In this review, we will be comparing SUPER LINTON and 770, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Mission.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and Mission 770 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON | Mission 770 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-dome | 1.25" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Black Woven Kevlar Cone | 8" mineral-loaded polyproylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-20k Hz | 42-20,000 Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.80kg / 43.6lbs | 27.20kg / 59.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 23.8" x 12" x 14.2"
605 x 300 x 360 mm | 23-1/4" x 11" x 11-7/8"
590 x 279.4 x 301 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and Mission 770 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 SUPER LINTON |
Mission 770 |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SUPER LINTON is a 3-way design whereas the 770 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.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTONMission 770
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
Mission 770 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 8-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 770 features a 1.25" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" mineral-loaded polyproylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
SUPER LINTON has a frequency range of 39-20k Hz whereas 770 has a frequency range of 42-20,000 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the SUPER LINTON can go slightly deeper then the 770's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
SUPER LINTON is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 770 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SUPER LINTON sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the 770's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale SUPER LINTON a more sensitive speaker compared to Mission 770, 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.
SUPER LINTON and 770 have the same power range of 25-200 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
SUPER LINTON features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 770 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Mission 770's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SUPER LINTON has a rear firing port whereas 770 has a Front firing ports.
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON dual Port
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 SUPER LINTON's and Mission 770'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 Mission 770 has external dimensions of 590 x 279.4 x 301 mm (23-1/4 x 11 x 11-7/8 inch).
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20.6mm wider, 15mm taller and 59mm deeper than Mission 770.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and Mission 770 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SUPER LINTON and Mission 770 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 SUPER LINTON is approximately 1080.0cm2 / 167.4inch2 and base area of the Mission 770 is approximately 841.0cm2 / 130.4inch2. The SUPER LINTON requires 28% more surface area than the 770 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 Mission 770 weighs 27.20kg / 59.8lbs. This makes the 770 37% heavier than the SUPER LINTON.
Here is a comparison of how SUPER LINTON and 770'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 Mission 770?
Here are the items that come with the 770:
- Mission M770 Speaker:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User Manual
- Mission M770 Stand:
- 2 Top-plates
- 2 Bases
- 8 Upright posts
- 8 Spike feet
- Hardware
- Instructions
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
2500USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
3.9 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
590mm
vs
605mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
841cm2
vs
1080cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON |
Mission 770 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Mission |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
39-20k Hz |
42-20,000 Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Black Woven Kevlar Cone |
mineral-loaded polyproylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
low-density nitrile |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
550Hz and 2500Hz |
2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
Front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
605.0mm (23.8") |
590.0mm (23.2") |
| Width |
300.0mm (11.8") |
279.4mm (11") |
| Depth |
360.0mm (14.2") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
19.80kg (43.6lbs) |
27.20kg (59.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF, particle board, wood |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
Walnut,Black Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-22" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 years |
These sit in different price classes - Mission 770 costs roughly 2x what Wharfedale SUPER LINTON 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 SUPER LINTON digs deeper - 39Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Mission 770 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Mission 770 is easier to place; Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON: bi-amping. Wharfedale SUPER LINTON sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is cheaper - $2,500 against $5,000, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale SUPER LINTON B Mission 770
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 SUPER LINTON is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Mission 770 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale SUPER LINTON is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $2,500 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.