Wharfedale - Denton 80th (Walnut) Walnut

Product Information

The cabinet is reflex-loaded via twin rear-mounted ports, unlike the original’s infinite baffle design, and this confers dramatically better sensitivity (90dB up from 86dB) and bass extension (35Hz down from 60Hz). “It uses a sandwich of high-density chipboard with MDF skins that scatters panel resonance more effectively than the almost ubiquitous modern use of MDF alone”, he adds. “Finally the crossover has been designed using computer software together with hundreds of hours of listening tests and refinement”.

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. The Dentons never give the impression they are [emphasizing] 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...." Denton 85th Anniversary is a two-way speaker in the classic bookshelf tradition, beautifully hand veneered in Mahogany by Wharfedale cabinet makers with an inset front baffle and traditional Tungsten cloth grille. 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. Upon my return last night night, I rewired them in phase and put them into listening position. Stands are heavy, sand-filled metal (Target?), with the tweeters raised to proper ear level.At 86dB sensitivity was high as small loudspeakers go, largely because a 4 Ohm bass unit has been used and, below 500Hz, this is a 4 Ohm loudspeaker our impedance curve shows (5.7 Ohms overall). This curve also confirms excellent bass unit damping by absence of residual peaks either side of the anti-resonant port system. The load is largely resistive, another plus point, as energy is not returned to the amplifier.

That bullet was making me crazy... Ended up buying a pair within two weeks of this post if I'm not mistaken]And they have no trouble being pushed hard. Wharfedale recommend amplifiers of 25-100 watts. I cranked up the volume with 80 watts of Naim amplification and it was only at unsociably loud levels that they really started to show any strain. That’s undoubtedly a consequence of the quality of cabinet construction and drive units employed. Even pushed relatively hard they remain civilised. Highs are processed by a woven soft dome treble unit with high flux ferrite magnet, engineered for smooth, detailed HF extension. Drive units are combined by a near-audible crossover resulting in a coherent, seamless musical output that is both engaging and natural in its rendition of any source material. Denton 80 vs Denton 85 What you get with the new Denton is a decidedly retro looking loudspeaker boasting a beautifully veneered Mahogany cabinet, inset front baffle and traditional cloth grille. But beneath that 1960s fascia things inside are very different indeed. The original model’s paper cone mid/bass unit is replaced by Wharfedale’s own 21st century 125mm woven Kevlar driver while the tweeter is a bang-up-to-date 25mm textile soft dome. Beyond the conventional exterior, Denton 85th Anniversary fuses a mixture of traditional and latest advanced technology. The bass unit has an innovative woven Kevlar cone fixed on a rigid die-cast chassis and delivers a rich, detailed bass/midrange output with remarkable dynamic performance. Advanced Engineering

The original Denton hit the market in 1967 and became one of the then Yorkshire-based outfit’s biggest-selling models – bringing a taste of high fidelity to those who couldn’t afford Wharfedale’s more exotic (and expensive) speakers. I do have for longer time the Denton’s 80th Anv. speakers safely stored in a original box and decided to get them out since I am reconfiguring my second HiFi system. The Denton will have strong upper bass and a full bodied presentation, with smooth treble and plenty of mid-range detail. Bass looks controlled and should be of good quality. This is a very modern, well executed design. Only the cabinet is trad. NK They are also fairly forgiving on positioning and power levels. Positioned close to walls the small port size means there’s minimal boomy bass. But yes, they do sound better with a little free space around them.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?

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 has the same warmth and same quirk in sound improvements, as in that it performs a bit better with the grilles on. This is caused by the tweeter and woofer that are placed slightly in depth behind the edges of the cabinet. With the grilles kind of functioning as a corrector. Same as with the Lintons which are basically the giant version. 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? 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.

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Factor in the superb build quality and there’s no doubt Wharfedale has done a fine job of updating a classic from its illustrious It was a bit of fun but both PMCs and RS6s showed the Dentons a clean pair of heels. And the cat didn't like them either. Pros: great bass extension, full mids, perfect aesthetics (for my taste, with my gear, with my ear, etc).