Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #37 of 203 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.3/5) at $1,999 and is still sold new; the Infinity IL10 ranks #134 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Wharfedale Linton 85 is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. Very neutral frequency response and good bass extension. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.07 against 4.98 for the Infinity IL10. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 59Hz for the Infinity IL10. The tradeoff: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
The case for the Infinity IL10: Impressively flat for a budget bookshelf. The tradeoff: Resonances at 600 and 5kHz, which show up as distinct distortion spikes at 96dB SPL/1m in the same frequency regions.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Infinity IL10 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Infinity IL10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1999 per pair | $160 per pair used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #37 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #134 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 15.6”H x 8.5”W x 11.5”D (397.0 x 216.0 x 292.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 6.5” (165mm) woofer |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 4.98 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 7.34 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Wharfedale Linton 85 compares with other leading options:
- 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 October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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
Same family: the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.2/5), the Wharfedale Super Denton (smaller bookshelf, rated 4/5) and the Wharfedale Super Linton (larger bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4.4/5).
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 Philharmonic BMR (v1)
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2EX V2
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs MoFi SourcePoint 10
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Infinity IL10: $160 per pair used Discontinued eBay
Pros: Impressively flat for a budget bookshelf. Predicted in-room response is good aside from a bit of excess energy here and there. Distortion at 96dB SPL/1m stays low and controlled outside two narrow resonance-driven peaks. Measured bass extension of 59Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: Resonances at 600 and 5kHz, which show up as distinct distortion spikes at 96dB SPL/1m in the same frequency regions. Discontinued.
Full Infinity IL10 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.6”H x 8.5”W x 11.5”D (397.0 x 216.0 x 292.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (165mm) woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.98 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Infinity IL10 vs Dynaudio Special Forty
- Infinity IL10 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- Infinity IL10 vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
- Infinity IL10 vs KEF Q3 Meta
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- Infinity IL10 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
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- See all 15 comparisons