Short answer: the Wharfedale Super Denton for better sound quality, the Polk Audio XT15 for the lower price. The Wharfedale Super Denton ranks #17 of 63 bookshelf speakers at $1499. The Polk Audio XT15 ranks #26 at $179, $1320 cheaper.
On the Wharfedale Super Denton side: 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. 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 Polk Audio XT15 gets right: Very low $179/pair entry price for a Hi-Res Audio Certified 2-way design that’s Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible, and works with either 4- or 8-ohm amplifier outputs so it drops into almost any AVR without matching concerns. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off earlier than most of this batch at 77.6Hz (-3dB) / 54.2Hz (-10dB).
Buy the Wharfedale Super Denton if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Polk Audio XT15 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Super Denton | Polk Audio XT15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1499 | $179 |
| Ranked | #17 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #26 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1" soft dome tweeter, 2" soft dome midrange, 6.5" woven Kevlar woofer | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 5.25" bi-laminate paper woofer |
| Sensitivity | 86.6dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (1W/1m) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | Ported |
| Dimensions | 14.2"H x 9.7"W x 10.8"D (360 x 246 x 275 mm) | 16.51 x 18.24cm (6.5 x 7.18 in), 4.08kg (9 lb) each |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs / 9.2 kg (20.2 lbs) each | 9 lbs / 4.08 kg (9 lb) each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified); -6dB to 40Hz | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 54.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Crossover Frequency | 940Hz, 4.6kHz | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Revel M105 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Dynaudio X14
- Revel M105 vs Polk Audio XT15
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Dynaudio X14
The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Super Denton: $1499 Crutchfield
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.
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 |
| 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) |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs / 9.2 kg (20.2 lbs) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Revel M105
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs KEF Q150
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Dayton Audio OPAL1
- See all 17 comparisons
Polk Audio XT15: $179 Amazon Bhphotovideo Crutchfield
Pros: Very low $179/pair entry price for a Hi-Res Audio Certified 2-way design that’s Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible, and works with either 4- or 8-ohm amplifier outputs so it drops into almost any AVR without matching concerns. Directivity spread is reasonably even for the price (directivity_spdi_stddev 3.60).
Cons: Bass rolls off earlier than most of this batch at 77.6Hz (-3dB) / 54.2Hz (-10dB). On-axis deviation is the roughest measured figure here (aad_on_axis 0.449), and listening-window smoothness (0.303) trails the pricier options in this group. Modest 86dB sensitivity wants a reasonably powered amp channel. The 5.25” bi-laminate paper woofer is Polk’s entry-tier driver, not the polypropylene/Turbine cones used in its pricier Signature Elite/Reserve lines.
Full Polk Audio XT15 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 16.51 x 18.24cm (6.5 x 7.18 in), 4.08kg (9 lb) each |
| Drivers | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 5.25" bi-laminate paper woofer |
| Impedance | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (1W/1m) |
| Weight | 9 lbs / 4.08 kg (9 lb) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Neumi Silk 4
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Polk Audio XT15 vs KEF Q150
- Polk Audio XT15 vs JBL Studio 530
- Polk Audio XT15 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
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