In this review, we will be comparing Sandwich 150 and Denton 85, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Leak and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Leak Sandwich 150 and Wharfedale Denton 85 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Leak Sandwich 150 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Leak Sandwich 150 and Wharfedale Denton 85 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Sandwich 150 and Denton 85 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Leak Sandwich 150 |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.2-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Sandwich 150 features a 1.2" Coated Textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. 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
Sandwich 150 has a frequency range of 44Hz-26kHz whereas Denton 85 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Sandwich 150 can go slightly deeper then the Denton 85's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Sandwich 150 and Denton 85 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sandwich 150 sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the Denton 85's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 85 a more sensitive speaker compared to Leak Sandwich 150, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sandwich 150 and the Sandwich 150 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Sandwich 150 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Denton 85 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Sandwich 150.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Denton 85 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Sandwich 150 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Leak Sandwich 150's Binding post terminals
Wharfedale Denton 85's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sandwich 150 and Denton 85 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
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 Leak Sandwich 150's and Wharfedale Denton 85's external dimensions. Leak Sandwich 150 has external dimensions of 415 x 250 x 290 mm ( 16.3 x 9.9 x 11.4 inch) 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 10mm narrower and 73mm shorter than Leak Sandwich 150 but it is also 14mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leak Sandwich 150 and Wharfedale Denton 85 in scale.
Comparison image of Leak Sandwich 150 and Wharfedale Denton 85 Size and External Dimensions
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 Leak Sandwich 150 is approximately 725.0cm2 / 112.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Denton 85 is approximately 729.6cm2 / 113.1inch2. The Sandwich 150 requires 1% 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 Leak Sandwich 150 weighs 12.30kg / 27.1lbs and the Wharfedale Denton 85 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs. This makes the Sandwich 150 37% heavier than the Denton 85.
Here is a comparison of how Sandwich 150 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
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
725cm2 (250x290mm)
vs
729cm2 (240x304mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
342mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Leak Sandwich 150 |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
| Brand |
Leak |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
20-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44Hz-26kHz |
45-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.2" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
3100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
250.0mm (9.8") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Depth |
290.0mm (11.4") |
304.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
12.30kg (27.1lbs) |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real-wood veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
walnut |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
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 |