those, but they look nice.

 

[whislai]

To me, this Denton 80 surpass all new models whatever you call it, Denton 85/Linton/Super Denton, subjectively sound great if you able to find a great power amplifier that match it, most forgiving speakers for a wide range of music genre, not a distortion great figure beast, but it's really not that horrible if you driving with a great power amplifier, decent bass punch, sweet midrange, smooth high.

 

[DMill]

To me, this Denton 80 surpass all new models whatever you call it, Denton 85/Linton/Super Denton, subjectively sound great if you able to find a great power amplifier that match it, most forgiving speakers for a wide range of music genre, not a distortion great figure beast, but it's really not that horrible if you driving with a great power amplifier, decent bass punch, sweet midrange, smooth high.

Based on measurements they definitely have a voice. Unfortunately not a very neutral one. But I’m glad you enjoy yours, they are by no means broken and I do enjoy the retro look of them.

Edit. I would add that on this site we tend to make a lot of noise about a shortcoming a speaker has measured. But only with good intention. There is nothing wrong with a speaker you like that has a signature sound and most can be helped by DSP solutions.

 

[whislai]

Based on measurements they definitely have a voice. Unfortunately not a very neutral one. But I’m glad you enjoy yours, they are by no means broken and I do enjoy the retro look of them.

Edit. I would add that on this site we tend to make a lot of noise about a shortcoming a speaker has measured. But only with good intention. There is nothing wrong with a speaker you like that has a signature sound and most can be helped by DSP solutions.

Guess what, because "itchy" behaviour of human, I recently bought an boXem Audio Arthur 4215/E2 (Purifi Eigentakt), in the past I also owned an NAD M22 (Hypex Ncore), and in the long run I prefer the Class D Audio SDS-470C instead, this power amplifier has some unknown filter "magic", not to the point of too warm or sound veil, sound just relax with right punch and clarity. To some degree I did think that the Purifi & Hypex NCore perform better in figures/details/distortions, but there are some sound human refuse to listen to and the Class D Audio did this better, can't even hear some pop cracks "flaws" in some recordings lol. But do remember this is just one possible audio chain of mine, yours might be on different sense because of music taste, space availability, equipment matching etc.