Short answer: the Wharfedale Super Denton. It ranks #28 of 160 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $1,499 and is still sold new; the Pioneer Elite SP-EBS73-LR ranks #152 (rated 1.6/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Wharfedale Super Denton is the more accurate pick. 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 the Wharfedale Linton 85 with a similar overall character. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.90 against 3.22 for the Pioneer Elite SP-EBS73-LR. Watch for: 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.
What the Pioneer Elite SP-EBS73-LR does well: Unique dual-driver design combines a front-facing 3-way speaker with an up-firing 2-way Dolby Atmos coaxial driver in one cabinet, designed by Andrew Jones. Watch for: A wide dip between 3-10kHz makes the front speaker sound “somewhat dull” without EQ, and impedance dips below 4 ohms demand a capable amplifier.
Buy the Wharfedale Super Denton. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Pioneer Elite SP-EBS73-LR is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Super Denton | Pioneer Elite SP-EBS73-LR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1499 per pair | $749 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #28 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #152 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” soft dome tweeter, 2” soft dome midrange, 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer | 5.25” aluminum-cone woofer, 2x 4” aluminum-cone midrange, 2x 1” silk dome tweeter (front 3-way + up-firing 2-way Atmos coaxial) |
| Sensitivity | 86.6dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Dimensions | 14.2”H x 9.7”W x 10.8”D (360 x 246 x 275 mm) | 15.7H x 7.4W x 9.7D in |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) each | 15.7 lbs (7.1 kg) each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | below 4 ohms minimum |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified); -6dB to 40Hz | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 64.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 45.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 940Hz, 4.6kHz | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.9 (Erin’s Audio Corner) | 3.22 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.53 |
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- KEF LS50 Meta vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Wharfedale Super Denton
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Super Denton: $1499 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.2/5), the Wharfedale Linton 85 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.3/5) and the Wharfedale Super Linton (larger bookshelf, rated 4.4/5).
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 the Wharfedale 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 Wharfedale 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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Pioneer Elite SP-EBS73-LR: $749 per pair Discontinued eBay
Same family: the Pioneer Elite SP-EC73 (center, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: Unique dual-driver design combines a front-facing 3-way speaker with an up-firing 2-way Dolby Atmos coaxial driver in one cabinet, designed by Andrew Jones. With corrective EQ applied, the reviewer found “substantially more brilliance and detail,” and the up-firing Atmos driver produced “remarkable” spatial effects from a single box. Measured bass extension of 64.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A wide dip between 3-10kHz makes the front speaker sound “somewhat dull” without EQ, and impedance dips below 4 ohms demand a capable amplifier. Distortion is elevated at the crossover points, around 180Hz and 2600Hz. Amir concluded: “The hole in frequency response and high distortion around the crossover point rule out this speaker for any kind of hifi use, certainly at these prices.” Long discontinued.
Full Pioneer Elite SP-EBS73-LR review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7H x 7.4W x 9.7D in |
| Drivers | 5.25” aluminum-cone woofer, 2x 4” aluminum-cone midrange, 2x 1” silk dome tweeter (front 3-way + up-firing 2-way Atmos coaxial) |
| Impedance | below 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.22 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.53 |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs (7.1 kg) each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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