Why? I got these speakers because I need something to listen to music with and to reference mixes. I'm coming from the studio monitor boat. Most monitors are pretty forward and cruel in the mid and high mids (designed for and great for mixing) but tiring after a while and mine are not very responsive at low level for bass. I've got to mix quiet sometimes, so it's handy to still be able to hear everything clearly and not have headphones on all the time. Plus good to hear the finished product in something your average music lover might pick up.
Running them off an old Technics SU-Z15 and they sound really sweet. Not bi-amped but nice to have the option The clarity and detail in the high end is impressive, but somehow (maybe the soft tweeter and baffling behind) they've managed to keep the extreme tops SO smooth. You get all that lush high end without your ears getting tired, it's really great, a pleasure to work with and to listen to most types of music on. Especially if you keep the covers off. They have that air to them which is really flattering to most kinds of music. Exceptions are anything specifically mixed for speakers tailored for decent bass response. Most stuff I listen to with these speakers sounds good. I wouldn't say the mids are cut, they are there and well balanced but they sit back so it's not like the vocals are down your ear. Horns sound amazing, it's kind of weird. Strings airy. Vocals present. Hip hop fat. Classical dynamic. Acoustic mellow. Very flattering speakers without that over the top Bose scoop. You'll hear a good version of what the artist/producer/mixer intended you to hear. Some stuff just sounds awesome on these, you'll listen to some songs and be blown away.
Best bit: These speakers deliver a pretty balanced sound whether you have them quiet or loud. Much more than other speakers I've used, probably due to light kevlar cone, doesn't take much energy to get it going and to get the low frequencies coming through. Was a bit concerned that they may have a little 80hz kick or something to give them the impression of low end, but they don't. They reproduce the sound they should for their size, nothing more, nothing less. Great pair of speakers for the money.
I have them on thin isolation pads sitting at ear height above my desk, tweeters pointing just around my ears. Stereo imaging is great. Not sure how they'd fill a big room but I can imagine they'd pack a bit of punch with a sub or something, I have them in quite a treated room and am sitting fairly close to them.
Good job Wharfedale! For £60 a speaker you can't go wrong. I think you'll like them even if you're used to higher end stuff, they're friendly. Right now listening to Deacon Blues by Steely Dan, the attack on everything is sweet, maybe a teeny tiny bit soft in the mids but it's fine, you can hear it and it sounds good. Very well packaged too. Good quality, in fact pretty perfect build quality. Again amazing for £120...!
| Brand | Wharfdale |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 27.8 x 19.4 x 29.6 cm; 10.5 Kilograms |
| Item model number | 9.1 |
| Manufacturer | Wharfdale |
| Color | Black |
| Wattage | 50 watts |
| Are Batteries Included | No |
| Item Weight | 10.5 kg |
