5 Reasons Wharfedale Super Linton is the Hidden Gem of Audio Equipment

[@petercomeau2190]

Hi Erin, thanks for such a thorough and revealing review. You're quite right in deducing that Super Linton can be placed closer to the front wall than Linton. I had noticed, when scouring social media sites, that many owners were using Linton close to a front wall and sometimes having problems. So we took that into account when designing Super Linton. I also noted that some tweakers were messing around with crossover components to try and extract more detail in the midrange and 'air' in the treble, so that's another area we addressed. As you've shown, the main measurement differences are due to filling in the 1-2kHz area (which you remarked on in the original Linton review) and extending the treble as well as improving the dynamic performance dramatically. If you still had the Lintons for comparison, I am sure you would also notice superior focussing of stereo image in conjunction with more 'air' and spaciousness. On a direct comparison, the superior detailing of the Super Linton would also stand out. Not forgetting, of course, the increase in sensitivity whilst marginally improving the bass extension (overall a tough design target to meet). What we've learned over the 5 years that Linton has been in production is that people love the fun character of Linton and the way the speakers draw you into the music. I'm glad you found that Super Linton keeps this character trait intact while sounding even more 'neutral' and dynamic and that it suits all music genres. This ability to play the music you love and hear and enjoy the emotion and passion that the musicians put into their performance is one of the joys of hi-fi and why I and my team had so much fun designing these speakers.

[@MS-pw8yu]

@@petercomeau2190 Mr Comeau, First, thank you for my awesome Linton 85s. They make this 49 year old pensioner sit ALL day and listen to everything under the sun. No lie...I have cried listening to these when I am enveloped in beautiful music and transported to another place. Second, can you please see to Erin getting a set of Dovedales to review? If I buy new speakers, these are #1 on my list with Elysian 2s right behind. Finally, is there any plan to do a Super Dovedale that I should wait for? Thanks, and rock on!

[@Yupinmedia]

1. Thank you very much for your work. And for Diamonds as well. 2. Can you give any hints on how to breathe life into the previous Lintons? I really want them to be able to play piano and violin. Is it possible to order new tweeters from you somehow? I am even ready to rebuild the crossovers. Thank you!

[@rickgrimes4845]

I feel like the majority of people in the community have their speakers close to a wall because of space limitations, this is quite underlooked in the community/industry. I would certainly have my speakers brought more in to the room on stands but that is not an option so they have to be on a console next to the tv near the wall.

[@MS-pw8yu]

@@rickgrimes4845 A fun poll for Erin to post is "How close are your speakers, measured from the front baffle, to the FRONT wall?" Emphasis on front because it's not the back wall. Your back is to the back wall! Okay....pedantic rant complete. And I would also urge the measurement from the front baffle. This is the origin of the soundwave, unless you are using open baffles. The only thing that complicates this is rear ported speakers as they have concern with proximity to wall, but I would opine if you are at least 1.5 feet away it is less impactful. I may be underestimating that notion, but tell me if it is otherwise. Just measured mine...7'10" (240cm) front baffle to FRONT wall in a 20'8" (6.3m) room. I am sitting exactly 2m away on a 2m spread between the speakers. Perfect hifi-tri.

[@rickgrimes4845]

@@MS-pw8yu But on an ”enthusiast” channel like this I feel like there will be a larger number of people who DO have the space than ”in the hobby overall” My personal setup is not optimal: front wall to front baffle maybe 45cm and back of the speaker to front wall maybe 10cm. Speakers 140cm apart and usual distance from speaker front baffle to ear is maybe 3.5m.

[@tonymosley6951]

Thanks for your awesome review and comparisons!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thank you for the support!

[@gh00al]

I have to say, though: After I properly set up my Linton 85s, properly EQ'ed them, and plugged the ports (that one maybe only necessary because I'm in a fairly small room with little wall distance), I have not once found myself wishing they were clearer, more detailed, punchier, or really much of anything. I suspect that the Super Lintons sound better out of the box but maybe not better in the end, as long as you are willing and able to invest the time in proper setup and EQ. Which is a testament to the Linton 85s: they have good bones. Now if we could get a reasonably priced Dovedale with all the benefits of the 10" driver, that would be a whole different beast...

[@kramertc]

Thanks for the review and your hard work!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Well, thank you very much!

[@Audioloon]

Thank you for all the thoroughness as usual! As you were describing/explaining the upgraded sound design for this speaker my initial thought is this speaker is an attempt by Wharfedale to mimic the KLH 5 design as to compete with them for a more engaging listening experience.

[@wcg66]

Love my regular Lintons, I doubt I could justify upgrading to the Super Lintons unless retailers offered a trade in program :).

[@ClassMPlanet-Yo]

Wow, really solid review of the Wharfdale Super Lintons. I’m in the market for loudspeakers for a small room, so I am also looking at the KEF R3 Meta’s. Glad to learn that the new Super Lintons don’t have to be 3 feet away from the back wall.

[@Givea_shit]

Get d R3 meta

[@Alextraz]

I have them and i would say few things...the highs could be hot but with older people it seems to be fine and the bass at least for me its just lacking some body but it is very very well made and overall a benchmark performance for the price. I have used the wiim EQ to optimize it to my room and I am happy with the result but in few years i will look for something else because they have just left me feeling like I could do better with higher budget....

[@ClassMPlanet-Yo]

@@Alextraz are you talking about the KEFR3 Metas or the Super Linton’s?

[@Alextraz]

@@ClassMPlanet-Yo , sorry for not claeifying....I am talking about the r3 meta...sitting around 15cm from the back wall.

[@horrorfan6710]

Thanks! Hi, so I wanted ask about these Super Linton and in general tower speakers. So in my living room I have my current bookshelves on stands which are 7 feet apart and I'm sitting 8 feet away. My question is if I get the Super Lintons or any other tower speakers of average size would the same 7 feet apart and 8 feet away be perfectly fine for a tower speakers? Cause I can't move further back or put the speakers anywhere else. I just don't know if that is enough room for tower speakers to reach it's potential. Otherwise I'll just stick with bookshelves. By the way if your wondering the speakers are about 30inches from the front wall and like a good 4-5feet on the sides.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

It really will depend on the design of the tower speaker. For example, consider how the bass is tuned on these Linton speakers. The Super Linton has a bit of an extended bass shelf design where it is intended to be placed near a wall where the original version needs more room. You can look at something like the KEF R5 Meta which has a similar bass response to the super linton. kzbin.info/www/bejne/inmle4uaj9Flp68

[@horrorfan6710]

Well you didn't really answer my question I don't want to move any future speakers closer or further just as I said in my comments. It doesn't matter if the speaker can do better closer to wall than others they're going to be put in the same place that's where my current ones are. So once again with the measurements that I've already mentioned will most Tower speakers work with that distance that I mentioned? Or should I just stick with bookshelf speakers?

[@MS-pw8yu]

Erin, you are doing this community a huge service. Objective data and knowledgeable, subjective information without the fluff or "shill vibe". Thank you and don't change a thing! I have the 85s and like them a lot. Love is a strong word. I love my custom bicycles. I like these speakers. Would I like the Supers better? 🤷‍♂️ I have the ability to put my 85s virtually in the middle of my living room to create the perfect hifi-tri. (stands fitted with rubber wheels...big brain) I don't need to put anything close to the wall but I like every other improvement they made. Man....first world problems for sure. Wish me luck as I torment myself with the internal struggle. Cheers!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

haha. Torment away! If you're pressed you should see if your local dealer will let you try them out in your home. If that's not an option Crutchfield has a 60-day return policy where you could try them and if you don't like them as much as your current Lintons then send 'em back.

[@emotown1]

Yeah, that was really fast work - getting/loaning a pair of these speakers not 3 days after they hit the market. That’s pretty hard core.

[@dlloyd6300]

Super Linton or Sourcepoint 8?! Very similar price and form factor...

[@FOH3663]

I'd go with the coax. However, big picture, ... we're fortunate to have access to either one. They're both representative of outstanding performance at a reasonable price.

[@timc_2433]

This

[@nickburklow5212]

I have the original Lintons based off your last review. These look great, but not enough to upgrade to. I am savng up for Dovedales I think.

[@paull9989]

Erin.....great review as usual.....which do you like better the Super Linton or Aura 2?

[@gdwlaw5549]

Taking audio reviews to a new level! What a hero!!!!!

[@dan-qe1tb]

The only thing that had stopped me from looking at those speakers, was having bought Aura 2s. By my understanding, the Linton house sound is, a full bodied one with natural timbre. (like most wide baffle speakers). The type of sound that makes you keep listening, because it's pleasant and not etched, even though you may be able to afford, and may own, speakers that offer better resolution. Wharfedale seems to be on a roll: they have been producing one super product after another, while Revel is still selling the old F36 and F206.

[@trued2010]

How are these vs the KEF Q Concerto Meta? Asking since these reviews are so close together. Concerto's had me pretty interested at their price point.

[@kevincheong1516]

Great review Erin. I own the Linton and don't think I will go for the upgrade simply because I don't play beyond 96db.

[@SylviaVanderlay]

Danke!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thanks!

[@ThresholdZhor]

13:05 that 3 decibels more and a better dynamic range should be of using a newer woofer magnet with higher gauss but maybe they needed to use stiffer spider to control the extra throw on the cone, that woofer would give a better response on a cabinet 0.5 cubic feet more

[@seanb3303]

It sounds like the designer paid attention to Danny’s critique of the original Linton and now gives us a better cabinet, better crossover parts, and a more accurate response…for added cost.

[@chrisvand2678]

A good and honest review with data to back up the claims. You're doing a great job here, Erin! I love the sound of the 85th edition and thought about buying a pair, but now I have to hear these.. Thanks for all the work you do for us "audio-freaks". Stay safe! Cheers from Denmark.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thanks so much!

[@sudd3660]

if i hear the word "super" one more time i am deleting the internet....

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

… super … 🙃

[@drh3b]

Promises, promises....

[@ropeburn6684]

The year 2032: Wharfedale proudly presents the new and improved Super Street Fighter Linton II Turbo Alpha Heritage 100 Deluxe: Championship Edition

[@Karto86]

Please don't, I need to finish Arcane season 2.

[@chrislj2890]

So, not a big fan of Superman, eh?

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

Thanks for another review. Equipment upgrades are happening so fast it’s like buying a new car. Make sure you like what you’re buying because a new more expensive version is coming soon and what you’re buying will be depreciated. Hard to buy and avoid FOMO. Just enjoy your music and rock On!

[@NosEL34]

Interesting. I had the "OG" model & it seems they maybe have improved on the issues i personally had. I needed to be a little closer to the wall & had bass issues..i as well found it to be a little soft. Some EQ helped but i eventually moved on from them..even though I did still like them. I just liked the Polk R700 better. I am interested enough in the little chages to try the Linton again though. I received an email from Wharefdale explaining the differences..& that the Super should have more attack & dynamics..with a better top end. They said they used some Dovetail technology in these Super's. The Supers have bigger enclosure, 2 separate Crossover board with better parts, better tweeter than original, stronger magnet & motor system on woofer, & somehow the grille is suppose to be better.

[@kenmasters007]

Any recommendations to improve the bass on the super lintons? Would a seperate sub be necessary?

[@SylviaVanderlay]

¡Gracias!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Hey, thanks for the super thanks. :)

[@watchingyoutube7330]

Who is Wharfdale targeting with the Super Linton and who are they targeting with the Aura 2?

[@skutfarkas4351]

I think the bass shelving is due to stuffing a bass reflex system. The woofer impedance curve humps are are too asymetric, indicating that the upper bass is perhaps being suppressed by the stuffing. The ideal bass relex enclosure has minimal absorption and fiberglass lining is the preferred material. Another clue is that the slope of the bass rolloff is too shallow. It should be 4th order and this isn't. I think I would find the bottom end to be weak. I'll bet the woofer cone motion is greater than theoretical bass reflex system and looks more like a closed box..

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

It is an intentional design. Check the designer’s reply in the pinned post. 👍

[@trevorbartram5473]

KEF & Q-Acoustics use the bass shelf technique too.

[@SylviaVanderlay]

Hi Erin, if I understand you correctly, placing the speakers with the tweeter om the outside implies inverting the positions L and R as they are labelled on the back of the speakers, right? Thanks a lot!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Correct. That’s what sounded best to me. But experiment and see what works best for you. 👍

[@danilofeliciano6046]

Excellent review, wish there was a trade-in program as my 'regular' Lintons are less than two years old.

[@bastikardum]

Mine are 2 days old. The price increase is still a lot for a small bump in sound quality. I keep my 85th until they drop in price. FOMO is big.. I don't think people should be to worried if they own the 85th.

[@chrissmith7069]

I think it looks like a nasty upsell.. A small performance increase for a massive amount of additional £££ . Dream on greedy wharfedale..

[@danilofeliciano6046]

@@chrissmith7069 I've been torn between the Super Lintons or upgrading my Cambridge CXA81, might upgrade the amplifier as I'm sure it will bring out more of the Lintons.

[@chrissmith7069]

​@@danilofeliciano6046 which amp do you have at present? .. I've been considering the Linton 85th for a little while now and noticed that Qacoustics have reduced their Concept 50's to £1200 from 2k. I already have the concept 40's but wonder if the 50's would be a better update option over the 40's the 85th and the super Lintons.

[@rofgabor]

I had the Lintons for a month and it was not a good fit (a mess) but maybe it was a lemon/bad synergy. Wharfedale is a very good company, I can't draw conclusions on one experience. Thanks again for the great review!

[@Monkeyseemonkey79]

Another excellent in-depth review. Thank you, Erin!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

You are so welcome!

[@clui8]

I’m thinking of either the linton and super linton and will be using it the living / kitchen where I’ll be standing a lot. I saw the super has a better vertical radius? Is it a substantial difference?

[@KofiBaffour-t8o]

What is important is the better efficiency, front wall friendliness and better perceived attack with the filled in 1kHz

[@dananskidolf]

With something like the Linton 85, where bass response is relatively high and clean, but gets compressed at higher input, could you put it right up to the wall to get maximum boundary reinforcement and EQ the bass input down to compensate, so you both avoid the boominess and get a bit more headroom before compression kicks in? I'd really like this to be a good option because EQ is free, whereas a 1m gap between the speaker and the wall would mean reserving £10,000 worth of floor space here! :'D

[@justonemoregshock]

Ok, here's the dilemma, Wharfedale Super Lintons or Mofi Sourcepoint 8... Do any of them sound forward in a midrange area and which is brighter to your ears?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I will probably have a video about this soon.

[@justonemoregshock]

@ErinsAudioCorner thanks a lot, can't wait! ❤

[@MiniSax]

Awesome, objective review backed by data. Thank you!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rickg8015]

Is the Super Linton suitable for nearfield listening in a smallish room? The Listener’s head round 7 ft. to 8 ft. away from the speakers? Will driver integration suffer listening that close?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

That is sufficient.

[@rickg8015]

@@ErinsAudioCorner Thanks Erin!👍🏼

[@MechAdv]

I was thinking “meh” on your impressions and measurements until you got to the compression graph. That’s a huge difference in dynamic headroom in the Bass response. It’s odd though that we don’t see a commensurate improvement in distortion to go along with the SPL capability. So I think it comes down to if you’re going to run a subwoofer, spend the extra 700$ on the sub and get the 85th, and if you want to strictly stick to 2 channel, then the Supers are the better choice.

[@rosswarren436]

Or, if you want a smoother top end, you'd maybe buy the Super Linton AND run a subwoofer for that lower octave to get the best of both worlds. But hey, they sold a ton of the "regular" Linton, so for the price, there is nothing much to complain about.

[@MechAdv]

@@rosswarren436My thought would be to apply a high shelf filter of -5db somewhere from 80-100hz, to bring the midrange and the top end down to the woofer output, and just crank the power to get it flat down to the 30s. Clearly the woofer has the headroom to produce the Wubs at moderate volumes.

[@KstoneCreator]

I got my Heritage linton's about 10 days ago. They're about 8 ft apart and 18" out from the wall firing into a 18 by 15 ft room. The differences he's outlining for the super Lintons sound like negatives to me. I don't like that huge roll off on the bass he's showing. One of the things I like about my Lintons is I can just get rid of my subwoofer. This incredible hole that he keeps talking about between 1 and 2 K I can't hear it man. Based on what Aaron's telling me - and I trust him - the supers are not worth the extra cash

[@mrlinde6518]

Great video. Wonder how their Elysian 4 speaker performs. Believe that's Wharfdales most ambitious speaker.

[@user-jp3vl5jx1j]

Had the Elysian 1 and they were very good. The 4 add mostly deep frequencies / bass punch as far as I was told. The mids and highs are very similar between all Elysians.

[@ryandelavega8667]

Hi! New subscriber!! I am planning on purchasing the Lintons. I am trying to find an integrated amp under $2k to power them. What integrated amps would you recommend to drive these? I want the amp and the speakers to have synergy. Thanks!!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

NAD C 3050 Integrated Amplifier would be my choice: howl.me/cleOavykNAx

[@ryandelavega8667]

@ thank you! Also, do you have any videos on best turntables and streamers that you recommend? I am brand new to the turntable game and I am trying to find one under $2k; also trying to find a streamer with an amazing Dac for under $1k.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

⁠not yet. I have a U-turn audio turntable I use and I’ve had it for probably 8 years. As for streamers, I haven’t used many other than budget ones costing around a few hundred dollars. Like this: howl.link/09ppkx0evzttf

[@spencerah]

@erinaudiocorner I’m torn between these and the Mofi Sourcepoint 8. How do they compare and which do you prefer? Thanks man!

[@Boiler272]

How would these compare to Aura 2's? Given the price bracket, Super Lintons may kill the Aura 2 sales!?

[@andrewyorke2194]

I was wondering this as well. It sounds like the Supers are less fussy with placement and Auras more detailed with top end

[@kevtn8]

Hi Erin, thanks for wonderful review. Do you know if the grille sufficiently protects the new tweeter since there is no protective mesh on new tweeter as compared to the 85th Linton ?

[@rosswarren436]

Ah, contemplating these, but worried they might be too small for my living room. It isn't huge but is 13' x 25' with an 8' ceiling. Would these play and scale large enough to fill that space, or should I be looking at larger tower floor standers for a bit more $$$? Thanks. Oh, and I'll likely be adding at least one subwoofer to help out and get that last lower octave of sound.

[@Feliciano12v]

I've always been drawn to the lintons, now these, even more.

[@UGScience]

Great review. What difference would we hear if the tweeters were centrally located?

[@Novilicious]

Need to see the Arendal 1528s to see whether or not they beat the Mofi 888s! Please get a tier list going 😮

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

You'll need to email Arendal and ask them to send me a pair to review.

[@steveluth3139]

I am very curious how this will compare to the KLH model 5

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I reviewed the KLH 5 a couple years ago and made a separate video comparing it to the Linton. You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5vcmnV6oqqGgrc

[@spencerjohnson8026]

Great view my experience with my Linton MK1 matches your review. Would love to see Wharfedale ship you a pair of Dovedale’s for review.

[@sfomann]

I was almost ready to order the Super Denton and then I saw this. Super Denton is preferable to me size wise but if the overall sound is noticeably better I can go for Super Linton. What do you think? Thanks!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I'd get the Linton.

[@sfomann]

@ thank you for the quick response. Will use your link to order it

[@Carl-bd1rf]

F52 vs F77 is a huge difference. I would assume with both speakers side by side the original would have far better bass extension. Someone please post a side by side quick sound demo!!

[@AbhishekKumarSPS]

In regular linton video u said it replaced one of ur top 5 speaker at any price. What's ur current top 5 speakers at any price? Would appreciate your answer.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I’d definitely put it in a top 5 list. It’s a fantastic speaker IMHO.

[@AbhishekKumarSPS]

@ErinsAudioCorner and what about kef q concerto?

[@OnwiththeAction]

Awesome review. It would be SUPER if you had spectral decay graph.

[@CC-xu2yz]

It's all in the data.

[@x-techgaming]

What about channel match imbalance/consistency testing between both speakers..? This doesn't seem to be tested much/ever. Great job showing off the in-real-life size of the speakers! :)

[@KapucciMane]

Could the Super Linton be a good option over the Arendal 1723 Monitor ? When main focus would be split between movies and music.

[@daveninjaneuro7089]

Which would you pick, these or KEF R3 Meta?

[@MsSpookykid]

The first version had not enough Resolution in my opinion. Didnthose improved that? And i would lile tonknonhow cohearant those are sounding. Iam interested in those vs. Mission 770 at this point. Thanks a lot

[@razisn]

Define 'resolution' in acoustics.

[@MechAdv]

@@MsSpookykid So you’re probably hearing the dip between 1-2khz that Erin referred to. This speaker fills that dip in. If you mean something else, then idk.

[@MsSpookykid]

@@MechAdv i mean the amount of information the speaker produces. Like Detail in the highs, mids and Bass. I percieved the Bass in the original ones as a bit muddy and Orchestra as Not enough defined as In the sonus Faber Lumina series for example.

[@KoeiNL]

Thanks for the review. The compression results convinced me to get the new model over the old one. Being able to put it closer to the wall is a big plus for me also.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Cool! Glad the information helped you out. 👍

[@johncallison4745]

Erin I am with you on this review. I found these to be amazing speakers able to create a sound stage that is super accurate and large as well as deep. Were they as good as my Tekton Nebos. NO but, a very very close second. I found these to be a very enjoyable speaker to listen to and I feel they preform way above the price point. I love the look on these speakers as well as I am a old school guy. These Speakers though are a very good choice at under 3k for those that cannot jump above the 3 k point. love the review.

[@michaelmajchrzak3476]

Do you have a possibility to test Wharfedale Dovedale?

[@MS-pw8yu]

@@michaelmajchrzak3476 There are almost NO reviews out there on Dovedales! I badly want Erin, or someone like but not better than Erin, to do a FULL review like Erin. Okay, I really just want Erin to do the Dovedales.

[@carlbrown3634]

Good review Erin! Thanks for sharing.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thanks for watching!

[@carlbrown3634]

@ErinsAudioCorner so quick question for you. I remember your comments about the Aura 2 vs Linton's 85th and how hard it was for you to have a preference, but you gave a slight edge to Aura 2. Given what you know about the Aura's and now the new Super Linton's, which of these two would you choose?

[@roberthurley4424]

Great review, I saw that you opened it up - do you have any comments on the parts 'quality'. From Wharfedale's description, it sounds as though the crossover design is different and they improved the parts quality (air core inductors, better caps, etc). Were you able to see or take images of the crossover parts/board? Do you think that played into the improved sound experience?

[@rickg8015]

All polyprop caps now, no lytics.. Separate boards for the HF/MF and LF.. No “white coffin” sandcast wirewound R’s.. All Air-core chokes for HF-MF.. A single thick guage Iron-core choke for the LF… There’s a comparison photo over at StereoNet.

[@roberthurley4424]

@@rickg8015 thanks, that is interesting. I wonder how much the part upgrade contributes to the 'altered' sound. It is also curious since the Wharfedale designer spoke very negatively about the need for (or differences with) air core inductors, better caps and resistors in the Linton when responding to a GR Research upgrade of the Linton 85th crossover...

[@Monkeyseemonkey79]

Aura 2 vs Super Linton? They are the same price, both 3 way designs, you have reviewed both, and seem to recommend both. I'd love to hear your thoughts on why someone might want to pick one over the other.

[@paull9989]

Agree....I was thinking about the Aura 2 but now the super li tons are getting my attention

[@anthonynoto9336]

@@SylviaVanderlayyes but the Aura likely has a perceived or subjectively more detailed treble due to the tweeter design.

[@Monkeyseemonkey79]

I know my wife would prefer the smaller Aura 2 in white, but I'm curious to know what I'm giving up by passing on the Super Linton.

[@Boiler272]

Yeah, same question here. Already commented on how having two speakers in the same price bracket may kill the sales of Aura 2.

[@teknolojigundemi]

If we want wider vertical dispersion, which type speakers we should be looking for. I cant be tweeter level all the time.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

A good coaxial design from KEF, Genelec or MoFi based on my experience.

[@liamporter1137]

Great review. I like the look better than FR5 and Platimon. But which one is best in sound quality?

[@ClassMPlanet-Yo]

I’m in the market for loudspeakers and I’m torn between the KEF R3 Metas and the Super Lintons… any opinion on which speaker would pair well with a Peachtree Nova500?

[@kevtn8]

Hi Erin, you seem to really like the Super Linton . I'm deciding on the Kef Reference 1 Meta vs the Super Linton. I know they're not in the same price bracket but they are both 3-way small speakers that are well designed which I prefer. Do you think the Reference 1 Meta is worth the difference in price as compared to the Super Linton based on your assessment of both ? Thanks and keep up the great work.

[@haojiang2403]

curious how this compare to AURA 2

[@Francrev489]

Hi. I'm not convinced about changing my Lintons for the new Super Lintons. I am satisfied with what I have right now. I'm not going to get into the commercial "music improvement" game since if they wanted to they would have designed the Lintons originally as the Super Lintons. It's a whole business that I don't plan to get into. And all brands do it.

[@perlman7376]

Good for you. Enjoy the music!

[@beslemeto]

Speakers are same since 1970's so there is no point of changing a speaker you like enough!Different is not always better! I have Epos ES14's and i tried many speakers expensive and budget friendly.Only Epos remained in my system forever...

[@nasdkhan254]

I went to a shop just to hear them ( I own the Lintons myself) . They are a big improvement, more depth , more weight & they are still breaking in. I'm giving them serious consideration

[@beslemeto]

@@nasdkhan254 Do they sound rich and spacious?I am considering Adam A7V as well,but i am not sure if the Super Lintons will worth their price..

[@nasdkhan254]

@@beslemeto They do sound rich & spacious and I'm giving them very serious consideration. They are worth the UK price but for me they have to be my final speaker . I have heard speakers with more treble energy but the Super Linton are definitely clear & besides will need many more hours breaking in. What I heard I liked very much. A contender for sure

[@jonvonshitzlebawm3331]

Is the 88db sensitivity high enough for the speakers to be powered by say a Decware zen triode?

[@craigenputtock]

Wow very accurate. And the quality of the drivers looks very good

[@wyup]

At 11:18 you say 'you can put the speaker close to the wall without being too boomy or too resonant'. Cause if you don't, the graph shows you miss bass. It seems this speaker was designed to be put close the wall to get a similar response to the original, but the quality of the bass from the wall can't be the same as from the speaker, it may be resonant as you say. As far as I know there is a trade-off from doing this.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Read the pinned comment from the designer who verified my conclusion. 👍

[@renatomorais8136]

I own a pair of Lintons and am very interested in the Supers (but I really wanted the Mission 770s). First review I'm seeing of them, so let's see if I spend or save money!

[@rosswarren436]

Interesting decision to make. The Mission 770 are two-way speakers and sell for what, about $5K USD? Wonder how their sonic characteristics compare to these at $2500?

[@renatomorais8136]

@@rosswarren436 I listened to the 770s after they had just been released as the salesman plugged them in "as an alternative to the Lintons". I almost cried when I saw the price tag because they are way better. But so far from what I've seen from these Supers, I'm beginning to think they are actually not an upgrade at all, at least not for price difference. The Missions are are a refined, open sound with lots of detail that somehow also present everything smooth. Think true audiophile speaker that doesn't grab you by the neck and shouts "LOOK AT THAT SLAT SHAKER IN THE BACK!". I guess another way to put it is they are very cohesive, all the details are there but they stay within the music, they don't atomise the overall melody. You know... sucks to be poor :)

[@damianaghg267]

Great review, owning original Linton and looking for a upgrade. Please review Elysian 2 and-or JBL Classic if thats possible:)

[@steveh545]

It comes with similar stands as the OG correct? In your b-roll the stands look different. Maybe just swapped for filming?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Yeah, the B-roll used different stands so they would be higher off the ground for the footage.

[@nasdkhan254]

I heard it today at a local hifi store . Very nice , some real depth and betters the 85 ( which i own)

[@libertalian_8415]

Hello...how would you describe that difference between them and 85 th ? Is it better and more detailed at lower volumes? Thank you

[@nasdkhan254]

@libertalian_8415 Yes to both questions . Deeper bass ( but no cabinet resonance ) more refined and low volume was good. Bear in mind I listened for 20 mins and the speakers are still breaking in. I am very tempted to go for these but if I do it has to be my final speaker

[@libertalian_8415]

@@nasdkhan254 I think the same...If I'm gonna give that much money I want to get the best for it...and for many years to come. Thank you for quick reply. I don't have the oportunity to hear them yet...Stores here in Southern EU have only Lintons 85th, but they said that Supers will arrive quickly.

[@acadjukanovic6855]

Will there be a comparison between kef r3 meta ? I can't decide, now I'm looking between the two .

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Probably not anytime soon.

[@SpineTingler007]

The bass is deep but flabby on these. I would want a tighter bass at this price range. They DID improve the treble response which was lacking in the original.

[@rd1992-l3j]

The old Lintons will be deeply discounted by Crutchfield and other retailers. Are the new Lintons worth the price premium? I do like that they are 3dB more sensitive than the old Lintons.

[@rosswarren436]

I think in discounting them to the $1499 price but including the ~$300 stands is likely the best "discount" they can give and still make a reasonable profit. We'll see.

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

Seems like a big hike in price vs the original given its benefits over it.

[@nexus4googleplay612]

Welcome to the world of diminishing returns. All of the Hifi world is like this. Think a 20k pair of speakers will be far better than a 7k pair of speakers? It might be barely noticeable.

[@MechAdv]

Not compared to the Dovetail vs Linton price hike. These at least get you a major upgrade in cabinet construction.

[@chinmeysway]

@@nexus4googleplay612over 1000 and all the woo boomers can have them lol

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

@@MechAdv i wouldn't say major...

[@chrissmith7069]

Dirty upsell...

[@larrylevan3378]

The Law of Diminishing Returns

[@Overlordick]

Thank you for review! Please tell how can it be that you measured Linton 85s for 85db? Robinson and Dany from audioresearch measured them about 89-90.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

No, they did not. They don’t measure true sensitivity. That’s just the volume they had the speakers turned up to when they did their measurements. My measurements are based on 2.83 V input at 1 m distance.

[@Overlordick]

@ErinsAudioCorner Understand. If it so, then Super Lintons are 3db more sensitive - it's a very positive sign in terms of amp cost for them to match. Funny thing - I removed a mesh from tweetter from my Lintons - they look very similar to supers now) Wondering how this action affects performance in treble. Can't believe that I've made it worse. And thanks for footage inside speakers, but have you seen a crossover, is it better in terms of materials?

[@Yupinmedia]

@@Overlordick On the Stereonet there is a picture with two crossovers next to each other

[@dragonstone6594]

Can someone give Erin the Wharfedale ELYSIAN 2 for review? I'm really interested in that speaker.

[@alexw890]

Are there any designs that use a longer port and a lower tuning for using near a wall and a short port and higher tuning for using away from a wall? And you plug one or the other at all times? Thoughts?

[@PossibleAudio]

It would be cool if you tested the Baby Advent II

[@thomasfi1275]

Are these „Vintage“ Wharfedale similar in sound to Harbeth?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

No way. In my opinion these are much better based on subjective listening only. So take that with a grain of salt.

[@thomasfi1275]

@ could you describe the differences please. Thanx Erin.

[@Dikita0]

@@thomasfi1275 The speaker that comes closest to the Harbeth sound is probably the Linton 85 rather than the Super Linton.

[@Novilicious]

Excellent review sir; please tell us an ETA on Arendal 1528

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

You will need to email Arendal and let them know you want me to review their new speakers. I currently have no plans to.

[@Novilicious]

@ got it, consider that done. With them shipping out speakers to every reviewer, I don’t know why they’re not doing it for you. Once I have sufficient information and if I decide to go ahead and buy it, I’ll send it to you myself. I am seduced by manufacturer direct and buying speakers half off without any dealer markup. I debated between the 888 and the Perlisten s series, but I think these may take the cake. 🍰

[@alastairferris6184]

I’ve been waiting for this one.

[@__DMC__82]

💯

[@orthosympa6993]

I hope you will get the chance to review the elysian line one day. The elysian 4 look absolutely stunning.

[@tpop3723]

Curious to know what they are using for the damping material.

[@gtric1466]

I don't own either but for my taste, i think i would like the regular Lintons only because (besides being cheaper) i can pull them out from the wall and have better bass also the 1-2k hz. range is bright to my aging ears so i do like that little bit of roll off. Curious though as what they did ? better crossover parts or just different values?

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Not to worry, it is still a Wharfedale and it will still sound 'warm' and 'laid back'. As good as it measures, it will never sound 'sharp' like a LS50 Meta (which has a dip at 2-4khz in the PIR). This one has a dip at around 800-1khz in the PIR but I dont think that will account for brightness, or the lack of it.

[@adsph]

Thanks for review. Great info.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

My pleasure!

[@user-LT5.sledgehammer]

Is the sound detailed?

[@KofiBaffour-t8o]

yes it is detailed but never fatiguing

[@generationlee1852]

Can you review fyne f501 . It similar price to this and sourcepoint 8 , kef r3 .

[@BehnamHafez]

Dear Erin, Please review Leak 250 Thank You!

[@Eron55555]

You got some pops and clicks in your audio Erin. I can hear em on my Lintons! ;p

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Yeah, someone else said that. Not sure what caused it.

[@Eron55555]

@@ErinsAudioCorner That's fine. Keep it at 1khz would ya? ;p

[@phetmoz]

It would have been very interesting to see the crossover in real life, shame you didn't show it! Thanks for the video.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I didn't want to have to take the entire thing apart to show it since it's already on their website.

[@phetmoz]

@@ErinsAudioCorner Fair enough, I just thought since you removed the drivers anyway it would be easy to peak the camera down there on the cabinet floor where they are located :D I saw the crossover comparison on their website - as someone who believes in crossover parts quality, I am actually pretty impressed with the jump in quality, all things considered. Air core inductors, non-sand resistors, multiple big film capacitors and OFC cabling. 👍👍

[@leethallee6718]

@@phetmoz www.stereonet.com/uk/images/uploads/6252/32723_linton_and_super_linton_crossover_comparison__large_full.jpg

[@Plextortion]

I can see maybe a $300 to $500 price increase for the Super but not a $1000.

[@rosswarren436]

Probably a strategic marketing decision to make back their R&D and tooling expenses more quickly and to not cannibalize sales of the "regular" Linton, if they were priced too closely.

[@sertacersin]

Keep on waiting for Wharfedale Dovedale !

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

You and me both!

[@ThresholdZhor]

I see that the bass in this upgrade has downgrade de deep bass region from 40-80 hz, that's maybe because they use a too stiff spider on the woofer, I prefer this tweeter without mesh, if I buy a pair before even hear it I would cut all the panduits and solder the wires to the components, an audiophile speaker can't use panduits