squarespace.com/CHEAPAUDIOMAN to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CHEAPAUDIOMAN =========================================Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary -----------bit.ly/3CMjiT0 Isoacoustics howl.me/cigs1faEg9n www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman Tidal Deal bit.ly/3siuqSF Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt Best Buy Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH amzn.to/3GkNaop CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5 Amazon Unlimited Music Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 Amazon Unlimited Music Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 Tidal Deal bit.ly/3fQvNkq www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
I bought a pair of these speakers about a year ago, also on sale for $500. I've heard these discribed as 'relaxed' or 'rolled off in the treble', but honestly at 67 yrs old my hearing is pretty rolled off too. The build quality of these speakers is incredible for the price and the tonal balance suits me just fine. I'm using them as nearfield monitors for my SMSL-based computer system and I love them.
Same here! I bought a pair when they went on sale. I, too, was surprised at the sound. $500!! While they lacked a bit of the high-end resolution of my Dynaudio Focus 110 ($1400 back in 2007, mind you), they were soi close. I gave them to my son who loves them.
Ah, I understand that all the RU-vidrs generally like to review smaller speakers (easier on the shipping and your backs), but for those of us with rooms around 13 feet x 25 feet and larger, often floorstanders can provide more scale of sound and more dynamics. But, the question is, would you or could you get that and better imaging by combining such bookshelf speakers like these Dentons and a sub?
I like bookshelves and a sub. with towers you get what you get with the bass. with a sub, one like an svs, you can really tailor the bass to what you need. with imaging it depends a lot on your room and how much stuff is in it and how close to a wall things are. I've heard some great floor standers and some meh for soundstage. it's all dependent on the speaker and one doesn't always do better than the other.
Thanks for this Randy, I think your review exactly sums up how I felt when I tried these for a couple of weeks last year. I ultimately returned them because I wanted that little bit more air and detail to the treble that I felt was lacking from the Dentons (especially at low-mid volumes); but at the same time I did not want to get an overly bright and unnatural sounding speaker. In the end I had to spend considerably more money (Neat Motive SX3) to get what I was after from a small cabinet whilst also sounding natural. The Dentons sounded great at higher day time volumes, but at lower late night levels they were a touch too rolled off for my liking. The Neats are perfect for my small room and listening requirements, but they were a very pricy alternative (an eq or amp with a loudness control might have been a cheaper option) but I love them. Thanks again for the review and great channel.
For the other 3 classical music listeners who watched this review, in a small to medium size room, these Denton 80s are brilliant with our genre of choice (aided and abetted by appropriate associated electronics, of course). I've had a pair driven by ICEpower 125ASX2 mono amps in my office system for a few years. Personal opinion: the Denton 80s with their walnut or mahogany front facing speaker panels are much more "premium" looking than the 85s which have black panels. Chacun à son goût.
I agree. The only thing I don't like about my Lintons is the look without grilles. I leave them on, and they're lookers from every angle. Oh: they sound magnificent too:)
Have you heard classical on KEF q350s? I’m debating on whether to keep them or pay more for better speakers, but they are easily the best I’ve heard for orchestral music. Paired with CXA81, they’re a phenom.
Wharfedale built so many very good sounding and good looking speakers. I like this brand, I have have made only positive experiences with Wharfedale. Thanks for the review, sir 😊👍
Hey Randy, thanks for that review. I own the Denton 85th Anniversary for about 6 months now and I can confirm your explanations. The build is just exceptional, knock on wood and there is no - absolutely no - resonance or hollow sound. It actually sounds as if you knock on a solid piece of wood. The sound is perfectly balanced for the type of music I´m listening to, mostly Metal, Rock and some oldies but goldies. The base left a few questionmarks for me however... as small speakers they are obviously not predestined for superior bass power, but I was hoping for a little bit more punch. However I think what got me confused is that roll-of you mention, when focussing on the music the bass is clearly present, in a smooth, rolling way and not in the punching way. It´s actually a good fit for metal as most of the bass lines here lie actually in the mid-ranges which are really astonishing. Concerning the heights I just can say I love them. When I decided to keep the Dentons I compared them with a pair of Klipsch RP50M (supposedly the ideal Rock- and Metal speakers) and I found the sound of the Dentons way more balanced, full-sounding and engulfing. The Klipsch heights were starting to hurt my ears after short listening sessions, this never happened with the Dentons so far. For me - in my unperfect listening room - the Dentons are so far the best speakers I tried, and I´m sure I need to spend way more money to find something that might be a bit more appealing to me. Keep on rocking (and drinking coffee)! Chris
Hey. Do you listen to the denton 85's with the grilles on? Ive read a lot saying the treble can be harsh. Im not sure if these people are playing them without. Its said the heritage line are meant to be played with them on. Be interested as im considering them😮
@@px7355 I had a noise too from time to time. When I touched the power cable it became stronger. I found out that my telephone station interfered with that cable. After putting it more far away from the A300 everything was fine. I think getting a shielded power cable might solve your problem.
Picked up a pair of these for $350 about 5 years ago and they've been one of my favorite audio purchases. They're not the fastest, the mid-bass hump is real and they definitely like plenty of space behind them (really just proper placement in general) but when you get them dialed the midrange is so lush and natural. They're beautiful.
I bought a pair of these baout a week ago just for 200 euro as second hand but in like new condition. I connected them to Yamaha A-S1100 and i was in shock how good they are. And i can tell you something, my Martin Logan Motion 60XT still disconnected from Yamaha. That mean something. I think Yamaha amplifiers are good partners for Linton and Denton. I will upload some video on my channel to show how they sound with A-S1100 and April Stello Ai500
I've had them for years. Yeah, I agree - nice, and worth the price (I paid $399.). Ok, for all the idiots who balk on diffraction: stop, look, and perceive. if the driver doesn't sit flush or jut, it difracts. They are nice. But now and then I need a bit more to drown out the passing planes and traffic - Wharfedale Linton does that. So, they sit in the garrage. Because...Wharfedale Linton does that. Oh, and F............Llinton's do Zeppelin right!
I’ve had a pair for a couple of weeks now, they sounded awful out of the box, but now that they’ve run in, the sound is beautiful. They certainly don’t sound as soft in the treble as I was expecting, very musical, you can just listen to music with them, which is the most important thing. I have Lintons on my main system, so these really are a baby Linton and they do sound better with the speaker cable plugged into the treble terminal.
Hey Randy could you call out to Aune for a review of the Aune Flamingo DAC. It can switch between Tube and opamp and is just 219 dollars. Right up your alley!
Thank you. Your recommendation of these speakers was right on. I just bought a beautiful pair of the walnut variety from Audio Affair in Birmingham England. Since they were phone orders from out of state the tax was excused and therefore the cost was more than fair. I got them with FedEx delivery for the grand total of $467.00 So happy about the sound, quality and price. I’m not a raging audiophile but I do enjoy the sound and they pair perfectly with my Cambridge Audio AXR100, and CXC v2. I haven’t owned a better sounding or looking pair of speakers since my old Acoustic Research AR-3’s These Dentons sound better than the AR’3’s but figure it may be due to their age disparity. Thank you. Also, I am visiting them.
You want lush midrange and airy highs, try the Focal Aria 906, but they're $2200. You can get close with the Chora 806 on sale for $599, but they don't quite have the refinement, detail and transparency of the 906.
Hey Randy. Thank you for this very insightful review. I'm wandering if you knew of another standmount speaker that possesses the sense of scale a d organic midrange tonality as these. But with greater midrange clarity that these don't have?
Kept the Dali Spektor 1's that I auditioned along with two other offerings less than $250. On your reccy. Have really enjoyed the Spektor 1's for more than a year and ordered the Denton 80's today. It's my birthday. I'm near field and am looking forward to the bout of critical listening that's coming. Thanks Randy. /../, EDIT: Tried them for a few days and boxed them back up and returned them. In my case at near field (
I have the 80th and recently auditioned Spektor 2. Quite impressive. I somehow found its nicer than the denton. Was it just me or the yeah it was real. Anyone with the same case?
@cheapaudioman what is your preference between these denton 80th and the evo 4.1's? Will be paired with a powernode & subwoofer in a 12x12' office/listening room.
love the smooth wharfedale sound. once you get used to them its difficult to enjoy any bright speakers. since i got the diamond 12.1, my jamo c93ii has been collecting dust. had a chance to listen to a pair of Linton once, was amazing. if the denton sound is close, its an amazing deal
I had the same experience with my Lintons coming from my Elac Debut B6. But then I heard the mighty mighty Criton 1TDX. I have not gone back to the Lintons!
Picked up a mint condition pair of these second hand recently for £200 (so that's pretty much $200 these days). They really are a beautifully made piece of hi-fi gear and the retro styling reminds me of my Dad's old Wharfedale Dovedale 3s that I grew up listening to - a look I like but that certainly won't be to everyone's taste. They are very much pieces of furniture as well as speakers so if you're after something sleek to slip into a modern aesthetic these definitely won't be the one! Am yet to get the amp I want to pair them with but at that price I couldn't turn them down so bought them in advance of the amp purchase. Hopefully they sound as good as they look!
Great review! You mentioned an aspect that might be worth an extra video (please!): What speakers are best for rooms when you can’t put the far away (or even not away) from the back wall? What when your room forces you to put one speaker near the side wall, too? I would very much appreciate a video on this topic … it drives me crazy having my room as it is and not being able to do changes to the furniture placement.
Thanks for the great review; these are handsome speakers. would you recommend them as a pairing with a warmer sounding EL34 based vintage amp? Or needs more powahhh? (35 wpc, bedroom size space, mostly jazz. It would not be my only speaker, but I’m kind of looking for a well-priced “midrange assassin” to complement my speaker collection.. )
I bought these new in the UK for £250 a while back and love them! (Limited time deal from an eBay hifi seller) No fatigue from listening all day, and absolutely beautifully made. I couldn’t turn them down at the price so have ended up with a second system in another room with some Elac Debut 5.2’s (thanks for the tip Randy) that I managed to get for £140 on Amazon a few months earlier, and a Douk audio tube amp (same as the Aiyima T9) - again, thanks Randy! The Denton’s sound especially great when listening to vinyl. Really happy to see you review these.
Nice review Randy. Wharfedale have been absolutely killing it over the past couple of years. I think it's always beneficial using isolation stands/pads for speakers. 👌
Bought my Denton 80ths ( mahogany finish) about 5 years ago for $300 in my country the Philippines. These speakers synergies very well with lively amplifiers like yamaha, pioneer, onkyo, rotel and the like. Pair it up with warm sounding analogue source like vintage sounding shure cartridge and you great warm bass and midrange. Using lean sounding cartridges like a ortofon 2m red or audio technica vm95e, you gain a bit of clarity and clean treble, but lose some of that foreward and warm enveloping character of the Denton
Pitiful portable picnic players. Throw $400 at a pair of used JBL Pro, EV, or Altec Lansing A5/A7 speakers, recone the drivers, and listen to music the same way the artists hand it out at a concert: @ 119.9 db. "Chocolate Chip Trip": fun choice! A small speaker can never match the sound/feel of a giant speaker w/o duct-taping them to your head.
Hey sir i want to buy VFM speakers Dali Spektor 2 Hi-Fi 100W 6 omn in 250euro the critics are amazing for ''cheap speakers'' i want you to tell me one good amplifier to attach them which wont be too expensive thank you !!!
+1 for the IsoAcoustic stands. I've had good success reducing room resonances using mechanical isolators like appliance pucks under speaker stands. Iso-130s do the same thing for my desktop listening when I want to run bigger speakers.
I have had these for 2 years. Excellent speaker for the money and better than the Wharfedale Denton 85th, which on my system displays excessive sibilance. This review by Randy is a very accurate indeed. These can be found in the UK for £349, which is about $388. Not sure how that would translate with tax, import duty and postage to USA. These speakers are even handed, with superb midrange, good bass for size and a non-fatiguing top end.
Thanks for all the reviews Randy! These reviews have helped guide my audio system setup with confidence. It wasn't what I'd call cheap (I usually talk myself into higher $) it is extremely high value and quality. Easily the best audio reviews on YT.
How do these compare to Wharfedale EVO4.1. I am looking for something small and currently have a NAD 7240PE that belonged to my father. The receiver has a sentimental value and still works flawlessly. At some point I would like to stream audio too so I am looking for something that packs a punch, detailed, crystal clear vocals and without fatigue. I am so torn now between this one and the 4.1.
@@vincentpedalino618 I also have a NAD T760 that is working perfectly. Knock on wood both NAD receivers are working well but the 7240PE has a lot of sentimental value. I just can’t decided which
@@vincentpedalino618 I also have a NAD T760 working well but knock on wood both receivers have been working without any issues. I’m just torn between these speakers and the Evo 4.1. The size is important bc I don’t want a huge heavy speaker for my bedroom. What I have downstairs is already big and heavy. Eventually I will get a audio streamer like the Bluesound POWERNODE since it fits within my budget for audio streaming.
I bought a pair of these around 5 years ago. They're really nice speakers. I run them with a fully refurbished Marantz 1060. When listening to vinyl, the soundstage is open and the imaging is detailed. They like a small room. They're my favorite bookshelf sized speaker since the KEF LS50.
Thank you, man! I bought a pair yesterday and driving them with a wiim amp. It is my first hifi system ever and I am so glad about everything plus they look absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for educating newcomers and making us aware that it's a slippery slope at some point haha
Hey, thanks, great review. These just got on sale in my country and I’m seriously considering getting them as an upgrade to my current “Monitor audio 100”.
Ahhh, the Wharfedale Denton. My first ever hi-fi system had a pair of dentons, back in the early 70's. I'm pretty sure they cost me around GBP 35. Happy days! They sounded great, but I mistreated them badly.
Beautiful looking speakers but I’m saving my money for a pair of Lintons. Hopefully before Xmas. Hopefully pair them with maybe an Audiolab 6000A. That’s the plan anyway. Cheers again for another great vid. Slainté
I think it's time for a SPEAKER SHOOT-OUT where you take the Wharfedale Denton, and compare it to the ELAC UB52's. Can a two-way beat a three-way? Let's find out! Or, you could just have a SPEAKER SHOOTOUT where you shoot at the Kevlar woofers with a rifle from a range of 100 yards. While it would tell us nothing about how they sound, it would be very entertaining. 🙂
Hey Randy . I just made the Neil's Mod to the Sony CS5 and I'm still in shock!!, sounds Awsome!!!. Do you think that this Wharfedale can sound a lot a way better. Just a little bit better or almost the same as the Sony's ?. Because I love the look of that Wharfedale, but shipped to my country can go up to US700. Do you think that in sound ,the wharfedales are a big improvement to the mod Sony's. Or do you recommend a cheaper option to the mod sony's? . I just want to have another pair of good speakers, but not sure if I'm gonna be happy spending almost US700 to hear something not better than the mod sony's. I know that the price includes the most beautiful speakers I ever see in my life, but in a sound perspective what do you think?. Thanks Randy
If they had the classical round dust cap they would be the perfect looking bookshelf speaker ever to me. Really nice vintage look with that wood and that kinda 45 degree angled edges around the front where the grills fit in.
That is a real bitchin' watch, Randy! Oh, and great (as always) review, before I buy, I always check for a viddy by you. They are on sale again. Trying to figure out how to get them in the door and by the BOSS without her seeing them.
I have these speakers paired with my PS Audio Sprout100 and they really sound great. My friends say that the Dentons are a poor man's Harbeth. I wonder if that's true lol. How does this compare to the Harbeths?
I had the original Wharfedale Denton speakers many moons ago with the Linton MKII Amplifier and a Garard Deck. It was my first Hifi back in the early 70's. I replaced them with the Linton XP3 speakers and over the years I have never ever changed my brand of speakers. To be honest the new Denton's look more authentic than the originals with the design they have gone for here as with the rest of the range such as the Linton's, and Airedale's. Not sure if they rereleased the Glendale or Dovedale from this old range of their speakers. The best Wharfedale speakers I ever had for many stereo setups I had over the years were the Wharfedale E90 Pro. They were built when they were still part of the Rank organisation and they were used in Rank Cinema Houses. Those things were 300-watt speakers and weighed 128lb each the grills were also made of steel. I had those for over 20 years before I sold them. One of the main reasons why I sold them was because since the 90's I became a surround FREAK! and I thought that with a 5.1 setup they were unbalanced by having smaller speakers on the rears. The other good thing about a 5.1 setup is that you don't really need big speakers because the sub can compensate for that. I ended up getting the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 range back in 2005 with the SW250 Subwoofer and am still using them today and am well happy enough with the results enough not to change them.
Cheap Audio Man...I have discovered your secret....I was trying to make out what you were saying about the woofer in the beginning of this video and changed the speed to .75.....Instantly, my hero, "The Cheap Audio Doooode" emerged.....Your secret was made clear to me in that instant. You are recording these videos while somewhat baked and speeding them up to 1.25 speed!!!!! It IS tripin'dicular. I'm joking, of course, but reduce the speed and watch.....It's hilarious!!! Maybe you should post one like that. It would be a hoot. BTW, love the speakers and your review.
Man Randy, this video is making it hard to choose between these and the JBL L52's (on sale at 799 were 1000) might have to bring this up on the zoom call on Sunday night lol.
Hey Randy, Love the channel. Sorry but i have an off topic question. I'm trying to drive to drive the Elac Unifi b52s properly. I have them powered by the Aiyima a07 hooked up to the pre out of my AVR receiver. Should I crank the receiver and control the volume on the Aiyima or crank the Aiyima and control the volume on the receiver?
Scratch all that! I didn’t realize the top surface was angled. I’m not sure what height I would need from the floor 🤔maybe 8 3/4” would do it, hard to say.
Don’t let the snake oil mafia prevent you from reviewing the ISO Acoustics stands. Many skeptics have reviewed it and recommend them. I’d like to hear your thoughts.
Good timing for me. I am looking for an upgraded pair of bookshelf speakers to go with my Rega P3 turntable and Rega Brio 3 amp. I currently have an older pair of Boston Acoustic HD7 speakers that I want to update. How do any of you think these speakers and the equally priced Wharfedale 12.2's would compare and work with my system. My listening/living room is about 13.5' wide and about 20' long and I sit in all locations in this room. I am not well versed in audio language but i do appreciate a great sounding speaker and listen to all kinds of music.
I'm looking for speakers to use for desktop near field listening. Awhile back you had a positive review for the Polk Audio ES15 which are now on sale for $250. Do you think the Denton 80ths are significantly better sounding? Certainly better looking in my opinion but are the worth $200 plus more from a sound perspective?
How would you compare these to the Denton 85? Have you had the opportunity to listen to those? I currently have the Elac b5 slim which I like but am looking for a little more warmth / body. Thanks in advance for your reply. Love the channel and have been a subscriber since you had under 100 subscribers.....keep it up!!
What really separates good speakers from great imho is a sense of depth/space. There are plenty of acclaimed speakers that do detail, fast transients. dynamivs, open midrange...but have a flat, cardboard like presentation. Sound rarely gets behind the speaker plane.
Nearly everything electronic is more expensive in Europa than in the US. But not Wharfdale -- this is currently 400€ (the Euro is roughly on par with the dollar atm). Makes me think of saving for the Lintons @ under a thousand (then gotta save some more for the stands...)
There is a New Kid on the block a company in Denmark (vestlyd), just released 2 New speaker models they look awsome, and best of All they er cheap, Any chance you would review them 😎
Just curious on how you wired these speakers, single or bi-wired? Also, some people are not using the single wire setup on the Wharfedale instruction sheet, any thoughts on wiring setup?
A friend sold me a pair of original Wharfedale Denton speakers he had purchased from a recycle center for cheap-cheap money. Next to my main Norh 9.0 speakers that cost me $2k, the Dentons are only a tad (technical term meaning 'only a little less'.) bit lower in their ability to convey pleasing sounds from any source. Get a pair of the originals or the 80th anniversary editions if you can. You won't regret it.
Hi Randy, no Sith entertainment today? Thanks for this review, I'm gueting very attracted by this company, their new models seem to be in every hp fan's mouth. 🖖
