In this review, we will be comparing F5E and Denton 85, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Fyne Audio and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F5E and Wharfedale Denton 85 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F5E | Wharfedale Denton 85 |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-38k Hz | 45-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 90 W watts | 20-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.90kg / 8.6lbs | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.6" x 6.9" x 9"
269.2 x 175.3 x 228.6mm | 13-7/16" x 9-7/16" x 11-15/16"
342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F5E and Wharfedale Denton 85 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* |
Fyne Audio F5E |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
| 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
Both F5E and Denton 85 are 2-way speakers.
Fyne Audio F5EWharfedale Denton 85
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Fyne Audio F5E |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
F5E features a " Tweeter and x 5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800 Hz. On the other hand, the Denton 85 features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz.
Frequency Response
F5E has a frequency range of 55-38k Hz whereas Denton 85 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Denton 85 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the F5E's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
F5E is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Denton 85 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Denton 85 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. F5E sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Denton 85's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 85 a more sensitive speaker compared to Fyne Audio F5E, 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.
Denton 85 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas F5E has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Denton 85.
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
Denton 85 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. F5E has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Denton 85'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 Fyne Audio F5E's and Wharfedale Denton 85's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F5E has external dimensions of 269.2 x 175.3 x 228.6mm (10.6 x 6.9 x 9inch) whereas Wharfedale Denton 85 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm (13-7/16 x 9-7/16 x 11-15/16inch).
Wharfedale Denton 85 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 64.7mm wider, 72.8mm taller and 75.4mm deeper than Fyne Audio F5E.
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 Denton 85 needs about 82% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Denton 85 is 75mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale Denton 85 is 73mm 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 Fyne Audio F5E is approximately 400.7cm2 / 62.1inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Denton 85 is approximately 729.6cm2 / 113.1inch2. The F5E requires 45% less surface area than the Denton 85 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 Fyne Audio F5E weighs 3.90kg / 8.6lbs and the Wharfedale Denton 85 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs. This makes the Denton 85 131% heavier than the F5E.
Here is a comparison of how F5E and Denton 85'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 Denton 85?
Here are the items that come with the Denton 85:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
269mm
vs
342mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
400cm2
vs
729cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
699USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Fyne Audio F5E |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 90 W watts |
20-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-38k Hz |
45-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800 Hz |
3100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
269.2mm (10.6") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
175.3mm (6.9") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Depth |
228.6mm (9") |
304.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
3.90kg (8.6lbs) |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Fyne Audio F5E is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale Denton 85 digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Fyne Audio F5E is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale Denton 85 takes more power (120W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio F5E is easier to place; Wharfedale Denton 85 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Denton 85: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Fyne Audio F5E is cheaper - $699 against $999, about 30% less. |
A Fyne Audio F5E B Wharfedale Denton 85
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 Denton 85 measures better, Fyne Audio F5E costs about about 43% 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 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Fyne Audio F5E much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Fyne Audio F5E the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale Denton 85 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.