In this review, we will be comparing A1.2 and DENTON 80, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Spendor and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Spendor A1.2 and Wharfedale Denton 80 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Spendor A1.2 | Wharfedale Denton 80 |
|---|
| Brand | Spendor
United Kingdom · founded 1969 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.87" | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.91" | 5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-26k Hz | 44-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 83 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.80kg / 10.6lbs | 7.90kg / 17.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.1" x 6.5" x 7.3"
307.3 x 165.1 x 185.4mm | 12-5/8" x 7-7/8" x 12"
320.0 x 200.0 x 305.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Spendor A1.2 and Wharfedale Denton 80 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* |
Spendor A1.2 |
Wharfedale Denton 80 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* 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 A1.2 and DENTON 80 are 2-way speakers.
Spendor A1.2Wharfedale Denton 80
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Spendor A1.2 |
Wharfedale Denton 80 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.87-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.91-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
A1.2 features a 0.87" Tweeter and 1 x 5.91" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 4.2 kHz. On the other hand, the DENTON 80 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
A1.2 has a frequency range of 60-26k Hz whereas DENTON 80 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the DENTON 80 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A1.2's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
A1.2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the DENTON 80 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A1.2 sensitivity is rated at 83 dB and the DENTON 80's is rated at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 80 a more sensitive speaker compared to Spendor A1.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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 80 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A1.2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Spendor A1.2's and Wharfedale Denton 80's external dimensions. Spendor A1.2 has external dimensions of 307.3 x 165.1 x 185.4mm (12.1 x 6.5 x 7.3inch) whereas Wharfedale Denton 80 has external dimensions of 320.0 x 200.0 x 305.0mm (12-5/8 x 7-7/8 x 12inch).
Wharfedale Denton 80 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 34.9mm wider, 12.7mm taller and 119.6mm deeper than Spendor A1.2.
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 80 needs about 99% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Denton 80 is 120mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale Denton 80 is 13mm 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 Spendor A1.2 is approximately 306.1cm2 / 47.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Denton 80 is approximately 610.0cm2 / 94.6inch2. The A1.2 requires 50% less surface area than the DENTON 80 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 Spendor A1.2 weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs and the Wharfedale Denton 80 weighs 7.90kg / 17.4lbs. This makes the DENTON 80 65% heavier than the A1.2.
Here is a comparison of how A1.2 and DENTON 80's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.91 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
307mm
vs
320mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
306cm2
vs
610cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
83 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
2399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Spendor A1.2 |
Wharfedale Denton 80 |
| Brand |
Spendor |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
83 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
6.4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
60-26k Hz |
44-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.91" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Woven Kevlar |
| Tweeter Size |
0.87" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
4.2 kHz |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
307.3mm (12.1") |
320.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
165.1mm (6.5") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
185.4mm (7.3") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
7.90kg (17.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
Mahogany red veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Mahogany with grey tungsten cloth grille |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Spendor A1.2 costs roughly 4x what Wharfedale Denton 80 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 | B | Wharfedale Denton 80 digs deeper - 44Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale Denton 80 is more sensitive (86dB vs 83dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Spendor A1.2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Size | depends | Spendor A1.2 is easier to place; Wharfedale Denton 80 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Denton 80: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale Denton 80 is cheaper - $599 against $2,399, about 75% less; arguably a different class. |
A Spendor A1.2 B Wharfedale Denton 80
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 Denton 80 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Spendor A1.2 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Spendor A1.2 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.