Short answer: the Wharfedale Super Linton. It ranks #24 of 141 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.4/5) at $2,699 and is still sold new; the Focal Aria 906 ranks #102 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Wharfedale Super Linton is the more accurate choice. 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. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.09 against 4.64 for the Focal Aria 906. Watch for: 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 Focal Aria 906 is the deeper-bass choice. CEA2034 spinorama shows very flat bass response, with the reviewer rating overall performance “good.” Its bass reaches about 63Hz before falling 3dB, against 77Hz for the Wharfedale Super Linton. The tradeoff: 3dB dip around 2.8kHz.
Buy the Wharfedale Super Linton. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Focal Aria 906 is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Super Linton | Focal Aria 906 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,699.00 per pair | $2,199.00 per pair used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 141 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #102 of 141 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (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) | 15.4”H x 8.9”W x 11”D (390.0 x 225.0 x 280.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (4.8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 26mm tweeter + 165mm mid-woofer |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 43.7 lbs (19.8 kg) each | 39.9 lbs (18.1 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.09 | 4.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.94 | 7.00 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Wharfedale Super Linton compares with other leading options:
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Perlisten S4b
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs AsciLab C6B
- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Audio First Cadentia 3
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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 66 comparisons
Focal Aria 906: $2,199.00 per pair used Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Focal Aria Evo X N°1, ranked higher, estimated 3.5/5.
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows very flat bass response, with the reviewer rating overall performance “good.” Predicted in-room response is almost perfect prior to 1kHz. Horizontal dispersion of about ±60 degrees is good and stays even out to about -12dB before getting erratic. Woofer distortion is quite low at 86dB SPL/1m. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.5dB.
Cons: 3dB dip around 2.8kHz. Some resonance around 800Hz, small directivity error around 7kHz. A dip in the upper midrange also shows up in the predicted in-room response. Distortion becomes problematic at 96dB SPL/1m, with a notable peak around 1.3-1.5kHz alongside broader midrange elevation. Discontinued.
Full Focal Aria 906 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 8.9”W x 11”D (390.0 x 225.0 x 280.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 26mm tweeter + 165mm mid-woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.00 |
| Weight | 39.9 lbs (18.1 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons