Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #36 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,699. The Polk R200 ranks #178, rated 3.2/5, at $799, $900 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
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 5.09 for the Polk R200. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 74Hz for the Polk R200. The catch: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
The case for the Polk R200: A Polk bookshelf speaker with a 6.5 inch woofer and a ring radiator tweeter, sized for a medium room. The catch: A resonance and associated distortion increase around 800Hz-1kHz creates a “tinny,” occasionally glaring quality on certain instruments and vocals, confirmed both by ear and in the frequency-response and distortion measurements.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $900 saving on the Polk R200 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Wharfedale Linton 85 reaches 35 Hz (10 dB down) against 50 Hz for the Polk R200, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Close enough not to matter: preference score with a subwoofer (7.9 vs 7.6).
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 PM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Polk R200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699.00 per pair | $799.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #178 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 74Hz (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) | 14.1”H x 7.5”W x 13.9”D (359.0 x 190.0 x 353.8 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 25mm soft dome + 165mm woofer |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 31.3 lbs (14.2 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 5.09 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 7.61 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Wharfedale Linton 85: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Polk R200: 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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