Hopefully Erin also reviews this. I'm moving into a new apartment next year and these are on my shortlist to replace my M106's. I want a bit more low end + better looks and these fit the bill. I love the classic look in combination with modern performance.
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Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary speaker review & measurements by Erin's Audio Corner
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beagleman
Major Contributor
I mean, yeah I guess an improvement, bigger box, and improved drivers etc...(including woofer), but I was just hoping for a more budget minded 10" woofer with mid and tweeter from the current Linton. 
I mean, yeah I guess an improvement, bigger box, and improved drivers etc...(including woofer), but I was just hoping for a more budget minded 10" woofer with mid and tweeter from the current Linton.
It's the tweeter from the Dovedale, and according to What Hifi, that is a new tweeter.
cavedriver
Addicted to Fun and Learning
The tweeter in the Dovedale is the same as the one in the normal Linton with just some new sound absorption in the rear chamber: "The 25mm fabric-dome treble unit with a ceramic magnet, featured throughout Wharfedale’s Heritage Series, has been further improved by incorporating a rear chamber, damped to absorb the output from the back of the dome." The Super Linton is claimed to be using an entirely new tweeter design, or at least the faceplate is revised and not the one on the Dovedale: "For the treble output, SUPER LINTON features a lightweight fabric weave dome coated with special damp-ing material and supported by a ceramic magnet motor system, contributing to its sweet and detailed char-acter. The revised short horn profile ensures smooth response down to the upper midrange, and the new front plate design enhances high-frequency dispersion, matching the transient impact and detailing of the new bass unit."
Looking at promo video it seems to me that they just listened some of the audiophile critique about capacitors and wiring and they applied that. Erin doesn't measure wall vibration so we will never know if the CLD glue mentioned in the video really does something significant for vibration control. Adding a small waveguide for tweeter seems like a good idea almost always. They removed all laminate core inductors except one on the woofer (large one and probably too bulky and expensive to change). Coil change will probably have more influence on midrange and highs than any of the claimed changes in transducers since exploded view shows virtually the same technology used or better to say unused (aluminium shorting rings and copper sleeves in pole pieces are still missing). Measurements will show if the these actually perform better or is it just marketing department promotional tale.
cavedriver
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I wouldn't go that far. Sure the capacitors may have no effect on the sound, but looking at the difference in dispersion patterns from the Seas Titan tweeter in the Ascend discussion there is a clear opportunity to design a tweeter that looks just like any other tweeter and yet has significantly better measured performance. Things like CLD construction have repeatedly been proven to improve measured sound quality (lower distortion) so I really don't see that as tomfoolery. I admit that Wharfedale has made some questionable design decisions in the past, but generally, and more so lately, it seems like Cormeau has been firing on all cylinders. I do agree that the proof will be in the measurements.
beagleman
Major Contributor
Yeah, all the stuff about internal wiring and caps and coils, seems to ME a bit much, but it might help some with the better inductor on woofer, not sure if it will measure better or how audible the changes will be, but Peter C. seems to know his stuff!
Danny will be happy!
But for that much more money I really expected a 10" woofer with a few inches more dimension in all measurements, not just a tad taller.
It does seem good and all, but just a priced up version of the classic recent model.
Wharfedale - Super Linton Bookshelf Speakers (Pair)
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Seems crossover frequencies were altered also. Deep bass goes a bit more also. Interesting to see measurements!
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DanielT
Master Contributor
A few notes:
-Super Lintons f3 at 77 Hz so they are suitable, according to Erin, to be placed near the back wall for bass suport/boost.
-Sensitivity 88.2 dB so about half as much amplifier power is needed compared to the old , or non-super Lintons, which Erin measured to be 85.1 dB.
The two aspects make for some interesting differences between them. Both the old and the new Lintons seem fine.
Clever of Wharfedale to create those differences between. Wharfedale's technical developers, they seem like some smart people. Presumably, they also checked what the market demanded before they started the Super Linton project.
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How is sensitivity measured on a Klippel? Pink noise and dBA? Some other signal and other ponderation?
It might be that since the Super Linton presents a bass shelf and usually it's the bass driver that is the less sensitive of all drivers, some of that sensitivity gain might be due to the Super Linton having less bass at a given volume.
The severely changed bass response is interesting and certainly aids placement in confined spaces. I'd say practical and certainly on purpose. Also comes with drastically reduced bass distortion and compression - nice.A few notes:
-Super Lintons f3 at 77 Hz so they are suitable, according to Erin, to be placed near the back wall for bass suport/boost.
-Sensitivity 88.2 dB so about half as much amplifier power is needed compared to the old , or non-super Lintons, which Erin measured to be 85.1 dB.
View attachment 405418View attachment 405419
The two aspects make for some interesting differences between them. Both the old and the new Lintons seem fine.
Clever of Wharfedale to create those differences between. Wharfedale's technical developers, they seem like some smart people. Presumably, they also checked what the market demanded before they started the Super Linton project.
What strikes me as odd is how it relates to their published figures. Published F3 and F6 figures (40 and 35 Hz) were accurate on the original 85. These new ones are rated at 39 and 32 Hz, certainly for marketing purposes - the new and more expensive ones certainly are supposed to be better - but it looks like that's a flat out lie!
OP
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Except the bass shelf the biggest difference is the much lower compression and "filled" 1 kHz dip at the new one, so for people with EQ the main advantage of the new one would be at high SPL listening:
DanielT
Master Contributor
I think it's a deliberate technical design choice by Wharfedale. Super Lintons roll off higher in frequency but they also have a higher sensitivity. If you want that type of speaker, you choose the Super Linton. On the other hand, if you're looking for speakers that roll off lower in frequency and don't worry about lower sensitivity, it's the usual Lintons you choose.
(if the choice is only between the two different Linton models, that is)
Vertical directivity looks a bit nicer too. That tiny waveguide seems to work well.
I know, it's just some apparent improvements might partially be artefacts of how it's measured than real improvements. I was more commenting on the nature of the measurement itself than the result.
I think it's a deliberate technical design choice by Wharfedale. Super Lintons roll off higher in frequency but they also have a higher sensitivity. If you want that type of speaker, you choose the Super Linton. On the other hand, if you're looking for speakers that roll off lower in frequency and don't worry about lower sensitivity, it's the usual Lintons you choose.
(if the choice is only between the two different Linton models, that is)
I know, it's just some apparent improvements might partially be artefacts of how it's measured than real improvements. I was more commenting on the nature of the measurement itself than the result.
DanielT
Master Contributor
Edit:
Damn I missed it, it clearly says reduced - 3dB to level match. Sorry.
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OP
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For that comparison he reduced the amplitude of the Super Linton plot by 3 dB to make it match the Linton one.Hm, FR seen from 100 Hz and up and then there doesn't seem to be a 3 dB difference in sensitivity between them, does it? Or am I interpreting the graph wrong now? Don't know if there is something wrong with my eyes. I don't see it anyway.
View attachment 405428
DanielT
Master Contributor
I see that now.
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