Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #32 of 134 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,999; the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX ranks #55, rated 4.1/5, and costs $2,200, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Wharfedale Linton 85: Very neutral frequency response and good bass extension. Watch for: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
The case for the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX: A THX-certified two-way with twin 6.5-inch woofers around a waveguided 28mm tweeter, and port plugs that let you run it sealed, with one vent or two to suit the room. The catch: In the configuration measured, the bass response starts to fall early, about 77Hz at -3dB, though it keeps going to about 50Hz at -6dB and 33Hz at -10dB, so it benefits from a subwoofer or placement near a wall.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1999 per pair | $2,200 per pair |
| Ranked | #32 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #55 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 76.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 22.4”H x 9.6”W x 12.6”D (569 x 245 x 320 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88.7dB (manufacturer specified, 2.83V/1m) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 41.2 lbs (18.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | sealed or ported (port plugs included) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 7.08 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Certification | - | THX Ultra |
| Frequency Response | - | 46Hz-20kHz ±3dB with two vents, 66Hz sealed (manufacturer specified) |
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- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Perlisten S4b
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs AsciLab C6B
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Linton 85: $1999 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Very neutral frequency response and good bass extension. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.1dB.
Cons: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good
Full Wharfedale Linton 85 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Discover Why I Can’t Stop Raving About the Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary Speaker More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Wharfedale Linton 85 Review
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top 5 Speakers at Any Price
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Upgrade Your Sound with These 6 Surprisingly Affordable Speakers!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Personal Favorite Speakers Under $2500
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Erin’s Audio Corner: KLH Model 5 or Wharfedale Linton? Linton for me. But you may disagree. Here is why.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra-LX
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Revel M126Be
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2EX V2
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs MoFi SourcePoint 10
- See all 67 comparisons
Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX: $2,200 per pair Arendal Sound eBay
Pros: A THX-certified two-way with twin 6.5-inch woofers around a waveguided 28mm tweeter, and port plugs that let you run it sealed, with one vent or two to suit the room. Erin’s Audio Corner measured a listening window within a 2.4dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz, a smooth listening window (0.77) and predicted in-room response (0.71), and a preference score of 5.07 that rises to 7.08 with an ideal subwoofer. Sensitivity is a healthy 88.7dB. Measured bass extension of 76.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: In the configuration measured, the bass response starts to fall early, about 77Hz at -3dB, though it keeps going to about 50Hz at -6dB and 33Hz at -10dB, so it benefits from a subwoofer or placement near a wall. It is large and heavy for a stand-mount at 56.9cm tall and 18.7kg, presents a 4-ohm load, and is sold direct by Arendal.
Full Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Certification | THX Ultra |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 22.4”H x 9.6”W x 12.6”D (569 x 245 x 320 mm) |
| Drivers | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz-20kHz ±3dB with two vents, 66Hz sealed (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 88.7dB (manufacturer specified, 2.83V/1m) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.08 |
| Weight | 41.2 lbs (18.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed or ported (port plugs included) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons