Short answer: the Paradigm Monitor SE Atom for EQ-friendly directivity, the Wharfedale Super Denton for a three-way layout. The Atom’s on-axis, listening-window and off-axis curves stay consistent, making it easier to equalize and less room-dependent, but its on-axis response has a 2-4kHz dip, a peak and a 15kHz resonance that sound bright. The Super Denton is a compact 3-way, though scoops from about 200-800Hz soften aggressive material.
Buy the Wharfedale Super Denton if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Paradigm Monitor SE Atom if the price matters more than sound quality.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Super Denton | Paradigm Monitor SE Atom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1499 per pair | $399.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #19 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #50 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” soft dome tweeter, 2” soft dome midrange, 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer | 1” X-PAL aluminum dome tweeter (ferrofluid, PPA lens), 5.5” mineral-filled polypropylene mid/bass |
| Sensitivity | 86.6dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Dimensions | 14.2”H x 9.7”W x 10.8”D (360 x 246 x 275 mm) | 12.75H x 7.125W x 11D in |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) each | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified); -6dB to 40Hz | 61Hz - 21kHz +/-3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 58.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 49.8Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Crossover Frequency | 940Hz, 4.6kHz | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.9 (Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4.13 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 15-100W recommended |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.50 |
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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 |
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Paradigm Monitor SE Atom: $399.98 per pair Paradigm eBay
Pros: Good, consistent directivity across the on-axis, listening-window, and off-axis curves makes the Atom easier to equalize and less room-dependent than many budget speakers. Bass tuning is well judged, letting the woofer play loud on demanding tracks without bottoming out even without a subwoofer. Paradigm’s NRC research pedigree shows in the horizontal and vertical dispersion measurements. Measured bass extension of 58.6Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: On-axis response is uneven out of the box, with a 2-4kHz dip followed by a peak and a resonance around 15kHz that the reviewer said gives it a bright, “showroom” voicing without EQ correction. There’s no meaningful bass extension for full-range use, so a subwoofer is effectively required for anything beyond desktop or near-field listening.
Full Paradigm Monitor SE Atom review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49.8Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12.75H x 7.125W x 11D in |
| Drivers | 1” X-PAL aluminum dome tweeter (ferrofluid, PPA lens), 5.5” mineral-filled polypropylene mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 61Hz - 21kHz +/-3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 15-100W recommended |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.13 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.50 |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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