Short answer: the Wharfedale Super Denton, since the JBL Studio 530’s flat curve hides a resonance. The Studio 530’s CEA2034 spinorama is fairly flat, but a peak around 1.4kHz from a tweeter resonance shows as a harmonic-distortion spike there, with a second resonance-driven bump near 2kHz. The Super Denton is a compact three-way with a 2-inch dome midrange and 6.5-inch Kevlar woofer, though its 200-800Hz scoop softens aggressive material.
Buy the Wharfedale Super Denton. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Studio 530 is discontinued.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Super Denton | JBL Studio 530 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1499 per pair | $399 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #19 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #44 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” soft dome tweeter, 2” soft dome midrange, 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer | 5.25” (130mm) PolyPlas™ cone woofer with SFG magnet, 1” (25mm) compression driver with Teonex® diaphragm on Bi-Radial® horn |
| Sensitivity | 86.6dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | ~85dB (measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Dimensions | 14.2”H x 9.7”W x 10.8”D (360 x 246 x 275 mm) | 18.4”H x 8.4”W x 8.7”D (467 x 214 x 222 mm) |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (4 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified); -6dB to 40Hz | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 73.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Crossover Frequency | 940Hz, 4.6kHz | 1.5kHz |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.9 (Erin’s Audio Corner) | 5.21 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.29 (spinorama.org) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Super Denton: $1499 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: A 3-way design with a 1” soft dome tweeter, a 2” soft dome midrange offset to the side of a centered 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer: a more compact alternative to Wharfedale’s own Linton 85 with a similar overall character. Measured sensitivity around 86.6-87dB with on-axis linearity within about ±3dB. No cabinet or box resonances turned up in impedance testing, and there are no spike feet to install. Harmonic distortion looks good at both 86dB and 96dB, with about 20dB of usable dynamic range up to 96dB before compression starts to affect the midrange more noticeably near 102dB. Because bass rolls off starting around 60Hz, placing it closer to a wall (about 1-2 feet) than usual boosts low-end punch without the midbass bloat a deeper-extending speaker would get from the same placement. In the reviewer’s own comparison, its estimated in-room response actually measured more linear than the pricier Linton 85’s, despite being a bit less linear on-axis. Measured bass extension of 61Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.6dB.
Cons: A mid-range scoop from about 200-800Hz and a separate upper-midrange scoop were both audible in direct ABX comparison against a reference-neutral speaker, giving aggressive-sounding material a more subdued character. A resonance around 660-700Hz shows up in measurement, though the reviewer couldn’t reliably hear it with real music in his own blind-ish A/B testing. The offset tweeter-and-midrange layout makes horizontal off-axis response noticeably asymmetric (response drops as much as 8dB more to one side than the other at wider angles) so the reviewer recommends aiming the speakers directly at the listener (not toed out, which loses upper treble) and suggests sidewall absorption to control uneven reflections. Must be listened to with the grille on: measurements are noticeably worse with it off (wider 2-4kHz dip, extra treble bump). Horizontal soundstage width felt a bit narrower than the reviewer personally prefers, likely related to the same offset driver layout. Multitone distortion gets high in the midrange at 96dB/1m, a concern mainly in larger rooms where you’d need to play louder.
Full Wharfedale Super Denton review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 940Hz, 4.6kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.2”H x 9.7”W x 10.8”D (360 x 246 x 275 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” soft dome tweeter, 2” soft dome midrange, 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified); -6dB to 40Hz |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.6dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.9 (Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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JBL Studio 530: $399 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a fairly flat on-axis response. Predicted in-room response is very smooth aside from the high-frequency roll-off. Measured bass extension of 73.2Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: A peak around 1.4kHz is attributed to a tweeter resonance, and shows up as a distinct spike in harmonic distortion at that frequency along with a second resonance-driven bump around 2kHz. Response rolls off in the high frequencies and the tuning is a bit bass-shy overall. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows the same 1kHz-region resonances lingering in time. Discontinued.
Full JBL Studio 530 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 73.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.5kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 18.4”H x 8.4”W x 8.7”D (467 x 214 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” (130mm) PolyPlas™ cone woofer with SFG magnet, 1” (25mm) compression driver with Teonex® diaphragm on Bi-Radial® horn |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | ~85dB (measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.21 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.29 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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