In this review, we will be comparing Denton 1S and AE500, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Acoustic Energy.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Denton 1S and AE500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Denton 1S | AE500 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polypropylene | 5" carbon fibre cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 45Hz - 28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.81kg / 15lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13" x 9-5/16" x 10"
331.0 x 237.0 x 254.0mm | 12.2" x 7.3" x 10.2"
310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Denton 1S and AE500 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Denton 1S AE500
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Denton 1S |
AE500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Denton 1S features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the AE500 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Denton 1S has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas AE500 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 28kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the AE500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Denton 1S's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
Denton 1S is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the AE500 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Denton 1S sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the AE500's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 1S a more sensitive speaker compared to AE500, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though Denton 1S is rated 30-100 watts and AE500 up to 120 watts.
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.
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 Wharfedale Denton 1S's and AE500's external dimensions. Wharfedale Denton 1S has external dimensions of 331.0 x 237.0 x 254.0mm (13inch x 9-5/16inch x 10inch) whereas AE500 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm (12.2 x 7.3 x 10.2inch).
AE500 is 52mm narrower and 21mm shorter than Wharfedale Denton 1S but it is also 6mm 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 Denton 1S needs about 25% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Denton 1S is 21mm 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 Wharfedale Denton 1S is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2 and base area of the AE500 is approximately 481.0cm2 / 74.6inch2. The Denton 1S requires 25% more surface area than the AE500 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Wharfedale Denton 1S weighs 6.81kg / 15lbs and the AE500 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the AE500 17% heavier than the Denton 1S.
Here is a comparison of how Denton 1S and AE500'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 1S?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Denton 1S:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User's Manual
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
310mm
vs
331mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
602cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale Denton 1S |
Acoustic Energy AE500 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Acoustic Energy |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
45Hz - 28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
carbon fibre cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
331.0mm (13") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Width |
237.0mm (9.3") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
6.81kg (15lbs) |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
n/a |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|
A generation apart: Wharfedale Denton 1S is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | AE500 digs deeper - 45Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale Denton 1S is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | AE500 is easier to place; Wharfedale Denton 1S is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale Denton 1S is cheaper - $999 against $1,499, about 33% less. |
A Wharfedale Denton 1S B AE500
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Denton 1S much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $500 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.