What amplifier does the Wharfedale Denton 1S need?

Pick a speaker and tell us how loud you listen and how big the room is. We work out the power it actually needs, check which amplifiers can safely drive its impedance, and rank 194 amplifiers against it.

Your system

Four questions. Nothing is hidden on price.

Passive speakers only — a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
Changes the order only. Nothing is hidden for costing too little or too much.
Wharfedale Denton 1S
Wharfedale Denton 1S
Bookshelf
88 dB · 8 ohm
$999 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
12–100 W
per channel, into 8 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Wharfedale Denton 1S, you need at least 12 W a channel. More than 100 W is wasted here — that is all Wharfedale rates the speaker to take.

Show the working
  • 95 dB target at the seat
  • +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
  • -3 dB for a stereo pair
  • -86.0 dB effective sensitivity
  • 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
  • Published sensitivity 88 dB, used as 86.0 dB per watt.

Bluesound POWERNODE with the Wharfedale Denton 1S

Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Full Bluesound POWERNODE specs · Clear this amp
 
$199 $10,500

175 integrated amplifiers suit the Wharfedale Denton 1S

Also show the 1 we do not recommend
1
AudioControl Rialto 600
AudioControl Rialto 600
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $899
Excellent match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
AudioControl Bijou 600
AudioControl Bijou 600
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $899
Excellent match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Sonos Amp
Sonos Amp
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 125 W into 8 ohms · $699
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
SVS Prime SoundBase
SVS Prime SoundBase
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 75 W into 8 ohms · $699
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Marantz Stereo 70s
Marantz Stereo 70s
Stereo Receiver · Class A/B · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,000
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Onkyo Muse Y-40
Onkyo Muse Y-40
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,000
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Arcam A15
Arcam A15
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $999
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (80 W to 120 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 125 W into 8 ohms · $1,500
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
9
Yamaha A-S701
Yamaha A-S701
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $800
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
10
Yamaha A-S801
Yamaha A-S801
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $900
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
11
Cambridge CXA81 II
Cambridge CXA81 II
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,199
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (80 W to 120 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Audiolab 7000A
Audiolab 7000A
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $999
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (70 W to 110 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
Peachtree nova150
Peachtree nova150
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $1,199
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 250 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
14
Rotel A14 MKII
Rotel A14 MKII
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,600
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
15
Bluesound POWERNODE
Bluesound POWERNODE
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 80 W into 8 ohms · $949
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
Yamaha WXA-50
Yamaha WXA-50
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 55 W into 8 ohms · $599
Excellent match
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 100 W.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (55 W to 105 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
17
Arcam A25
Arcam A25
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 100 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 165 W).
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
18
Advance Paris X-i75
Advance Paris X-i75
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,299
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (75 W to 110 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
19
Marantz MODEL M1
Marantz MODEL M1
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $1,000
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Barely gains into 4 ohms (100 W to 125 W) - a modest power supply.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
20
PS Audio Sprout100
PS Audio Sprout100
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 50 W into 8 ohms · $799
Excellent match
6 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 100 W.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (50 W to 100 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.

Showing the best 20 of 175. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.

18 power amplifiers that would also drive them

Listed separately because they are not a complete system: a power amplifier has no volume control and no inputs to speak of, so you need a preamplifier or a streaming preamp as well. Worth it if you already own one, or if you want to buy the two halves separately.

1
Marantz MM7025
Marantz MM7025
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 140 W into 8 ohms · $1,000
Good match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 6 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Cambridge Audio MXW70
Cambridge Audio MXW70
Power Amplifier · Class D · 70 W into 8 ohms · $599
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
3
NAD C 268
NAD C 268
Power Amplifier · Class D · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,299
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Audiolab 9000P
Audiolab 9000P
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
5
Rotel RB-1552 MkII
Rotel RB-1552 MkII
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $1,699
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
6
Cambridge Audio Edge M
Cambridge Audio Edge M
Power Amplifier · Class XA · 200 W into 8 ohms
Workable with care
12 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it. Well above the 100 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
No current price on file for this amplifier.
7
Onkyo Icon M-80
Onkyo Icon M-80
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $2,000
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
8
Advance Paris X-A160 EVO
Advance Paris X-A160 EVO
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 160 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 100 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with an 8 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
Were these amplifier recommendations useful?
It helps us tune the matching, and we read every comment.

Sensitivity and impedance figures are the manufacturer's own. We read sensitivity as dB at 2.83 V/1 m and take 2 dB off it, because published figures run high. Treat the result as a well-founded starting point, not a measurement. Full Wharfedale Denton 1S specs.