In this review, we will be comparing Denton 85 and Motion LX16, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Denton 85 and MartinLogan LX16 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Denton 85 | MartinLogan LX16 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 60-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 5 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-120 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-7/16" x 9-7/16" x 11-15/16"
342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm | 11.0" x 6.4" x 9.5"
280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Denton 85 and MartinLogan LX16 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* |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
MartinLogan LX16 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 Denton 85 and Motion LX16 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Denton 85MartinLogan LX16
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 85 |
MartinLogan LX16 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Denton 85 features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. On the other hand, the Motion LX16 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Denton 85 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas Motion LX16 has a frequency range of 60-25k 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 Motion LX16'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
Denton 85 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Motion LX16 which has a nominal impedance of 5 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Denton 85 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Denton 85 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Motion LX16's is rated at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan LX16 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Denton 85, 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.
Motion LX16 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Denton 85 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Motion LX16.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Denton 85 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Motion LX16 has a Custom 5-way binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Denton 85's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
MartinLogan LX16's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Denton 85 and Motion LX16 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
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 85's and MartinLogan LX16's external dimensions. 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) whereas MartinLogan LX16 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm (11.0 x 6.4 x 9.5inch).
Wharfedale Denton 85 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 75mm wider, 62mm taller and 62mm deeper than MartinLogan LX16.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Denton 85 and MartinLogan LX16 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Denton 85 and MartinLogan LX16 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 Wharfedale Denton 85 is approximately 729.6cm2 / 113.1inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan LX16 is approximately 399.3cm2 / 61.9inch2. The Denton 85 requires 83% more surface area than the Motion LX16 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Denton 85 and MartinLogan LX16 on a Media Console
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 85 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the MartinLogan LX16 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the Denton 85 67% heavier than the Motion LX16.
Here is a comparison of how Denton 85 and Motion LX16'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 are included inside the box of Denton 85:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
What's in the Box of MartinLogan LX16?
Here are the items that come with the Motion LX16:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Magnetic grille
- 4 Rubber bumpers
- User's Manual (En/Fr)
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
280mm
vs
342mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
399cm2
vs
729cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
480USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
MartinLogan Motion LX16 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-120 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
5 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
60-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0 x 1.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Folded Motion |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3100Hz |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
342.0mm (13.5") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
304.0mm (12") |
242.0mm (9.5") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
Piano Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
Cherry (dark) |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
3/18-16 threaded insert |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
28-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs w/Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs w/Registration |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Denton 85 costs roughly 2.1x what MartinLogan LX16 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 | A | Wharfedale Denton 85 digs deeper - 45Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | MartinLogan LX16 is more sensitive (92dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | MartinLogan LX16 is the easier load at 5 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | MartinLogan LX16 takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | MartinLogan LX16 is easier to place; Wharfedale Denton 85 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Denton 85: bi-amping. MartinLogan LX16 sits in a wider range (18 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | MartinLogan LX16 is cheaper - $480 against $999, about 52% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Denton 85 B MartinLogan LX16
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?
MartinLogan LX16 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Wharfedale Denton 85 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, which makes the cheaper MartinLogan LX16 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Denton 85 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, MartinLogan LX16 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.