Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85 if sound quality matters most, the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 if price matters most. The Wharfedale Linton 85 ranks #36 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.3/5, at $1,999. The Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 ranks #113, rated 3.8/5, at $468, $1,531 cheaper.
The Wharfedale Linton 85 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. The catch: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
What the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 does well: Compact two-way bookshelf speakers with a SEAS tweeter, a very flat midrange and smooth sound that suits most rooms. Watch for: A narrow dip in the on-axis and listening-window response appears in the 3-5kHz range (down to about -2.7dB), mirrored by a matching dip in the directivity index at the same frequencies: likely a brief widening of dispersion right at the tweeter/woofer crossover.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size.
Compact two-way bookshelf speakers with a SEAS tweeter, a very flat midrange and smooth sound that suits most rooms.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1999 per pair | $468 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #113 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 12H x 9W x 9.5D in |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter, 6.5” proprietary composite polygel cone woofer |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.8dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 6.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 8.66 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 200W continuous, 400W peak |
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