Полочная акустика — Wharfedale LINTON Heritage

The LINTON Heritage is a three-way vented-box standmount from Wharfedale that revives a name first used in 1965. The original Linton line continued in various versions until the end of the 1970s and was regarded as a serious hi-fi speaker that stayed relatively affordable. The modern model, introduced in 2019, keeps a clear family resemblance, including the three-way standmount layout that Wharfedale calls a rarity today, and wears hand-matched wood veneers in Walnut, Black Oak or Mahogany Red. UK pricing is GBP 1,099 per pair, or GBP 1,249 with stands, while the US price is USD 1,198 per pair and USD 1,498 including stands. The model remained in the range after the SUPER LINTON arrived in November 2024.

Key specs that matter

A 200 mm woofer with a black woven Kevlar cone works below 630 Hz, a 135 mm Kevlar midrange takes over up to 2.4 kHz, and a 25 mm soft dome tweeter handles the top. Frequency response is 40 Hz to 20 kHz within 3 dB, reaching 35 Hz at minus 6 dB. Sensitivity is 90 dB at 2.0 V and 1 m, and peak SPL is 110 dB. Nominal impedance is 6 ohm, dropping to a 3.5 ohm minimum. Cabinet volume is 57.6 litres. Height on the plinth is 565 mm, width 300 mm and depth 330 mm plus 30 mm at the rear connections, with a weight of 18.4 kg net or 20.5 kg in its carton.

Engineering and use context

The wide baffle is what allows a bass unit of this size, which Wharfedale describes as large by modern standards. Above it, the midrange sits in its own internal enclosure, separated from the air volume loaded by the woofer. The tweeter uses a high-flux ferrite magnet. Styling is deliberately vintage, but the maker states that the standard of finish on the veneered cabinet is contemporary. Optional matching stands, built from steel and wood, have a rigid metal frame intended to damp unwanted vibration and include space to store vinyl records. The speaker carries a three-year warranty from Wharfedale.

Pairing

Wharfedale recommends 25 to 200 W of amplifier power. Because impedance dips low, an amplifier stable into low loads is advisable. Its efficiency rating uses a drive voltage below the more common 2.83 V reference, which makes the figure look lower than it would under the 2.83 V convention used for the SUPER LINTON.

Alternatives

The Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is the upgraded version of this standmount with an enlarged cabinet and revised drive units.