Mather
Unknown Member
Book it.
Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary Review
- Thread starter HiFi Guy
- Start date
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
More first impressions of the Wharfedale Lintons:
They sound warm and rich as everyone as stated already, and they have a natural relaxed tonal balance to them which I like but what they lack, at least to my ears, is some dynamics. Maybe this will improve over time as they continue to burn in
As previously mentioned, the bass on these bad boys is deep and well defined for standmount speakers
Every recording I've played so far including those of my old CDs
sound surprisingly large and expansive.
The speakers perform at their best when the volume is higher. They don’t sound harsh or fatiguing after hours of music playback
They sound warm and rich as everyone as stated already, and they have a natural relaxed tonal balance to them which I like but what they lack, at least to my ears, is some dynamics. Maybe this will improve over time as they continue to burn in
As previously mentioned, the bass on these bad boys is deep and well defined for standmount speakers
Every recording I've played so far including those of my old CDs
sound surprisingly large and expansive. The speakers perform at their best when the volume is higher. They don’t sound harsh or fatiguing after hours of music playback
Ghost
Original Resident Ghost
The dynamics improve quite a lot I’ve found. Got my pair about 6 months ago and the first month or so I was a bit underwhelmed but as of late I’ve been pretty stoked every time I’ve sat in front of them. I swear it feels like someone keeps upgrading my set up but I’m like “I didn’t get any new components?”More first impressions of the Wharfedale Lintons:
They sound warm and rich as everyone as stated already, and they have a natural relaxed tonal balance to them which I like but what they lack, at least to my ears, is some dynamics. Maybe this will improve over time as they continue to burn in
As previously mentioned, the bass on these bad boys is deep and well defined for standmount speakers
Every recording I've played so far including those of my old CDs
The speakers perform at their best when the volume is higher. They don’t sound harsh or fatiguing after hours of music playback
Last night I was listening to Tame Impala’s Lonerism album and I was pretty impressed by how it handled Gotta Be Above it which is a great song but on normal speakers sounds a bit claustrophobic and noisy. The Lintons ROCKED that song across all of its dynamic swings from whispered vocals to huge wall of sound guitar chords.
Where I continue to find the Lintons lacking is in their upper resolution. I find there to be some bite missing from the highs but could just be my set up, the Ultradeck I just bought will hopefully shed more light on it
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Glad to hear it's not just my ears. I will spend more time with my new pieces of gear to better appreciate them!The dynamics improve quite a lot I’ve found. Got my pair about 6 months ago and the first month or so I was a bit underwhelmed but as of late I’ve been pretty stoked every time I’ve sat in front of them. I swear it feels like someone keeps upgrading my set up but I’m like “I didn’t get any new components?”
Last night I was listening to Tame Impala’s Lonerism album and I was pretty impressed by how it handled Gotta Be Above it which is a great song but on normal speakers sounds a bit claustrophobic and noisy. The Lintons ROCKED that song across all of its dynamic swings from whispered vocals to huge wall of sound guitar chords.
Where I continue to find the Lintons lacking is in their upper resolution. I find there to be some bite missing from the highs but could just be my set up, the Ultradeck I just bought will hopefully shed more light on it
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
More first impressions of the Wharfedale Lintons:
They sound warm and rich as everyone as stated already, and they have a natural relaxed tonal balance to them which I like but what they lack, at least to my ears, is some dynamics. Maybe this will improve over time as they continue to burn in
As previously mentioned, the bass on these bad boys is deep and well defined for standmount speakers
Every recording I've played so far including those of my old CDs
The speakers perform at their best when the volume is higher. They don’t sound harsh or fatiguing after hours of music playback
Yeah I definitely found them a bit mannered to begin with. There was a definite restraint to the presentation. That went for me after about 200 hours. I found the bass was always a presence but that it was a bit woolly to begin with. That went at similar stage.
Play with distance from the wall/toe in and actually even which speaker you use as right and left. I know the boxes have labels but I emailed them about that after seeing some conflicting opinions online and their response was that it isn’t a rule, because the tweeters are offset different rotations will suit different spaces and gaps between the speakers. I found that logos outside, the opposite to the on box designation,
suited my space better.
There will always be a degree of roll off on the highs, that’s part of the sound signature they were aiming for, so they’ll never be bright. I like that choice, it means they’re never fatiguing, that they mask flaws in some more average pressings and it allows me to use a very detailed, neutral cartridge with shibata stylus and it lets the strengths of it shine without the detail making anything average sound terrible.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
200 hours of burn in!? I thought 100 hours would suffice
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
200 hours of burn in!? I thought 100 hours would suffice
They do change and get better throughout the 200hours but that was when the settled to where I feel they’ve stayed since. That said I’ve loved them more with ever better piece of gear I’ve thrown at them which is a good sign. Upgrade the amp to the PrimaLuna and they sound better. Upgrade the cart to the Hana and they sound better again!
They’re definite keepers for me unless someone randomly decides to give me the €8k for the Tannoy dream
+1 on what Ghost said. I initially was underwhelmed but after putting 100+ hrs they started to liven up. I also find some pressings to just not be that great impact the overall listening experience.
Personally curious how much a new phono might affect things.
I’d imagine as your gear breaks in more you’ll hear the difference.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
I’ve often felt that a phono stage is a really huge piece of the chain that unfairly gets overlooked and is a key upgrade. It’s doing a lot of heavy lifting adding the curve whilst adding enough gain to a 4mV (or even a .4mV on a LOMC like I’m using) cartridge output to let an amplifier use it. In my experience it made a huge difference to my sound. It’s also likely going to be my next upgrade to the system!
LiamGallaghersBucketHat
Go on, geezer.
Curious what phono are you considering?
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
I want tubes next. I’m looking at the Decware phono stage (but I’d need a step up transformer for LOMC) or the Manley Chinook but I’ve got to say that my curiosity has been really piqued by the MP8 tube based phono that Darlington are looking to develop. Although it would also need a step up transformer for LOMC I could stagger the purchase and use MI in the meantime. If that’s out when I’m pulling the trigger it could well be the way I go!
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Hollywood
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say I'm underwhelmed by them but I'm definitely not blown away
MikeH
Well-Known Member
Mine have started opening up even more as well. Get listening so you can hit the 200 hour mark!I wouldn't say I'm underwhelmed by them but I'm definitely not blown away
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Covid WFH definitely sped the 200hours up. I think I had it done in under 2 months
I’m going to miss my music when they drag me back to the office kicking and screaming at the end of march
MikeH
Well-Known Member
I don't think I'm at 200 hours yet since my main setup is in my living room and my dentons are in my office, but I'm probably at least at 100 and I got them end of october.Covid WFH definitely sped the 200hours up. I think I had it done in under 2 months
I’m going to miss my music when they drag me back to the office kicking a screaming at the end of march
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Yeah because of the whole situation of:
- a 2 bed apartment;
- not wanting to invest in turning bedroom 2 into an office with sofa bed not knowing the likelihood of WFH after Covid; and
- living on my own
LiamGallaghersBucketHat
Go on, geezer.
I wouldn't say I'm underwhelmed by them but I'm definitely not blown away
Give your ears some time to adjust.
Mather
Unknown Member
You're also coming from the Revels which have a COMPLETELY different sound than the Lintons.I wouldn't say I'm underwhelmed by them but I'm definitely not blown away
