Short answer: the Wharfedale Super Linton. It ranks #24 of 131 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $2,699. The Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX ranks #48, rated 4.2/5, at $2,400, $299 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Wharfedale Super Linton does well: Three-way design with a 1” soft dome tweeter, 5” woven Kevlar mid-range, and 8” woven Kevlar woofer in a dual rear-ported, heavily damped MDF/particle-board cabinet. The tradeoff: Rolls off earlier than the original Linton (F3 77Hz versus the original’s 52Hz), a deliberate trade-off for the closer-wall-placement flexibility.
What the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX does well: Independent ASR Klippel data shows a narrow 1.8dB reference band, 0.391 listening-window smoothness, and useful bass extension to 48.3Hz at -6dB. Watch for: The measured on-axis average absolute deviation is 0.979dB and the sound-power directivity-index standard deviation is 3.63, so its response and dispersion are less even than the best alternatives.
Buy the Wharfedale Super Linton. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $299 with the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Super Linton | Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,699.00 per pair | $2,400 per pair |
| Ranked | #24 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #48 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 37Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 23.8”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (604.5 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 15.7”H x 10.8”W x 25”D (400 x 275 x 635 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | Two 8-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 89dB (manufacturer specified, 2.83V/1m) |
| Weight | 43.7 lbs (19.8 kg) each | 58.9 lbs (26.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.09 | 5.16 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.94 | 7.30 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Certification | - | THX Ultra |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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 Linton: $2,699.00 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Three-way design with a 1” soft dome tweeter, 5” woven Kevlar mid-range, and 8” woven Kevlar woofer in a dual rear-ported, heavily damped MDF/particle-board cabinet. Comes as a genuinely matched pair (measured within about 1dB of each other) and includes custom matching stands. A major dynamic-range improvement over the original Heritage Linton - kick drums retain their impact from low to high volume instead of compressing, the standout objective improvement in this update. Fixes the original Linton’s main flaw: a 1-3kHz scoop that made it sound a bit soft and subdued is filled in here, giving noticeably more attack and dynamic punch. About 3dB more sensitivity than the original Linton (measured ~88.2dB), meaning roughly half the amplifier power for the same output. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70°, right in the reviewer’s preferred range for an enveloping soundstage. Lower midrange distortion than the original Linton. Bass-shelf tuning intentionally allows closer-to-wall placement (about 1 foot worked well) without excess boominess, more flexible than the original Linton in that regard. Measured bass extension of 77Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88.2dB.
Cons: Rolls off earlier than the original Linton (F3 77Hz versus the original’s 52Hz), a deliberate trade-off for the closer-wall-placement flexibility. On-axis, there’s a mild treble lift around 4-6kHz that can sound a touch sibilant, though the reviewer found it not very noteworthy in practice. Diffraction shows up around 1.5-2kHz on-axis; needs about 10° of toe-out to smooth this out, though going further to 30° starts to lose some top-end air. Distortion peaks slightly higher than the original Linton in the 50-70Hz region. Minimum impedance dips to about 3 ohms around 150Hz, so a 4-ohm-stable amplifier is recommended for best results. Vertical dispersion of about ±20° means multi-row home theater seating outside that window will hear reduced top-end. Asymmetrical design requires attention to setup (tweeters need to face outward) for the most linear in-room response. A costly upgrade for existing Linton owners if the original’s specific flaws didn’t bother them.
Full Wharfedale Super Linton review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 23.8”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (604.5 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.09 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.94 |
| Weight | 43.7 lbs (19.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 Reasons Wharfedale Super Linton is the Hidden Gem of Audio Equipment More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Wharfedale Super Linton Review
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Upgrade Your Sound with These 6 Surprisingly Affordable Speakers!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Absolute Favorite Products of 2024 Revealed
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Perlisten R4b
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs AsciLab F6Bs
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- See all 62 comparisons
Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX: $2,400 per pair Arendal Sound eBay
Pros: Independent ASR Klippel data shows a narrow 1.8dB reference band, 0.391 listening-window smoothness, and useful bass extension to 48.3Hz at -6dB. Its preference score rises from 5.16 to 7.30 with a subwoofer. Dual 8-inch woofers, a waveguided tweeter, robust HDF construction, and THX Ultra certification suit high-output rooms. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The measured on-axis average absolute deviation is 0.979dB and the sound-power directivity-index standard deviation is 3.63, so its response and dispersion are less even than the best alternatives. Bass reaches only 63Hz at -3dB despite the very large cabinet, and the 1.239 low-frequency Q indicates a pronounced alignment. At roughly 60 lb each, these require substantial stands and space.
Full Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 37Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Certification | THX Ultra |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7”H x 10.8”W x 25”D (400 x 275 x 635 mm) |
| Drivers | Two 8-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (manufacturer specified, 2.83V/1m) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.16 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.30 |
| Weight | 58.9 lbs (26.7 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons