Wharfedale E30/50/70 - Any good ?

This is a longstanding itch that I can either ditch or act upon: - when I first started with hifi I knew somebody who had a pair of these (but can't remember which ones now). I was at that impressionable age and I was impressed. They sounded better than my Wharfedale Lintons anyhow and looked very 'rock & roll'

Now 40 years later I sometimes see a pair for sale and think ..... shall I ?
But rather than dashing out, like I would have done in the 70s, and making a rash purchase, I wondered if people here have ever had them and would encourage me to get them or leave them alone ?

I still have my original Lintons but they are in storage and not used. My system is hooked up to B&W DM2, which I like and probably not going to replace, but if the E series are worth having I may swap them around occasionally.

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Originally Posted by Vinyl turner

This is a longstanding itch that I can either ditch or act upon: - when I first started with hifi I knew somebody who had a pair of these (but can't remember which ones now). I was at that impressionable age and I was impressed. They sounded better than my Wharfedale Lintons anyhow and looked very 'rock & roll'

Now 40 years later I sometimes see a pair for sale and think ..... shall I ?
But rather than dashing out, like I would have done in the 70s, and making a rash purchase, I wondered if people here have ever had them and would encourage me to get them or leave them alone ?

I still have my original Lintons but they are in storage and not used. My system is hooked up to B&W DM2, which I like and probably not going to replace, but if the E series are worth having I may swap them around occasionally.

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It depends what you mean by any good.... I would only go for the E70 and E90 models as being built for very high efficiency they will have poor bass extension for their size. I also remember being most impressed by them... when I was 15... I guess they were built to go effortlessly loud and sound good on rock music etc. I would expect them to be a bit harsh and shouty on the "wrong" music though.

For better or worse, you'll find they have a fair bit in common with seventies JBL's like the L100 Century or L36 Decade.

I've heard a set of the little ones (in a record shop) and they were a bit average and toppy, too, so agree with Jez only the 70 or 90 are worth considering. They are on my list to try as well. People want unrealistic money for them though.

Considering the money the Wharfedale 'E' series fetch these days, the money would be better spent on a pair of Tannoy Devons or Eatons, which will do everything better. Better than the JBL's too.

The Wharfedale E series does have its fans, and they can sound impressive, but for me they fit into the 'bleeding ears' category. :chainsaw:

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Originally Posted by walpurgis

Considering the money the Wharfedale 'E' series fetch these days, the money would be better spent on a pair of Tannoy Devons or Eatons, which will do everything better. Better than the JBL's too.

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Thanks for that Geoff,
T.B.H. Tannoys have been off my radar until reading glowing praise for them on here. I keep looking but they always seem expensive - £1k+ ...
I know some have said certain models are better than others, so I'll take note for the two you mention.

Also, thanks for the other comments received - they are very useful and there is clearly a theme here.
Hopefully somebody who has a set will give us their thoughts.

i can completely relate to the "itch", but be prepared for a letdown.
in my case the scratch was provided by a pair of ahem....REALISTIC Mach 2s.

having seen a these monsters in Tandys in the early 80s I could never shift the thought of all that 15" woofer goodness out of ny mind.
I chanced upon a pair a few years back, refoamed and in good condition to boot.

after a 2 hour drive to collect them I was almost pissing myself with excitement when I finally got them home and wired in.
the result.....shockingly bad, not even a "fun listen".

given the cab size there was no bass worthy of the the name and the top end could cut steel.
flogged them on a couple of days later to a drum na bass, hipperty hop lover.....he loved em, bless.

NIGE