Dynaudio Special 40's vs Wharfedale Super Lintons

Well, the Super Lintons have good crossovers, we can agree on that. Here was Danny's take on the Dynaudio Special 40 from three years ago. He wasn't impressed. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TxorWiy78w&t=210s

@mfm22 

I am using the Sugden a21se to drive both. For me, this is a great pairing for either speaker. I have the Bluesound Node X as my streamer. 

Buchardt? No, sorry.

In your price range-

NEW: The BMR Monitor (Price per Pair) STUNNING SOUND STAGE, clarity and dynamics.

Mofi Electronics - SourcePoint 8 Bookshelf Speakers (Walnut, Pair) **OPEN BOX** - Music Direct (warmth, dynamics, bass, imaging)

USED: Spendor Classic 3/1 For Sale - US Audio Mart  super sweet midrange and bass that can be used without subwoofer

The S40”s would be under $1800

Spendor Classic 3/1 look to be very nice fit but $$

even if used 

Any love for Buchardt S400 Mkll ??

I had spendor small standing S5e  nice but not the sound I was expecting 

@mfm22

at the retail price range of your choices I cannot recommend either speaker.

The Spendor A2 or A4 floor stander or Classic 3/1 used or 4/5 new will sound much more coherent with well defined sound stage, much more transparent and lively than the Wharfs or Dyns.

Spendor is a speaker maker that knows what they are doing and their speakers are the closest to perfection I have heard being nearly as dynamic as a horn speaker yet with the refinement of a good conventional design.

The Dynaudios are very good but not loveable.  The Lintons are some of the least coherent speakers I have ever heard and if you listen with your ears they are not recommended. 

Thanks for all the feedback  

Joebi what Amp etc. were you using ?

I had the S40s and the Lintons (not the new ones) side by side in my room, which is 14x15. The S40s were cleaner, tighter, and more detailed than the Lintons. That tweeter is really something else! However, the Lintons were fuller sounding, more immersive, and went deeper. I do not run a subwoofer, and I was always amazed by the bass that the S40s produced. When I got the Lintons, I realized there was some bass I was missing. The bass with the Wharfedale wasn’t as refined, but it was still very pleasing. Honestly, it depended on my mood that day as to which I preferred. I had the S40s for a few years before acquiring the Lintons (mostly out of curiosity), and that fuller sounding and deeper bass was enjoyable.

I hope this helps!

Question regarding the Contours 20  vs 20i  difference's ?

what is gained with 20's  from the S40's ?

The room is a challenge Low ceiling & the width bleeds out to the side [ opens to another 12ft ] 

Can't complain too much , it's a dedicated listening area .

I'll check out the Contours ... Looking for a speaker that fills in sonically where the BRX  & LRS+  May be missing .... Better low end [ clean not booming ] & mid lows.

BRX's are a good speaker and work well in that room 

The Special 40'S came up locally & are a good deal under 2k  

Stretch your budget or try to get the Wharfedale Elysian (2 or 4) used, instead of wharf super Linton or the Dynaudio....especially since you seem to be getting a pair of Exposure monos.

Elysian has the "high end" sound without the high end price. Hope that helps.

You will do better, imo, by considering a used pair of Contour 20s or 20i's...both superb and a step up over either Lintons or Special 40s. I own 20i's and cannot say enough good things about them.

Based on the size of your room (13’ x 14’ x 7’), the Linton might be a bit too large for your space. The Linton is known for its expansive soundstage. In a larger area like my living room (21’ x 23’ x 10’), it projects a huge soundstage that extends beyond the speakers (which are 11 feet apart). However, when I move it to my master bedroom (14’ x 20’ x 10’), it pressurizes the space too much, even at an average listening level of 65 dBA. It really needs room to breathe and expand the soundstage optimally.

What I like about the Linton is its immersive soundstage and nimble bass, but it needs ample room to perform at its best. Some people may say that placing larger speakers in a smaller space is fine as long as you turn down the volume—wrong. Most speakers, including the Linton, produce the widest and most detailed soundstage at moderate listening levels (typically around 60-75 dB). This level allows the drivers to fully engage and present spatial cues without overwhelming the room. If you turn down the volume, the soundstage shrinks. This is physics—there’s no way around it. You cannot EQ the soundstage.

Go with Special 40.  Its red birch finish is collectible.  Or take a look at Contour 20 right around the similar price and Stereophile endorses it too.

I seen both  of his reviews  many times lol  .  

I agree , he seems to really favor the Lintons & questions the 40's measurements .

He does state the 40's sound better  than  the measurements indicate .

I like both, and I think categorizing them into two different tiers is biased. Wharfedale’s low-end products, such as the Diamond 225, are also highly rated. At $350, the Diamond 225 is no slouch when compared to the Evoke 20 at $2,400. Your perception is boxed in by price—but price doesn’t play the music.

By the way, I think Erin likes the Linton much better… It might be due to his biases, both in the 'objective' and 'subjective' dimensions.

@ghdprentice + 1

and I should add, I have read/seen a lot of rave reviews about the Lintons. Some from very reliable sources like Erin's audio corner. The highs of the Special 40s will be top of the line, and mediocre from the Linton. They may have comparable bass. 

I think the two speaker companies are in different categories. Warfdale makes budget speakers with some directed towards the high end. Dynaudio is a high end speaker company making high end speakers of very high quality. 

I had the Lintons for a month and now I have Evoke 20s. I found the Lintons absolutely painful, disappointing, uninvolving, I would take a Dynaudio over them any day. 

I already have “power hungry “ speakers in the LRS+
that can be a negative as it really limits amps and that “never knowing “ feeling about the synergy 

I Have had my Dynaudio Contour 3.0's (rated at 200w) for over 20 years. Never have I had any problems with them. I also drive them with a 350 watt per side solid state amp. The Dynaudios love power, and its important to have more than the speakers are rated for. Clean high quality electronics are required for them to really shine ( and they will).

Matt M

I probably sound like a broken record, but I really like the Fritz Carbon 7's over the Dynaudios.