FAQ - Wharfedale Linton or EVO, which should you get? With Peter Comeau

In this new series from Hifi-Freaks we ask leading industry experts the questions we hear the most! This time - should you get the Wharfedale Linton or EVO? And who better to ask than the designer of both of these excellent speakers Peter Comeau, the acoustic director at Wharfedale!
More information on HiFi-freaks.dk:
Wharfedale Linton 85th Heritage ➡️ hifi-freaks.dk...
Wharfedale EVO 4.4 ➡️ hifi-freaks.dk...

[@leo11877]

Congrats to Peter Cmeau and Wharfedale for coming up with such wonderful speaker designs.

[@genecatcher1]

I have had a Wharfedale Linton for a year. I must say they are like а little jewel with enormous power, detail sound, deep bass. Just excelent. Top of the top for the price.

[@yuribotnaru3359]

Are you happy with them? Would you buy them again?

[@genecatcher1]

@@yuribotnaru3359 Very happy. They worth all the money. Yes, I would.

[@jameslast3192]

I just got mine two days ago. TV now relegated to the spare room! Love them, actually incredible value I think. Sure there’s faster, more agile etc, I own a few, but there really is something about them. Unpacking them for the first time is a real treat too. I’ve never bought anything at any price that felt so special when opening.

[@genecatcher1]

@@jameslast3192 I am glad to read it. Have a nice moments with them. Check that the screws are tight. It is very important for good sound.

[@jameslast3192]

@@genecatcher1 the screws?

[@jameslast3192]

Just bought the Lintons and I love them. I’ve had all sorts, Rogers, Linn, ATC SCM 20’s but although they all have their incredible sound, some more detailed, or faster etc, there really is something about the whole, the totality of the lintons that is just wonderful, in such a way that if I was forced to keep just one pair it probably would be them.

[@nasdkhan254]

I use the Lintons. They needed a fair bit of breaking in & careful set up . To be honest they underwhelm on first listen but very soon you drift into the ease of these speakers. You really start thinking about the music & not the hifi. Build quality is excellent & yes I preferred them to the Harbeth HL5 . Preferred the price too ! I've tried a lot of speakers & these suit my room perfectly. Btw I listen to all types of music & not audiophile crud

[@yewfh-oz7in]

Great discussion, thank you for sharing this. I own a pair of EVO 4.2s, and am absolutely in love with them, especially for ambient electronic, jazz, and neo classical. They work beautifully in a surround system for home theatre too, though best when paired with a dual sub set up.

[@-Cybin]

i cant decide and cant test listening them. I am gonna listen to all kind of music but especially psychedelic trance. dark and with high BPM. You think it matters what i choose based on the genre?

[@herbaarons3128]

I just bought Evo 4.3 and they really are the most detailed and fluid speaker I've owned. They are very listenable for any type of music. The bass is very deep and work well in medium sized rooms. I've heard that the 4.4 really need a larger room so I purchased the 4.3 which work perfectly in a medium sized room,

[@caspar_gomez]

how did you like them vs the 4.4 and the 4.2 if you listened to them. I was going to get 4.2s until I realised the footprint almost as big as the floorstanders. The 4.3s seem really compact while not giving up much to the 4.4, but I could fit both. How big is your room by the way, I've got about a 23m2 room to work with.

[@Osuna..]

​@@caspar_gomezHola amigo, yo tengo los 4.3 en un salón de 21 m2 y van de maravilla, suenan genial con buenos graves. Me gustan mucho estos 4.3. los tengo asociados a un Marantz 40n y un subwoofer monitor audio silver W12. Escucho bastante jazz, blues, etc, y suenan increíbles.

[@nickloughrey9841]

My Celestion Dittons from late 70,s are a sound I fondly remember as a youthful listener to Joni and Neil and Fleetwood Mac etc . Have just ordered a set of Lintons , hopefully for that smooth mellow sound provided by the reflex on the dittons

[@yuribotnaru3359]

Are you happy with Linton's after one year of listening?

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Two of the speakers that I am giving very serious consideration of buying. The Evo 4.4 would suit my room and furniture position better as they would be near to a wall and record racks and their height would be perfect for my listening position. I love all kinds of music but rock in all its guises is played most of the time. The Lintons would probably suit my Linn Sondek vinyl playing system better but I also have thousands of CD’s so I don’t know what to choose and the price with speaker stands is the same as the Evo. Also looks like the Lintons have real wood veneer. I also have a problem being housebound so it is virtually impossible to get to a dealer to audition. I need to rely on other people’s opinions instead of just my own to make a balanced decision.

[@jimboedmonds]

Just purchased some Lintons. Really excited to experience them and enjoy many years of music listening

[@marko-182]

Hi. How close to the wall did you put them?

[@PaoloPix64]

​@@marko-18230 cm sono l'ideale. Poi dipende come vuoi sentire i bassi. I reflex posteriori lavorano tanto

[@yuribotnaru3359]

Are you happy with the Linton's? Would you buy them again?

[@jimboedmonds]

I would. I love them. The soundstage is great, the range is great but mostly, I find myself playing music all day and I never tire of them.

[@yuribotnaru3359]

@@jimboedmonds Thank you

[@jerryjohnson4625]

Hi , can't comment on the 4.4's but I have the Linton's ,w/ Aperion true ribbons setting on top ,also Emotiva RS 11 sub woofer. It really delivers the music. The Linton's alone are very very nice.

[@eduardoquirino8131]

I think the tower speakers have evolved into a mono music instrument of it's own with low, mid and high frequency and vibration in the structure blending these frequencies, plus the rear or bottom port holes add depth to the total sound. Thus the sound from the tower speakers are more alluring when seated far enough and between them to enjoy the total sound stage. Just my opinion, I think the 6 ohm, 88 decibel per w/m is the golden mean of speaker specs powered from 30w to 120 w amps.

[@coy9898]

I have EVO’s for my surround sound system and Lincoln’s for 2 channel

[@user-we4gr2gu9b]

Which of them do you prefer?

[@alangeorgebarstow]

FYI: Wharfedale [named after a dale (valley) in the Yorkshire Dales national park] is pronounced "Wharf-dale" and NOT "Wharf-er-dale".

[@hifi-freaks]

Sorry for our terrible Danish pronunciation. ;-)

[@alangeorgebarstow]

@@hifi-freaks Ursäkta från mig, också! I would never have thought of correcting you if I knew you were Dansk. I am an Englishman living in Skåne and I only 'correct' Americans, who should know better! 😉 Har en bra dagen!

[@MJLUCEY-sd1mq]

@@alangeorgebarstow Would have figured you Brits would pronounce it, "Wardle".

[@alangeorgebarstow]

@@MJLUCEY-sd1mq You would have 'figured' would you? 'Figured' what? Drawn the outline of a geometrical form? Written a single digit number? Admired a woman with a 38-24-36 shape? Or performed a triple axel on an ice rink? By the way, Yank, I'm not a 'Brit'. I am English.

[@vslavle3029]

Всем привет! У меня Linton и Quad arterera solus Мягкии,гибкий,плотный звук. Очень доволен. Привет из России.

[@DougMen1]

I'm actually not a fan of either, and I prefer the sound of the Diamond 12.3 or 12.4 for a 3 way. There shoud be a bookshelf 3 way Diamond, because that would be awesome

[@erickbollmann1757]

Min 2:12, i just love it (linton)

[@ashred9665]

saved myself the trouble, got both...

[@funcionyforma]

tell us how it's working please!

[@ashred9665]

@@funcionyforma Lintons are easy to love. Very musical. Evo 4.2s are a bit temparamental - need to match with right equipment. Have more detail and defintion than Lintons for sure.

[@funcionyforma]

@@ashred9665 I do love my Lintons, I was wondering if the evo would be a good complement . Wich equipmente do you think is right for the Evos?

[@ashred9665]

i've used them with SMSL DA9, Marantz PM6007 and PM8006 - sounds best with PM8006@@funcionyforma

[@ashred9665]

I've heard a lot of ppl say they sound ridiculously good with the Cambridge CXA81 or even CXA61@@funcionyforma

[@alainduquenois3812]

Je suis possesseurs des fameuses wharfedale Evo 4.2 et gens suis ravie par leurs grande prestations musicales

[@jeremi96221]

Je compte les commander, est-ce qu'ils sont suffisant pour commencer sur un système stéréo? Je compte faire un système 7.2.4 dans le futur et ils seraient le début!

[@alainduquenois3812]

Pour un système stéréo oui absolument

[@tellthemborissentyou]

Peter needs to get a better microphone.

[@healthynutster]

Agreed…he needs more speaker buyers so he can afford it!

[@youtubeisdead5931]

Bro looks like he’s just moved in

[@boschrder9466]

For the Price the EVO 4.4 is Highway robbery ... Here They are used together with the Marantz SR6015 (and Sunfire CRM-2C as center) as front speakers (filmfi :)) and think They are a great match (give them some time for play in) For Hifi i use ESS AMT 1C together with INT 150 Pass integrated and they are off cause much more detailed etc etc but at 20x higher price and only stereo is possible. For Hifi i recommend to go for the SR8015 together with the EVO 4.4 and the big EVO center speaker or you may even go for the Elysian. The 4.4 at SR6015 are a very ear friendly combination. But give Them or their small brothers a try at your own home, HifiFreaks allow that. Have also considered The Lintons but ran out of space :)))

[@yewfh-oz7in]

Do you find much difference in sound quality for music specifically when running the 4.4s off the Marantz 6015 vs the INT 150? I run a pair of 4.2s off a Marantz 5013 and they are beautiful for music imo, however still considering whether it'll be worth getting a dedicated stereo amp.

[@boschrder9466]

@@yewfh-oz7in Yes its much better on the int also cause I have a better source on that (Na7004 or Na 8005 Marantz) Better clarity even if source for the netvork player is spotify.

[@michaelvincent8306]

Unfortunately the Linton is no use in a small room as most modern homes are and i feel most speakers designer's have forgotten the most important part of a hifi system is the room itself

[@sampahtetapsam21]

Both get rid Get d mission 770

[@uselessoldman7964]

Linton's for analogue vinyl and EVO for those who dont care about what they listen to and how bad it sounds, commonly known as digital. That said, put a valve amp or some saturation on the front and the EVO can sound good, but its never going to be great !!

[@DougMen1]

So, you prefer the sound of distortion! That's good for electric guitar, but not for Hi-Fi 🤡

[@jeremi96221]

If you hate digital you never tried a good DAC..

[@uselessoldman7964]

@@jeremi96221A decent DAC? That is irrelevant if the recording was done 30/40 years ago when at best a DAC was DSD 16bit 44 kHz or maybe AES 18 bit 48 kHz. 32bit DAC was not until 1992 so no digital equipment went above 18 bit/48 and almost all were only 16 bit/44 until probably mid to late 1990s or EVEN later when a studio upgraded to the 2nd gen digital era. So when it comes to todays remastering most are taken from DSD files only a few from AES and even less from original magnetic master tapes cos by now they will have deteriorated beyond being usable and in many cases LOST !! That is important cos lets not forget from 1982 CDs started to replace Vinyl so almost all recordings were subjected to digital conversion somewhere in the audio chain. Using 16bit 48kHz is fine for live music but today a studio would probably use 32 bit for recording mixing and final mastering at 96 or above. Thats why a digital recording won't cos it cant beat an original analogue vinyl !! Sure it can equal it by taking a copy of the vinyl and remix with something like SpectraLayers, ANYONE can do that and its only the same as any commercially released remaster !!!!!!!!!!! But if they use the original DSD/AES? From my own experience they are not as dynamic as the analogue vinyl record copied on a decent system !!! I have a library of original master DSD/AES recordings as well as a few original T2T masters.