Wharfedale

Yorkshire speakers since 1932 — Gilbert Briggs knew what he was doing

History

Wharfedale was founded in Yorkshire, England in 1932 by Gilbert Briggs in the valley of the River Wharfe—hence the name "Wharfedale." It is one of the oldest loudspeaker manufacturers in the world, with a history spanning over 90 years. Gilbert Briggs was a former headmaster and amateur musician who began building speakers in his home. His first commercial product was the W1 (1932), a two-way speaker that established Wharfedale's reputation for quality and value. The 1950s saw Wharfedale pioneer numerous technologies including the Sandwich Cone woofer (1958), which used a bonded aluminum/polystyrene/aluminum structure for rigidity without mass. Briggs also wrote influential books on loudspeaker design. The Denton (1967) and Linton (1960s) became Wharfedale's most famous models—compact two-way speakers that brought British quality to the mass market. These models have been reissued in recent years, testament to their enduring design. The Diamond series, introduced in the 1980s, revolutionized affordable hi-fi. The original Diamond (1981) and subsequent Diamond 2, 3, etc., offered remarkable performance for their low prices, becoming the best-selling budget speakers in history. Today, Wharfedale continues as part of the International Audio Group (also including Quad, Leak, and Audiolab), maintaining its British heritage while manufacturing in China.

Key Facts

Fact	Detail
Founded	1932, Yorkshire, England
Founder	Gilbert Briggs
Name Origin	River Wharfe valley
First Product	W1 (1932)
Famous Series	Denton, Linton, Diamond
Current Status	Part of International Audio Group

Legendary Products

Wharfedale Denton (1967)

A compact two-way speaker that became an instant classic. The Denton used an 8" woofer and dome tweeter in a small cabinet, offering remarkable performance for its size and price. Reissued in 2012 and 2017.

Wharfedale Linton (1960s-1970s)

A larger stand-mount speaker that brought Wharfedale quality to more serious listeners. The Linton offered fuller bass and higher output than the Denton while maintaining the same musical values.

Wharfedale Diamond (1981)

The speaker that revolutionized budget hi-fi. The original Diamond offered performance rivaling speakers costing ten times as much. It won awards worldwide and established Wharfedale as a leader in affordable quality.

Wharfedale W1/W2 (1930s)

The speakers that started it all. Gilbert Briggs' early designs established Wharfedale's reputation for quality and musicality that continues today.

Sound Signature

Wharfedale speakers have a warm, musical character that has defined British affordable hi-fi for over 90 years. The house sound is engaging and forgiving — there is a fullness in the bass and a smoothness in the treble that makes everything from rock to classical enjoyable without demanding perfectly recorded source material. Gilbert Briggs understood that most people listen to music for pleasure, not analysis, and that philosophy permeates every Wharfedale design.

The Sandwich Cone technology that Briggs pioneered in the 1950s — bonding aluminum skins to a polystyrene core — created a woofer that was simultaneously rigid and well-damped, producing bass with real definition and control. This engineering innovation gave Wharfedale speakers a technical foundation that elevated them above mere "budget" status. The Denton and Linton models deliver a coherent, balanced presentation where the music comes first and the speaker stays out of the way.

Collecting Wharfedale

The Denton is the quintessential Wharfedale — a compact speaker that has been reissued multiple times because the original design was so good. Vintage Dentons from the late 1960s and 1970s, with their warm walnut cabinets and musical character, are sought after by collectors who want a beautifully voiced speaker that looks as good as it sounds. The Linton offers a larger alternative with fuller bass and greater scale, and the Linton 3XP version is a particular favorite.

The original Diamond (1981) deserves special attention as the speaker that revolutionized budget hi-fi — it proved that genuinely good sound could be had for very little money, and it changed the market forever. Pre-1960s models from the Gilbert Briggs era, including the W1 and W2, are rare and historically significant. The Sandwich Cone woofer models from the 1950s and 1960s are collectible in their own right for their innovative driver technology. Wharfedale's long history and wide product range make it possible to build an interesting collection at almost any budget level.

Competitors & Comparisons

Wharfedale vs KEF: Similar market; different design approaches Wharfedale vs Celestion: Both British heritage; different focuses Wharfedale vs Modern budget: Wharfedale established the category

Models

Speakers

Wharfedale - British Hi-Fi Pioneer — Founded by Gilbert Briggs in 1932 in Yorkshire. One of the world's oldest speaker manufacturers. Famous for the Denton, Linton, and Diamond series. British hi-fi heritage.

Speakers

AIREDALE (1954) — The Wharfedale AIREDALE is a classic British loudspeaker from the 1950s, renowned for its warm tonal balance and pioneering design in high-fidelity audio reproduction.
CHEVIN (1978) — A rare and enigmatic Wharfedale system from the late 1970s, the CHEVIN remains a curious artifact of British audio innovation.
DENTON-1 (1988) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the late 1980s, the Wharfedale DENTON-1 delivers warm, natural sound with elegant wood finishes and enduring build quality.
DENTON-2 (1998) — A refined British bookshelf speaker blending classic design with modern performance, the Wharfedale DENTON-2 delivers warm, detailed sound with hand-crafted cabinet construction.
DENTON-3 (1994) — A refined stand-mount loudspeaker from Wharfedale's classic Denton series, combining vintage British voicing with modern build quality.
DOVEDALE (1954) — A legendary British loudspeaker from the 1950s, the Wharfedale DOVEDALE is revered for its warm, natural sound and pioneering design in high-fidelity audio reproduction.
DOVEDALE-3 (1955) — A rare and iconic British open-baffle loudspeaker system from the golden age of hi-fi.
E20 (2012) — A compact bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's E Series, combining modern design with refined acoustic engineering for accurate, engaging sound.
E30 (1982) — A compact bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's E-Series, known for warm. British voicing and solid build quality.
E50 (2013) — A compact bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's E Series, combining modern clarity with warm tonal balance and Kevlar driver technology.
E70 (1972) — A classic British open-baffle loudspeaker system known for its spacious sound and elegant design.
E90 (1981) — A compact, high-fidelity bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's respected E-Series, known for balanced sound and elegant design.
E90-PRO (1988) — A high-performance studio monitor from the late 1980s, the Wharfedale E90-PRO was engineered for professional audio environments demanding accuracy and durability.
Glendale (1950) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the 1950s, known for warm midrange and elegant walnut veneer cabinetry.
LGS (1978) — Wharfedale LGS series — a line of high-fidelity loudspeakers from the late 1970s known for their warm, natural sound and classic British voicing.
LINTON-2 (1972) — A classic British floor-standing loudspeaker known for warm, natural sound and elegant walnut veneer finish.
LINTON-3 (1979) — A classic British floorstanding loudspeaker known for warm, natural sound and elegant walnut veneer.
LINTON-3XP (1975) — A classic British-designed bookshelf speaker known for warm, natural midrange and vintage charm.
Melton (1955) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the 1950s, known for warm tonality and elegant cabinet design.
Melton-2 (1973) — A compact bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's Melton series, known for warm British voicing and classic wood finish.
PRO-L100 (1979) — A rare and powerful professional loudspeaker from Wharfedale's late-1970s lineup, designed for live sound and studio monitoring.
PRO-L80 (1978) — A high-efficiency passive loudspeaker from Wharfedale's professional series, designed for studio monitoring and live sound reinforcement in the late 1970s.
PROGRAMME-2180 (1985) — A high-quality passive speaker cable from Wharfedale's mid-1980s PROGRAMME series, designed for reliable signal transmission and musical clarity.
ROSEDALE (1952) — A classic British bookshelf loudspeaker from the early 1950s, the Wharfedale. ROSEDALE represents postwar British audio craftsmanship and refined acoustic design.
SUPER-12/CS/AL (1978) — A rare and sought-after British loudspeaker enclosure from Wharfedale's late 1970s professional series, designed for studio and broadcast use.
SUPER-12/FS/AL (1978) — A high-efficiency passive loudspeaker system from Wharfedale's legendary SUPER series, designed for audiophiles seeking natural tonal balance and detailed sound reproduction.
W2 (1951) — The Wharfedale W2 is a classic British loudspeaker from the early 1950s, renowned for its warm tonal balance and pioneering engineering in post-war audio design.
W4 (1959) — The Wharfedale W4 is a classic British hi-fi speaker from the late 1950s, renowned for its warm tonal balance and pioneering cabinet design.
W40 (1974) — A classic British hi-fi speaker from the 1970s, known for its warm, natural sound and elegant wood finish.
W60 (1978) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the late 1970s known for warm, natural sound and elegant wood finish.
W70 (1980) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the early 1980s, the Wharfedale W70 delivers warm, detailed sound with hand-crafted wood cabinets and a reputation for excellent value.
W90 (1988) — A floor-standing flagship speaker from Wharfedale's W-series, known for powerful bass and detailed sound.

Other Models

Wharfedale - British Hi-Fi Pioneer — Founded by Gilbert Briggs in 1932 in Yorkshire. One of the world's oldest speaker manufacturers. Famous for the Denton, Linton, and Diamond series. British hi-fi heritage.
AIREDALE (1954) — The Wharfedale AIREDALE is a classic British loudspeaker from the 1950s, renowned for its warm tonal balance and pioneering design in high-fidelity audio reproduction.
CHEVIN (1978) — A rare and enigmatic Wharfedale system from the late 1970s, the CHEVIN remains a curious artifact of British audio innovation.
DENTON-1 (1988) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the late 1980s, the Wharfedale DENTON-1 delivers warm, natural sound with elegant wood finishes and enduring build quality.
DENTON-2 (1998) — A refined British bookshelf speaker blending classic design with modern performance, the Wharfedale DENTON-2 delivers warm, detailed sound with hand-crafted cabinet construction.
DENTON-3 (1994) — A refined stand-mount loudspeaker from Wharfedale's classic Denton series, combining vintage British voicing with modern build quality.
DOVEDALE (1954) — A legendary British loudspeaker from the 1950s, the Wharfedale DOVEDALE is revered for its warm, natural sound and pioneering design in high-fidelity audio reproduction.
DOVEDALE-3 (1955) — A rare and iconic British open-baffle loudspeaker system from the golden age of hi-fi.
E20 (2012) — A compact bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's E Series, combining modern design with refined acoustic engineering for accurate, engaging sound.
E30 (1982) — A compact bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's E-Series, known for warm. British voicing and solid build quality.
E50 (2013) — A compact bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's E Series, combining modern clarity with warm tonal balance and Kevlar driver technology.
E70 (1972) — A classic British open-baffle loudspeaker system known for its spacious sound and elegant design.
E90 (1981) — A compact, high-fidelity bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's respected E-Series, known for balanced sound and elegant design.
E90-PRO (1988) — A high-performance studio monitor from the late 1980s, the Wharfedale E90-PRO was engineered for professional audio environments demanding accuracy and durability.
Glendale (1950) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the 1950s, known for warm midrange and elegant walnut veneer cabinetry.
LGS (1978) — Wharfedale LGS series — a line of high-fidelity loudspeakers from the late 1970s known for their warm, natural sound and classic British voicing.
Linton — A large-format three-way stand-mount loudspeaker introduced in 1965, known for warm, rich, and natural sound.
LINTON-2 (1972) — A classic British floor-standing loudspeaker known for warm, natural sound and elegant walnut veneer finish.
LINTON-3 (1979) — A classic British floorstanding loudspeaker known for warm, natural sound and elegant walnut veneer.
LINTON-3XP (1975) — A classic British-designed bookshelf speaker known for warm, natural midrange and vintage charm.
Melton (1955) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the 1950s, known for warm tonality and elegant cabinet design.
Melton-2 (1973) — A compact bookshelf speaker from Wharfedale's Melton series, known for warm British voicing and classic wood finish.
PRO-L100 (1979) — A rare and powerful professional loudspeaker from Wharfedale's late-1970s lineup, designed for live sound and studio monitoring.
PRO-L80 (1978) — A high-efficiency passive loudspeaker from Wharfedale's professional series, designed for studio monitoring and live sound reinforcement in the late 1970s.
PROGRAMME-2180 (1985) — A high-quality passive speaker cable from Wharfedale's mid-1980s PROGRAMME series, designed for reliable signal transmission and musical clarity.
ROSEDALE (1952) — A classic British bookshelf loudspeaker from the early 1950s, the Wharfedale. ROSEDALE represents postwar British audio craftsmanship and refined acoustic design.
SUPER-12/CS/AL (1978) — A rare and sought-after British loudspeaker enclosure from Wharfedale's late 1970s professional series, designed for studio and broadcast use.
SUPER-12/FS/AL (1978) — A high-efficiency passive loudspeaker system from Wharfedale's legendary SUPER series, designed for audiophiles seeking natural tonal balance and detailed sound reproduction.
W2 (1951) — The Wharfedale W2 is a classic British loudspeaker from the early 1950s, renowned for its warm tonal balance and pioneering engineering in post-war audio design.
W4 (1959) — The Wharfedale W4 is a classic British hi-fi speaker from the late 1950s, renowned for its warm tonal balance and pioneering cabinet design.
W40 (1974) — A classic British hi-fi speaker from the 1970s, known for its warm, natural sound and elegant wood finish.
W60 (1978) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the late 1970s known for warm, natural sound and elegant wood finish.
W70 (1980) — A classic British bookshelf speaker from the early 1980s, the Wharfedale W70 delivers warm, detailed sound with hand-crafted wood cabinets and a reputation for excellent value.
W90 (1988) — A floor-standing flagship speaker from Wharfedale's W-series, known for powerful bass and detailed sound.