Short answer: the March Audio Sointuva AWG for better sound quality, the Wharfedale Linton 85 for the lower price. The March Audio Sointuva AWG ranks #5 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.7/5, at $4,150. The Wharfedale Linton 85 ranks #36, rated 4.3/5, at $1,699, $2,451 cheaper.
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 March Audio Sointuva AWG is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. A Purifi powered bookshelf speaker with extremely flat sound, very low distortion, and unusually deep bass for its size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.95 against 6.07 for the Wharfedale Linton 85. Its bass reaches about 40Hz before falling 3dB, against 52Hz for the Wharfedale Linton 85. Watch for: Correct listening axis sits about 7° above the tweeter line, which means shorter stands (around 24”) than typical bookshelf stands are sold at: get the height wrong and the sound scoops out in the mid/high frequencies.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the March Audio Sointuva AWG when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the March Audio Sointuva AWG reaches 30 Hz (10 dB down) against 35 Hz for the Wharfedale Linton 85, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the March Audio Sointuva AWG scores 8.4 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.
- Efficiency: the Wharfedale Linton 85 is rated at 85.1 dB sensitivity against 82.4 dB for the March Audio Sointuva AWG, so it plays as loud with roughly two thirds of the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | March Audio Sointuva AWG | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699.00 per pair | $4150 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #5 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (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) | 17.7”H x 9.4”W x 8.7”D (449.6 x 238.8 x 221 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” Purifi PTT-OEM Midwoofer, Satori TW29BNWG-4 Beryllium Dome Tweeter with Waveguide |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 6.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 8.45 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Wharfedale Linton 85: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- March Audio Sointuva AWG: 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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