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

[Architectorus]

That awful stuff DOWNGRADED every single system we sold it with

Hmmm. Maybe that's why there is so many of this cable on sale?

'upgrading' the passive crossover with supposedly 'better/posher/more-expensive' bits will probably upset the balance and make the things WORSE rather than better

I totally agree about the fact that creater done a great job. But just one question - why are... Aura, Elysian, Dovedale have a better components if it affect nothing? They are hidden from the eyes so why don't put a few more lacquer layers instead of this on an expensive product? But yeah, it can affect a balance. Would be great to measure tweaked speaker..

 

[DSJR]

Hmmm. Maybe that's why there is so many of this cable on sale?


I totally agree about the fact that creater done a great job. But just one question - why are... Aura, Elysian, Dovedale have a better components if it affect nothing? They are hidden from the eyes so why don't put a few more lacquer layers instead of this on an expensive product? But yeah, it can affect a balance. Would be great to measure tweaked speaker..

Better components?

Selling larger boxes for a lot more money over purely material costs *may* mean that posher boutique internals can act as a selling point and help justify the higher prices asked. I know one speaker brand that lauched some special models with 'designer' caps and other bling bits at a higher price. The market went mad, all but stopping the standard models in their tracks. After a while, the special range weas discontinued and the standard range was given a souped up generic name and sold at even higher price, but using the previous stock grade of components (I'm thinking capacitors here). People say the latest versions are best ever (I know one model in poarticular really does 'sound' better than ever, the others more as before in my limited experience of them), but they do this with the same standard of parts as before the special versions and what I'm trying to say, is that the rerl difference is in proper objective design tweaks, rather than bits of wire, foo caps and so on.

Hope that makes some kind of sense.

 

[billou5767]

hello

can you confirm : serial number must be the same to have right and left speaker ?

 

[funkera91]

Guys, just bought Lintons and tried them with Yamaha RX V2500 - it was okay in Pure direct mode, but now i changed the AVR to Denon X3600h - it is less powerfull but is still okay, but there is difference in sound - more balanced and clean - still bot the best I guess for that speakers, but it is okay.
Just I guess they need more power..

 

[birdwizard]

Anyone who can compare theese to Buchardt 400 MKII ? or Arendal 1723 ?
What are the differences in sound?

I have both the Lintons and the 1723 THX, and both are great but very different. The Arendal is more dynamic with both better defined bass and upper end detail. They have tremendous slam, and are fantastic in my home theater. The Arendal's are more powerful speakers and I have yet to push them to any noticeable distortion. And yet, I still prefer to listen to the Linton's for most music sessions.

The Linton's have such an awesome midrange, and a rich tuneful bass that is really pleasing. The music presents as one image, and I don't notice the driver crossover points at all. I run an NAD M10, and Dirac shows a pretty good in room response for these even though people say they are treble shy. I just think they sound awesome for music, with an enormous soundstage and holistic presentation. I will sit down for a couple of hours with the Linton's and never get tired or analytical of the sound. I typically don't have to mess with the volume.

 

[early rejecter]

can you confirm : serial number must be the same to have right and left speaker ?

My pair have matching serial numbers, so that seems to be how they’re sold, but you wouldn’t necessarily need a matched pair to have a right and left. From the outside you can tell which is which by the placement of the logo on the grille.

 

[Antediluvian]

Should I buy these? I'm looking for an old school looking speakers for my living room. They currently retail for 1000 Eur with the stands.

 

[PeterNL]

Should I buy these? I'm looking for an old school looking speakers for my living room. They currently retail for 1000 Eur with the stands.

Yes, great looking and sounding speakers.

 

[beagleman]

I have both the Lintons and the 1723 THX, and both are great but very different. The Arendal is more dynamic with both better defined bass and upper end detail. They have tremendous slam, and are fantastic in my home theater. The Arendal's are more powerful speakers and I have yet to push them to any noticeable distortion. And yet, I still prefer to listen to the Linton's for most music sessions.

The Linton's have such an awesome midrange, and a rich tuneful bass that is really pleasing. The music presents as one image, and I don't notice the driver crossover points at all. I run an NAD M10, and Dirac shows a pretty good in room response for these even though people say they are treble shy. I just think they sound awesome for music, with an enormous soundstage and holistic presentation. I will sit down for a couple of hours with the Linton's and never get tired or analytical of the sound. I typically don't have to mess with the volume.

I am familiar with Arendal, but which specific model to you own?

I found Five models with the name "1723 THX" bookshelf's and Floor standers.....

 

[beagleman]

I would love to see a Linton "Plus" or something to that effect.

The same speaker, but with a SLIGHTLY higher price, slightly bigger box and a 10" woofer, instead of the 8"

The Dovedale is far too high priced, they need an "inbetween" model, that would really fill a void.

Love the Linton's but just would love a smaller step up
I have pondered if I could take my 12.1s Pair them with a "Bass box" with a decent 10" woofer and passive crossover around 600hz and make a "poor mans" linton...

 

[Miniyouuuu]

Denton, Mission 750, Sandwich 150, SuperDenton, Mission 700, Linton, Aura, Sandwich 250, Mission 770, Dovedale, Elysian… so many little steps developed by Peter Comeau. I don’t think there would be another step between Linton and Dovedale.

 

[djigibao]

I would love to see a Linton "Plus" or something to that effect.

The same speaker, but with a SLIGHTLY higher price, slightly bigger box and a 10" woofer, instead of the 8"

The Dovedale is far too high priced, they need an "inbetween" model, that would really fill a void.

Love the Linton's but just would love a smaller step up
I have pondered if I could take my 12.1s Pair them with a "Bass box" with a decent 10" woofer and passive crossover around 600hz and make a "poor mans" linton...

Maybe your wishes will come true...

 

[beagleman]

Denton, Mission 750, Sandwich 150, SuperDenton, Mission 700, Linton, Aura, Sandwich 250, Mission 770, Dovedale, Elysian… so many little steps developed by Peter Comeau. I don’t think there would be another step between Linton and Dovedale.

Honestly, I hate to say it, but the Dovedale just seems to be in too high a price bracket. Its a huge jump from the Linton, and not saying its not a great speaker, but just not a good value at all.
For its price, I expected it to be a 12" woofer if anything.

The "Super Linton" makes far more sense, if they price it accordingly.

 

[cavedriver]

Honestly, I hate to say it, but the Dovedale just seems to be in too high a price bracket. Its a huge jump from the Linton, and not saying its not a great speaker, but just not a good value at all.
For its price, I expected it to be a 12" woofer if anything.

The "Super Linton" makes far more sense, if they price it accordingly.

sadly I expect much of the difference in prices comes down to being made in UK vs. China. Wharfedale tried to do an honorable thing, saw the sales take too big a hit, and decided to come out with a Chinese-made product to slot in between the two.

 

[ThELiZ]

Maybe your wishes will come true...

View attachment 402970

This is great news. So glad I've held out for any upgrades.

If those are pics of the actual Super Linton, I'm surprised they haven't used the dome mid from the Super Denton.

If these are under £2k then I’ll be purchasing day one!

 

[cavedriver]

This is great news. So glad I've held out for any upgrades.

If those are pics of the actual Super Linton, I'm surprised they haven't used the dome mid from the Super Denton.

If these are under £2k then I’ll be purchasing day one!

it's not easy to get many dome mids to cross over at the lower frequencies that you might want to use with a 10" or 12" woofer. No saying it can't be done, just that it's a possible reason they may go with a cone.

 

[JustJones]

This is great news. So glad I've held out for any upgrades.

If those are pics of the actual Super Linton, I'm surprised they haven't used the dome mid from the Super Denton.

If these are under £2k then I’ll be purchasing day one!

I would be very surprised if these would be under $2000. The Lintons with stands in the US are $1800 new, the Dovedale $7000 new. If they're under $2000 it might be a replacement for the existing Linton if they're looking for a new product to fill the gap $3500 - $4000 would be a more realistic price.

 

[ThELiZ]

I would be very surprised if these would be under $2000. The Lintons with stands in the US are $1800 new, the Dovedale $7000 new. If they're under $2000 it might be a replacement for the existing Linton if they're looking for a new product to fill the gap $3500 would be a more realistic price.

Sorry, that’s £2k GBP. The Linton’s with stands are £1200 GBP in UK.

 

[JustJones]

Sorry, that’s £2k GBP. The Linton’s with stands are £1200 GBP in UK.

Then minimum £2800 is what I would expect unless it's a replacement and not a new speaker to fill a gap.

 

[ThELiZ]

If that would be the case I think they’d have the same issue as with the Dovedale… Not many people will buy them.

I’m not sure many people would pay double what the Linton is for 2 extra inches and a slightly bigger box.

All a bit pointless saying this though, as we know nothing about the speaker yet.