Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the Super Linton speaker from Wharfedale

Wharfedale Super Linton either side of a desk in a modern living space
(Image credit: Wharfedale)

“Undeniably superb” is how we described Wharfedale’s 2019-released Linton speakers, so our in-house reviews team will have to search their lexicon for even stronger superlatives if the all-new Linton Super do indeed turn out to be even more, er, super.

These upgraded Lintons are the second Wharfedale Heritage-range designs to get the ‘Super’ status, following the Super Denton that debuted at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show back in February, and see the speakers get across-the-board upgrades to their cabinet, crossover and drive units.

You may expect any ‘Super’ variant to be supersized compared to the original offering, particularly if you’re a regular at McDonald's, and the Linton Super are indeed bigger than the Linton, albeit moderately so. While they sport the same look as the Linton (which were themselves based on the company’s 1970s Linton 3XP model), their cabinet is 4cm taller, meaning the internal cabinet volume (and the damping materials within it) has increased. In the name of reduced resonance, the construction has been enhanced by applying dual fibreboard layers coupled with damping glue, too.

The tweeter, midrange driver and woofer have all been revised. The Super Linton’s high-frequency unit inherits many design aspects of the higher-end Dovedale's tweeter. The 25mm dome is formed from a damping-coated fine fabric weave, while the revised short horn profile around it smoothens the response down to the upper-midrange region and a new front plate improves dispersion. The design also features a rear chamber that absorbs output from the rear and moves the unit’s resonant frequency below the crossover region.

Super Lintons on stands

(Image credit: Wharfedale)

Moving up to the midrange unit, the Linton’s 13.5cm Kevlar cone has been carried over to the Linton Super, although here it is housed in its own cylindrical chamber, where long-hair fibres have also been added to absorb the driver’s back wave energy.

Last but not least, the 20cm Kevlar-cone woofer is now facilitated by a more powerful motor system that deepens bass extension to 32Hz while offering better control.

Ensuring each of those improved drivers receives the right parts of the audio signal is an all-new crossover network, which Wharfedale has split onto two separate circuit boards to reduce electromagnetic interference from the bass crossover components affecting higher-frequency signals.

Available in walnut, mahogany and black oak finishes from mid-November, the Wharfedale Super Linton is an addition to the Heritage series, sitting above the current Linton (£1249 / $1799 with stands, £1099 / $1499 without) with an asking price of £1999 / $2499 / AU$5199 with the same stands as the Linton, or £1849 / $2299 / AU$4599 without stands. Will the Super Linton be another example of “the best of old hi-fi combined with the best of the new”? We hope to find out very soon.

MORE:

Read our five-star Wharfedale Linton review

Wharfedale Dovedale is the latest, biggest speaker to join the Heritage Series revival

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024: Epos crashes the speaker party as familiar favourites dominate

Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10+ years in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices. In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

  • UKAudiophile
    I've had my eye on the Lintons for little while now as they have a great sound, look great and have the bonus of added record storage (with the stands). And now we have a souped up version. I look forward to comparing them to see if the extra investment is worthwhile.
    Reply
  • Roadie3124
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    Wharfedale has improved its most popular speaker with drive units, crossover and cabinet upgrades.

    Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the Super Linton speaker from Wharfedale : Read more
    Exciting. And I like the clean simplicity of the furniture. I'm in my late 1970s and I've been a fan of Wharfedale since around the early 1970s. My hearing has been degenerating and I've decided to stay with my Wharfedale Diamond 240 speakers. I just have one comment about a throw-away line in the article. "You may expect any ‘Super’ variant to be supersized compared to the original offering, particularly if you’re a regular at McDonald's". Did you know that a current Big Mac is about half the size of a 1970s Big Mac? They shrunk.
    Reply
  • Rui
    i bought this speakers when released ,only because i never get bad with wharfedale , even their professional line in early 2000´s was a choice of mine for indoors concerts in new rooms at the time ,so i went for them but after i saw the ELAC you avaliate here ,i bought them as i have a better place to fit them wharfedale at home .

    For the room i have at my mothers house i went for the Elac´s which is a brand i know since the 70´s as my father had components from this brand and were quite special.

    They were good but it were not well positioned in my mothers home where i have to sleep now due to her age, which was my family house ,only filled with old furniture ,i prefered the elac on top of furniture ,who work perfect with a late 70´s hitachi power and pre amplifier,

    with my SL-1310 , technics turntable ,still using the original cartridge and stylus but have the 2mBlack from Ortofon on rotation, i can´t say which sounds better, but the speakers i found them very good as i am used too always be satisfied with wharfedale.

    I heard about the travel to china ,only can hope that doesn´t happen the same like when KEF and Celestion did it , both brands ruined models being sold with the two brands and a bad building quality, like the towers ,Concerto.

    About burgers i only in rare situtations, i eat there but it´s like ,doesn´t taste like cow or veal, my surprise when going to a burger king , it was fresh made, or at least looks like it, the slice of tomato and lettace seem cutted at the hour the mac one is already tasting like garbage,

    but it´s when i travel in work and inbetween meetings, i stop in one of those. Size?double or triple , half an hour later one feels hungry again , but nothing better like made at home , Angus beef , better
    Reply