Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #33 of 141 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,999; the Buchardt S400 MK3 ranks #59, rated 4.0/5, and costs $2,300, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Wharfedale Linton 85 does well: Very neutral frequency response and good bass extension. Watch for: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
Why pick the Buchardt S400 MK3: A ground-up redesign of the S400 with an 18 percent larger cabinet and a 7.5” SB Acoustics Satori Papyrus paper cone woofer, which Buchardt says has 65.5 percent more displacement than the MKII’s 6” driver. The catch: No independent measurements have been published yet.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Buchardt S400 MK3 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Buchardt S400 MK3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1999 per pair | $2,300 per pair |
| Ranked | #33 of 141 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #59 of 141 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (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) | 15.4”H x 7.8”W x 11”D (392 x 198 x 280 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 1” aluminum dome tweeter in waveguide, 7.5” Satori Papyrus paper cone woofer |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87dB anechoic, 90dB in-room (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.2kHz (first order) |
| Frequency Response | - | 33Hz - 20kHz (in-room, manufacturer specified) |
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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
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- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Revel M126Be
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2EX V2
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- See all 68 comparisons
Buchardt S400 MK3: $2,300 per pair Estimated Buchardt Audio eBay
Older models: the Buchardt Audio S400 (ranked higher, rated 4.4/5) and the Buchardt S400 MKII (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: A ground-up redesign of the S400 with an 18 percent larger cabinet and a 7.5” SB Acoustics Satori Papyrus paper cone woofer, which Buchardt says has 65.5 percent more displacement than the MKII’s 6” driver. A custom 1” aluminum dome tweeter sits in a new waveguide, crossed at 2.2kHz with a first order Jantzen crossover. Buchardt rates in-room bass extension to 33Hz and anechoic sensitivity at 87dB, and includes foam port plugs to trim bass near a wall. Sold direct with free worldwide shipping, duties included, and a 10 year warranty for the first owner.
Cons: No independent measurements have been published yet. The S400 MKII measured very well, but the MK3 shares only its binding posts, so that result can’t be carried over and its linearity, directivity and real bass extension are unknown. The 33Hz figure is an in-room number, not an anechoic one. The MKII’s adjustable passive radiator is gone in favor of a rear port that wants at least 5cm from the wall. A 4 ohm load means it needs an amplifier comfortable driving 4 ohms, and it is sold only direct from Buchardt.
Full Buchardt S400 MK3 review and specifications →
| Crossover Frequency | 2.2kHz (first order) |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 7.8”W x 11”D (392 x 198 x 280 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter in waveguide, 7.5” Satori Papyrus paper cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 20kHz (in-room, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB anechoic, 90dB in-room (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs ELAC DBR62
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs Buchardt S400 MKII
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs Klipsch RP-600M II
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs Wharfedale Super Linton
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs KEF R3
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- See all 10 comparisons