In this review, we will be comparing LINTON Heritage and RP-400M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale LINTON and Klipsch RP-400M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale LINTON and Klipsch RP-400M 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 Wharfedale LINTON and Klipsch RP-400M 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that LINTON Heritage is a 3-way design whereas the RP-400M is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
Wharfedale LINTON |
Klipsch RP-400M |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the RP-400M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz.
Frequency Response
LINTON Heritage has a frequency range of 40-20k Hz whereas RP-400M has a frequency range of 52-25k 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 RP-400M's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
LINTON Heritage is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the RP-400M which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. LINTON Heritage sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RP-400M's is rated at 93 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-400M a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale LINTON, 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.
LINTON Heritage can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-400M has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 150 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
LINTON Heritage features Single binding posts type posts and RP-400M has a Single binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LINTON Heritage and RP-400M 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 Wharfedale LINTON's and Klipsch RP-400M's external dimensions. Wharfedale LINTON has external dimensions of 565.0 x 300.0 x 330.0mm ( 22.2 x 11.8 x 12.9inch) whereas Klipsch RP-400M has external dimensions of 298.0 x 144.0 x 191.0mm ( 11.7 x 5.6 x 7.5inch) .
Wharfedale LINTON is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 156mm wider, 267mm taller and 139mm deeper than Klipsch RP-400M.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale LINTON and Klipsch RP-400M 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 Wharfedale LINTON is approximately 990.0cm2 / 153.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-400M is approximately 275.0cm2 / 42.6inch2. The LINTON Heritage requires 260% more surface area than the RP-400M 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 LINTON weighs 18.40kg / 40.5lbs and the Klipsch RP-400M weighs 4.10kg / 9lbs. This makes the LINTON Heritage 349% heavier than the RP-400M.
Here is a comparison of how LINTON Heritage and RP-400M'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 are included inside the box of LINTON Heritage:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille (pre-installed) 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet Pair of white gloves User's Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-400M?
Here are the items that come with the RP-400M:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet User Manual Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 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 |
298mm
vs
565mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
275cm2 (144x191mm)
vs
990cm2 (300x330mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Wharfedale LINTON Heritage |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-400M |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Klipsch |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
25-200 watts |
up to 50 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
93 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
40-20k Hz |
52-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
8" |
4" |
Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Cerametallic |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Tractrix Horn |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
630Hz and 2400Hz |
1500Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
565.0mm (22.2") |
298.0mm (11.7") |
Width |
300.0mm (11.8") |
144.0mm (5.7") |
Depth |
330.0mm (13") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
Weight |
18.40kg (40.5lbs) |
4.10kg (9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Walnut, Red Mahogany, Black |
Ebony, Walnut, Piano Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
Recommended Stand Height |
18-22" |
28-30" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |