Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #36 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,999; the Philharmonic BMR Monitor ranks #134, rated 3.6/5, and costs $2,200, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Wharfedale Linton 85 is the better-sounding option. A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size. Watch for: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
What the Philharmonic BMR Monitor does well: Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage. The tradeoff: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Philharmonic BMR Monitor and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one 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.
Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Philharmonic BMR Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1999 per pair | $2200 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #134 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (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) | 20”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 6” Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5” midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 6.02 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 7.67 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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