In this review, we will be comparing L100 and Denton 85, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk L100 and Wharfedale Denton 85 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk L100 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 Polk L100 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.
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Drivers
Both L100 and Denton 85 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk L100 |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
L100 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz. 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
L100 has a frequency range of 57-38k 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 L100's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
L100 and Denton 85 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. L100 sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the Denton 85's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 85 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L100, 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 L100 and the L100 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.
L100 can handle a max power of 160 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Denton 85 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the L100.
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. L100 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both L100 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.
New
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 Polk L100's and Wharfedale Denton 85's external dimensions. Polk L100 has external dimensions of 348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm ( 13-11/16 x 7-7/8 x 11-5/16inch) 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) .
Polk L100 is 39mm narrower and 16mm less deeper than Wharfedale Denton 85 but it is also 6mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk L100 and Wharfedale Denton 85 in scale.
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 Polk L100 is approximately 578.9cm2 / 89.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Denton 85 is approximately 729.6cm2 / 113.1inch2. The L100 requires 21% 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 Polk L100 weighs 7.68kg / 16.9lbs and the Wharfedale Denton 85 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs. This makes the Denton 85 17% heavier than the L100.
Here is a comparison of how L100 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 Polk L100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Cleaning cloth Owners Manual Online Registration
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 |
160 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
578cm2 (201x288mm)
vs
729cm2 (240x304mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
342mm
vs
348mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
General |
Polk Audio Legend L100 |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-160 watts |
20-120 watts |
Sensitivity |
85.5 dB |
88 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
3 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
57-38k Hz |
45-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Woven Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Ring Radiator |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
3100Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
348.0mm (13.7") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
Width |
201.0mm (7.9") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
Depth |
288.0mm (11.3") |
304.0mm (12") |
Weight |
7.68kg (16.9lbs) |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
Available Colors |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-28" |
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 |