In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS5 and LINTON Heritage, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sony and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS5 and Wharfedale LINTON first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sony SS-CS5 and Wharfedale 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sony SS-CS5 and Wharfedale LINTON 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 SS-CS5 and LINTON Heritage are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Sony SS-CS5 |
Wharfedale LINTON |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Super Tweeter
|
0.75-inch |
- |
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
SS-CS5 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 0.75" Supertweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) 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
SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k Hz 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 SS-CS5's min frequency of 53Hz.
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
SS-CS5 and LINTON Heritage have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SS-CS5 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the LINTON Heritage's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale LINTON a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS5, 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. 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.
SS-CS5 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SS-CS5 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the LINTON Heritage.
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
SS-CS5 features Post type posts and LINTON Heritage has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SS-CS5 and LINTON Heritage 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 Sony SS-CS5's and Wharfedale LINTON's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS5 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm ( 13.1 x 7.0 x 8.6inch) whereas Wharfedale LINTON has external dimensions of 565.0 x 300.0 x 330.0mm ( 22.2 x 11.8 x 12.9inch) .
Wharfedale LINTON is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 122mm wider, 230mm taller and 110mm deeper than Sony SS-CS5.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SS-CS5 and Wharfedale LINTON 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 Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale LINTON is approximately 990.0cm2 / 153.5inch2. The SS-CS5 requires 60% 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 Sony SS-CS5 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs and the Wharfedale LINTON weighs 18.40kg / 40.5lbs. This makes the LINTON Heritage 309% heavier than the SS-CS5.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS5 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 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
High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
335mm
vs
565mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
391cm2 (178x220mm)
vs
990cm2 (300x330mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
148USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
53 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
General |
Sony SS-CS5 |
Wharfedale LINTON Heritage |
Brand |
Sony |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
25-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
Frequency Response |
53-50k Hz |
40-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Woven Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
630Hz and 2400Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
335.0mm (13.2") |
565.0mm (22.2") |
Width |
178.0mm (7") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
330.0mm (13") |
Weight |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
18.40kg (40.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Red Mahogany, Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-22" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |