Big Bang Theory: Why Wharfedale's Super-Efficient E30 Loudspeaker was a Real Flare-Flapper! 

Ah this episode put a smile on my face as soon as I saw the pic. Back in the day when I worked in a specialist hifi dealer (Exposure, Michell, Roksan, NVA etc.) we had a second hand pair of E70's in stock that we just couldn't shift for love nor money and they were taking up valuable floor space as you can imagine. So, one particularly quiet day with no demos booked my colleague Dave and I thought it would be a good idea to upgrade his clapped out D reg Mini Metro's 5" full-range speakers with these Wharfdale behemoths. Being highly efficient, we thought they'd make an ideal match for the Metro's 5W per channel car radio/cassette player. Granted, to accommodate these monsters would mean permanently folding the back seats down and completely fill the rear view mirror so it wasn't a terribly practical project, but Dave wasn't married so as an audiophile there was no need to compromise. You know when you laugh so much you can't breathe? Imagine that for the best part of an entire afternoon. It remains one of the funniest things I've ever done. Performance-wise we were disappointed with the poor bass response and the imaging was less than holographic.. Longer term listening was obviously required, so I was looking forward to an update from Dave the following day after his commute. Unfortunately indepth analysis was a bit thin on the ground as the Metro's radio/cassette's 5W amp gave up the ghost just outside of Denham on his way home, making us question the stated efficiency rating of the 'speakers. It was damned funny though!

My secret (not anymore) acid test with girlfriends in the 80-'s was to see where they would put the plants... if it was on the speakers, out they went...

As a small boy I went into an audio store in Cambridge with my father and some version of the e series was playing. The whole shop was filled with gorgeous and exciting sound, and that was the moment that my love of hifi was born! I have been chasing after that same sense of joy since then. Thanks so much for the chat.

Seem to remember seeing some of those in Comet and the old fashioned buy from home catalogues.

Such a pleasant conversational channel. I love these retro reviews. I grew up reading my much older brother's hi-fi magazines in the mid to late seventies as he was right into it (along with surfing and motor-bikes, the latter of which sadly ended his life in his 20s). I inherited much of his music collection and magazines, and my eclectic tastes and love for the 70s era prog stem from this. I remember lusting after high end British and Japanese hi-fi reviewed in those old magazines and guides - still do :)

You had me at Fishnet Capri seats🚗

A good friend of mine had a pair of the E-90 ‘speakers. Real trouser flappers. He had them until he got married and his wife refused to have them in the house!

The first separates hi fi system I heard when I was young featured a JVC AX2 amp which had a built in graphic equaliser and green led power meter and Wharfedale laser 80 loudspeakers. It sounded amazing. They went loud and had excellent weighty bass. A mate and I started paper rounds to save up for our dream £1000 hifi systems! Great times!

Fond memories of the E30s and E70s going super loud on the end of a NAD 7020 and unmemorable tt. Took me back to the early 80s. Thank you gents

My dad bought a pair of E30s in the late 70s early 80s they were passed onto me a few years ago and they sound fantastic hooked up to my current hifi setup

Just wanted to thank you, before I even watch this. When I first heard of these. I looked everywhere, but they don’t seem to exist in the US, at least not in any real quantities anyway. And I’ve always wanted to hear more about these. The high efficiency is what got me interested in the first place. I’m always looking for high efficiency gems to consider, and hopefully try out. ✌️

I still have my E90's, not Wharfedale originals but kits sold by Wilmslow Audio (the only difference was no adjustable controls). I had a 100Watt MOSFET amplifier feeding them ... problem was, 50mW was a comfortable listening level - 20Watts and I had to go outside and at the full 100Watts I had to go out into the street (all testing was done with the neighbours out). I still have them and they sound glorious ...

Owned a pair of E50's back in the early 80's driven by a Marantz Esotec PM5 and Turntable was a Ariston RD40 with a Glanz GMC10EX cartridge.

Excellent as always guys👍👍

The conversation suggests the sounds are like how the Heybrook HB1s differed from the HB2s (the old Mecom stuff, not the latter day Heybrooks)

Keep it going great reviews

Did they say this was an E-30 review lol… not quite accurate in description but a a fair view. These are not a downscale of the E-70 in any way! E-70 is a 3 way design and e-30 is a 2 way design giving HF and exactly the same frequencies through 2 identical 16 ohm 95db 7.5” mid/bass drivers. The E-70 has 2 dedicated dual mids.. incidentally also the E-30 had a crossover manufacture design fault which was a weak resister which was rectified by wiring a second one in parallel. Out of the 200 pairs ive had over the years id say 30% were burnt or blown! On the whole a very nice sound reproduction!!

Could you guys talk about the Celestion 3/5/7 models from the late 80s/early 90s? They were quite popular in the US and for many of us our first intro to British mini monitors. I would be interested in hearing your opinion of them if you have one. Cheers!

Other Wharfdales of that era to look out for are the W Series - the W50s are very similar to E70

I too am a fan of old Wharfedale speakers.Ive got the Laser 300 , linton xp2 and the E- twenty ( theyve all had the recap )..which sound too loud on the old Musical Fidelity A1 but they are really sweet on an old Hitachi HA 250 amplifier. Great Riff once again. Look forward to your next one. Many thanks, John.

WOW - I had no idea that you guys have known each other since school days... that makes your vibe totally understandable, and makes this channel even more awesome! PS David - I took your advice re turntable and cartridge!

I owned a pair of E30’s in 1979, which replaced my Celestion Ditton 15XR. Then In bought a pair of E90’s which I still have, albeit stored in my attic. So in 1979 I had pair of E30’s on top of a pair of E90’s, and belive me they were loud. This may have contributed to my poor hearing now later in life. Before I bought the E90’s I was also looking at the Leak 2075 but choose the E90’s. I used an Eagle A7400 amplifiier to drive them.

Enjoyed the conversation. I have a pair E30s powered by a Sansui AU-217 MkII. I bought these in 1980 and have used this set up regularly ever since and it still sounds great.

Brilliant I love these , I love wharfedale speakers

Top speed Lamborghini Countach 😃

I've just been looking at Warfedales on ebay - what a fascinating and informative discussion. 👍👍

I liked the look of the Wharfdales E30's and fancied a pair in the late 70's but after comparing with this strange new company called Mission, and their 720 stand mounts, went with the Mission's

70s and 80s is my favourite

Saw a couple on facebook market place really tempted now. Thing is I like “banging” classical: Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Shostakovich etc. How will they go for my shed system (driven by a raspberry pi with amp hat)?

This brings me back to where i am now ! Running a class a single ended tube amp 6.8 watts . I am using monitor audio bronze b4 speakers 6ohms 91db efficiency. Now my amp powers these with ease and nice deep bass and clarity . However! My friend has a similar class a tube amp and he has the e70 speakers . Its £400 for a tatty pair needing some love . The e50 are now heavily priced and thin on the ground which led me contemplating e30. Then it has me thinking would the e30 be better than my AM bronze b4 speakers???? Would the e30 match the b4 on bass ????? The old mission 780 were high efficiency speakers but i remember them breaking down lots and not reliable and they go for £400 😮 dont know whether to stick with the b4 or get some higher efficiency speakers........... 🤷

Enjoyed your Riff. I have a pair of Wharfdale Vanguard, would interested in your opinions and comparison with the E series.

I just bought a lovely pair today at a Car boot sale for £40.

Top trumps question, should a higher 0 to 60 beat a lower but faster one?

Class

OK, chaps. Please keep the terminology going. 'Socket botherer' was very good and 'flare flapper' is a worthy successor, introducing a seventies twist. Do you remember 'tie and dye' T-shirts? We might squeeze that in somewhere. Needs further work.

In the day Well I owned a Luxman L-3 amp ( and still do ) & went to audition a set of new speakers & yes I listened to so many different brands, the E range really got to me & the toss up was between the E 30 or 50 I went for the 30s. Over the years I have tried different amps & speakers BUT I can't find anything I prefer, I just resonantly replaced my CD player with a Yamaha 303 & I listened to so many players but it had the right sound for me & I fell in love again with my Luxman & E30s . My big problem is where do I get replacement foot pads for my Mico BL 91 Turntable ???? Any advice. Kiwi Rod

The 708 was my favourite

Great review . You mentioned you upgraded the components on your wharfdale E series speaker , would like to know where you got it done by who , appreciate if you can forward me the details - thanks

Btw anyone know where in UK I can buy the original grills or get custom made and do they ship ? I tried the Wharfedale E series specialists over at Birmingham whom I have purchased drivers from in past, but it doesn’t look like they have grills available

👍

there is a pair for €90 in my area. They look mint. Should I grab them? :-D

HI-FI Snobs talk rubbish