The three-way loudspeakers are larger than most bookshelf loudspeakers making the stands a logical accessory to maximize their performance. The 708s 28mm-thick panels were formed by sandwiching polystyrene foam between two sheets of Melamine. Member. Wharfedale says it spent countless hours listening to a wide variety of music to refine the crossover slopes and power response of the speakers, and the culmination of all of this is to deliver a sound that "reveals a lively and transparent level of reproduction that suits all styles of music at whatever power level you choose". These new, high-tech, computer enabled processes enabled a much great degree of loudspeaker evaluation and a deeper scientific understanding of loudspeaker technology. Founded in 1932Wharfedale is one of the fastest growing Hi-Fi companies in the world. A modest concern, based just outside of Bradford, Gilbert Briggs began manufacturing transducers and electronics in typically British cottage industry manner. Ketan Bharadia is the Technical Editor of What Hi-Fi? I know its the new(old) kid on the block, but the KLH Model Fives are conspicuous in their absence from this article. The Wharfedale W-90 is a vintage, early-to-mid-1960s floor-standing speaker. The interest in vintage audio loudspeakers has never been higher; especially as brands continue to refresh popular models that have been around longer than most millennials who are getting into better sound quality for the first time. Without realising it, the odds are that right now, the music equipment youre listening to owes an enormous debt of gratitude to the pioneering technical developments which Wharfedale brought to the market. Standard Member. That, in a nutshell, summed up the Wharfedale Diamonds perfectly; small, affordable boxes which produced a big, enjoyable sound. Awesome! The Linton Heritage can work well with a lot of different amplifiers; Audiolab, Cambridge Audio, Naim, Croft Acoustics, Creek, and vintage amplifiers from Marantz, Audio Research, and Sansui are all solid options. KEF LS60 Wireless a new standard in active speakers, iFi Audio desktop audio DACs, headphone amps and streamers, Bluesound high-res high tech multi-room music solutions. This was the Diamond back to its ambitious best with fancy curved cabinets, a sophisticated Kevlar-coned mid/bass unit and a rather sweet-sounding tweeter. Description: Three-way, bass-reflex (twin rear ports), stand-mounted loudspeaker. The corner horn Klipschorn have been in production for over 70 years and still deliver on Klipschs four key design elements: high-efficiency/low distortion, controlled directivity, wide-dynamic range, and flat-frequency response. So forgive the cynic in me, Wharfedale are cashing in on a historic look and name, but if the "new" Dovedale sounds decent then all is forgiven, can't wait to hear them or read a review! Gilbert Briggs founded Wharfedale in 1932. These play well with everything from low wattage tube or solid state gear, to monsters. Both units are further damped using acoustic foam and long hair fibre, and the bass reportedly reaches a depth of 25Hz. So in celebration of British Hi-Fi Week, we've looked through the archives and put together a list of the company's star performers. I am in the process of recapping the crossovers on my W35's. I have not . The Linton Heritage offer all of the midrange resolution and natural sound of the original, but with a lot more detail, speed, and transparency. Im going to subscribe to your site and definitely tune into your podcasts. Copyright 2023 VintageSonics | Privacy Policy, How Often Should You Replace Turntable Stylus. The Forte was introduced in 1985, but there is considerable daylight between the original and the latest version that still looks like something your father had in his living room in the 1970s. I have a pair of Wharfedale W90 speakers (sand-filled model). Im going to pass that on to Eric Pye who is our resident ADS expert. Classic 30-40year old speakers are generally more accurate across the frequency spectrum, yielding a smoother/more believable sound. It is capable of delivering expansive, high-performance sound that goes way beyond what you'd expect for its relatively compact size. Wharfedale Gallery. for these, or some know-how of the configuration. Mine are over 40 years old and still a treat. grill cloth and insulation replaced. If so, will they sound at least similar to the original sound of the speakers? They are certainly geared for the vintage sound, so I . Minor structural damages. They are real classics that deserve to be used and enjoyed. The vinyl revolution was certainly inspired by a heavy dosage of it but that isnt enough to sustain a movement. We were first teased about the Dovedale at Munich High End 2022, but nothing was known about the speaker bar the fact it was a three-way design, entirely "Made in the UK" at Wharfedale's headquarters in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and would be celebrating the company's 90th anniversary. Calgary 12/02/2023. Vintage Wharfedale Linton Walnut Main Speakers $139.99 Seller: wolfdog615 (814) 96.9% Buy It Now +$162.22 shipping 23 watchers Sponsored Pair of Rare Vintage Wharfedale W60E Speakers 60-70s 3-Way. For the money, the Wharfedale Linton are excellent speakers. These are massive three-way standmounters that echo the proportions and styling of speakers made back in the 60s and 70s but are packed with modern innards and engineering. Crossover frequencies: 630Hz and 2.4kHz. He lived in Ilkley, Yorkshire, in a valley known as Wharfedale, and so thats what he called his new company. Things changed with the 9.1. Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again. Add some great-value dedicated stands (that also double as storage for records) and you have a pair of speakers that represent excellent value for money. All of this, though, pales into insignificance when you consider the E70s unique ability to work with valve amplifiers. As for the enclosure finish, the W90s are in oiled walnut. This means I'd have to pack/ship the old things to and from. Wharfedale CRS 3, 89dB, 45-20KHz, 100 watt RMS, $45. Soundwise, it does things unimaginable at this price even a year ago. The Klipsch sound has remained true to Pauls technical goals but the boldness of the presentation hasnt always been for everyone. Wharfedale Diamond IV 504 Hi-Fi Speakers - See Description. The original Linton debuted in 1965 and the line continued in various iterations . 2023 Audio Affair Blog. Wharfedale designed the Linton with two rear ports which requires giving these loudspeakers some distance from the wall behind them; the 8-inch woofer can deliver the goods playing Led Zeppelin with only 20 watts so dont confuse old with polite. Wharfedale recommended using an amplifier with at least three watts of power to get decent volume levels. Gilbert Briggs founded Wharfedale in 1932. I don't get the chance to listen to everything I sell, but I found these very impressive, if slightly bass heavy. Wharfedale SFB3 vintage open baffle speakers, Gilbert Briggs & Quad ESL57 speakerswww.hifihangar.co.uk Music pours out of the Forte IVs drivers and smacks you in the face; in a good way that becomes more natural sounding once you get over the shock. $6,995.00 CAD. The bad news is I live and have my shop in Connecticut. and first joined the brand over 10 years ago. So, I probably am just as far away from you as the other folks you mentioned. The new Dovedale was designed by Peter Comeau who recently revived the Mission 770 . The modern habit of producing units with multiple smaller drivers does not always make for a natural bottom end. The model disappeared from their line-up in the 1970s but was recently reintroduced as the stand-mounted Linton Heritage. Report; Share; Posted March 11, 2012. In the early 1990s, Wharfedale, by this point part of the International Audio Group with Quad and Leak, had redesigned the Diamond yet again creating the Diamond 8. Answer (1 of 7): When I was in the audio business in the mid-late 60s, Wharfedale was a solidly respected maker with a deep pedigree. The 505.2 were another massive success for Wharfedale, sitting in the mid-market and delivering a sound of impressive polish and insight. On Sale. Wharfedale speakers Glendale XP2 3 three way speakers good condition vintage speakers with original instructions Drivers: 1 x 25mm soft dome tweeter 1 x 50mm mid-range 1 x 200mm Bass Woofer Dimensions: 252 x 482 x 240mm (W x H x D) Weight: 8kg. Briggs was a keen music and audio enthusiast and developed the companys first product the Bronze drive unit in his cellar. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rosewood wood box. At the price, little came close. That sounds like a fun system. Decker had been responsible for the business end of Lansing and his demise sent the company into a financial tailspin until it was acquired and renamed as Altec Lansing in 1941. The cabinet, in particular, makes use of an extremely dense composite with redesigned porting to reduce port noise. I owned a pair of ADS L710s in the late 1970s-1980s. brand including the website and magazine. After finding some shoddy sets I was also finding the E50's and E70's which are superior still. This was the era of the Bookshelf Speaker, and models such the Linton and Denton were soon to define the future output of Wharfedale. The E30 and E20 that followed were similarly reasonable, but lacked the E70s stellar quality. Best CD players 2023: CD players for every budget, Best home theatre speaker systems 2023: budget to premium home cinema set-ups, Best projectors 2023: Full HD, 4K, portable and short-throw, Best Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray players 2023: budget to premium disc players, Best stereo amplifiers 2023: the best integrated amps you can buy, The best home entertainment buying advice, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Advents will shake the house. In addition to winning awards by groups such as the Bradford Radio Society , in mass public testing at Carnegie Hall Wharfedale speakers proved indistinguishable from live music. It captured the musics energy and pace in a manner that BBC-style speakers could never. or Best Offer. It wasnt much of a boogie wonderland on classical and jazz, but give it rock, soul, or (best of all) disco, and it was a boogie paradise! After the war, Briggs continued to develop his speakers. Vintage audio has never been more popular; our two weekly columns deliver consistent traffic and comments that match the response to our most popular reviews of new products. Do you think my amp will limit me in getting enjoyment from the speakers you mention in this article? Required fields are marked *. I have no experience in do-it-yourself speaker repair/upgrade, but if what I have to do is as easy as you indicate then I might give it a go. The Lintons are definitely rolled-off in the treble so that might not be an issue. That Mk1 was a squat thing standing just 24cm high and had an internal volume of just 5.2 litres. The original Linton went on to become one of the best selling speakers of its era. Want to know more? The vintage audio vibe is very strong with the Model 5 and the backlog of orders is considerable. Can they even be refurbished at all? WHARFEDALE EVO4.2 BOOKSHELF. Woofers finally shot and replacing them with DQ-10 drivers for a great fit. The 708 were hugely impressive design on so many levels. Posts: 14851. Find Speakers Wharfedale in Electronics For Sale. Hey! I like the overall Advent sound and have been tempted by the Wharfedale Lintons and new KLH 5s. Get the best deal for Wharfedale Diamond from the largest online selection at eBay.ca. Wharfedale: One of the most historic, and important brands in the history of Hi-Fi. The E70 was deceptively quick and loud in motion, exuding genuine confidence and bravery. By the mid-90s, the Diamond had evolved again, to the Diamond 9 a range which scored an incredible clean sweep of awards, year after year. Currently under review and weve listened to the other 3 before including. They are not inexpensive and I question how much better they are than the $1,595 Lintons. Wharfedales founder, Gilbert Briggs built his first loudspeaker in 1932 in his home in Ilkey, Yorkshire; the town was based in the valley of the river Wharfe. Briggs opened Wharfedale Wireless Works in 1933 supplying advanced loudspeaker drivers to the growing radio industry and the company became a leading supplier selling more than 9,000 units per year until the outbreak of World War II. He may have something there. WHARFEDALE ELYSIAN C WITH STAND 8.5 INCH 3-WAY CENTER CHANNEL EACH. From Bronze to Diamond, we chart the 85-year history of Wharfedale. Both you and the Human speaker guy seem to have had experience refurbishing old Wharfedales. https://community.classicspeakerpages.net/topic/14762-edgar-villchurs-discussion-of-the-ar-1w/. Its probably not unreasonable to say that the Wharfedale Diamond is pretty much THE go to loudspeaker, for anyone looking for maximum bang for buck on a budget. 1 of 11 Best Vintage Speakers British Wharfedale W60 Mid-Century Modern, 1960s $600 Asking Price per set More Items Item Details About the Seller More From This Seller View All 1970s Modern Pair Beovox S60 B&O Speakers Rosewood, Denmark $180 1960s Mid-Century Modern Table Cigarette Lighter in Teakwood Bv Norway $195 WHARFEDALE ELYSIAN 2 WITH STAND. 1960s Wahrfedale vintage omnidirectional loudspeaker. KLH Audio is a new company owned by Klipsch and VOXX executive, David P. Kelley. The Airdale was Wharfedale's top of the range omni directional speaker. One was already repaired few years ago . $7,495.00 CAD. The L-100 Classic still require a lot of space and a powerful amplifier, but they fill a large room with ease and are one of the most dynamic sounding loudspeakers available for the price. Wharfedale - Linton 85th Anniversary Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) Speakers Price $1,499.00 Questions and Answers Model: (Required) Walnut, Matched Pair Red Mahogany, Matched Pair Black Oak, Matched Pair Quantity: Add to cart Add to Wish List Also Available: FREE SHIPPING On Orders Over $49* 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee* Theyve been a huge hit for the company since their introduction, and rightly so. An original pair of two-way SFB3 Wharfedale loudspeakers It seems fair then, to say that Wharfedale invented the domestic speaker as we know it. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: What Hi-Fi at the time remarked, for their size they sure produce a big soundthey sell for 65 and so get an excellent value for money rating. 2. would they be a good match with a vintage 15 or 25 watt (restored) 1980's stereo receiver ? This success earned Wharfedale their first major order, and pretty soon, there was no looking back. I am listening to the W35's. 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