Short answer: the AsciLab C6B. It ranks #6 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $1,145; the Wharfedale Linton 85 ranks #36, rated 4.3/5, and costs $1,699, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Wharfedale Linton 85: A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size. The tradeoff: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
The AsciLab C6B is the better-sounding option. Bookshelf speakers with very accurate sound and an unusually wide, stable soundstage, for any seating position. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off around 50Hz in-room (F3 54Hz, F10 35Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for real extension below that.
Buy the AsciLab C6B. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Wharfedale Linton 85 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the AsciLab C6B scores 8.3 against 7.9 for the Wharfedale Linton 85 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (35 Hz vs 35 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | AsciLab C6B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699.00 per pair | $1145 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #6 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 54Hz (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) | 15.7”H x 8”W x 10.4”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 264.2 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 2.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 6” Aluminium Ceramic Cone with cast Aluminium Chassis woofer, 1” Aluminium Ceramic Dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 6.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 8.28 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Wharfedale Linton 85: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- AsciLab C6B: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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