In this review, we will be comparing Special Forty and Super Denton, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Special Forty and Wharfedale Super Denton first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Special Forty | Wharfedale Super Denton |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" MSP | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-23k Hz | 52-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs | 9.20kg / 20.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-3/16" x 7-13/16" x 12-1/16"
360.0 x 198.0 x 307.0mm | 14-1/8" x 9-11/16" x 11-5/8"
360 x 246 x 295mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Special Forty 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* |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
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 Special Forty 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.
Dynaudio Special FortyWharfedale 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 |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
Wharfedale Super Denton |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Special Forty features a 1.1" Esotar Forty Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000 Hz. 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
Special Forty has a frequency range of 41-23k Hz whereas Super Denton has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the Special Forty can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Super Denton's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
Special Forty and Super Denton have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Special Forty sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Super Denton's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Super Denton a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Special Forty, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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. Special Forty has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Super Denton's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Special Forty and Super Denton have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Dynaudio Special Forty's and Wharfedale Super Denton's external dimensions. Dynaudio Special Forty has external dimensions of 360.0 x 198.0 x 307.0mm (14-3/16 x 7-13/16 x 12-1/16inch) whereas Wharfedale Super Denton has external dimensions of 360 x 246 x 295mm (14-1/8inch x 9-11/16inch x 11-5/8inch).
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.
Wharfedale Super Denton needs about 19% more floor or shelf area.
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 Dynaudio Special Forty is approximately 607.9cm2 / 94.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Super Denton is approximately 725.7cm2 / 112.5inch2. The Special Forty requires 16% less surface area than the Super Denton which gives it a small advantage 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 Dynaudio Special Forty weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs and the Wharfedale Super Denton weighs 9.20kg / 20.2lbs. This makes the Super Denton 14% heavier than the Special Forty.
Here is a comparison of how Special Forty 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 |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
607cm2
vs
725cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1399USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Special Forty |
Wharfedale Super Denton |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-23k Hz |
52-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
MSP |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000 Hz |
940Hz and 4.6kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
360.0mm (14.2") |
360.0mm (14.2") |
| Width |
198.0mm (7.8") |
246.0mm (9.7") |
| Depth |
307.0mm (12.1") |
295.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
9.20kg (20.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
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 |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Special Forty costs roughly 2.1x 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 | A | Dynaudio Special Forty digs deeper - 41Hz against 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Dynaudio Special Forty takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Super Denton: bi-amping. Wharfedale Super Denton sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale Super Denton is cheaper - $1,399 against $2,999, about 53% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Special Forty 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?
Dynaudio Special Forty is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 114% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale Super Denton looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Dynaudio Special Forty appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Super Denton much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Dynaudio Special Forty the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale Super Denton for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.