Short answer: the Polk Audio XT15 on value, the Wharfedale Super Denton on design. The XT15 ranks #29 of 92 bookshelf speakers at $179, is Hi-Res Audio Certified, Atmos and DTS:X compatible and works with 4- or 8-ohm outputs, but its bass rolls off earlier than most at 77.6Hz (-3dB) and 54.2Hz (-10dB). The Super Denton ranks #19 of 92 at $1,499, a compact three-way whose 200-800Hz scoop softens aggressive material.
Buy the Wharfedale Super Denton if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Polk Audio XT15 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Super Denton | Polk Audio XT15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1499 per pair | $179.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #19 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #29 of 92 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) each | 9 lbs (4.08 kg) 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 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.9 (Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4.56 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.31 |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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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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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
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- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
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Polk Audio XT15: $179.00 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video Crutchfield eBay
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. Off axis sound tracks the on axis response reasonably consistently for the price. Measured bass extension of 77.6Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass rolls off early, at 77.6Hz (-3dB) and 54.2Hz (-10dB). On-axis response is relatively uneven, with an average deviation of about 0.45dB, and its listening window is less smooth than pricier speakers. 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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.56 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.31 |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.08 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Neumi Silk 4
- Polk Audio XT15 vs KEF Q150
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Boston Acoustics A25
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Neumi BS5
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Polk Audio XT15 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- See all 42 comparisons