In this review, we will be comparing SHL5plus XD2 and SUPER LINTON, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Harbeth and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 and Wharfedale SUPER LINTON first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
|---|
| Brand | Harbeth
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" RADIAL | 8" Black Woven Kevlar Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-20k Hz | 39-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.80kg / 34.8lbs | 19.80kg / 43.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 25" x 12-11/16" x 11-13/16"
635.0 x 322.0 x 300.0mm | 23.8" x 12" x 14.2"
605 x 300 x 360 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 and Wharfedale SUPER LINTON 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* |
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 |
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 SHL5plus XD2 and SUPER LINTON are 3-way speakers.
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2Wharfedale SUPER 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 |
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 |
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
SHL5plus XD2 features a 1" Ferrofluid-cooled dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" RADIAL Woofer. On the other hand, the SUPER LINTON features a 1" woven textile Soft-dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Black Woven Kevlar Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 550Hz and 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
SHL5plus XD2 has a frequency range of 40-20k Hz whereas SUPER LINTON has a frequency range of 39-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the SUPER LINTON can go slightly deeper then the SHL5plus XD2's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
SHL5plus XD2 and SUPER LINTON have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SHL5plus XD2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the SUPER LINTON's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON a more sensitive speaker compared to Harbeth SHL5plus XD2, 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.
SUPER LINTON can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas SHL5plus XD2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the SUPER LINTON.
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 LINTON features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SHL5plus XD2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON dual Port
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 Harbeth SHL5plus XD2's and Wharfedale SUPER LINTON's external dimensions. Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 has external dimensions of 635.0 x 322.0 x 300.0mm (25 x 12-11/16 x 11-13/16inch) whereas Wharfedale SUPER LINTON has external dimensions of 605 x 300 x 360 mm (23.82 x 12 x 14.2 inches).
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is 22mm narrower and 30mm shorter than Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 but it is also 60mm deeper.
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 LINTON needs about 12% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is 60mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 is 30mm 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 Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 is approximately 966.0cm2 / 149.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is approximately 1080.0cm2 / 167.4inch2. The SHL5plus XD2 requires 11% less surface area than the SUPER LINTON 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 Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 weighs 15.80kg / 34.8lbs and the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON weighs 19.80kg / 43.6lbs. This makes the SUPER LINTON 25% heavier than the SHL5plus XD2.
Here is a comparison of how SHL5plus XD2 and SUPER LINTON'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 LINTON?
Here are the items that come with the SUPER LINTON:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User's Manual
 Base Surface Area |
966cm2
vs
1080cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
605mm
vs
635mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2500USD
vs
7990USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 |
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
| Brand |
Harbeth |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.9 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-20k Hz |
39-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
RADIAL |
Black Woven Kevlar Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
550Hz and 2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
635.0mm (25") |
605.0mm (23.8") |
| Width |
322.0mm (12.7") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
360.0mm (14.2") |
| Weight |
15.80kg (34.8lbs) |
19.80kg (43.6lbs) |
| 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 |
18-22" |
| Grille |
Yes |
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 - Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 costs roughly 3.2x what Wharfedale SUPER LINTON 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 (40Hz vs 39Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is cheaper - $2,500 against $7,990, about 69% less; arguably a different class. |
A Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 B Wharfedale SUPER 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?
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $5,490 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.