In this review, we will be comparing Sib-T and LINTON Heritage, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Sib-T and Wharfedale LINTON first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Sib-T Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- .75" Dome Tweeter
- 5.125" Polyflex Woofer
- 80-20kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Weight:2.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 64.0" x 5-5/8" x 6-11/16"( 64.0 x 143.0 x 170.0mm )
Wharfedale LINTON Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Soft-dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 8" Woven Kevlar Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 40-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:18.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 565.0" x 11.8" x 14.2"( 565.0 x 300.0 x 360.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Sib-T and Wharfedale LINTON compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sib-T is a 2-way design whereas the LINTON Heritage 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.
| Driver |
Focal Sib-T |
Wharfedale LINTON |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.125-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Sib-T features a .75" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.125" Polyflex Woofer . On the other hand, the LINTON Heritage features a 1" woven textile Soft-dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 630Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Sib-T has a frequency range of 80-20kHz whereas LINTON Heritage has a frequency range of 40-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the LINTON Heritage can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sib-T's min frequency of 80Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Sib-T is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the LINTON Heritage which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sib-T can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 90 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Sib-T features Post type posts and LINTON Heritage has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Sib-T's Spring posts terminals
Wharfedale LINTON's Post terminals
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Focal Sib-T's and Wharfedale LINTON's external dimensions. Focal Sib-T has external dimensions of 64.0 x 143.0 x 170.0mm ( 2-1/2 x 5-5/8 x 6-11/16inch) whereas Wharfedale LINTON has external dimensions of 565.0 x 300.0 x 360.0mm ( 22.2 x 11.8 x 12.9inch) .
Wharfedale LINTON is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 157mm wider, 501mm taller and 190mm deeper than Focal Sib-T.
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 Focal Sib-T is approximately 243.1cm2 / 37.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale LINTON is approximately 990.0cm2 / 153.5inch2. The Sib-T requires 75% less surface area than the LINTON Heritage 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 Focal Sib-T weighs 2.60kg / 5.7lbs and the Wharfedale LINTON weighs 18.40kg / 40.5lbs. This makes the LINTON Heritage 608% heavier than the Sib-T.
Here is a comparison of how Sib-T and LINTON Heritage's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Sib-T?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sib-T:
One 100V/4-ohm commercial speakerAdjustable mounting bracket (installed)3 Drywall anchors w/ 2 screws5mm Allen key (attached to mounting bracket)User manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale LINTON?
Here are the items that come with the LINTON Heritage:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille (pre-installed) 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet Pair of white gloves User's Manual
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
64mm
vs
565mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
243cm2
vs
990cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
698USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.125 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Focal Sib-T |
Wharfedale LINTON Heritage |
| Brand |
Focal |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
80-20kHz |
40-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.125" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polyflex |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Not given |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
630Hz and 2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
64.0mm (2.5") |
565.0mm (22.2") |
| Width |
143.0mm (5.6") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
170.0mm (6.7") |
360.0mm (14.2") |
| Weight |
2.60kg (5.7lbs) |
18.40kg (40.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Plastic |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
White |
Walnut, Red Mahogany, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
2-1/2" |
18-22" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |