The Klipsch sound has remained true to Pauls technical goals but the boldness of the presentation hasnt always been for everyone. . If your budget can stretch to $1,500 which includes the stands, the Linton should be on your short list. Add a carefully calibrated crossover and excellent build quality and you have a class-leading tower. That sounds like a fun system. Sonically it is the most polished of the early Diamonds, but also a shade less energetic sounding than the original model. The sonic balance was a little rounded at the top end to avoid the basic tweeter becoming exposed, but the capable 11cm long-throw polypropylene mid/bass unit compensated. This materials rigidity and low mass resulted in vanishingly low levels of cabinet colouration compared to the wooden alternatives of the time. The current love of all things retro hasnt been ignored at Wharfedale Towers. I am in the process of recapping the crossovers on my W35's. This refreshed vintage audio speaker sounds much more dynamic than a lot of other new designs. Bought in 1968, both has been tested and sound quality is very good. Paul Klipsch developed the legendary Klipschorn with the premise of recreating the sound of live music in the home. The 9.1 sounded detailed and transparent, could play all types of music with ease, and offered a level of insight well beyond their 180 price level. The dual 100mm midrange units were also not the sweetest on the market, which meant that, combined with the horn-loaded soft dome tweeter, things could get a little tedious. The 50 ohm pots appear to be redundant except for the fact that the speakers face upwards and . Subscribe to our newsletter: Aug 4, 2012 #1 I have an old pair of Wharfedale speakers which stopped playing any music whatsoever. I always liked those speakers when I was growing up. On Sale. 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. It was a 20-watt (DIN) speaker system with 8-inch bass and 2-inch tweeter together with an electronic crossover circuit. Continuing with the modern tradition, founded by the Diamond 8, of a woven Kevlar cone, Wharfedales extensive R&D efforts have resulted in ever improved driver design and cabinet construction. A three-way version was also subsequently developed. is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Drums had a lot of attack and weight, basslines were rapid and lively, voices were boldly thrust out into the room, and cymbals smacked you in the face. The Wharfedale Diamond was to become the backbone of Wharfedales speaker business to this day. Two-way and multi-component loudspeaker systems had been attempted in the 1930s; they were however solely the reserve of cinemas and theatres, due to their size. The year is 1932; in the cellar of a house in Ilkley, Yorkshire, music enthusiast and audio experimenter, Gilbert Briggs, is building his first loudspeaker units. I don't know the model number but I can probably get that info. I currently have B&W DM603 S3 floorstanders in my listening room driven by a NAD C355BEE. Both companies went their separate ways and Lansing introduced several innovative Alnico drivers that became signature JBL products over the decades. They began to sound ragged if pushed too hard, but beyond that led the class in most other respects for a number of years. Where to buy: $4,998/pair at Amazon | Crutchfield, Also available in Canada for $7,798/pair at Amazon.ca, Home > Latest > Articles > Loudspeakers > Floorstanding Speakers > The Best Vintage Audio Speakers for the Modern Audiophile. The Linton Heritage have jumped from $1,499 to $1,799 USD which is not an insignificant amount of money if you are working with a tight budget. 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. That Mk1 was a squat thing standing just 24cm high and had an internal volume of just 5.2 litres. 900.00. 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* The company is now part of the International Audio group. As you may know, Wharfedale speakers were highly regarded in Europe and the USA in the 1950s and 1960s. $7,495.00 CAD. Your email address will not be published. Add to Cart. The W60E's have a warmth to them just like the W60's. I'd really love to know what the deal is with the inverted surrounds on the woofers (not the mid-woofers). Diamond 12.0 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) $349.00 Diamond 12.1 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) From $349.00 Diamond 12.2 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) $599.00 They sound terrific! The latest loudspeaker to join this collection is the Linton. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: All of that changes the moment you drive the super-efficient Forte IV with 10-15 watts of tube power and put some distance between the loudspeaker and your listening position. Hi Cecil. Copyright 2023 VintageSonics | Privacy Policy, How Often Should You Replace Turntable Stylus. https://community.classicspeakerpages.net/topic/14762-edgar-villchurs-discussion-of-the-ar-1w/. would they be a good match with a vintage 15 or 25 watt (restored) 1980's stereo receiver ? Speakers were increasingly complicated and power-hungry, possibly because the wisdom of the day was that big, muscular transistor power amps were the way forward. Big thanks to Richard @audioaffair for setting this up." I asked him to look for the paperwork but he's getting old and somewhat forgetful so I'll probably need to do it myself. I was browsing an antique shop this morning and I came across a pair of very rare vintage Wharfedale Airdale Loudspeakers. These speakers were open and articulate performers capable of a surprisingly subtle performance when suitably partnered. Rosewood wood box. Best of luck with the site! Why? The other enclosure is 100% original MDF and original Walnut veneer. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! 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. Those coming to the Bristol Hi-Fi Show this weekend (24-26 February) will be able to see the Dovedale speakers in the flesh we sure wouldn't want to miss them. All of this was too much for the BBC's snobby critics, who . Thread starter krneki10; Start date Aug 4, 2012; Status Not open for further replies. Vintage Wharfedale Diamond loudspeaker Review: David Price, Lab: Keith Howard | May 1, 2018 Welcomed with open arms by those seeking a quality speaker for use in a tight space, the Diamond created the market for affordable mini monitors. Plus, do places like these have the expertise to deal with speakers that are 50 years old? All of this, though, pales into insignificance when you consider the E70s unique ability to work with valve amplifiers. Indeed, it owed more to JBL and Klipsch, two other brands that audiophiles in the United Kingdom secretly sneered at. Wharfedale Wireless Works was founded in 1932 by Gilbert Briggs, and became one of Britain's leading manufacturers of audiophile equipment, particularly loudspeakers. At this point the company pushed hard on engineering innovation and the result was the impressive 300 708 standmounters. The stands are priced at 800 per pair should you change your mind and want to buy them later. All rights reserved. Call us on 0844 504 0350, Audio Affair Blog > AV & Home Cinema > A History of Wharfedale Loudspeakers, Posted on Wed, 31 May, 2017 They are very big 3-ways encased in wood (24 in high, 21 in wide and 13 in deep) and are very heavy. Soundwise, it does things unimaginable at this price even a year ago. Wharfedale has made some great speakers over the years, so it wasn't difficult to choose some highlights. The new Dovedales are a little bit taller, a little wider and a whole lot deeper than the original Dovedale 3 models' dimensions (and also are bigger than the Wharfedale Lintons) with new drivers and technology taking full advantage of that extra space. Advertisement. Pair of Vintage Wharfedale W-70D Home Audio Theatre Speakers Good Shape Tested Pre-Owned $399.99 omt_vb (1,563) 99.5% or Best Offer Free local pickup Sponsored Pair of Vintage Wharfedale W-70 Home Audio Theatre Speakers Not Tested, See Desc Parts Only $466.65 vintagesportsaz (746) 98.9% Was: $549.00 15% off Buy It Now Free shipping Free returns There are also dedicated stands made of carbon steel with glass inserts and hidden cable management, costing 800 per pair if bought separately. Our 7-part vintage audio podcast series concludes with a conversation with vinyl mastering legend, Kevin Gray. We could have filled this list with various generations of the Diamond, but have chosen to pick out the ninth-gen model of the more recent editions. Minor structural damages. Hey Ian, im late to reading this article but it is super relevant to the research ive been doing for my next speaker purchase. The 708s 28mm-thick panels were formed by sandwiching polystyrene foam between two sheets of Melamine. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging.Learn More. Where to buy: $4,400/pair at AudioAdvice.com | Crutchfield. Hey! Now that I am out looking at capacitors I had no idea there was so much Voodoo electronics, it is as bad as speaker wire. 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. The standard 505.2 used a basic chipboard box, but there was also a luxury version available at a premium that used 18mm MDF, covered with a rather nice mahogany real-wood veneer. The Lintons are definitely rolled-off in the treble so that might not be an issue. Guest bubslewis The tweeter was also unusual in being encased in its own acoustic dome to isolate it from the vibrations generated by the bass unit. or Best Offer. If there was anyone who should hear the difference it should be me, but it isn't I have spent too many years playing loud music to have golden ears anymore. Their sonic balance also reflects the past with a big hearted and rich presentation thats quite alien to most modern alternatives. Germany, Probably a good thing would be first, to be certain that they function fully. The three-way loudspeakers are larger than most bookshelf loudspeakers making the stands a logical accessory to maximize their performance. 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. One brand including the website and magazine. Wharfedale speaker parts for vintage Wharfedales. Talk about bass. AU $17.00 AU $5.00 postage 17 watching These date from the 1960's and are in need . Wharfedale speaker identification, posted on August 13, 2016 at 12:38:35: 2sixR Audiophile Posts: 5 Location: Ca All of the drivers are heavy, high quality units. Read the review of the Award-winning Mission 770, Looking for an alternative? It cost just 65 on launch and soon built up a mighty reputation for being musically talented. The core, Diamond values of affordability, great value and performance beyond the price point, ensuring widespread accolades. Back in the day, we often sold them paired up with classic Japanese amplifiers like Kenwoods KA-6000 (and the successor KA-7002) or a McIntosh MC-2505 power amp with a C-26 preamp. The speakers themselves are wrapped in real wood walnut veneer, hand-polished and lacquered to a satin finish, that from pictures alone looks rather gorgeous. Your email address will not be published. What Hi-Fi? By The SFB/3s measured 79 x 86 x 30cm (hwd) and weighed in at around 29kg. JBL, Klipsch, and Wharfedale have been manufacturing award-winning loudspeakers for almost 73 years; all three companies entered the loudspeaker business in 1946 run by three visionaries who had spent the previous decades working on loudspeaker drivers for other audio components such as radio consoles and movie theater loudspeaker systems. Will likely be back in contact with you via your website once I check the speakers out. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Additional questions if answers to the above ones are affirmative: The classifieds, yellow pages, internet, etc are not full of lists of "speaker refurbishers". Bath Life long musician, Irish Terriers, Ham Radio Operator, vintage vacuum tube equipment. Our prices below have been updated to reflect an increase of over 10% or more for all of them so far in 2022. Before I heard the ADS, I almost bought a pair of the improved, large Advents that were the rage in the late 70s. The company flourished after the war and became one of the first companies to offer a two-way loudspeaker in 1945 the prototype for the modern loudspeaker. We build a system around them that can. Ketan Bharadia is the Technical Editor of What Hi-Fi? What has given vinyls unexpected comeback some solid legs is that millennials have discovered the benefits of ownership; the generation that grew up on iTunes and Spotify finally have a physical piece of media that they can own just like their parents and older siblings. The bad news is I live and have my shop in Connecticut. This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. Unlike other Klipsch models which can sound bright and forward sounding, the Forte IV sound more restrained without sacrificing the tone, dynamics, and sense of realism that they deliver. The one in the 505.2 delivered impressive clarity and insight. It featured a ridiculously high 94dB sensitivity and a low typical impedance of 10 ohms, allowing it to be driven by a portable radio. Wharfedale EVO4.2 Speakers This Stylish 3-Way Design Delivers In Spades The Spatial, Airy, Depth On Any Material. He did say that they were sand filled, which I think I read that Wharfedale did with one or two of their models in those days. One of thier signature features of what they called "achromatic sound" was filling the walls of thier enclosures with fine white sand, to insure they were inert/di. Denton 85th Anniversary Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) $999.00. I have a pair of W90 speakers that I have had for 40 years that may be the model you described. By staying true to its historical Britishrootsand pursuit of product excellence, Wharfedale continues to meet the demands of both loyal and new owners. A modest concern, based just outside of Bradford, Gilbert Briggs began manufacturing transducers and electronics in typically British cottage industry manner. MP1200 MP2800 MP2800S MP4000. Dec 16, 2020. Consumers are willing to spend a lot of money; often more than the price of a new high-end system, for really rare vintage audio components from brands like McIntosh, Mark Levinson, Krell, and Quad so it should not surprise anyone that people are very interested in new loudspeakers from some of the oldest high-end brands that pay homage to classic designs that once occupied the front covers of every Hi-Fi magazine. The original, Mk1 Diamond was launched in 1982 and borrowed heavily from technology developed for Wharfedales high-end TSR102 series loudspeakers. Products like the Wharfedale Linton Heritage and Klipsch Forte IV loudspeakers are all the proof one requires. From Bronze to Diamond, we chart the 85-year history of Wharfedale. From when Gilbert A. Briggs still was at the helm of Wharfedale, less than ten years after the 1958 sale of the latter to the ubiquitous RANK organization. The Wharfedale Diamond 4 was perhaps the first aesthetically notable redesign, with each generation keeping apace of changing design trends and innovations. The cabinet is constructed using a mix of woods and a two-layer sandwich of MDF and high-density particle board to scatter panel resonances even further. 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. It started off as a two-way model with a 3in tweeter and 8in bass unit, but over time developed into a threeway design called the Linton 3XP. Good strong but natural flowing low frequencies thrive with proper bass drivers, preferably of 8 10 inch dia. Im going to subscribe to your site and definitely tune into your podcasts. List of wharfedale speakers, user reviews, editorial reviews, wharfedale speakers deals, used wharfedale speakers and more - audioreview.com Wharfedale speakers Select the Wharfedale product you are looking for or choose a different brand Select the brand alphabetically All ! They also make many lines of speakers in any given model year ranging from bargain basement junk to world class top of the line. The cabinet, in particular, makes use of an extremely dense composite with redesigned porting to reduce port noise. Surprisingly subtle performance when suitably partnered What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox resulted... 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