I bought my Lintons with the stands for $1499.00 at Music Direct about a year and a half ago. After some break in time they sound incredible with my PrimaLuna EVO 200 integrated amplifier. I listen to jazz, chamber music and classical. Try listening to Love in vain from the Stones and talk about a huge soundstage. I love them.
Mada Nielk 😂 no the Warfedale is a beautiful looking speaker. The Passive Radiator in the Forte III is just so huge. It is a visual distraction in the video.
Steve pretty much nailed it, except the resolution for me in the treble is spot on and perfect for me. I just received my Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers less than a week ago. Mine are the complete set with stands just like in this video. Mine are in the Red Mahogany finish. They are stunning beauties for sure. Even the stands scream top quality. As background, I also own both the Wharfedale Denton 80th and 85th Anniversary Edition speakers and love them both. I have concluded that - FOR ME - the Wharfedale signature sound is my favorite sound signature in speakers. I love the warm and luscious audio blanket in which they envelop the listener ... beautiful, full, and musically articulate bass, lifelike mid-range and vocals, and incredibly smooth but very detailed highs. Having said all that, the new Linton Heritage speakers from Wharfedale have taken the Wharfedale signature sound to breathtaking levels of audio performance. My jaw dropped at the imaging and sound stage these brought to my music - and they have only gotten better in the last couple of days as they have begun to loosen up. Seriously, the sound stage produced by these speakers, at least in my setup, is so fricking realistic and present that they brought tears to my eyes as I sat there and listened to them. I can't get enough of them. I am pulling out all of my music just to hear it on these speakers, everything from Jazz to Classic Hard Rock, from Orchestral to Blues, from Vocal to Progressive Rock ... it all sounds gloriously realistic through these speakers. I am playing old Gene Krupa, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Coleman Hawkins, etc and I just close my eyes as they play right in my room in front of me. But don't be fooled by those selections, as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Humble Pie, Montrose, Thin Lizzy, Mahogany Rush, ELP, Kansas, Rush, etc all sound equally amazing through these speakers. I am also a drummer and thus I am particularly sensitive to the imaging and sound stage of drums in music. I'll just say that these Linton speakers present Ian Paice of Deep Purple in all his left-handed drumming glory, capturing every nuance of his finesse and chops. Very, very impressive. Again, mine are not even fully broken in yet and they have me in audio ecstasy. The vocals, OMG the VOCALS ... it literally sounds like the artist is singing on stage right in front of me and I am right up against the stage! I knew from experience and what I had learned about the design of these speakers that they would most likely be outstanding speakers, but I had NO IDEA that they could, or would, be this good!!! Even though their ability to play low are outstanding all by themselves, I am now also pairing them with dual SVS SB3000 subwoofers because they also serve as my two main front speakers in my home theater setup. All I can say is that music (my main love and focus) and movies now fill my room with stunning realism and presence. I played the Blu-ray of "Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott's" and I was in tears during some of the performances. Amazing speakers and now my incomparable favorites. It is almost scary how good these might sound after they are completely broken in, which I expect will primarily improve their already amazing imaging and sound stage. Amazing speakers and so glad I purchased them.
@@dynodin81 i use a musical fidelity a3.2 pre/power and a unison reseach valve phono so plenty of nice power. They currently drive a pair of leema xones which are accurately described as mini floorstanders, a nice sound but a bit bass shy and polite when it comes to listening to bands like the who or large classical pieces but good with acoustic and jazz so looking to inject a bit more exitement to the music.My room is 4mx4m so on the small side and obviously these are large boxes. unfortunately here in the uk they are not widely stocked so a demo is tricky so any advice from the hifi community is greatfully received many thanks Ady Palmer
Sorry, I was away from RUclips for a few days. Here's some information on my setup for those who asked: Room Dimensions & Listening Area - not ideal by any means! 😁 * Listening Area = 12' Wide x 13.75' Deep. * Back > solid 12' wall = seating area. * Left > Solid 13.75' wall w/ sliding glass door & blinds. * Right > open into kitchen area, no immediate wall. * Front > Solid 6' 6" wall from L to R, then open = audio components/speakers facing listeners; right speaker has no wall behind it to reflect sound. * Left to Right Speaker Distance = 9' 6" (measured center of speaker to center of speaker). * Listener Depth = 11' 6" from center of L/R Speakers to sweet spot. * Listening Triangle = 9' 6" across front (L to R speaker) x approx. 11' 6" deep to listener sweet spot. * Dual SVS SB3000 Subwoofers sit next to each Linton (L & R) in the front, on the inside of each speaker, facing the listeners. Amplifier/Power: * Pre-amp: Denon AVR-3400 Receiver, with L/R front pre-out to amplifier. * Amplifier: Crown XLS1502 > Class D Power: 775W at 2ω, 525W at 4Ω, 300W at 8Ω. Center Channel Speaker: Original = Aperion Intimus 6C. Currently = Wharfedale Diamond 240C. I purchased the Wharfedale 240C this past week on recommendation from Wharfedale for better timbre-matching with the Lintons. Both center speakers sound great, but the Wharfedale 240C blends better with the Lintons for home theater or listening to music in surround mode, e.g., Blu-ray concerts, etc. Surround mode for Jeff Beck's, "Live at Ronnie Scott's," puts Jeff right in my living room, with vocals from Joss Stone and Imogen Heap just melting my heart all along the way. 😊
Very nice loudspeaker! I think wharfedale is a good old traditional brand. I love them, I owned pieces from "mach", "modus", "xarus", "vardus", and "diamond" series. I know in these days they are not full british made but the quality and sound is good. The Linton maybe the best - from the highlighted range.
Got them and extremely pleased...............It is the presentation I was looking for all along....Got rid of my 800 d3 and eggeleston viginti for these...wont look back.
Hi Steve, can my vintage Marantz 2285B amp drive the Lintons? One more thing, i have a small listening room of about 12x10 feet, do you think the Lintons will be too much? Thanks.
Steve, when you say that they sound better with the grills on, how would describe the difference? Is it too bright sounding with them off or perhaps a diffraction issue due to the cabinet bezels?
I CAN WATCH THIS CHANNEL 24/7!! THANK YOU STEVE!!! OK, so why do so many people have a problem finding audiophile quality 3 way speakers that are affordable? Give Energy a chance and go listen/demo them or please do yourself a favor (if you have the space) & take a look at these incredible speakers from MTX (by DCM). The DCM TFE200 is a 3-way tower speaker that is capable of delivering up to 200 watts RMS and has an impedance of 6Ω. MTX . For what it's worth I own a pair of B&W Matrix 801's and I can honestly say that I often find myself listening to these....a lot. Kevlar Cone Midrange Speaker., Dual Glass Fiber Cone Woofers, Teteron Dome Tweeter, Internally Braced MDF Cabinet with 1" Front Baffle,, Nickel Plated 5-Way Binding Posts w/Bi-Amp. BTW Emotiva also have great speakers with many older versions on closeout! & If you like 2 ways please check out Boston Acoustic's offerings.
imo the Wharfedale Linton and the smaller Denton sound well balancend and not annoying, so they are better for long time listening in contrast to many other modern concept speakers in this prise range ... and they look like "real" loudspeakers and not like designer furniture ... I`ve the same impression with all the other retro concept speakers made in the UK and together with British amps they all are "a bingo" for my ears and heart with a huge fun factor ... and especially the compact boxes are imo highly recommended for "normal" living rooms of "normal" people ... by the way, I don`t care whether speakers are "wife friendly" or not ;-) in Germany, where I live, the Lintons + original stands are already available for about 1,100 EUROS/pair = 1,110 USD as a regular price (as of mid-2022)
Hi Steve I have been following your channel and ended up buying the Elac B6.0 based on your previous recommendation. I like forgiving warm sounding speaker like the Elac B6. Now it is time for me to upgrade to something with better bass and midrange but prefer the warm treble of Elac B6 so Im looking at Wharfedale Linton as an option. How would you describe its sound characteristics compared to the Elac B6 (from high to lows) ?
Really nice. A friend of mine, in the late 70s, had a brother who had a pair very similar to these. He had one of the Phillips TT with the green(?) lighted power button and a Marantz receiver. Listening to The Cars first album was a total joy. Thanks.
Hi Steve, would you think a pair of these would be too far beneath the capabilities of something like the Gato Amp 150, or do you think the resolution, clarity and up temp nature of the gato would bring out the best in these?
My question…just recently upgraded (after many years) to Marantz PM8006 + ND8006. Sounds good, but not as impressive as I expected, and I suspect the problem is my current speakers (Bose Acoustimass 5 Series III). Considering the Wharfedale Lintons as a replacement…thoughts???
HI there great video, I am having a huge dilemma between linton and KEF 50 meta . would you recommend linton to hi res audio chaser and for people using it for watching movies and video contents?
Thanks the review, I’ve been looking at these think they’ve just saved me from buying some used b&w 804 nautilus for my bedroom 😂 I know far to big for the space just always wanted some. Going with the spend more on an high end amp then upgrade speakers down the line rather than the massive speakers for the massive house I will probably never own!!! Love you enthusiasm for sound you seem like the audiophile type that actually has a decent record collection, rather than those that have a 50k sound system and a best of Enya cd!
Older video, but did you review them with the grilles on? I know most speakers you just lose them but I think Wharfdale has been pretty particular about telling people to listen to them with them on; Apparently they were designed around them being on
I know these are widely different speakers but How does the Linton compare to kef ls 50, Klipsch rp 600m and buchardt s400? For someone who already owns Klipsch rp 160m and wants to upgrade, which one of these should be at the top of the list Or do none of them offer significant improvement over rp160m? Thanks.
Yes indeed. VERY nice speakers. The midrange is to die for. But the bass and treble certainly puts this speaker into the top end category against any other speaker. The only thing that might be regarded as 'negative' about the speaker is that many people find this old fashioned to look at.
Steve, love the work you do! I had one question. Would this pair well with the CXA81 that you also reviewed? I use the Lintons with an Audiolab 6000a now and planning to move to the CXA81. Thank you!
Greetings from France and thanks a lot for that review. I ordered a pair yesterday and would appreciate to know what specs an amplifier should have to be able to drive the Linton...
Hi ! One of the best videos ! A lot of us like to see products set up and being used ... we are a different breed of audio kids.. I say that because I’m a former musician and converted to audio by way of record collecting. Thanks
Chip board. Is that the same thing as or very similar to particle board? Might make good speaker cabinets but it is some cheap, heavy, junky trash to build much else with.
They look a bit like the Harbeth speakers, at least from the front. I am sure they don't sound anything like them but, at this price, this is to be expected. ..and why did you keep the camera on one spot? A look at the ports and binding posts would have made the video excellent. ..yet, you are getting a 'thumbs up'!
Sounds best with grills on? There are a few speakers that's true about, though not a lot. My kg1.2s are best with grills on. Grills on or off for which speaker could be a topic for discussion.
What are the jumpers on the Forte’s. I have a pair and have been contemplating replacing the little brass thingy with something more substantial in terms of conductivity
I know its an old video, really hard to tell from the limited field of view in the video. Were the tweeters in or out? supposedly having them outside instead of inside degrades the treble?
I just bought a pair of vintage Wharfedale W60D's from 1969 for $250. Solid wood cabs and sand filled back panels, they are beasts and about the same size as the Lintons but sound marvelous! Who needs new $$$$$ speakers?!
@@hushpuppykl I waited for the KEF LS50S to at least come out in flat black earlier this year. Bought them for the sound, but speakers are also furniture ;-)
Carlito Melon ... hear hear! I have to agree with you that speakers are also a piece of furniture. I love the piano finish walnut on my Marten Duke 2 but I still drool over the Sonus Faber high gloss red finish. Love the lyre shaped box with the new port design at the back.
as a 70 year old - the cab. looks pretty exactly like the KLH 17....compared to modern 'not full range' spks like KEF 50's these are huge. at the time the '17's sold for about $75. ea. funny thing, I think the KLH cab might have cost more than the actual speakers, a decent 10 in and 3 in cone that was the weak link. IF I hadn't just spent near 600. modifying some Qacoustics with old cabs I'd be seriously interested. How could the Lntons not sound great ?
I bought a pair today to replace my old B&W N805 (the first generation). They are so beautiful but frankly they sounds boxy compering to the N805's. They sound good and easy to listen but the clarity of the B&W's better(without harshness) with similar sound stage so they will go back to the dealer tomorrow. I'm heartbroken because I really wanted to like them.
Are you planning to do EVO4 series soon? I have listened to them and I must say I am pretty impressed. Not the most neutral sound but detailed and enjoyable for sure.
@@phetmoz The AMT Tweeter on the Evo 4 Series, is not edgy or harsh. It is smooth and sweet. Unless you are feeding them a recording that is excessively jacked-up and nasty in the high frequencies / treble. Even then, the Evo 4 series AMT smooths it out a little, but not completely. I'm not certain there's a solution for excessively poor recordings, with horrible high frequencies/ treble distortions.
Do you know there is a 4'39" ad for a Chinese dance company preceding your Wharfedale Linton content? I've no idea what you think about these speakers because I'm not enduring that first. Just fyi.
IM 65 and i worked in Cambridge UK , in conception of hifi for 30 years ,, i can tell you those cabinets PUT HARBETH TO SHAME . i made a lot of speakers Also , , one things for SURE chipboard is a great material [TRUE] WHY they DONT use it much TODAY'' is because it's harder to work with , THE edges crumble and need DRESSED ,, or HARDWOOD Moulded edge's is Better a thing you RARELY SEEN TODAY AND EXPENSIVE ! Chipboard Also ' BLUNTS ROUTERS OR CUTTERS on MACHINES and Have To be Kept Sharp OR Changing of Cutters ~ THE Content in chipboard contains Resin and Binders , # MDF / or HDF/ is EASY to Work With and cheaper ,It's EASILY Machined TO SHAPE ON EDGES . THEN ' Painted/veneered And Lacquer Finished with minimum preparation , MDF IS a soft fibre board # AND does NOT like Water at ALL. { I Always Deep Seal MDF to STABALIZE THE WHOLE FIBRE SURFACE ]. unlike CHIPBOARD '' Takes MUCH More Preparation AND Longer to FIINISH' With Wood veneer's OR Numerous High build sealing primer Coates of paint AND Sanding Between Coates for a Good finish ~ the Use of MDF HAS Revolutionised Speed Of CONSTRUCTION & QUANTITY BUT the Soft Finish on the Surface REALLY NEEDS To be DEEP sealed For Hardness ,[ AGAIN TIME CONSUMING] to The Manufacturer... M.D.F .CAN ALSO HAVE Negative effects on Sound ,with it's Soft Density ... I CAN Understand why they sandwiched THE Cabinet with Chipboard , . ect Thanks .
I don't know of any tube variant amplifier that Schiit makes. Are you referring to the new amp that's "almost class A"? The Aiger, or whatever it's called that Steve mentioned in this video? If so, that's solid state. No tubes. But I'm sure it sounds great still. Normally I would be happy to help with your question, but I am unfamiliar with the power requirements of the new LRS. I know in general that Maggie's like power though, or should I say current? Nor do I know the capabilities of the new Schiit amp. Because both are too new, and I haven't read much about them yet. What I would do, if I were you. I would call Magnepan, and ask them for their recommendation. Who knows better then the people that built them right? I also would consider other companies. Nothing wrong with Schiit IMHO, just think it's important to keep your mind and your options open to all possibilities. For instance. I've been very impressed with the new class D stuff myself. The midrange is to die for on my Volt+ stepped attenuator, and it's just a nice warm sounding amp in general. You would need something with more power then that amp though, of course. I'm eventually getting a more powerful class D for my SS setup myself. They have the best SQ bang for the buck IMHO, use less electricity, and run cooler then other amps too. No matter what you pick. I hope you enjoy it. Good luck. ✌️
Hi Steve. Great review! I own a pair of vintage Wharfedale Linton III speakers and enjoy them very much. Thanks for all the details. Other details that your followers would like are impedance, sensitivity, and manufacturers claimed frequency range. With this information your followers can’t tell whether it may be an appropriate fit for an existing system. I run small watt tubes often, and wonder if this will be appropriate. Without the sensitivity and impedance I am what’s the wonder. Keep up the good work!
Steve...you overlooked the Polk LSIM703s. Right now they're $800 a pair and I got a pair for $600 a pair a few months ago. Three way full range bookshelf speaker 30 lb each that looks stunning. Yes this model came out several years ago but it's still rocks. They are still producing them readily
@@saiprasad8078 I brought it up because he said there aren't many 3-way bookshelf speakers out there. So it's not about him caring it's about him being aware of another speaker that's at a very attractive price for what you're getting.
I need a recommendation for a power amplifier for these Wharfdale Lintons. I have a Denon PMA-800NE, but I fear it won't be the best choice. I am looking for something under $1200 that is currently available. I ordered the speakers from Crutchfield - I haven't got them yet. Thanks!
I got a refurbished 1990s Denon PMA-1060 amplifier for my Lintons. It's not Denon's top amplifier of that era but for the Lintons it's good enough. For me it's a good and affordable combination.
Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amp pairs beautifully with the Lintons. It is a really high current Amp and has good control over the Lintons. The Lintons can touch impedance of 3.9 ohms. So consider that.
You touched upon a long standing audiophile compromise; resolution vs rich tonal color. It's usually one or the other, and the "perfect balance" is different for each listener.
Can anyone provide me advice on a preamp question? I have a vintage beautiful luxman preamp/wood case / gigantic etc. the balance pot./knob is not only noisy but now is causing the right channel to fail altogether. I had a vintage repair guy clean it out but it didn’t work. He is offering to just circumvent/short circuit the balance knob altogether. Can balance potentiometers still be bought for 25-35 year old luxman preamps? Will it’s value be ruined by short circuiting the balance know so that it plays both channels all the time? Whom to send it to?
Carbon pots are only rated for 15,000 cycles. The carbon path is likely worn through to the substrate after so many years. ALPS was likely the manufacturer of both the volume and balance pots. They are still readily available from many sources.
I see a bargain. I loved big box 3-ways. One of my past loves was an a/d/s 10 inch 3-way. Cabinet finish matters. 5 star preview of a product category brought back from the '70s that was a good value package all around.
Buy it, open it up and tweat that crossover! I bet the crossover is the weaklink on those speakers, given the price. They could potentially improve the mid and tweeter.
Do you think you'll get around to reviewing a set of new KLH Kendall or Albany speakers anytime soon, that would be great, as I'm sure alot of us are waiting to hear what once was a great company and now making a comeback has in store and if their worth the asking price.
not Steve here - I have the slightly smaller Koss 1020 ( the 1030 has two mids and 2 tweets ) I'm no musician but they still sound good to me used near every day as my main speakers ( I just built a 'new' setup with high rated Qacoustics 3010i mid / highs and they do have a very slightly clearer mid ) the Koss were claimed to be by Koss in it's 'in the box literature and ads ' to be the first speakers designed using the Thiel Small port tuning formulas, I think still used. Stereo mags at the time especially lauded the bass , Stereo Review Sept '78, the 1020 model ... " Flat plus minus 2 db from 20 hz to 5000 " and " it's sound is basically very smooth with noticeably crisp high end"
I had two in 70 there were sand filled panels a single 12” and a cast horn used them with a amp I just finished 40 serious watts into 8 ohm 68 watts into 4 ohm had built in fan cooling it was a great combination for rock
The Lintons make a lot more bass, have a much smoother midrange and treble; the 600Ms are a lot more dynamically alive. The Lintons sound rather drab by comparison.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac you could change the tweeter out or do work on the tweet. easy ways to get a old hard drive take the metal platter out fasten it on front of the baffle of the tweeter double-sided tape bring the tweeter live
Well the Linton 3XP`s were 100 pounds per piece in 1975... It was a rather liked speaker back then on the island. However,this new one looks nice. Old schoolish. Well,sandwich walls for speaker cabinets are not new,but still uncommon in this priceclass. However,if they are concerned with "resonances" they should also have avoided the protrusive cabinetwalls,because that certainly is messing up the frequency response.
I'm not sure about the quality of the crossover parts. For sure, at this price, they don't put large capacitors and super inductors. For me, it means it has a real potential of improvement...
I feel like these companies will still manufacture with MDF because it’s economically viable to do so, I’m sure they’ve done tests to validate using cheap materials equals better sound..
I bought my Lintons with the stands for $1499.00 at Music Direct about a year and a half ago. After some break in time they sound incredible with my PrimaLuna EVO 200 integrated amplifier. I listen to jazz, chamber music and classical. Try listening to Love in vain from the Stones and talk about a huge soundstage. I love them.
wild side by lou reed should be great too; so is ghost song by j.morrison ;-)
I heard what he was saying but I couldn't stop staring at that beautiful 15 in passive radiator on the Forte III.
John Huff, you should start drinking -- a lot.
@@madanielk6526 Why? Because the other speaker is so much more alluring?
Because the other speaker is just another box, it is not a voluptuous femme... capisci?
Mada Nielk 😂 no the Warfedale is a beautiful looking speaker. The Passive Radiator in the Forte III is just so huge. It is a visual distraction in the video.
Wharfedale really did it right, they sound as good as they look.
I've owned mine, with stands, for a year now. Love them. Thanks for the review.
Steve pretty much nailed it, except the resolution for me in the treble is spot on and perfect for me.
I just received my Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers less than a week ago. Mine are the complete set with stands just like in this video. Mine are in the Red Mahogany finish. They are stunning beauties for sure. Even the stands scream top quality.
As background, I also own both the Wharfedale Denton 80th and 85th Anniversary Edition speakers and love them both. I have concluded that - FOR ME - the Wharfedale signature sound is my favorite sound signature in speakers. I love the warm and luscious audio blanket in which they envelop the listener ... beautiful, full, and musically articulate bass, lifelike mid-range and vocals, and incredibly smooth but very detailed highs.
Having said all that, the new Linton Heritage speakers from Wharfedale have taken the Wharfedale signature sound to breathtaking levels of audio performance. My jaw dropped at the imaging and sound stage these brought to my music - and they have only gotten better in the last couple of days as they have begun to loosen up. Seriously, the sound stage produced by these speakers, at least in my setup, is so fricking realistic and present that they brought tears to my eyes as I sat there and listened to them. I can't get enough of them. I am pulling out all of my music just to hear it on these speakers, everything from Jazz to Classic Hard Rock, from Orchestral to Blues, from Vocal to Progressive Rock ... it all sounds gloriously realistic through these speakers. I am playing old Gene Krupa, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Coleman Hawkins, etc and I just close my eyes as they play right in my room in front of me. But don't be fooled by those selections, as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Humble Pie, Montrose, Thin Lizzy, Mahogany Rush, ELP, Kansas, Rush, etc all sound equally amazing through these speakers. I am also a drummer and thus I am particularly sensitive to the imaging and sound stage of drums in music. I'll just say that these Linton speakers present Ian Paice of Deep Purple in all his left-handed drumming glory, capturing every nuance of his finesse and chops. Very, very impressive.
Again, mine are not even fully broken in yet and they have me in audio ecstasy. The vocals, OMG the VOCALS ... it literally sounds like the artist is singing on stage right in front of me and I am right up against the stage! I knew from experience and what I had learned about the design of these speakers that they would most likely be outstanding speakers, but I had NO IDEA that they could, or would, be this good!!! Even though their ability to play low are outstanding all by themselves, I am now also pairing them with dual SVS SB3000 subwoofers because they also serve as my two main front speakers in my home theater setup.
All I can say is that music (my main love and focus) and movies now fill my room with stunning realism and presence. I played the Blu-ray of "Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott's" and I was in tears during some of the performances. Amazing speakers and now my incomparable favorites. It is almost scary how good these might sound after they are completely broken in, which I expect will primarily improve their already amazing imaging and sound stage.
Amazing speakers and so glad I purchased them.
nice review Patrick, could you tell me your room dimensions I'm worried my room won't do these beauties justice
many thanks enjoy
What amp are you powering your speakers with? I know at times synergy plays a big role.
@@dynodin81 i use a musical fidelity a3.2 pre/power and a unison reseach valve phono so plenty of nice power. They currently drive a pair of leema xones which are accurately described as mini floorstanders, a nice sound but a bit bass shy and polite when it comes to listening to bands like the who or large classical pieces but good with acoustic and jazz so looking to inject a bit more exitement to the music.My room is 4mx4m so on the small side and obviously these are large boxes. unfortunately here in the uk they are not widely stocked so a demo is tricky so any advice from the hifi community is greatfully received
many thanks Ady Palmer
Thanks for your detailed view about these speakers. May I ask which center channel have you paired up with these speakers for your home theater?
Sorry, I was away from RUclips for a few days. Here's some information on my setup for those who asked:
Room Dimensions & Listening Area - not ideal by any means! 😁
* Listening Area = 12' Wide x 13.75' Deep.
* Back > solid 12' wall = seating area.
* Left > Solid 13.75' wall w/ sliding glass door & blinds.
* Right > open into kitchen area, no immediate wall.
* Front > Solid 6' 6" wall from L to R, then open = audio components/speakers facing listeners; right speaker has no wall behind it to reflect sound.
* Left to Right Speaker Distance = 9' 6" (measured center of speaker to center of speaker).
* Listener Depth = 11' 6" from center of L/R Speakers to sweet spot.
* Listening Triangle = 9' 6" across front (L to R speaker) x approx. 11' 6" deep to listener sweet spot.
* Dual SVS SB3000 Subwoofers sit next to each Linton (L & R) in the front, on the inside of each speaker, facing the listeners.
Amplifier/Power:
* Pre-amp: Denon AVR-3400 Receiver, with L/R front pre-out to amplifier.
* Amplifier: Crown XLS1502 > Class D Power: 775W at 2ω, 525W at 4Ω, 300W at 8Ω.
Center Channel Speaker:
Original = Aperion Intimus 6C.
Currently = Wharfedale Diamond 240C.
I purchased the Wharfedale 240C this past week on recommendation from Wharfedale for better timbre-matching with the Lintons. Both center speakers sound great, but the Wharfedale 240C blends better with the Lintons for home theater or listening to music in surround mode, e.g., Blu-ray concerts, etc. Surround mode for Jeff Beck's, "Live at Ronnie Scott's," puts Jeff right in my living room, with vocals from Joss Stone and Imogen Heap just melting my heart all along the way. 😊
Very nice loudspeaker! I think wharfedale is a good old traditional brand.
I love them, I owned pieces from "mach", "modus", "xarus", "vardus", and "diamond" series.
I know in these days they are not full british made but the quality and sound is good.
The Linton maybe the best - from the highlighted range.
Love that "classic" look with more modern features.
your enthusiasm in this review and the kef's r3 review are night and day
Got them and extremely pleased...............It is the presentation I was looking for all along....Got rid of my 800 d3 and eggeleston viginti for these...wont look back.
Hi Steve, can my vintage Marantz 2285B amp drive the Lintons? One more thing, i have a small listening room of about 12x10 feet, do you think the Lintons will be too much? Thanks.
Steve, when you say that they sound better with the grills on, how would describe the difference? Is it too bright sounding with them off or perhaps a diffraction issue due to the cabinet bezels?
I CAN WATCH THIS CHANNEL 24/7!! THANK YOU STEVE!!!
OK, so why do so many people have a problem finding audiophile quality 3 way speakers that are affordable? Give Energy a chance and go listen/demo them or please do yourself a favor (if you have the space) & take a look at these incredible speakers from MTX (by DCM). The DCM TFE200 is a 3-way tower speaker that is capable of delivering up to 200 watts RMS and has an impedance of 6Ω. MTX . For what it's worth I own a pair of B&W Matrix 801's and I can honestly say that I often find myself listening to these....a lot. Kevlar Cone Midrange Speaker., Dual Glass Fiber Cone Woofers, Teteron Dome Tweeter, Internally Braced MDF Cabinet with 1" Front Baffle,, Nickel Plated 5-Way Binding Posts w/Bi-Amp.
BTW Emotiva also have great speakers with many older versions on closeout! & If you like 2 ways please check out Boston Acoustic's offerings.
@Steve Tllsdaleys He can purchase a mail order bride like Melania.
imo the Wharfedale Linton and the smaller Denton sound well balancend and not annoying, so they are better for long time listening in contrast to many other modern concept speakers in this prise range ... and they look like "real" loudspeakers and not like designer furniture ... I`ve the same impression with all the other retro concept speakers made in the UK and together with British amps they all are "a bingo" for my ears and heart with a huge fun factor ... and especially the compact boxes are imo highly recommended for "normal" living rooms of "normal" people ... by the way, I don`t care whether speakers are "wife friendly" or not ;-)
in Germany, where I live, the Lintons + original stands are already available for about 1,100 EUROS/pair = 1,110 USD as a regular price (as of mid-2022)
Hi Steve I have been following your channel and ended up buying the Elac B6.0 based on your previous recommendation. I like forgiving warm sounding speaker like the Elac B6. Now it is time for me to upgrade to something with better bass and midrange but prefer the warm treble of Elac B6 so Im looking at Wharfedale Linton as an option. How would you describe its sound characteristics compared to the Elac B6 (from high to lows) ?
Really nice. A friend of mine, in the late 70s, had a brother who had a pair very similar to these. He had one of the Phillips TT with the green(?) lighted power button and a Marantz receiver. Listening to The Cars first album was a total joy. Thanks.
Hi Steve, would you think a pair of these would be too far beneath the capabilities of something like the Gato Amp 150, or do you think the resolution, clarity and up temp nature of the gato would bring out the best in these?
Is it worthwhile to buy these to replace my old Infinity Reference Four speakers? I'm using a refurbished Marantz 1060 at 30 watts.
Very nice looking speaker. Bet they sound great too. Nice review Steve. :)
hello I also have Lintons and I had a curiosity: should the tweeters be put external or internal? thanks
internal
how do you like them
What speaker cables are those Steve? Thank you
My question…just recently upgraded (after many years) to Marantz PM8006 + ND8006. Sounds good, but not as impressive as I expected, and I suspect the problem is my current speakers (Bose Acoustimass 5 Series III). Considering the Wharfedale Lintons as a replacement…thoughts???
Great video! Would a Sansui 881 do the job on these? Or do I need something more?
1970 Wharfedale W70E (with updated crossover capacitors). 15”/5”/1” acoustic suspension, isolated drivers; cabinets elevated.. 👍👍👍👍👍
Hello,
Are they sound harshly in mids/treble ? Or are they more warm sounding speaker ?
I've Marantz PM8006 Amp. How well Linton Heritage pairs with PM8006? How about Soundstage, Imaging & Sound Quality in low volume?
HI there great video, I am having a huge dilemma between linton and KEF 50 meta . would you recommend linton to hi res audio chaser and for people using it for watching movies and video contents?
Just wondering if the Schiit Loki would have helped with the minor 'issue' you had with the highs?
Thanks the review, I’ve been looking at these think they’ve just saved me from buying some used b&w 804 nautilus for my bedroom 😂 I know far to big for the space just always wanted some. Going with the spend more on an high end amp then upgrade speakers down the line rather than the massive speakers for the massive house I will probably never own!!!
Love you enthusiasm for sound you seem like the audiophile type that actually has a decent record collection, rather than those that have a 50k sound system and a best of Enya cd!
"Bookshelf speakers" heheheh it IS the bookshelf XD
Older video, but did you review them with the grilles on? I know most speakers you just lose them but I think Wharfdale has been pretty particular about telling people to listen to them with them on; Apparently they were designed around them being on
What about connecting tweeters to this speaker?
Does sound have more detailed? What do you think?
I know these are widely different speakers but How does the Linton compare to kef ls 50, Klipsch rp 600m and buchardt s400? For someone who already owns Klipsch rp 160m and wants to upgrade, which one of these should be at the top of the list Or do none of them offer significant improvement over rp160m?
Thanks.
Good luck finding something you’ll like better than then the 160m’s!😜
Yes indeed. VERY nice speakers. The midrange is to die for. But the bass and treble certainly puts this speaker into the top end category against any other speaker. The only thing that might be regarded as 'negative' about the speaker is that many people find this old fashioned to look at.
Steve, love the work you do! I had one question. Would this pair well with the CXA81 that you also reviewed? I use the Lintons with an Audiolab 6000a now and planning to move to the CXA81. Thank you!
Are they not good enough on the audiolab 6000A?
@@hclandscapes it was a 6000a Play that I had, it was a good pairing. I wanted to drive a second zone and a sub which the Cxa81 does natively.
You had me at great mid range and vocals.
In fact they're shouty in the upper midrange and the treble isn't as relaxing as Diamond 200 series
Greetings from France and thanks a lot for that review. I ordered a pair yesterday and would appreciate to know what specs an amplifier should have to be able to drive the Linton...
I have an old pair of Wharfedale W3s. Do you have an opinion? Compared to these Linton?
Steve, are you using 1 Aegir or 2 to drive these speakers?
Hi ! One of the best videos ! A lot of us like to see products set up and being used ... we are a different breed of audio kids.. I say that because I’m a former musician and converted to audio by way of record collecting. Thanks
Steve. Read an old review of yours for the Harbeth HL5. Do these stack up?
Chip board. Is that the same thing as or very similar to particle board? Might make good speaker cabinets but it is some cheap, heavy, junky trash to build much else with.
they're not using it to build your house, dipshit
Thanks, great looking speakers for the money. How do they compare with the Bryston Mini T, similar 3 way, a bit more money but similar design?
They look a bit like the Harbeth speakers, at least from the front.
I am sure they don't sound anything like them but, at this price, this is to be expected.
..and why did you keep the camera on one spot?
A look at the ports and binding posts would have made the video excellent. ..yet, you are getting a 'thumbs up'!
Harbert crap
@@edwardbalboa5528
Each to their own opinion Edward..
Harbeth speakers have millions of followers around the world.
One thing they're NOT, is "crap"..
Excellent review.
Here in in Australia they retail $2,799 with stands.
Which one do you prefer, the Denton or the Linton?
Sounds best with grills on? There are a few speakers that's true about, though not a lot. My kg1.2s are best with grills on. Grills on or off for which speaker could be a topic for discussion.
Speakers like this are the reason I am in the audio hobby!!!
What are the jumpers on the Forte’s. I have a pair and have been contemplating replacing the little brass thingy with something more substantial in terms of conductivity
They're from Nordost.
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac excellent. Thank you kind sir.
I know its an old video, really hard to tell from the limited field of view in the video. Were the tweeters in or out? supposedly having them outside instead of inside degrades the treble?
How do these compare to the wharfdalle denton 80th anniversery speakers, which i currently own
I've read somewhere they do better at imaging precision and dynamics. Sound character is simmilar.
I just bought a pair of vintage Wharfedale W60D's from 1969 for $250. Solid wood cabs and sand filled back panels, they are beasts and about the same size as the Lintons but sound marvelous! Who needs new $$$$$ speakers?!
Yes, I heard these in February. Very impressive, and homely looking. :)
Better than that gastly piano lacquer every other new speaker comes in!
I'd take them homely ;-)
Carlito Melon ... yeah! Piano black is just so passé now. Wood veneers are the way to go.
@@hushpuppykl
I waited for the KEF LS50S to at least come out in flat black earlier this year. Bought them for the sound, but speakers are also furniture ;-)
Carlito Melon ... hear hear! I have to agree with you that speakers are also a piece of furniture.
I love the piano finish walnut on my Marten Duke 2 but I still drool over the Sonus Faber high gloss red finish. Love the lyre shaped box with the new port design at the back.
as a 70 year old - the cab. looks pretty exactly like the KLH 17....compared to modern 'not full range' spks like KEF 50's these are huge. at the time the '17's sold for about $75. ea. funny thing, I think the KLH cab might have cost more than the actual speakers, a decent 10 in and 3 in cone that was the weak link. IF I hadn't just spent near 600. modifying some Qacoustics with old cabs I'd be seriously interested. How could the Lntons not sound great ?
Rick C I have a pair of KLH 17's - all original. They still sound pretty good.
Did you ever listen to the Wharfedale E series speakers from back in the day. Especially E30 and E90
I bought a pair today to replace my old B&W N805 (the first generation). They are so beautiful but frankly they sounds boxy compering to the N805's. They sound good and easy to listen but the clarity of the B&W's better(without harshness) with similar sound stage so they will go back to the dealer tomorrow. I'm heartbroken because I really wanted to like them.
Move them away from wall ... These are far better than bw
What's the chance you reviewing the new wharfedale Evo 4.3 or 4.4 any time soon ?
Greg Spark looking to buy Evo 4.4 as well. Not enough reviews.
Kept looking at the Forte throughout the review 😍
I would like to know what are the speaker cables that you are using or recommend?
I use them with tellurium q ultra blue and they sound amazing!
I bought the Lintons in Dec 2020. They took a long time to burn in. The treble opens up
My Lintons are being shipped to me tomorrow 👍 saved a ton of money too compared to what I was going to get.
Buon giorno Steve
Potrebbe sostituire una proac d15 ?
Grazie
Are you planning to do EVO4 series soon? I have listened to them and I must say I am pretty impressed. Not the most neutral sound but detailed and enjoyable for sure.
Needs to be paired with a warmer more natural sounding amplifier, like a Yamaha A-S1100. Really helps with the inherit edgy sound of an AMT tweeter.
@@phetmoz
The AMT Tweeter on the Evo 4 Series, is not edgy or harsh. It is smooth and sweet.
Unless you are feeding them a recording that is excessively jacked-up and nasty in the high frequencies / treble. Even then, the Evo 4 series AMT smooths it out a little, but not completely.
I'm not certain there's a solution for excessively poor recordings, with horrible high frequencies/ treble distortions.
Do you know there is a 4'39" ad for a Chinese dance company preceding your Wharfedale Linton content? I've no idea what you think about these speakers because I'm not enduring that first. Just fyi.
Well just skip it then.
@@richardsinger01 Can't mate. That's the point.
IM 65 and i worked in Cambridge UK , in conception of hifi for 30 years ,, i can tell you those cabinets PUT HARBETH TO SHAME . i made a lot of speakers Also , , one things for SURE chipboard is a great material [TRUE] WHY they DONT use it much TODAY'' is because it's harder to work with , THE edges crumble and need DRESSED ,, or HARDWOOD Moulded edge's is Better a thing you RARELY SEEN TODAY AND EXPENSIVE ! Chipboard Also ' BLUNTS ROUTERS OR CUTTERS on MACHINES and Have To be Kept Sharp OR Changing of Cutters ~ THE Content in chipboard contains Resin and Binders , # MDF / or HDF/ is EASY to Work With and cheaper ,It's EASILY Machined TO SHAPE ON EDGES . THEN ' Painted/veneered And Lacquer Finished with minimum preparation , MDF IS a soft fibre board # AND does NOT like Water at ALL. { I Always Deep Seal MDF to STABALIZE THE WHOLE FIBRE SURFACE ]. unlike CHIPBOARD '' Takes MUCH More Preparation AND Longer to FIINISH' With Wood veneer's OR Numerous High build sealing primer Coates of paint AND Sanding Between Coates for a Good finish ~ the Use of MDF HAS Revolutionised Speed Of CONSTRUCTION & QUANTITY BUT the Soft Finish on the Surface REALLY NEEDS To be DEEP sealed For Hardness ,[ AGAIN TIME CONSUMING] to The Manufacturer... M.D.F .CAN ALSO HAVE Negative effects on Sound ,with it's Soft Density ... I CAN Understand why they sandwiched THE Cabinet with Chipboard , . ect Thanks .
Very interesting!!!
Quick "Q"...Schitt Vidar or the tube variant for the Maggie LRS?
I don't know of any tube variant amplifier that Schiit makes. Are you referring to the new amp that's "almost class A"? The Aiger, or whatever it's called that Steve mentioned in this video? If so, that's solid state. No tubes. But I'm sure it sounds great still. Normally I would be happy to help with your question, but I am unfamiliar with the power requirements of the new LRS. I know in general that Maggie's like power though, or should I say current? Nor do I know the capabilities of the new Schiit amp. Because both are too new, and I haven't read much about them yet.
What I would do, if I were you. I would call Magnepan, and ask them for their recommendation. Who knows better then the people that built them right? I also would consider other companies. Nothing wrong with Schiit IMHO, just think it's important to keep your mind and your options open to all possibilities. For instance. I've been very impressed with the new class D stuff myself. The midrange is to die for on my Volt+ stepped attenuator, and it's just a nice warm sounding amp in general.
You would need something with more power then that amp though, of course. I'm eventually getting a more powerful class D for my SS setup myself. They have the best SQ bang for the buck IMHO, use less electricity, and run cooler then other amps too.
No matter what you pick. I hope you enjoy it. Good luck. ✌️
Hi Steve.
Great review! I own a pair of vintage Wharfedale Linton III speakers and enjoy them very much.
Thanks for all the details. Other details that your followers would like are impedance, sensitivity, and manufacturers claimed frequency range. With this information your followers can’t tell whether it may be an appropriate fit for an existing system. I run small watt tubes often, and wonder if this will be appropriate. Without the sensitivity and impedance I am what’s the wonder.
Keep up the good work!
Steve...you overlooked the Polk LSIM703s. Right now they're $800 a pair and I got a pair for $600 a pair a few months ago. Three way full range bookshelf speaker 30 lb each that looks stunning. Yes this model came out several years ago but it's still rocks. They are still producing them readily
dude the batteries for his remote cost more than that he won't care 🤣
@@saiprasad8078 I brought it up because he said there aren't many 3-way bookshelf speakers out there. So it's not about him caring it's about him being aware of another speaker that's at a very attractive price for what you're getting.
I need a recommendation for a power amplifier for these Wharfdale Lintons. I have a Denon PMA-800NE, but I fear it won't be the best choice. I am looking for something under $1200 that is currently available. I ordered the speakers from Crutchfield - I haven't got them yet. Thanks!
I'd even consider older amps like the adcom 555 II if that's going to do it. Any advice appreciated.
I got a refurbished 1990s Denon PMA-1060 amplifier for my Lintons. It's not Denon's top amplifier of that era but for the Lintons it's good enough. For me it's a good and affordable combination.
Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amp pairs beautifully with the Lintons. It is a really high current Amp and has good control over the Lintons. The Lintons can touch impedance of 3.9 ohms. So consider that.
With musical fidelity M6i tweeter becomes ultra a life, :) Highly recomended to try with ricable Magnus or Chord Epic X cables:)
Hi Steve I will like your opinion on the cannot revolution xt8f thanks
Would you choose these over the Klipsch Heresy IV?
Come on, it’s a totally different level. Lintons are amazing for the price but nowhere near the heresy iv.
@@tangoromeo thank you Tomasz.
Tomasz Rynkiewicz absolutely
You touched upon a long standing audiophile compromise; resolution vs rich tonal color. It's usually one or the other, and the "perfect balance" is different for each listener.
Hello all. I have a set of these lintons… what are everyone’s thoughts on running them with a crown xls? Thanks!!
3 Way speakers compared against Single Driver models like Zu or Omega?
Is there a second review coming?
I wonder if CXA61 would suit them?
Can anyone provide me advice on a preamp question? I have a vintage beautiful luxman preamp/wood case / gigantic etc. the balance pot./knob is not only noisy but now is causing the right channel to fail altogether. I had a vintage repair guy clean it out but it didn’t work. He is offering to just circumvent/short circuit the balance knob altogether. Can balance potentiometers still be bought for 25-35 year old luxman preamps? Will it’s value be ruined by short circuiting the balance know so that it plays both channels all the time? Whom to send it to?
Carbon pots are only rated for 15,000 cycles. The carbon path is likely worn through to the substrate after so many years.
ALPS was likely the manufacturer of both the volume and balance pots.
They are still readily available from many sources.
Sorry Steve, couldn’t take my eyes off the Klipsch behind them. Now what did you say?
Yeah I own Klipsch and I'm about to buy these. What does that say?
There is also fishhead-audio in Germany who make affordable 3-way
standmount and floorstander.
Beautiful classic design, the material can last for so long.
I see a bargain.
I loved big box 3-ways. One of my past loves was an a/d/s 10 inch 3-way. Cabinet finish matters.
5 star preview of a product category brought back from the '70s that was a good value package all around.
do they sound better than the kef ls50?
Buy it, open it up and tweat that crossover! I bet the crossover is the weaklink on those speakers, given the price. They could potentially improve the mid and tweeter.
They look beautiful, wish I had a place for them
Do you think you'll get around to reviewing a set of new KLH Kendall or Albany speakers anytime soon, that would be great, as I'm sure alot of us are waiting to hear what once was a great company and now making a comeback has in store and if their worth the asking price.
Steve can you review the koss cm1030 speakers they are 4way or just tell me your views on them.
not Steve here - I have the slightly smaller Koss 1020 ( the 1030 has two mids and 2 tweets ) I'm no musician but they still sound good to me used near every day as my main speakers ( I just built a 'new' setup with high rated Qacoustics 3010i mid / highs and they do have a very slightly clearer mid ) the Koss were claimed to be by Koss in it's 'in the box literature and ads ' to be the first speakers designed using the Thiel Small port tuning formulas, I think still used. Stereo mags at the time especially lauded the bass , Stereo Review Sept '78, the 1020 model ... " Flat plus minus 2 db from 20 hz to 5000 " and " it's sound is basically very smooth with noticeably crisp high end"
Steve, can u even walk around in that room with all that clutter. Interior design is not your Forte!!! 😂😂😂
Carl Smith I see what you did there.
Earl Dunbar 👍🏻
Not nearly as bad as Fremer's dump.
Clutter is fine so long as there is order to it.
@@user-bc6ok1yh4s order in chaos
What’s up with the flat speaker wires those are cool looking !
I had two in 70 there were sand filled panels a single 12” and a cast horn used them with a amp I just finished 40 serious watts into 8 ohm 68 watts into 4 ohm had built in fan cooling it was a great combination for rock
Looking at these now vs the Klipsch 600. Any opinion on the two?
The Lintons make a lot more bass, have a much smoother midrange and treble; the 600Ms are a lot more dynamically alive. The Lintons sound rather drab by comparison.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac you could change the tweeter out or do work on the tweet. easy ways to get a old hard drive take the metal platter out fasten it on front of the baffle of the tweeter double-sided tape bring the tweeter live
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac and the Klipsch are HALF the price
How would you compare the sound to the JBL L-100 Classic?
Rockinghorse Winner it’s much, much better than the JBL, oh, the JBLs cost $4000 a pair.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Wow, that's a lot of speaker for the money....thank's!
Fantastic speakers with my Croft acoustics separates!
Wharfedale Lintons were my first speakers in 1973. Had them for years. Great speakers at the time.
Well the Linton 3XP`s were 100 pounds per piece in 1975... It was a rather liked speaker back then on the island.
However,this new one looks nice. Old schoolish.
Well,sandwich walls for speaker cabinets are not new,but still uncommon in this priceclass. However,if they are
concerned with "resonances" they should also have avoided the protrusive cabinetwalls,because that certainly
is messing up the frequency response.
that's a good price !! I wonder how well built the crossover is that means a lot !
I'm not sure about the quality of the crossover parts. For sure, at this price, they don't put large capacitors and super inductors. For me, it means it has a real potential of improvement...
Good !!
@@marsattacks7071 there's a video by a guy who does a kit saying that exactly
I feel like these companies will still manufacture with MDF because it’s economically viable to do so, I’m sure they’ve done tests to validate using cheap materials equals better sound..
Linton Heritage is good for near field ??
Thanks for showing us the gear.
What about the Edifier R2850DB? That's also a 8" 3 way speaker, but its also powered and 350$.
An MDF - chip board - MDF , indeed is a very good dead cabinet material.
Hi Steve, great review. Spot on!:) have you tried the lintons with the decware zen triode?:)