Wharfedale - Denton 80th (Walnut) Walnut

Product Information

Wharfedale’s ownership has passed to the China-based IAG group – but that 80 years of experience means making damn fine loudspeakers is imprinted in their DNA. The midrange and treble, however, were still very pleasing but the muddiness of the bass did distract from the overall presentation. Depth was foreshortened compared to the best I've heard, but the left-to-right stereo spread was marvelous.

The Denton's look and feel are miles ahead of the white Bowers & Wilkins 606 stand-mount speakers I auditioned in 2018 at the CNET office. Both speakers hail from UK-based manufacturers, and they're close to the same price, but the Denton looks a lot more expensive. I like to build another system around Wharfedale Denton 80th Anv. speakers and looking to replace above components as I will move those from current to my secondary habitat. The 220 is probably made for the new hifi user with budget equipment in mind ie. it is probably more sensitive and easier to drive (I haven't actually looked up the spec so may be wrong).It was time to try an album that I am very familiar with, one that I have heard across several systems - a British pressing of Supertramp, Crime of the Century. The lead in song, School, is bombastic with very deep bass and explosive dynamic contrasts. How does the Wharfedale hold up compared to my departed UREI 813A speakers, which could really deliver the goods? In a word (or three), not so well. Beneath the exterior, the anniversary edition is a perfect blend of traditional and advanced technology. The bass unit features Wharfedale's innovative woven Kevlar cone, mounted on a sturdy die-cast chassis. The drive units are combined with a highly researched crossover that perfectly combines the drivers.

Factor in the superb build quality and there’s no doubt Wharfedale has done a fine job of updating a classic from its illustrious Rear-firing Twin Reflex Ports: The speaker’s twin reflex ports have been moved to the rear of the cabinet, to reduce the effects of audible distortion. These ports extend the bass to below 45Hz, contributing to an impressive sense of sonic scale. These drive units are combined by a highly researched crossover that is near inaudible to the listener, resulting in a coherent, seamless musical output that is both thrilling and natural in its rendition of any source material. My daughter said she preferred the Dentons when it came to female voices, otherwise she sat on the fence. This is the first time a hi-fi component had split the family: Mrs. P hates them, my daughter undecided and I was gradually warming to them, albeit very slowly.

Tech Specs

Yeah, I've been thinking hard about it. I need to find a way to scrounge up enough money for those. Any idea how long they'll be on sale at that price? The original Denton was known for its warm, rich sound and the 80th Anniversary Edition manages to retain the original character while giving a more detailed, seamless performance. Wharfedale successfully combines its strong history and modern technology in perfect fusion in this Denton 80th Anniversary Edition. Veritably a modern classic! The Triangle Borea BR03 bookshelf speaker delivers impressive sound quality with a warm and detailed sound, tight bass, and good separation and precision, and offers a wide range of connectivity options, making it versatile and suitable for various use cases.

To mark Wharfedale’s 80th Anniversary, the brand is presenting an anniversary edition of one of its most popular loudspeakers, the Denton. The Denton 80th Anniversary is a classic, bookshelf two-way speaker. Beautifully crafted with hand veneered mahogany, an inset front baffle and traditional Tungsten cloth grille, the updated Denton is a classic update of the original speaker. And if you’re perhaps harbouring any fears that recessed 1960s-style front baffle may restrict imaging then you can put them to one side immediately. It’s a very careful balance. The Dentons never give the impression they are emphasising one part of the music to the detriment of another yet still manage to avoid sounding overly dry and clinical. Instead they just make music sound fun – whether you want to delve deep into a mix or simply let it flow over you.My Dentons arrived yesterday, and I immediately set them up facing each other, out of phase, with a (bass-heavy) pop music station playing on the radio. I left it going for about 11 hours yesterday, while I was out of the house. They are nowhere near fully broken in yet, but that at least got them on their way. Amplification is from a recapped Yamaha CR-1020 receiver (75 wpc), which tends to be on the cool side of neutral IMO. Meantime Mrs. P immediately disliked them from the off. Once the proper height stands turned up there was a difference in terms of the boxy bass. Problem was they didn't sound retro to me: Sounding more modern than my PMCs, the midrange is quite prominent. The wife said they sounded "shrill" to her ears. Although not shrill to my ears they were brighter than I expected. Also, unlike the RS6s and PMCs the Wharfedales aren't as holographic or transparent. Nor does it have the texture, almost sounding one dimensional. Some have suggested the design and implementation on the Wharfedales aren't as good... after 3 weeks of ownership it's hard to find a more plausible explanation. The Q Acoustics 3020i bookshelf speakers offer excellent sound quality, versatility, and a modern design, making them a great option for audiophiles who prioritize accuracy and transparency in their sound system.

This 85th edition showcases latest advancements and further upgrades the already hugely impressive 80th Anniversary speaker. Available in the same finishes, the main difference is in the Denton 85 swapping out the 5" woven kevlar cone for a 6.5" variation of the same material and replacing the 1" textile tweeter for a soft dome design. The result is higher sensitivity to facilitate more demanding hifi components, better crossover and wider frequency spectrum. Based on Original Denton Do anyone have any of the amplifiers or pre/power combinations mentioned above driving the Denton’s and if “yes” how is the synergy between them?

Plenty of audiophiles have a fondness for retro design, but many would agree that it’s modern technology and fresh thinking that shapes our world. This is true up to a point, but plenty of hi-fi companies such as JBL and Technics, for example, are re-examining past ideas too. Mrs. said, have we still got the big'uns? by the big'uns she meant Monitor Audio RS6s. I replied, "up in the loft". After being covered in cobwebs I placed the MAs and switched on and... OMG, I'd forgotten how good they sound. They were everything I expected the Dentons to be: Cohesive, balanced and just downright musical. The new Denton 85th Anniversary Edition will sound lighter and brighter than the 80th, due to raised tweeter output. It has smoother bass that runs deeper and will sound controlled when close to a wall. Sensitivity is very high too. Very good, but with overly strong treble. Underneath the exterior, the Anniversary Edition is a perfect mixture of traditional and advanced technology. The bass unit features Wharfedale’s innovative woven Kevlar cone mounted on a rigid die-cast chassis. The drive units are combined with a highly researched crossover that blends the drivers perfectly. The name Linton will ring like a bell to audiophiles of a certain age – myself included, as my father had a pair of 3XPs in the seventies. It was the poor man’s high-end loudspeaker; a true three-way with a real wood cabinet and a warm, musical sound. The new one is far larger, however, and instead of paper and polymer for its bass and mid drivers, it uses woven Kevlar in 200mm and 135mm sizes respectively. Also, the old soft-dome tweeter is now a 25mm fabric dome with a metal grille over it. Crossover frequencies are 630Hz and 2.4kHz.