Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #36 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,999; the Perlisten A3m ranks #51, rated 4.2/5, and costs $3,000, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
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 4.30 for the Perlisten A3m. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 85.8Hz for the Perlisten A3m. The tradeoff: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
What the Perlisten A3m does well: A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater. The catch: The low-quality vendor Spinorama data measures only 85.8Hz at -3dB, 74.1Hz at -6dB, and 55.7Hz at -12dB, conflicting with Perlisten’s much deeper in-room extension claim.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Perlisten A3m and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size.
A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Perlisten A3m | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1999 per pair | $3,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #51 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 61Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.8Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 26.6 x 11.0 x 13.8 in each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal; 3 ohms minimum |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | Two 8-inch carbon-fiber woofers; 35mm Teteron dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87.4dB at 2.83V/1m |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 63.9 lbs (29 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 7.34 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | Sealed |
| Maximum SPL | - | 111.4dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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