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

[ZolaIII]

@harrisonjr98 no offense taken, hopefully likewise.
They are very good speakers. If you want to improve something you do it with DSP. Dany wouldn't mind and would improve the crossovers a bit too but it would cost you more in the end than Super Linton's.

 

[harrisonjr98]

You're good! Yeah, I am really enjoying the sound of them so far. I have heard about that crossover upgrade being popular, but it does feel a bit much to invest in speakers of this price point. DSP is definitely on the list to explore when I get the itch!

 

[Miniyouuuu]

Super Linton sound cleaner than regular Lintons. Less distorsion, less boomier, less laidback sound. Everything that Erin’s data showed is something you realize when you direct compare both versions of Wharfedale speakers. I got the chance to try them in the same space, with the same gear, and the sounded different. So different that Super Lintons have lost a bit of it’s original character. I always thought that I’d like to improve internal components of my regular Lintons, but once you try the improved version, you feel that some legacy has been lost. Objectively the supers are better, but they don’t have the character of the 85s. To me, the are closer to Mission 700 than to 85s. And I remember when I got the chance to buy both and I finally went to the 85s. Bass is more precise, treble is more accurate, but you don’t get the slap of regular Lintons when bass is hitting hard.

I have a miniDSP for my Lintons. Originally I forced the speaker to achieve a perfect Harmann target curve through Dirac and the result is pourer to my liking. Specially when you force the treble area to achieve what it is not. In this regard I assume the new super Lintons with less distorsion will be better suited for that Target curve. Super Lintons are better home cinema speakers.

 

[Snoopy]

Yeah I am less concerned about the driver matching and more about the resale value and just receiving the matched pair I paid for. If I was buying secondhand I would not be as much of a stickler but a new speaker purchase is quite a rare occasion for me!

Did you see what the resale value of the normal Linton is ?
I doubt this will be different for the Super Linton once enough people jump on the next hype speaker..

I paid 1398 euro for the super Linton (new with tax , shipping etc ). Resell value of used loudspeakers after a few years if someone is willing to pick them up ? Maybe 50% ? Not really worth it in my opinion.

But they are good loudspeakers even if you end up putting them in a second system in a couple of years


I tried to trade in my wharfedale Evo 4.2 and most retailers told me they are not interested. Selling them used for 1/3 of its current discounted price after there is the new aura series?

Loudspeakers are same like TVs and phones.. once you open the box it’s -30% value .

And I’m not going to bother anymore with selling privately . (Did that before and people usually expect absolutely mint condition for 20% retail price and will still manage to complain)


Just wait till the YouTubers start hyping up the quad revela loudspeakers

 

[Zvu]

Serial numbers for the Lintons are not there for driver matching but for veneer matching (mirror veneer L vs R) and L/R matching (so you don't end up with two left speakers). I sincerely doubt that Wharfedale gave up serial number coding policy since it makes mistakes less lightly.

Mine have exact same serial numbers.

 

[Infinit0]

Anyone has listened both Linton 85 and Super Linton side by side, is upgrade worth it? I am a bit worried that new ones will lost a bit the original relaxed character, and also consider them a bit expensive

 

[staticV3]

Anyone has listened both Linton 85 and Super Linton side by side, is upgrade worth it? I am a bit worried that new ones will lost a bit the original relaxed character, and also consider them a bit expensive

Scroll up three posts for listening impressions

 

[Infinit0]

Amazing and nice explanation, sorry I was on my mobile and couldn't check new messages, my bad. i will keep my linton then with DIRAC applied on them, is more than enough for me and love sound signature

 

[KLi]

I asked her and she said, "NOT those stands", lol

Mine as well Still supreme w/o the stands.

 

[harrisonjr98]

I sincerely doubt that Wharfedale gave up serial number coding policy since it makes mistakes less lightly.

What do you mean by this? Just curious. I still have not received an actual clarification on this from Wharfedale after poking their support repeatedly for an answer haha. I didn't expect that it would be so difficult to find out what's going on, lol.

 

[harrisonjr98]

If anyone comes across my serial number discussion in the future with the same question, this is the response I got from Wharfedale:

"The CLE055 is the shortened serial to mark a matched pair, the numbers on the speakers themselves are sequential. Same with the stands. The customer should have a fully matched kit."

Seems like it must have changed at some point from the long serials being identical.

 

[rwortman]

I’ve been using PSB Imagine T2’s as mains speakers for 8 years. No complaints. I decided I wanted to try the Lintons just because I’m old and loved the vintage look. I’m quite surprised at how good they sound. Not better as much as different. I think the differences between wide and narrow baffles are real. The PSB’s threw a wider image but the Wharfedales seem more “forceful”. They definitely seem to project sound into the room differently. A bit more like the Stratus Gold I’s i had before. I switched to the T2’s because I was moving in a year and the Stratus Gold’s were too big and heavy to want to move them. My wife immediately said she like the Gold’s better than the T2’s. I liked them both but the skinny towers did seem to have a more “delicate” presentation. I got used to the new sound and they could certainly be stunning with the right music. So can the Linton’s but in a different way. Hmmm. Can’t see having speakers sitting around. Maybe sell the PSB’s and listen to these for a few years.