Video: Wharfedale Linton vs Super Linton
Client Name
Living Entertainment
Date
July 2025
Category
Video
Review by Nat Dobbie
We've been getting a ton of questions about the differences between two of our most popular speakers, the Wharfedale Linton and the Wharfedale Super Linton. Today I want to talk about some of the technical changes, but mostly I'm here to tell you what you're going to hear sonically.
Let’s talk about the Lintons.
They’ve been wildly popular, not just with our customers but also with reviewers. They're very highly regarded as big, warm, friendly speakers that offer exceptional value, not just in terms of sound quality, but also build quality.
This is a big speaker. You've got an 8-inch woofer and a generously sized cabinet, so it produces a big sound. It has a good amount of bottom end, but more importantly, it has a really nice, easygoing sound signature. You can pair them with a wide range of components, and they’ll sound good. Yes, higher-end gear gets you more, but even with modest equipment, you still get that lovely sonic signature from the Lintons.
They’re also very forgiving and versatile. Whether it’s CD players, turntables, or different room sizes, even challenging acoustic environments, they still perform well. They’re just friendly, easygoing speakers that work for a lot of people.
So, why would Wharfedale create the Super Linton?
Well, it was essentially to improve on the original, retaining that big, warm sound, but adding more pizzazz and musical engagement. Personally, I always wanted a bit more from the Lintons, longer decay on tailing notes, better musical separation, and that’s what the Super Linton delivers.
Design Differences
At a glance, both speakers look very similar. The Super Linton is slightly taller, and that’s for a technical reason. Both use the same midrange driver, but in the Super Linton it’s housed in its own enclosure, a cabinet within the cabinet. This takes up some internal volume, so to compensate, the outer cabinet had to be made slightly larger to maintain bass performance.
Tweeter Upgrade
This is where the biggest difference lies. The Super Linton features a completely redesigned tweeter, a fabric dome with a ceramic motor system. This results in much more transparency in the upper frequencies.
Bass Driver & Crossover
The bass driver in the Super Linton uses a stronger motor system for tighter, faster bass and slightly extended frequency response (32 Hz vs. 35 Hz in the original Linton). Additionally, the Super Linton uses a dual-board crossover design to reduce electromagnetic interference, whereas the standard Linton has everything on a single PCB.
Cabinet Construction
The Super Linton’s cabinet uses a sandwich design, two layers of MDF separated by a special glue, which helps reduce unwanted resonance and distortion.
In Summary
From the outside, you might think not much has changed, but inside, Wharfedale has made significant improvements. It’s not a completely different speaker, but rather a refined version of the original. Think of it like aging a good red wine, same notes, but richer and more nuanced.
Sound Quality Comparison
For testing, I used the Audio Lab 9000A and 9000N streamer. These work especially well with Wharfedale speakers, as they’re made by the same parent company (the IAG Group).
I chose three tracks to illustrate the sonic differences:
“Veto” by Sohn
This electronic track showed subtle but important differences. At first, the Lintons might seem to have more bass, but on closer listening, it’s just bloomier. The Super Lintons are tighter and faster, likely due to the improved bracing. Midrange detail, like the texture of snares, also came through more clearly on the Super Lintons. The Lintons smoothed things over, which may be better in problematic rooms.“Hideaway” by Jacob Collier
This track builds complexity over time. In the Super Lintons, details like reversed wood effects were clearer and more pronounced. As the song progressed and became denser, the Super Lintons maintained better separation between instruments. Vocals were more forward and well-defined, compared to the slightly recessed presentation in the Lintons.“I Will Remember” by Toto
This track really highlighted the differences. Neither speaker had perfect center imaging, but the Super Lintons performed better overall. The soundstage was taller and more three-dimensional. Vocals sat higher and were more detailed. Instruments, like tom drums and piano, had longer decay and more nuance in the Super Linton, while the Linton could come off as slightly aggressive or abrupt in comparison.
Final Thoughts
Across all genres, the Super Lintons are simply more engaging. If you're someone who likes to sit down and actively listen to music, you'll appreciate the added detail, separation, and musicality they offer. If you’re more of a casual listener who wants warm, friendly sound while going about your day, the original Lintons are still a fantastic choice.
But for those who want to be pulled into the music, who want to hear every nuance, the Super Linton is absolutely worth the upgrade. For me, it’s what the Linton always should have been.
