Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #26 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $1699.99; the ELAC VELA BS 403 ranks #29 and costs $2899, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Wharfedale Linton 85 gets right: Very neutral frequency response and good bass extension. The catch: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
What the ELAC VELA BS 403 offers: JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter pairs with a 6” aluminum/paper sandwich woofer for extended, well-controlled bass - Erin measured usable in-room extension to about 50 Hz. Watch for: Deliberate dip-and-peak voicing in the crossover region around 2 kHz reduces attack and clarity in the mids and highs - intentional per ELAC’s design, but not to Erin’s personal preference.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks higher for sound quality than the ELAC VELA BS 403 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | ELAC VELA BS 403 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1699.99 | $2,899 |
| Ranked | #26 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #29 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 22.2"H x 11.8"W x 13"D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 14-3/16"H x 7-1/2"W x 9-3/8"D |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.2 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 | JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter, 6" aluminum/paper sandwich cone woofer |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84.3dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs / 18.4 kg each | 15.7 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 41Hz - 50kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | up to 100W RMS |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.4kHz |
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- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Wharfedale Aura 2
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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Linton 85: $1699.99 Crutchfield
Pros: Very neutral frequency response and good bass extension.
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) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs / 18.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Discover Why I Can’t Stop Raving About the Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary Speaker
- 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
- Reddit Search for Wharfedale Linton 85 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Revel M126Be
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
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- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Wharfedale Super Linton
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs ELAC DB63
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
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- See all 18 comparisons
ELAC VELA BS 403: $2,899 Amazon
Pros: JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter pairs with a 6” aluminum/paper sandwich woofer for extended, well-controlled bass - Erin measured usable in-room extension to about 50 Hz, deeper than JBL’s competing L52 Classic despite lacking that speaker’s mild upper-bass bump. Compression stays within about 1 dB above 100 Hz up to 102 dB, on the better side of normal for a bookshelf this size, indicating good dynamic and transient capability. Wide, spacious soundstage radiation. Overall neutral voicing that Erin called “a really good speaker,” from the looks to the sound.
Cons: Deliberate dip-and-peak voicing in the crossover region around 2 kHz reduces attack and clarity in the mids and highs - intentional per ELAC’s design, but not to Erin’s personal preference. Lower measured sensitivity (84.3 dB) means it wants more amplifier power than average to reach the same levels. Multitone distortion roughly triples, from about 1% to 3%, between 88 dB and 96 dB output, so it’s happiest at moderate listening levels. A minor distortion bump shows up around 800 Hz in the data, though Erin didn’t hear it.
Full ELAC VELA BS 403 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz |
| Dimensions | 14-3/16"H x 7-1/2"W x 9-3/8"D |
| Drivers | JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter, 6" aluminum/paper sandwich cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 41Hz - 50kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | up to 100W RMS |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Selah Audio Purezza
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs ELAC DB63
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs JBL HDI-1600
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
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