In this review, we will be comparing SUPER LINTON and Q Concerto Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and KEF Q Concerto Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and KEF Q Concerto Meta 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 SUPER LINTON and KEF Q Concerto Meta 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both SUPER LINTON and Q Concerto Meta are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
SUPER LINTON features a 1" woven textile Soft-dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Black Woven Kevlar Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 550Hz and 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Q Concerto Meta features a 0.75" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 430 Hz, 2.9 kHz.
Frequency Response
SUPER LINTON has a frequency range of 39-20k Hz whereas Q Concerto Meta has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the SUPER LINTON can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q Concerto Meta's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
SUPER LINTON is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Q Concerto Meta which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Q Concerto Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SUPER LINTON sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Q Concerto Meta's is rated at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q Concerto Meta, 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.
SUPER LINTON can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q Concerto Meta has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the SUPER LINTON.
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
SUPER LINTON features Binding Post type posts and Q Concerto Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SUPER LINTON and Q Concerto Meta 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.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON dual Port
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 SUPER LINTON's and KEF Q Concerto Meta's external dimensions. Wharfedale SUPER LINTON has external dimensions of 605 x 300 x 360 mm ( 23.82 x 12 x 14.2 inches) whereas KEF Q Concerto Meta has external dimensions of 415 x 210 x 315 mm ( 16.3 x 8.3 x 12.4 in.) .
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 90mm wider, 190mm taller and 45mm deeper than KEF Q Concerto Meta.
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 SUPER LINTON is approximately 1080.0cm2 / 167.4inch2 and base area of the KEF Q Concerto Meta is approximately 661.5cm2 / 102.5inch2. The SUPER LINTON requires 63% more surface area than the Q Concerto Meta 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 SUPER LINTON weighs 19.80kg / 43.6lbs and the KEF Q Concerto Meta weighs 9.50kg / 20.9lbs. This makes the SUPER LINTON 108% heavier than the Q Concerto Meta.
Here is a comparison of how SUPER LINTON and Q Concerto Meta'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 SUPER LINTON?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SUPER LINTON:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille (pre-installed) 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet Pair of white gloves User's Manual
What's in the Box of KEF Q Concerto Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q Concerto Meta:
Q3 Concerto Meta (pair) Magnetic grilles (pair) Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.9 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
415mm
vs
605mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
661cm2 (210x315mm)
vs
1080cm2 (300x360mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1300USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
Up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
39-20k Hz |
48-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Black Woven Kevlar Cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
550Hz and 2500Hz |
430 Hz, 2.9 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
605.0mm (23.8") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
300.0mm (11.8") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
360.0mm (14.2") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
19.80kg (43.6lbs) |
9.50kg (20.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-22" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |