This is one of my favorite loudspeakers at any price. Lacks a bit of upper midrange detail which can make things sound a bit “recessed” but otherwise a really great speaker.
I was lucky enough to audition these vs. LS50Meta vs Wharfedale Evo4.2 vs Dali Oberon5 vs the same Monitor Audios back to back in a lovely audio store. I went into the store thinking I was going to buy the LS50Metas but came out with the Lintons. when you turn the volume up to fun levels it is the Linton every time. Bought them November 2022 and have zero regrets and have stopped looking at equipment.
Thanks for that input. When I listen to RUSH 2112, my neighborhood listens to 2112. 😂 Would you go with a Cambridge Audio amp or the Outlaw RR 2160 mkii?
I've have the Lyngdorf 1120 also, matched to the Harbeth p3esr speakers, which are great, but wish I had bit deeper bass without using a sub. The Harbeth Compact 7 would be a very nice step up but a pretty big price jump. Maybe these Lintons would give the deeper bass but still have the nonfatiguing treble like the Harbeths.....I'll bet yours pair really well! I wonder if John still has his Lyngdorfs.
@@peymey I tried a sub (Focal Chorus SW701) but parked it. After a proper Room Perfect calibration on the TDAI, with the Lintons 2-3 feet from the back wall, I felt no need for the SW.
@@robmaxwell3678 but found those speakers have poor off axis listening. The Lintons are much more forgiving and therefore I find them much more practical.
I run a pair of Linton's with a Naim NDX/Supernait2/HiCap and they sound great. The tweeter takes months to break in, out of the box they sound rolled off. The tweeter opens up in time and sounds very balanced. The grills are mandatory in my opinion as they have a built-in wave guide. Best VFM speaker and they look great and improve when fed a better source.
I'm probably far out of those ears. So, that's about that. When I was living in Brazil, even decent sound was hard to find. You lower your expectations. And then I found a store that have Polk Audio! What a relief! I guess what I want to say, everything is in a context. And good sound is not always perfect, but it's always a joy.
What a treat to see you review these speakers, John. I've had my Lintons for about two years. For me, they represent the sweet spot for my rather broad, yet specific, tastes -- they add meat to the bones on thinner 80s indie recordings like Microdisney, but absolutely bounce with techno (my "do I like the sound of this gear" test LPs are Nuron's LA Source and Seefeel's Succour). They have scaled nicely as I've upgraded other elements in my chain too - sounded great with a Rega Elex-R, but positively glow with a lower watt tube amp (I've a 44 watt Primaluna now). Sure, I think about Spendor or Harbeth, but it's hard to convince myself it'll be worth the money - these are keepers.
Ive had my Lintons for 2.5 years and love them. Run with primaluna dialogue premium hp intergrated, Mytek Dac, Rega P3 and Marantz CD player. Its a pure joy.
@@sultantoure4220 You are definitely not going wrong. They have solid bass, excellent highs, and incredible imaging due to the the really amazing mid-range. 😊
I bougth my Linton 3 months ago,here in Barcelona,in my opinion are a great speakers working with cd player,turntable,nada streamer.....bravo🎉 fantástic
I used to work and design speakers for wharfedale In the mid 90s. What a tough time that was for wharfedale. It's really nice to see they turned things around and the quality is back up there.
All thanks to Peter Comeau. He designed these spks. Btw, there were a few nice sounding Wharfedales from the 90s. I owned the 505/2, 506 or 507 if i recall. There was a flagship 2 way retrofitted with wooden stands….i think it was called Harwood or something. Did u design all these spks? Oh yeah there was this coleridge C class large bookshelf with a ceramic tweeter.
I've had my pair around 6 months. Loving them with a bluesound powernode! I know it's not the best thematic pair but I got a crazy deal on both so I cannot complain! I'm a huge electronic fan so I love the big kick they provide
@@DarkoAudio Thanks for asking. In my study I have a pair of Dynaudio Evoke 10s, driven by a classic Marantz PM-11S2 integrated amp. A great sounding combo! :)
I have the Wharfedale Lintons paired with a Yamaha A-S801 amplifier and the Bluesound Node. I absolutely love my setup. Wouldn’t even think of changing it. I listen for hours at a time. I highly recommend. 👌👍
@jfgroover1 havent bought hifi since the time when there were only records and tapes!! As I'm hoping to retire soon I want to get into it again. Was thinking of buying a Yamaha amp, possibly A S1200 or 2200 and a pair of Lintons just purely on how they look. I love the vintage vibe particularly VU meters😊 My 'listening room' is only about 4 meters x 3.5 meters. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.
Great video. I bought a pair of the Lintons a few months ago, after considering them for the last couple of years. They're beautiful, but unfortunately, they weren't for me -- too boxy and unbalanced mids and low ends for me. So, at a fairly significant cost, I returned them. It may have been that my listening room was too small for them, but I've found that I prefer the sound of more modern narrow-baffle designs.
Wharfedale Speakers are noted for having very smooth high end. This really reduces Listening Fatigue. You can listen to Wharfedale all day long. Very SWEET for Music. And remember if you want more treble, you can turn up the Treble Control, assuming you have a Treble control.
I breathe I sigh of relief John. Thank you. I bought some Denton 85th anniversary speakers about 5 months ago, but I haven't heard them yet, because I have not been too well and I need to set up everything. Not just the speakers. Anyway 85th not Linton, because I have a small listening room. I like my speakers to have a laid back sound. Slightly rolled off is fine with me. Can't wait to hear the younger brother. Slightly older younger brother, if that makes sense.
Thank you, Darko, for this wonderful review... I have been a proud Linton owner for 3 years. I paired them recently with the Marantz 40N and got real value for my money. For less than €4000 + Spotify subscription + Xangsane cables, I have everything I need to enjoy 😊
I ran Lintons with a Rega 2 deck and Audiolab 6000a for 2 years. Loved the setup. Just swapped out the Audiolab for the recently launched Leak 230 and it's been transformational. My living/dining room is 21'x13' with 11' ceilings and the combo puts me in audiophile heaven for about £3,000. Plus the Leak supports HDMI Arc which is perfect.
Ahhh,🙂 that amp was my first choice for my Lintons. Unfortunately it went from 3000 to 4000€ here and I ended up pairing them with a Cayin LA34. (also a good combination and it sounds really well BTW)
I have a simple two-channel vinyl setup. Primaluna 35 w.p.c all valve amp, Lintons , sterro pair ribbon supertweets setting on top. Ohh , also a REL Classic 98 sub. The tweets get switched on or off , depending on the recording. The 98 can and does put the bottom ( and more) into the song . The Linton's have a nice bass punch , enough that I think most would be content w/o the beautiful REL , but it adds a feeling to the music that is just so right. You mentioned the slight roll off on the top. Yes ,but its far from drastic. They reproduce the upper frequencys nicely , but my super tweeter can go higher and add more shimmer. Most people don't listen to music like i do ,lol I'm sure there's a name for it. So, Lintons..., Love them. Have had them maybe 4 years now. And they are built like a Cadillac. Anybody that laughs at the quality or the finish , don't know what they're talking about. Buy them and enjoy them without a subwoofer or super tweets ,they can play anything you throw their way. Stands are a must.
My friend needed a nice looking wife accepted speaker and bought the Lintons. They are an absolute wonderful music speaker. Then he brought another pr and stacked them and they became brilliant 👍
John, this & other reviews went a long way into helping me make the decision to go with these fantastic speakers! I matched with them with the NAD C 3050 with Bluesound OS Card & they sound incredible. Honestly it sounds like the singer is in the room, when the Blues singers taps his foot, you can hear what the sole of his shoe is made of! Warm, velvety, bass, an absolute pleasure to listen to! I've never spent this much on HIFI before, but it feels like I've made a life long investment, thanks for your insight & guidance!
I watched the review having auditioned a pair about 4 months ago because I had an original pair back in the late 70s. The new Linton’ s are better in every way but manage to carry over the same tonality warm bass biased sound. It’s a clever trick Wharfdale has pulled off. They are indeed very good for the money but I found them compromised for classical music but great on rock / pop etc. keep up the good work.
I've had the Linton's for about 2 years. Just attached them to a primaluma power amp and the soudstage grew immensely. Agreed that you can liven them up with brighter tubes and/or gear and they match really well.
I've enjoyed the Linton for 2-years + in my living area for easy listening. Use a regular dinner spoon to initiate the removal of the grill. I also have the Aiyama A07 for the desktop and have tried it in my other systems (pimped with Sparkos opamps). It is shockingly good and it is not bright; if anything it is towards the warm end of the tonal spectrum. Great job on the review.
I had old Linton speakers, year '79.? A cheap speaker with a cheap sound, those were my first speakers. They had mid and high drivers placed horizontally, light boxes with thin and sharp walls. After them, the E90, in contrast, was an extremely good speaker, with high efficiency, and significantly more expensive.
I replaced my original LS50 with the Linton's. The Tweeter sounds super grainy when new but got a bit better in time. The bass was too much in my room so I stuffed the ports and they sound much faster and better. They are good for low quality recordings and long listening sessions but some days I miss the KEF. Paired with a Naim Unitiqute 2 btw
I had these driven by Arcam SA20 but that is now driving my Acoustic Energy 520s with the Linton amplification being provided by an Aiyima T9 pro (cheap £150 Chinese tube amp) and they still sound brilliant. It’s as if John knows what he’s talking about.
Wharfedale speakers are originally from Crossgates in Leeds and were manufactured there too. I’ve owned two Wharfedales in my time during the 80s and 90s. Lovely speakers. Now I own the Monitor Audio Gold 100s. I must admit I do love the look of the Lintons.
Hello John I was amazed to find that your opinion about these speakers coincides 100% with my opinion. I have had them for two years and I enjoy them as much as the first day. The old speakers are Opera Callas, the first model, the one with five tweeters (two in the front and three in the back) which, when they appeared on the market, cost about four times more than Linton. Of course, Opera have more refinement, more precision and brilliance, but with all that I listen to Linton about 80% of the time because...exactly the reasons you said. The main amplifier is Yamaha AS 2100, an extraordinary device in all respects. However, I also have a tube amplifier, a chinese one, Yaqin MC-10L, which was upgraded by a specialist. Well, it's as if the Linton sound even better on the tube amp, the two seem to be made for each other, like a perfect marriage between two husbands who love each other as much as on the first day. If you have the opportunity to listen to Linton on an tube amplifier , make an effort and listen to them, you will convince yourself that I am right. Bogdan, Bucharest
Couldn't agree more. Brilliant speakers that work very well on every level with all music types. Had mine for 6 months paired with a vintage JVC 4VN-880 and a Wiim Mini streaming FLAC music and it always brings a smile to my face, and for once it lets the technology side of things step aside and you can get lost in the music for hours on end. They could sell these for twice the price.
I have some 70's era Lintons and I've replaced the electrolytic capacitors in the crossovers but they still don't sound as good as modern speakers. Despite the naming convention, these are likely light years ahead of the original Lintons like mine. These speakers are likely my next upgrade.
For those who are interested, the bottom of the speaker stands fit the Tzero MkIII subwoofer, I have one for each speaker and a super tweeter for each. They also have the internal cables modified with the Chord Company X. They are wonderful.
I have them...Love them! When using them with higher end gear you really do reap the benefits! I have 1100 watt amps on them,I listen at lower volumes,but they give me a fantastic experience!
Absolutely love my Wharfdale Lintons. I got them pristine 2nd hand for £800 (including stands) just a few months ago. There are bargains to be found out there, and at that price they are 100% unbeatable.
I’ve just bought the Wharfedale Lintons after investing a lot of time researching, have to say, yours is the only review I watched twice before pulling the pin. Today I bought the amp, so I’m good to go now. Very excited
The sound of Linton is a big disappointment!!!I had them! I sold it, it had a clear dull sound. Nice but weak speaker,...After that, I bought the Monitor Audio Gold 100,,...Monitor Audio Gold is a thousand times better...
@@MegaPalesz Probably had the wrong amp. I think these speakers need a little more power than what some of the reviewers are recommending. What amp did you use?
Nice review. I have a pair sitting in front of me , powered with a prima Luna integrated tube amplifier ,35 w.p.c. I really like them , also paired w/ an Emotiva RS 11 sub + Aquerion ribbon tweeters. Linton's sound great without them , but they are something else with them. The Linton's aren't Bass Shy , but they can't and won't reach the subs Lows . I love the Wharfedales.
This is an excellent presentation and raises the bar on product review standards on You Tube. The way it’s shot, the angles and closeup detail, the symmetrical arrangement of composition outstanding. Glad the Linton’s were reviewed. I’m a traditional 57 yr old vinyl man who has owned a pair of ESM 3 Energy Acoustic speakers for 4 decades and they still sound superb but I want an update. If these Linton’s get the Darko for a superbly priced pair of old box looking speakers, I’m all ears for an audition at my nearest store.
I asked the question in your last video about the Lintons and the NAD. What an answer 👍 even better to know that they might work just as well with my Rotel A11 tribute.
I have an A11 too, for our front room. I have seen several people test the A11 with both the Linton and the Denton's, and they say they are a great pairing. I would go Linton with a larger room. In all honesty, I have yet to hear these speakers in person.
Hi John, thanks for the great review as always. Any chance you will get the Dovedale in for comparison? Curious to see if a larger cabinet (and woofer) as well as improved crossover design will justify the price increase going from Linton to Dovedale. No reviews published as of yet for the Dovedale.
With Annette Asvik or Yello these speakers are just sounding great. I had the Neat Elite speakers before with my Superuniti and I was never happy. Now I can listen for hours as you said and I can confirm that they work well in a big room ( 41 square meters ). I mostly use Tidal with my Atoll streamer.
Great review John. I've been rocking these for 2 years now and I could not be happier. Driven by a Yamaha AS-2100. My room is smaller than yours (4.5m × 5.5m) and my preferred SPL is 75dB. I'm basically in a near field situation with a roughly 7 foot triangle, with Lintons toed in slightly. As you say, they suit just about any type of music and since I like all sorts (love Mclusky by the way), I can listen for hours on end. Plus my wife can put pot plants on top. Everybody's happy.
Lintons paired with Denon 2500ne series, linked with Morrow Audio SP4 specker cables, and level 5 of interconnects. After 6 years for trying to catch rabbit - I stopped to hear equipments. Now I hear only music. Great set up. UPDATE: Recently added Power Strip GIGAWATT PF1 EVO+ with PowerSync Plus cable. This is the "dot" at the end of the sentence. Strip pulls out more from the equipment, giving clean power. Awesome results on that setup.
How does they sound with the 2500 NE. I have the 1700 NE and they sound very powerful, strong, fast, deep and clean bass, very airy in the highs with lots of detail and very good imagining. I have tried different amplifiers with the Lintons and the Denon is the best so far.
Nice video. I don’t disagree with any of it. I bought the Linton’s as well as a pair of Klipsch Heresy IV’s a couple years ago because I didn’t know what I would prefer. They are indeed much like your TV vs Projector example. I like them both and if I want that high detailed on stage feeling I like the option of having the Heresy’s but overall I tend to use the Linton’s because no recording will ever sound harsh through them and it’s like sitting a few rows back in a nice auditorium and being surround by sound. I don’t have an ideal listening area (large unfinished basement) and the Linton’s have plenty of low end to fill the large area without issue. I think they are probably the best bang for the buck for me.
Hi Brian, before my La Scala’s I had Heresy IV’s. In my imperfect listening room I had them toed in pointed 6” in front of my face and about 10’ apart and 7 ‘ from the listening position. They absolutely disappeared and imaged incredibly! But your right they can be harsh on bad recordings.
I got mine two years ago, paired them with a Willsenton R8 on which I upgraded the tubes, then got a Denafrips Ares II and can say I am still very happy. In my experience, great details, awesome holographic presentation and very nice mid range.
Congrats on your new speaker choice. Nothing better than being able to not critically listen and just get lost in the music. I arrived at the very same position but from a slightly different direction that would take too long to go into right now. I still haven't gotten over how I'm not analyzing anything anymore.
There is one speaker no one has testet, and it's the Quad Z3. I got mine some years ago a little bit cheaper than yours Wharfedale LINTON. I have paired them with an old hybrid 250W amplifier, a chinese CAV. They were very cheap, but mine are doing very well in my setup. I have the same RME dac as you and 50K flacs on my laptop. I had, and tested several amplifiers, DAC's and loudspeakers, but these setup sounds wonderful in my room. If there is anything to change, it's the room. I listen to most things, but the type of music you also like is very good, and since it is connected to the laptop, there is also all kinds of speech, videos and such almost constantly. All the music tracks you've listened to with what you're testing, I also listen to that from Spotify and try to better understand what you mean by what I hear.
Hi John the Wharfedale Denton 85th Anniversary are also excellent for smaller rooms. I have them with Q Acoustics Concept 20 Stands powered by an Audiolab 6000A amplifier.
I have the Lintons connected to the Powernode and a vintage turntable with an Audiokultura Iskra preamp. I love this setup, the Lintons are fantastic and very versatile!
Love mine, paired with an Accuphase E-250. I'm quite sensitive to harsh or overpronounced highs and the Lintons are good for hours of listening without fatigue. I switch between the Lintons and my Buchardt S 300's, which are differently voiced and have a slightly more pronounced midrange than the Lintons. Both are wonderful speakers and the first time I listed to "The Wall" on the larger Lintons, I found myself jumping with joy and then wearing a big smile for the rest of the day. ;-) Can't beat their classic look either. Perfect speakers for the price and for my taste ...
I agree with your review entirely. I've had my Linton's for over a year now and love them. If they aren't "bright" enough for you, just turn up the treble a bit. I'm not above eq-ing my system to tweak the sound to my taste. These are perfect for me as I find my son's Klipsch RP 600M a bit brash for my ears. To me these are the perfect speaker!
This review has done it. I'm going to audition the Lintons. Why? Allthoug i like my Piega 501's, they sound a bit thin due to their column form factor. I need speakers that project sond in a engulfing way, and that's because i am deaf on one ear and wearing a CROS hearing aids. Yes, you reaad that right: I am a Hi Fi enthusiast that can't hear stereo. Imaging is of minor importance to me, i can not pinpoint instruments in a sound stage. What i can do is setting up my system in a way to have a center image by delaying one speaker by a few milliseconds whith my TDAI 1120 amp. And here, the Lintons could come into play. From what i read, and heard right now from John, they are not about precise imaging and clarity, they are about filling the room whith punchy sound, i' right? So i'm looking forward to have a listen to the Lintons, maybe the will give me that " i am at the concert" feeling. And by the way: John, thank you for introducing me to electronic music. I really missed out great stuff in the past.
I love this comment Urs. I also have just one ear working supported by a hearing aid and I love my hi fi. I do miss stereo sound though. My brain tricks me into hearing the separation though. Also, the Lintons are sensational. Cheers mate.
I have also had the Lintons for about 2 years driven by a Hegel H190 and I love them. I also like to listen to them without the grills off. I have no sub which I was considering until I found the right room position. They are a fun speaker and are a good arounder
Its amazing how well aimed Darko described the situation with the tv and the projector simulating the monitor audio speakers vs the Lintons! I agree 100% with him, the last period i was searching for more bigger sound volume, but my Monitor Audio BX2 was unable to deliver.. My room is about 30m2 so i decided (and because i have not the money to buy the Lintons that i was really want) to buy a pair of used Pionners three way speakers from 80s with similar dimensions with Lintons.. When i connect them to my amp and hear them i felt exactly like Darko descrived to this video..! Now i am saving up for the Lintons!!!
I suppose you don’t like Classical mister Darko, but I can add they sound nice with all sorts of classical rep, particularly piano and large scale orchestral. Running with an old Radford STA 25 valve. I
Great review, I have the Lintons paired with the NAD c3050LE (lucky I know) and a 10" sub, which I do find necessary for my pretty large open plan living room and taste for electronic and prog metal music. But John one of the best pieces of advice I have taken from your channel is that the room has the #1 impact on sound quality and as such I can't see myself upgrading from here as its just not a go-er to put in acoustic treatments to get the benefit of a more expensive system.
It appears that Wharfedale heard the comments about the speaker grills because it appears the Dovedale has a magnetic grill. Maybe they will switch the Linton production over as well.
@JohnDarko, I don’t know reviewer, who explained these speakers as beautifully (and with simplicity) as you did - laser sharp, saturated but limited dimensional TV vs grainy, less saturated but wider projector. You make it so simple. Love this channel ❤️🤟👊
I had a Wharfedale, I sold it. I didn't keep it for long, it was a big disappointment!Dull sound as if a blanket had been placed in front of it.-It's nice.. But it's weak as a speaker-.
As a note, these were actually designed as a Grill On speaker. The sound stage, imaging and response is affected as the grills form part of the the wave guide for these speakers. In fact, removing the grill risks damaging the clips, hence why they get losser and easier to remove after the first time removing the grills. They are also designed to be a warm speaker, a throw back to the sound of the earlier Lintons, not really meant to be bright. Most Wharfedale speakers tend to be pretty warm, but if you want more of that top end sparkle and still want a Wharfedale, the Evo 4.x series are the better speaker to go for.
Mine are about 22° C… anyway, these are not “warm” speakers, they are more to the neutral spectrum and with an amplifier as the Denon PMA 1700 NE they are neutral, with lots of details, airy and vert, very fast and strong bass.
I seriously considered the Linton's for the price (with stands), but I went straight to my end-game speaker with the Cornwall IV's. I had considered the Dovedale's before I saw the price.
Thanks John for yet again a great review. May anyone shed some light on how the Lintons sound at low volume levels. My current speakers, Elac debut f6.2 - need some volume to wake up the base - looking for warmer speakers that sound good at low volumes and the Lintons are top of my list.
I am a lucky ohner of a Lintons for a few Month. They play with my Valve Amp. Ayon Spirit wonderfull. Kt88 tube. The sound is incredible. After a meny years in Hifi I onestly recomend Valve Amplifiers with a Lintons.
I liked the looks of the Lintons so much(as a vinyl and vintage lover) with the possibility to store LPs in the stands. Initially also the sound, but I had to move on. They are not very revealing and I missed better resolution in the upper range. But you can go on listening for hours without fatigue. If you have higher end gear like a really good cartridge, turntable and amplifier they will hold you back.
Thanks! I have the exact same setup (NAD C 3050 LE and Lintons) and I think this review really captures the strengths and weaknesses of the lintons. I bought them because they are not fatiguing to listen to and replicated the old-school sound that I had on my systems in the 80s and 90s. One thing I did notice was that the lintons really need to be broken in and I noticed that both the midrange and treble really improved after ~300 hours. Also, I haven’t configured the Dirac settings on the 3050 yet which may address the treble concerns if the full Dirac settings are used.
Thank you very much for the effort to create this video. I've had the Lintons for three years now and have taken them down from time to time in favour of different other speakers. However, when I have the time and only want to listen to music, to concentrate on music, the Lintons are back where they belong. They have become a reliable friend over the years, always good to have a glass of dry red wine with them. Not something I was looking for back then, so it's all the more amazing that they won't leave me. I agree with you though, they need space.
I drive my Linton with SMSL VMV A1 plugged in Audiolab DC blocker and mojo 2 dac. The DC blocker add some very interesting sparkle in hi freq. No more feeling of lack of hi. Marvelous combination! In my room it goes down to 35hz easily. Film sound track sound so large and deep! I work with focal speakers in my studio and the imaging is better with those. But the tonal accuracy is better on the Lintons. There are better for judging mastering. They are not “colored” except from a small boost in the upper bass. The soundstage is way better! And it is half the price of the focal!
This is one of my favorite loudspeakers at any price. Lacks a bit of upper midrange detail which can make things sound a bit “recessed” but otherwise a really great speaker.
I was lucky enough to audition these vs. LS50Meta vs Wharfedale Evo4.2 vs Dali Oberon5 vs the same Monitor Audios back to back in a lovely audio store. I went into the store thinking I was going to buy the LS50Metas but came out with the Lintons. when you turn the volume up to fun levels it is the Linton every time. Bought them November 2022 and have zero regrets and have stopped looking at equipment.
is the treble tuning polite or safe? is there also fun in low level volume? please recommend amps best for linton. TY🙂
Thanks for that input.
When I listen to RUSH 2112, my neighborhood listens to 2112. 😂
Would you go with a Cambridge Audio amp or the Outlaw RR 2160 mkii?
I recommend the rega Elex-R. A beautiful combination, also at low volume.
How is the performance of Linton’s in low listening levels?
You were looking at this video tho 😊
I've had my Lintons for 2 years and they are fantastic. They are driven by a Lyngdorf TDAI-1120.
I'm just looking for some new speakers for my TDAI. You got me curious.
Sub or no sub?
I've have the Lyngdorf 1120 also, matched to the Harbeth p3esr speakers, which are great, but wish I had bit deeper bass without using a sub. The Harbeth Compact 7 would be a very nice step up but a pretty big price jump. Maybe these Lintons would give the deeper bass but still have the nonfatiguing treble like the Harbeths.....I'll bet yours pair really well! I wonder if John still has his Lyngdorfs.
I have the same setup and I dig it a lot!
@@peymey I tried a sub (Focal Chorus SW701) but parked it. After a proper Room Perfect calibration on the TDAI, with the Lintons 2-3 feet from the back wall, I felt no need for the SW.
@@robmaxwell3678 but found those speakers have poor off axis listening. The Lintons are much more forgiving and therefore I find them much more practical.
I run a pair of Linton's with a Naim NDX/Supernait2/HiCap and they sound great. The tweeter takes months to break in, out of the box they sound rolled off. The tweeter opens up in time and sounds very balanced. The grills are mandatory in my opinion as they have a built-in wave guide. Best VFM speaker and they look great and improve when fed a better source.
I'm probably far out of those ears. So, that's about that. When I was living in Brazil, even decent sound was hard to find. You lower your expectations. And then I found a store that have Polk Audio! What a relief! I guess what I want to say, everything is in a context. And good sound is not always perfect, but it's always a joy.
What a treat to see you review these speakers, John. I've had my Lintons for about two years. For me, they represent the sweet spot for my rather broad, yet specific, tastes -- they add meat to the bones on thinner 80s indie recordings like Microdisney, but absolutely bounce with techno (my "do I like the sound of this gear" test LPs are Nuron's LA Source and Seefeel's Succour). They have scaled nicely as I've upgraded other elements in my chain too - sounded great with a Rega Elex-R, but positively glow with a lower watt tube amp (I've a 44 watt Primaluna now). Sure, I think about Spendor or Harbeth, but it's hard to convince myself it'll be worth the money - these are keepers.
Ive had my Lintons for 2.5 years and love them. Run with primaluna dialogue premium hp intergrated, Mytek Dac, Rega P3 and Marantz CD player. Its a pure joy.
how far from the wall??
I have had a pair of these for nearly two years and they are AMAZING!!!!😊😊😊
Hi I’m going to buy them. I think that I’m not going wrong.
@@sultantoure4220 You are definitely not going wrong. They have solid bass, excellent highs, and incredible imaging due to the the really amazing mid-range. 😊
Use a Credit Card to pop the grills off - Easy ! They are very non fatiguing ! Great speakers.
I bougth my Linton 3 months ago,here in Barcelona,in my opinion are a great speakers working with cd player,turntable,nada streamer.....bravo🎉 fantástic
I own the Lintons for about 2 years and it is always a pleasure hearing music with them.
Shouldn’t have clicked. Now I want a pair. 😂 Awesome review.
Love the TV or projector analogy. Those stands look awesome with the records in them.
I used to work and design speakers for wharfedale In the mid 90s. What a tough time that was for wharfedale. It's really nice to see they turned things around and the quality is back up there.
All thanks to Peter Comeau. He designed these spks. Btw, there were a few nice sounding Wharfedales from the 90s. I owned the 505/2, 506 or 507 if i recall. There was a flagship 2 way retrofitted with wooden stands….i think it was called Harwood or something. Did u design all these spks? Oh yeah there was this coleridge C class large bookshelf with a ceramic tweeter.
I've had my pair around 6 months. Loving them with a bluesound powernode! I know it's not the best thematic pair but I got a crazy deal on both so I cannot complain! I'm a huge electronic fan so I love the big kick they provide
Dynaudio Evoke 10 is a great choice for study sized rooms - easy going, yet still high resolution and very dynamic.
What speakers do you own though?
@@DarkoAudio Thanks for asking. In my study I have a pair of Dynaudio Evoke 10s, driven by a classic Marantz PM-11S2 integrated amp. A great sounding combo! :)
The Lintons are quite diverse.. great for acoustic folk and jazz, especially female singers., but also rock and chamber music. Glad you like them
I have the Wharfedale Lintons paired with a Yamaha A-S801 amplifier and the Bluesound Node. I absolutely love my setup. Wouldn’t even think of changing it. I listen for hours at a time. I highly recommend. 👌👍
@jfgroover1 havent bought hifi since the time when there were only records and tapes!! As I'm hoping to retire soon I want to get into it again.
Was thinking of buying a Yamaha amp, possibly A S1200 or 2200 and a pair of Lintons just purely on how they look. I love the vintage vibe particularly VU meters😊 My 'listening room' is only about 4 meters x 3.5 meters. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.
How far from wall?
Great video. I bought a pair of the Lintons a few months ago, after considering them for the last couple of years. They're beautiful, but unfortunately, they weren't for me -- too boxy and unbalanced mids and low ends for me. So, at a fairly significant cost, I returned them. It may have been that my listening room was too small for them, but I've found that I prefer the sound of more modern narrow-baffle designs.
Midcentric speakers. And they need space.
Wharfedale Speakers are noted for having very smooth high end. This really reduces Listening Fatigue. You can listen to Wharfedale all day long. Very SWEET for Music. And remember if you want more treble, you can turn up the Treble Control, assuming you have a Treble control.
I picked up a pair this morning. Running them through a Rega Elex Mk4. Getting them broken in now. They are simply glorious!!
I breathe I sigh of relief John. Thank you. I bought some Denton 85th anniversary speakers about 5 months ago, but I haven't heard them yet, because I have not been too well and I need to set up everything. Not just the speakers. Anyway 85th not Linton, because I have a small listening room. I like my speakers to have a laid back sound. Slightly rolled off is fine with me. Can't wait to hear the younger brother. Slightly older younger brother, if that makes sense.
Be well, hope you get your strength back
Thank you, Darko, for this wonderful review...
I have been a proud Linton owner for 3 years.
I paired them recently with the Marantz 40N and got real value for my money.
For less than €4000 + Spotify subscription + Xangsane cables, I have everything I need to enjoy 😊
I ran Lintons with a Rega 2 deck and Audiolab 6000a for 2 years. Loved the setup. Just swapped out the Audiolab for the recently launched Leak 230 and it's been transformational. My living/dining room is 21'x13' with 11' ceilings and the combo puts me in audiophile heaven for about £3,000. Plus the Leak supports HDMI Arc which is perfect.
Had mine for 2 years now, driven by my Luxman sq-n150. Heavenly combination in my room (25m2)
Ahhh,🙂 that amp was my first choice for my Lintons. Unfortunately it went from 3000 to 4000€ here and I ended up pairing them with a Cayin LA34. (also a good combination and it sounds really well BTW)
I have a simple two-channel vinyl setup. Primaluna 35 w.p.c all valve amp, Lintons , sterro pair ribbon supertweets setting on top. Ohh , also a REL Classic 98 sub. The tweets get switched on or off , depending on the recording. The 98 can and does put the bottom ( and more) into the song . The Linton's have a nice bass punch , enough that I think most would be content w/o the beautiful REL , but it adds a feeling to the music that is just so right. You mentioned the slight roll off on the top. Yes ,but its far from drastic. They reproduce the upper frequencys nicely , but my super tweeter can go higher and add more shimmer. Most people don't listen to music like i do ,lol I'm sure there's a name for it.
So, Lintons..., Love them. Have had them maybe 4 years now. And they are built like a Cadillac. Anybody that laughs at the quality or the finish , don't know what they're talking about. Buy them and enjoy them without a subwoofer or super tweets ,they can play anything you throw their way. Stands are a must.
My friend needed a nice looking wife accepted speaker and bought the Lintons. They are an absolute wonderful music speaker. Then he brought another pr and stacked them and they became brilliant 👍
John, this & other reviews went a long way into helping me make the decision to go with these fantastic speakers! I matched with them with the NAD C 3050 with Bluesound OS Card & they sound incredible. Honestly it sounds like the singer is in the room, when the Blues singers taps his foot, you can hear what the sole of his shoe is made of! Warm, velvety, bass, an absolute pleasure to listen to! I've never spent this much on HIFI before, but it feels like I've made a life long investment, thanks for your insight & guidance!
I watched the review having auditioned a pair about 4 months ago because I had an original pair back in the late 70s. The new Linton’ s are better in every way but manage to carry over the same tonality warm bass biased sound. It’s a clever trick Wharfdale has pulled off. They are indeed very good for the money but I found them compromised for classical music but great on rock / pop etc. keep up the good work.
I've had the Linton's for about 2 years. Just attached them to a primaluma power amp and the soudstage grew immensely. Agreed that you can liven them up with brighter tubes and/or gear and they match really well.
God, I bet they'd sing with a PrimaLuna!
I've enjoyed the Linton for 2-years + in my living area for easy listening. Use a regular dinner spoon to initiate the removal of the grill. I also have the Aiyama A07 for the desktop and have tried it in my other systems (pimped with Sparkos opamps). It is shockingly good and it is not bright; if anything it is towards the warm end of the tonal spectrum. Great job on the review.
I had old Linton speakers, year '79.? A cheap speaker with a cheap sound, those were my first speakers.
They had mid and high drivers placed horizontally, light boxes with thin and sharp walls.
After them, the E90, in contrast, was an extremely good speaker, with high efficiency, and significantly more expensive.
I bought the Lintons a few months ago. I'm still totally excited. The price is unbeatable and the value is outstanding.
I replaced my original LS50 with the Linton's. The Tweeter sounds super grainy when new but got a bit better in time. The bass was too much in my room so I stuffed the ports and they sound much faster and better. They are good for low quality recordings and long listening sessions but some days I miss the KEF. Paired with a Naim Unitiqute 2 btw
I had these driven by Arcam SA20 but that is now driving my Acoustic Energy 520s with the Linton amplification being provided by an Aiyima T9 pro (cheap £150 Chinese tube amp) and they still sound brilliant. It’s as if John knows what he’s talking about.
Wharfedale speakers are originally from Crossgates in Leeds and were manufactured there too. I’ve owned two Wharfedales in my time during the 80s and 90s. Lovely speakers. Now I own the Monitor Audio Gold 100s. I must admit I do love the look of the Lintons.
Hello John
I was amazed to find that your opinion about these speakers coincides 100% with my opinion. I have had them for two years and I enjoy them as much as the first day. The old speakers are Opera Callas, the first model, the one with five tweeters (two in the front and three in the back) which, when they appeared on the market, cost about four times more than Linton. Of course, Opera have more refinement, more precision and brilliance, but with all that I listen to Linton about 80% of the time because...exactly the reasons you said. The main amplifier is Yamaha AS 2100, an extraordinary device in all respects. However, I also have a tube amplifier, a chinese one, Yaqin MC-10L, which was upgraded by a specialist. Well, it's as if the Linton sound even better on the tube amp, the two seem to be made for each other, like a perfect marriage between two husbands who love each other as much as on the first day. If you have the opportunity to listen to Linton on an tube amplifier , make an effort and listen to them, you will convince yourself that I am right.
Bogdan, Bucharest
This is the best review ever about Wharfedale Linton Heritage. Thanks a lot, John.
The Lintons sounds amazyng with Tube Amps. That is the Winn Combination. I use Ayon Spirit KT88 p.p. with Lintons. Marvelous.
Couldn't agree more. Brilliant speakers that work very well on every level with all music types. Had mine for 6 months paired with a vintage JVC 4VN-880 and a Wiim Mini streaming FLAC music and it always brings a smile to my face, and for once it lets the technology side of things step aside and you can get lost in the music for hours on end. They could sell these for twice the price.
I have them with LEAK Stereo 130. Looks and sounds beautiful. And it is exactly the same walnut veneer.
Love my Lintons! Using them with a Cambridge audio CXA81, Bluesound Node X and Rega P3
what cables have you used with the lintons ?
I have some 70's era Lintons and I've replaced the electrolytic capacitors in the crossovers but they still don't sound as good as modern speakers. Despite the naming convention, these are likely light years ahead of the original Lintons like mine. These speakers are likely my next upgrade.
Computer Aided design & new cone materials 🎶🙂
For those who are interested, the bottom of the speaker stands fit the Tzero MkIII subwoofer, I have one for each speaker and a super tweeter for each. They also have the internal cables modified with the Chord Company X. They are wonderful.
Which super tweeter do you use? Don't they interfere with each other? Are you still happy with the sound?
Hi how does the small Tzero improve the bass of the Lintons?
I have them...Love them! When using them with higher end gear you really do reap the benefits! I have 1100 watt amps on them,I listen at lower volumes,but they give me a fantastic experience!
Absolutely love my Wharfdale Lintons. I got them pristine 2nd hand for £800 (including stands) just a few months ago. There are bargains to be found out there, and at that price they are 100% unbeatable.
I’ve just bought the Wharfedale Lintons after investing a lot of time researching, have to say, yours is the only review I watched twice before pulling the pin. Today I bought the amp, so I’m good to go now. Very excited
What amp?
The sound of Linton is a big disappointment!!!I had them! I sold it, it had a clear dull sound. Nice but weak speaker,...After that, I bought the Monitor Audio Gold 100,,...Monitor Audio Gold is a thousand times better...
@@MegaPalesz Probably had the wrong amp. I think these speakers need a little more power than what some of the reviewers are recommending. What amp did you use?
Nice review. I have a pair sitting in front of me , powered with a prima Luna integrated tube amplifier ,35 w.p.c. I really like them , also paired w/ an Emotiva RS 11 sub + Aquerion ribbon tweeters. Linton's sound great without them , but they are something else with them. The Linton's aren't Bass Shy , but they can't and won't reach the subs Lows . I love the Wharfedales.
One of the best video's about audio products ever, Darko excels himself with this one. Bravo Darko
This is an excellent presentation and raises the bar on product review standards on You Tube. The way it’s shot, the angles and closeup detail, the symmetrical arrangement of composition outstanding. Glad the Linton’s were reviewed. I’m a traditional 57 yr old vinyl man who has owned a pair of ESM 3 Energy Acoustic speakers for 4 decades and they still sound superb but I want an update. If these Linton’s get the Darko for a superbly priced pair of old box looking speakers, I’m all ears for an audition at my nearest store.
I asked the question in your last video about the Lintons and the NAD. What an answer 👍 even better to know that they might work just as well with my Rotel A11 tribute.
I have an A11 too, for our front room. I have seen several people test the A11 with both the Linton and the Denton's, and they say they are a great pairing. I would go Linton with a larger room.
In all honesty, I have yet to hear these speakers in person.
Hi John, thanks for the great review as always. Any chance you will get the Dovedale in for comparison? Curious to see if a larger cabinet (and woofer) as well as improved crossover design will justify the price increase going from Linton to Dovedale. No reviews published as of yet for the Dovedale.
With Annette Asvik or Yello these speakers are just sounding great. I had the Neat Elite speakers before with my Superuniti and I was never happy. Now I can listen for hours as you said and I can confirm that they work well in a big room ( 41 square meters ). I mostly use Tidal with my Atoll streamer.
Seriously considering that very combo, Linton plus the NAD 3050. Seems like a very good match.
Great review John. I've been rocking these for 2 years now and I could not be happier. Driven by a Yamaha AS-2100. My room is smaller than yours (4.5m × 5.5m) and my preferred SPL is 75dB. I'm basically in a near field situation with a roughly 7 foot triangle, with Lintons toed in slightly. As you say, they suit just about any type of music and since I like all sorts (love Mclusky by the way), I can listen for hours on end. Plus my wife can put pot plants on top. Everybody's happy.
Almost thought we had a bit of Jan Hammer at the beginning.
I was of to get my linen suit.
Lintons paired with Denon 2500ne series, linked with Morrow Audio SP4 specker cables, and level 5 of interconnects. After 6 years for trying to catch rabbit - I stopped to hear equipments. Now I hear only music. Great set up. UPDATE: Recently added Power Strip GIGAWATT PF1 EVO+ with PowerSync Plus cable. This is the "dot" at the end of the sentence. Strip pulls out more from the equipment, giving clean power. Awesome results on that setup.
How does they sound with the 2500 NE. I have the 1700 NE and they sound very powerful, strong, fast, deep and clean bass, very airy in the highs with lots of detail and very good imagining. I have tried different amplifiers with the Lintons and the Denon is the best so far.
Brilliant analogy of projectors & tv. It made everything very clear
They need to add a linen or hemp colored grill option.
I was thinking of getting these and buying the KLH 5 replacement oatmeal coloured grille cloth and fitting.
How do the Lintons compare with one of your favorites....the KEF R3?
Nice video. I don’t disagree with any of it. I bought the Linton’s as well as a pair of Klipsch Heresy IV’s a couple years ago because I didn’t know what I would prefer. They are indeed much like your TV vs Projector example. I like them both and if I want that high detailed on stage feeling I like the option of having the Heresy’s but overall I tend to use the Linton’s because no recording will ever sound harsh through them and it’s like sitting a few rows back in a nice auditorium and being surround by sound. I don’t have an ideal listening area (large unfinished basement) and the Linton’s have plenty of low end to fill the large area without issue. I think they are probably the best bang for the buck for me.
Hi Brian, before my La Scala’s I had Heresy IV’s. In my imperfect listening room I had them toed in pointed 6” in front of my face and about 10’ apart and 7 ‘ from the listening position. They absolutely disappeared and imaged incredibly! But your right they can be harsh on bad recordings.
I got mine two years ago, paired them with a Willsenton R8 on which I upgraded the tubes, then got a Denafrips Ares II and can say I am still very happy. In my experience, great details, awesome holographic presentation and very nice mid range.
Congrats on your new speaker choice. Nothing better than being able to not critically listen and just get lost in the music. I arrived at the very same position but from a slightly different direction that would take too long to go into right now. I still haven't gotten over how I'm not analyzing anything anymore.
There is one speaker no one has testet, and it's the Quad Z3. I got mine some years ago a little bit cheaper than yours Wharfedale LINTON. I have paired them with an old hybrid 250W amplifier, a chinese CAV. They were very cheap, but mine are doing very well in my setup. I have the same RME dac as you and 50K flacs on my laptop. I had, and tested several amplifiers, DAC's and loudspeakers, but these setup sounds wonderful in my room. If there is anything to change, it's the room.
I listen to most things, but the type of music you also like is very good, and since it is connected to the laptop, there is also all kinds of speech, videos and such almost constantly. All the music tracks you've listened to with what you're testing, I also listen to that from Spotify and try to better understand what you mean by what I hear.
I grew up in the 70's, married in the 90's and still have my Royd Apex floorstanders I bought in the 80's. V. nice review John 👍
Hi John the Wharfedale Denton 85th Anniversary are also excellent for smaller rooms. I have them with Q Acoustics Concept 20 Stands powered by an Audiolab 6000A amplifier.
I have the Lintons connected to the Powernode and a vintage turntable with an Audiokultura Iskra preamp. I love this setup, the Lintons are fantastic and very versatile!
Love mine, paired with an Accuphase E-250. I'm quite sensitive to harsh or overpronounced highs and the Lintons are good for hours of listening without fatigue. I switch between the Lintons and my Buchardt S 300's, which are differently voiced and have a slightly more pronounced midrange than the Lintons. Both are wonderful speakers and the first time I listed to "The Wall" on the larger Lintons, I found myself jumping with joy and then wearing a big smile for the rest of the day. ;-) Can't beat their classic look either. Perfect speakers for the price and for my taste ...
I agree with your review entirely. I've had my Linton's for over a year now and love them. If they aren't "bright" enough for you, just turn up the treble a bit. I'm not above eq-ing my system to tweak the sound to my taste. These are perfect for me as I find my son's Klipsch RP 600M a bit brash for my ears. To me these are the perfect speaker!
Have these for about half a year now. Love them!!!
This review has done it. I'm going to audition the Lintons. Why? Allthoug i like my Piega 501's, they sound a bit thin due to their column form factor. I need speakers that project sond in a engulfing way, and that's because i am deaf on one ear and wearing a CROS hearing aids. Yes, you reaad that right: I am a Hi Fi enthusiast that can't hear stereo. Imaging is of minor importance to me, i can not pinpoint instruments in a sound stage. What i can do is setting up my system in a way to have a center image by delaying one speaker by a few milliseconds whith my TDAI 1120 amp.
And here, the Lintons could come into play. From what i read, and heard right now from John, they are not about precise imaging and clarity, they are about filling the room whith punchy sound, i' right?
So i'm looking forward to have a listen to the Lintons, maybe the will give me that " i am at the concert" feeling.
And by the way: John, thank you for introducing me to electronic music. I really missed out great stuff in the past.
I love this comment Urs. I also have just one ear working supported by a hearing aid and I love my hi fi. I do miss stereo sound though. My brain tricks me into hearing the separation though. Also, the Lintons are sensational. Cheers mate.
I have also had the Lintons for about 2 years driven by a Hegel H190 and I love them. I also like to listen to them without the grills off. I have no sub which I was considering until I found the right room position. They are a fun speaker and are a good arounder
Its amazing how well aimed Darko described the situation with the tv and the projector simulating the monitor audio speakers vs the Lintons!
I agree 100% with him, the last period i was searching for more bigger sound volume, but my Monitor Audio BX2 was unable to deliver.. My room is about 30m2 so i decided (and because i have not the money to buy the Lintons that i was really want) to buy a pair of used Pionners three way speakers from 80s with similar dimensions with Lintons..
When i connect them to my amp and hear them i felt exactly like Darko descrived to this video..!
Now i am saving up for the Lintons!!!
I suppose you don’t like Classical mister Darko, but I can add they sound nice with all sorts of classical rep, particularly piano and large scale orchestral. Running with an old Radford STA 25 valve. I
I completely agree with your review, you really nailed it. They are so easy to live with, long term ownership speakers.
Your presentation is so good I watch you cover products I don't need or plan to buy. Thank you for doing a great job.
As always John, a terrific video essay! Thank you!
Another great video, thank you. These have been on my want list for a couple years and you've only reinforced that.
THEY ARE FANTASTIC !
Great review, I have the Lintons paired with the NAD c3050LE (lucky I know) and a 10" sub, which I do find necessary for my pretty large open plan living room and taste for electronic and prog metal music. But John one of the best pieces of advice I have taken from your channel is that the room has the #1 impact on sound quality and as such I can't see myself upgrading from here as its just not a go-er to put in acoustic treatments to get the benefit of a more expensive system.
It appears that Wharfedale heard the comments about the speaker grills because it appears the Dovedale has a magnetic grill. Maybe they will switch the Linton production over as well.
The designer said the grill is to be kept on and an integral part of the design - not just for appearance
Brilliant review, love the TV/projector analogy. One question: how do the Lintons perform at low volume (late evening listening)?
@JohnDarko, I don’t know reviewer, who explained these speakers as beautifully (and with simplicity) as you did - laser sharp, saturated but limited dimensional TV vs grainy, less saturated but wider projector. You make it so simple. Love this channel ❤️🤟👊
I had a Wharfedale, I sold it. I didn't keep it for long, it was a big disappointment!Dull sound as if a blanket had been placed in front of it.-It's nice.. But it's weak as a speaker-.
totally agree
Upgraded from Polk RTIA5s to Lintons. I can't wait to fully explore them.
As a note, these were actually designed as a Grill On speaker. The sound stage, imaging and response is affected as the grills form part of the the wave guide for these speakers. In fact, removing the grill risks damaging the clips, hence why they get losser and easier to remove after the first time removing the grills. They are also designed to be a warm speaker, a throw back to the sound of the earlier Lintons, not really meant to be bright. Most Wharfedale speakers tend to be pretty warm, but if you want more of that top end sparkle and still want a Wharfedale, the Evo 4.x series are the better speaker to go for.
Mine are about 22° C… anyway, these are not “warm” speakers, they are more to the neutral spectrum and with an amplifier as the Denon PMA 1700 NE they are neutral, with lots of details, airy and vert, very fast and strong bass.
I seriously considered the Linton's for the price (with stands), but I went straight to my end-game speaker with the Cornwall IV's. I had considered the Dovedale's before I saw the price.
Thanks John for yet again a great review. May anyone shed some light on how the Lintons sound at low volume levels. My current speakers, Elac debut f6.2 - need some volume to wake up the base - looking for warmer speakers that sound good at low volumes and the Lintons are top of my list.
U have to turn them up to enjoy. I
they are not right to sound at low volume levels
I have a pair other these powered by a Rega Elex R and I have to say I enjoy this combo more than my old Focal Electra Naim set up
Very informative review and helpful introduction to these beautiful speakers. Thank you for your time and effort to share this with us all.
I am a lucky ohner of a Lintons for a few Month. They play with my Valve Amp. Ayon Spirit wonderfull. Kt88 tube. The sound is incredible. After a meny years in Hifi I onestly recomend Valve Amplifiers with a Lintons.
I have the smallest denton and they do gel well with bright and lively sounding amplifier, even vintage amps like yamaha, pioneer, onkyo, rotel
I liked the looks of the Lintons so much(as a vinyl and vintage lover) with the possibility to store LPs in the stands. Initially also the sound, but I had to move on. They are not very revealing and I missed better resolution in the upper range. But you can go on listening for hours without fatigue. If you have higher end gear like a really good cartridge, turntable and amplifier they will hold you back.
You can look at them and tell they are made well and sound amazing.
Thanks! I have the exact same setup (NAD C 3050 LE and Lintons) and I think this review really captures the strengths and weaknesses of the lintons. I bought them because they are not fatiguing to listen to and replicated the old-school sound that I had on my systems in the 80s and 90s. One thing I did notice was that the lintons really need to be broken in and I noticed that both the midrange and treble really improved after ~300 hours. Also, I haven’t configured the Dirac settings on the 3050 yet which may address the treble concerns if the full Dirac settings are used.
I hope, you mean broken-in. Otherwise do send them to me.
@@eddelarie8161 you are correct… not enough coffee this morning
Thank you very much for the effort to create this video. I've had the Lintons for three years now and have taken them down from time to time in favour of different other speakers. However, when I have the time and only want to listen to music, to concentrate on music, the Lintons are back where they belong. They have become a reliable friend over the years, always good to have a glass of dry red wine with them. Not something I was looking for back then, so it's all the more amazing that they won't leave me. I agree with you though, they need space.
British gear demands a great respect due to history and dependable equipments.
Wharfedale is a Chinese company.
It was English for a VERY long time. All R&D is still here and the chap that designed there is a British Audio legend Peter Comeau.
…and their newest ones ( Dovedale - cost a fortune) are machined/made and tuned here in England….
@@frankvanhooft3927 wrong.
@@frankvanhooft3927 so is Volvo
I like these and your explanations, it seems that they may be similar to my very old Spendor speakers
My dad introduced me to hifi and separates with a pair of Wharfedale Dentons in the 60s.
I drive my Linton with SMSL VMV A1 plugged in Audiolab DC blocker and mojo 2 dac. The DC blocker add some very interesting sparkle in hi freq. No more feeling of lack of hi. Marvelous combination! In my room it goes down to 35hz easily. Film sound track sound so large and deep! I work with focal speakers in my studio and the imaging is better with those. But the tonal accuracy is better on the Lintons. There are better for judging mastering. They are not “colored” except from a small boost in the upper bass. The soundstage is way better! And it is half the price of the focal!