Wharfedale Super Linton Boast Upgraded Drivers & Crossover
Wharfedale's popular Linton loudspeakers receive the 'super' treatment with more volume and uprated components.
The Wharfedale Linton is claimed to be one of Britain's best-selling speakers between 1965 and the late 1970s. More recently, Wharfedale brought it back in 2019 as part of its Heritage line – lovingly re-engineered using the latest techniques and technologies. Today, the latest Lintons are the second Wharfedale Heritage-range designs to get the 'Super' status, following the Super Denton debuting at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show in February. This results in across-the-board upgrades to their cabinet, crossover and drive units.
The Super Linton slip above the current Linton and are moderately 'super-sized' in that they measure a whole 4cm taller than the current Heritage model, which itself is based on the Linton 3XP model from 1975. This translates to increased cabinet volume and dampening material. Further resonance control can be found in the cabinet's construction through its dual fibreboard layers and damping glue.
Moreover, all Super Linton's drivers have been revised. Firstly, the tweeter inherits many design aspects of the unit used in the higher-end Dovedale. The 25mm dome is formed from a damping-coated fine fabric weave, while the revised short horn profile around it is said to smoothen the transition to the upper-midrange region while 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.
Meanwhile, the standard Linton's 13.5cm Kevlar cone for the midband has been carried over to the Super Linton but is now housed in its own cylindrical chamber, where long-hair fibres have also been added with the aim of absorbing the driver's back wave energy.
A 20 cm Kevlar-cone woofer brings in the low end. It benefits from a more powerful motor system that deepens bass extension to 32Hz while offering better control.
These improved drivers are allocated their respective duties via an all-new crossover network. Here, Wharfedale has split the network over two separate circuit boards. This design is said to reduce electromagnetic interference from the bass crossover components affecting higher-frequency signals. The Linton and Super Linton crossovers are compared in the image below.
The Super Linton's claimed frequency response is 39Hz-20kHz, partnered with a listed sensitivity of 90dB. The nominal impedance is 6Ω (8Ω compatible).
From mid-November, the Super Linton will be available in walnut, mahogany, and black oak finishes. It is priced at $2,499 USD with the same stands as the Linton or $2,299 USD without stands.
Visit Wharefedale for more information
Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Hi-Fi
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