Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary speaker review & measurements by Erin's Audio Corner

[cavedriver]

Just because you dont understand it, doesn't mean he made a mistake. I agree the on axis,

Also, what do you mean by diffusor? It pretty much acts as a waveguide.

well, I at least I can commend you on making a reasoned response that ties the analysis back to the measurements. Which was precisely what is lacking in Darko's video.

Yes, of course I meant waveguide.

 

[Zvu]

That is the guy, he knows his craft .

View attachment 292458
Fourth floor, i'm sweating buckets. Hiking backpack for reference.

No elevator in building ?

When will you list them ?

 

[TheBatsEar]

No elevator in building ?

I have, but it was out of order for a overhaul sadly.

When will you list them ?

RIGHT NOW!

I'm letting them rip right now with CJ Bollands - Con Spirituo which is based on samples from Vangelis - 12oclock. No subs needed

From that same album comes Nec Plus Ultra, another mid 90ies breakbeat/techno classic:

I think i'll do some Kraftwerk next, then, as the day progresses, maybe see what they can do with some Led Zeppelin and Peter Gabriel.

I haven't installed the spikes yet, maybe i will get some rollers to get the stands a few cm higher, they are a bit low for my taste.
Make of the speakers is perfect, nothing to complain. I would preferred them in red mahogany, but walnut is nice too.

 

[Zvu]

....

I'm letting them rip right now with CJ Bollands - Con Spirituo which is based on samples from Vangelis - 12oclock. No subs needed

Naah... i just don't believe you. You should measure it in your room to prove it

Anyway, rock on

 

[TheBatsEar]

The Lintons and my neighbors!

Not sure what the designers did exactly, but they really know how to play the deeper notes, loads of fun.

 

[Kachda]

The Lintons and my neighbors!
View attachment 292749

Not sure what the designers did exactly, but they really know how to play the deeper notes, loads of fun.

They are fun aren’t they? Pretty much everything sounds good on it!

 

[TheBatsEar]

They are fun aren’t they? Pretty much everything sounds good on it!

True!
Finally a speaker that can replace my beloved ATCs, which are now for sale

Now that i have the Lintons, i'm hyped for the slightly larger Dovedale.
I doubt they will be as popular as the Lintons, as they have a hefty price, but i will look out for them in a year or two, maybe i get lucky on the used markets again

 

[thewas]

Finally a speaker that can replace my beloved ATCs, which are now for sale

Just out of curiosity why do you prefer them?
Also isn't it too early for such a decision as in the first days of the new "amore" some long term listening issues might be overheard?

 

[TheBatsEar]

Just out of curiosity why do you prefer them?

The ATCs are very slim. Bass is there, and it goes deep, but it's incredibly faint. Kick drums don't do what they should do. Maybe they have high resolution? Maybe they have high SPL and maybe low distortion, but the kick drum thing has long annoyed me.

And so i wanted to sell them for a long time for a pair of SCM40 or SCM40a, but i never found those for a fair price. Along came the Lintons.

BTW, i also sell a pair of Mission LC-3 MKII and Focal Chora 806 and some amps and maybe tape decks. I need the space for new stuff.

Also isn't it too early for such a decision as in the first days of the new "amore" some long term listening issues might be overheard?

Nah, i wanted to move on for a long time now. Also, i don't overthink these things, it's just stuff. If i grow to hate the Lintons i sell them.

 

[Kachda]

True!
Finally a speaker that can replace my beloved ATCs, which are now for sale

Now that i have the Lintons, i'm hyped for the slightly larger Dovedale.
I doubt they will be as popular as the Lintons, as they have a hefty price, but i will look out for them in a year or two, maybe i get lucky on the used markets again

Completely different price point. I just added a sub and called it a day. Not going to be looking for another speaker for a while

 

[Zvu]

Linton is wrong name for this loudspeaker. It should have been Pacificators

 

[TheBatsEar]

Pacificators

But why?

 

[TheBatsEar]

Here is a podcast with Peter Comeau mostly about the Lintons:
https://soundcloud.com/johnhdarko%2Fwhy-bigger-loudspeakers-are-better

 

[Stoney Burke]

Agree with his comments, everything sounds pleasant on these speakers. I sold my r3s and bought these

Bought a pair with stand’s recently. My first venture into this level of speakers. Thoroughly enjoying them!

 

[AC1]

Long before Erin's measurements there was:

- John Atkinson from Stereophile who said the Linton's farfield response is superbly flat, even up to 15khz.
- HiFi World who said the Lintons are not soft or warm, they are accurate.

 

[thewas]

Interestingly whenever I heard them at audio dealers and shows I always found their tonality quite warm with recessed treble which kept me from buying them as I initially really wanted to.

 

[AC1]

I bought them because to my ears they sounded balanced or linear, just like the KEF LS50, to which I compared them. Okay, the sax on the LS50 had a little more presence in that small demo room but the instruments sounded miniaturized. On the Lintons, however, the instruments sounded life-size. So linear and scale (for my large room) were the reasons why I ordered the Lintons. When they arrived they sounded painfully harsh in the mid-range and subdued in the HF but that's another story ...

 

[Infinit0]

I am a new happy owner of the lintons, they are impressive specially for the price point couldnt find any better (acoustic sierra and Revel not available in my country). So I can stop looking for speakers and just sit and enjoy the music!

 

[Infinit0]

Is there anyone Linton owner here using it with MiniDSP Flex + UMIK calibration?

Not sure if it's worth it to fix some room problems. Actually because I am in Spain and a MiniDSP + Umik 2 is around 750 euro
And on top of that I need the dirac live license

 

[TheBatsEar]

I do have the Linton 85, MiniDSP Flex, UMIK1 and Dirac license.
I have to correct for two nasty room resonances, but couldn't be bothered to do more. I simply cut the FR below 50Hz and use two subwoofers to do that part, all by ear and often the subs aren't even turned on.

1. i can simply replace the speakers with something else, my room modes are fixed.
2. i probably should do a better job making measurements and also use Dirac ;-)

I use the MiniDSP Flex more like a DAC/Preamp i guess, so i still got my money worth.

750€ seems a bit much for used stuff. That's almost retail, isn't it?

BTW, i can recommend the Hantech, really crisp and cool. Has an airy quality.