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.
| Key Specs | Focal Sib-T | Wharfedale LINTON |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | .75" Dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.125" Polyflex | 8" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 80-20kHz | 40-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.60kg / 5.7lbs | 18.40kg / 40.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 2-1/2" x 5-5/8" x 6-11/16"
64.0 x 143.0 x 170.0mm | 22.2" x 11.8" x 14.2"
565.0 x 300.0 x 360.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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.
Focal Sib-TWharfedale LINTON
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| 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.
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
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
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
LINTON Heritage features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Sib-T has a Spring posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Sib-T's Spring posts terminals
Wharfedale LINTON's 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 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 1080.0cm2 / 167.4inch2. The Sib-T requires 77% 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 speaker
- Adjustable mounting bracket (installed)
- 3 Drywall anchors w/ 2 screws
- 5mm 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
1080cm2
|
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 |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| 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 |
n/a |
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 |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale LINTON costs roughly 2.1x what Focal Sib-T 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 | B | Wharfedale LINTON digs deeper - 40Hz against 80Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale LINTON is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Size | depends | Focal Sib-T is easier to place; Wharfedale LINTON is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale LINTON: bi-amping. Wharfedale LINTON sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Focal Sib-T is cheaper - $698 against $1,500, about 53% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Sib-T B Wharfedale LINTON
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale LINTON measures better, Focal Sib-T costs about about 115% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 80Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Focal Sib-T much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale LINTON has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Focal Sib-T is the easier speaker to get right.
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.