Short answer: the Wharfedale Super Linton. It ranks #19 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2699; the Dynaudio Heritage Special ranks #23 and costs $7000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Wharfedale Super Linton side: 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. Set against that: Rolls off earlier than the original Linton (F3 77Hz versus the original’s 52Hz), a deliberate trade-off for the closer-wall-placement flexibility.
The case for the Dynaudio Heritage Special: One of the rare cases where the reviewer measured a speaker as flawed but still genuinely enjoyed listening to it. The tradeoff: At lower listening volumes, dynamic range and kick-drum punch fell short of higher-sensitivity speakers the reviewer has tested (JBL 4367, KEF Reference 1 Meta) - the sheer output ceiling is impressive.
Buy the Wharfedale Super Linton. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Heritage Special and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Super Linton | Dynaudio Heritage Special | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,699.00 | $7,000 |
| Ranked | #19 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 23.8"H x 11.8"W x 13"D (604.5 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 15.2"H x 8.2"W x 12.6"D (385 x 208 x 320 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 5.1 ohms minimum, ported mode (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 8"(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5"(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1" (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 18cm MSP cone woofer, 28mm Esotar 3 dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 43.7 lbs / 19.8 kg each | 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (24.25 lbs) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Discontinued | - | Yes (limited run of 2,500 pairs) |
| Country of Origin | - | Denmark |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 vs Revel M126Be
- Buchardt Audio E50 vs Arendal 1528 Monitor 8
- MoFi SourcePoint 10 vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- KEF R3 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
The Two Speakers In Full
Wharfedale Super Linton: $2,699.00 Amazon Crutchfield
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.
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) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 43.7 lbs / 19.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 Reasons Wharfedale Super Linton is the Hidden Gem of Audio Equipment
- 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
- Reddit Search for Wharfedale Super Linton Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs KEF R3
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Wharfedale Aura 2
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs KEF R3 Meta
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Revel M126Be
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs ELAC DBR62
Dynaudio Heritage Special: $7,000 Safe and Sound HQ
Pros: One of the rare cases where the reviewer measured a speaker as flawed but still genuinely enjoyed listening to it. A massive 4” voice coil on the midwoofer gives it exceptional output capability for a bookshelf speaker - averaged 100dB at 3.5 meters with no audible mechanical noise, port chuffing, or woofer bottoming even when deliberately pushed hard. Bass is very robust and doesn’t noticeably give up output as volume increases, staying solid at both low and high listening levels. Big, well-proportioned soundstage - wide without losing image focus. Limited run of 2,500 pairs with genuine collectible/heritage value; the tweeter (Esotar 3) and midwoofer both use premium Dynaudio-made drivers with an unusually wide, stout voice coil.
Cons: At lower listening volumes, dynamic range and kick-drum punch fell short of higher-sensitivity speakers the reviewer has tested (JBL 4367, KEF Reference 1 Meta) - the sheer output ceiling is impressive, but it isn’t a highly dynamic-sounding speaker at modest levels. A degree of “softness” in the upper mid-range. Selective sibilance in the 4-6kHz treble region that shows up on some tracks but not others, which the reviewer found mildly aggravating and would want to EQ down given the choice. Neither the tweeter nor the woofer is fully flush-mounted to the baffle, likely intentional as part of the heritage-styled look, but the reviewer wonders how much this affected linearity. At $7,000/pair MSRP (and a discontinued limited run, so used/open-box pricing around $5,000/pair is about the best you’ll do now), this is a serious investment for a bookshelf speaker.
Full Dynaudio Heritage Special review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country of Origin | Denmark |
| Dimensions | 15.2"H x 8.2"W x 12.6"D (385 x 208 x 320 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes (limited run of 2,500 pairs) |
| Drivers | 18cm MSP cone woofer, 28mm Esotar 3 dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 5.1 ohms minimum, ported mode (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (24.25 lbs) each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Arendal 1528 Monitor 8
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Revel M126Be
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs KEF R3
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Audio First Cadentia 3
- Dynaudio Heritage Special vs Perlisten S4b