In this review, we will be comparing SCM19 and Super Denton, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ATC and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ATC SCM19 and Wharfedale Super Denton first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ATC SCM19 | Wharfedale Super Denton |
|---|
| Brand | ATC
United Kingdom · founded 1974 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.98" | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.91" | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-22k Hz | 52-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 75 to 300 Watts watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.80kg / 39.2lbs | 9.20kg / 20.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17.24" x 10.43" x 11.81"
438.0 x 265.0 x 300.0mm | 14-1/8" x 9-11/16" x 11-5/8"
360 x 246 x 295mm |
|---|
What size room are the ATC SCM19 and Wharfedale Super Denton speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ATC SCM19 |
Wharfedale Super Denton |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SCM19 is a 2-way design whereas the Super Denton is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
ATC SCM19Wharfedale Super Denton
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ATC SCM19 |
Wharfedale Super Denton |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.98-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.91-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
SCM19 features a 0.98" Tweeter and 1 x 5.91" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5kHz. On the other hand, the Super Denton features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 940Hz and 4.6kHz.
Frequency Response
SCM19 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas Super Denton has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Super Denton can go slightly deeper then the SCM19's min frequency of 54Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SCM19 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Super Denton which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SCM19 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Super Denton's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Super Denton a more sensitive speaker compared to ATC SCM19, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
SCM19 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Super Denton has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 180 watts less than the SCM19.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Super Denton features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SCM19 has a Binding Posts/4mm Plugs, bi-wire which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Super Denton's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ATC SCM19's and Wharfedale Super Denton's external dimensions. ATC SCM19 has external dimensions of 438.0 x 265.0 x 300.0mm (17.24 x 10.43 x 11.81inch) whereas Wharfedale Super Denton has external dimensions of 360 x 246 x 295mm (14-1/8inch x 9-11/16inch x 11-5/8inch).
ATC SCM19 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 78mm taller and 5mm deeper than Wharfedale Super Denton.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
ATC SCM19 needs about 10% more floor or shelf area. ATC SCM19 is 78mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ATC SCM19 is approximately 795.0cm2 / 123.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Super Denton is approximately 725.7cm2 / 112.5inch2. The SCM19 requires 10% more surface area than the Super Denton which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ATC SCM19 weighs 17.80kg / 39.2lbs and the Wharfedale Super Denton weighs 9.20kg / 20.2lbs. This makes the SCM19 93% heavier than the Super Denton.
Here is a comparison of how SCM19 and Super Denton's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Super Denton?
Here are the items that come with the Super Denton:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.91 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
360mm
vs
438mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
725cm2
vs
795cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1399USD
vs
3749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ATC SCM19 |
Wharfedale Super Denton |
| Brand |
ATC |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
75 to 300 Watts watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
54-22k Hz |
52-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.91" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.98" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.5kHz |
940Hz and 4.6kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
438.0mm (17.2") |
360.0mm (14.2") |
| Width |
265.0mm (10.4") |
246.0mm (9.7") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
295.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
17.80kg (39.2lbs) |
9.20kg (20.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Red Mahogany, Black Oak, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ATC SCM19 costs roughly 2.7x what Wharfedale Super Denton does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (54Hz vs 52Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale Super Denton is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | ATC SCM19 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | ATC SCM19 takes more power (300W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale Super Denton is easier to place; ATC SCM19 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Super Denton: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale Super Denton is cheaper - $1,399 against $3,749, about 63% less; arguably a different class. |
A ATC SCM19 B Wharfedale Super Denton
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate ATC SCM19 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale Super Denton for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale Super Denton is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.