Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #36 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.3/5); the Mission LX-3 MKII ranks #138 (rated 3.6/5).
The Wharfedale Linton 85 is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.07 against 4.17 for the Mission LX-3 MKII. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 67.4Hz for the Mission LX-3 MKII. Watch for: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
The case for the Mission LX-3 MKII: Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity. The tradeoff: On-axis smoothness of 0.217 and predicted in-room smoothness of 0.344 reveal clear response unevenness, with a -0.46dB-per-octave downward tilt.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Mission LX-3 MKII.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size.
Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Mission LX-3 MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1999 per pair | £249 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #138 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42.5Hz (derived from ASR on-axis curve, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67.4Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 13.6H x 8.9W x 12.1D in |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 1” microfiber-dome tweeter, 6.5” composite-fiber woofer |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88dB |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 4.17 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 6.42 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, bass-reflex |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (design) |
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