Design, Clarity, Bass response

Really Nothing, the grills are a little cheasy, but they do the job

These are among some of the best speakers I have EVER heard. They did take a little break in time for the bass to really show up, but after a few hours they really came to life. The clarity and spacial imaging from these speakers is top notch. I am running these along with a modus music center channel, and some cheap rear surrounds off of my Yamaha RX-V795a, and the sound is astonishing. I am still amazed everytime I watch the matrix, or the new T2 ultimate edition dvd. I am not using a sub, and frankly can't imagine ever needing one. For the size these speaker really produce great overall sound

My recomendation......Buy as many as possible

Similar Products Used:

Modus 1-6, Bose

Price.

grills, made in China,and so on....

Well I had been using an old pair of Pioneer speakers that my dad use to listen to 25+ years ago. After going around and listening to any speaker I could in the 300-450 range and wasn't really satisfied with any of them for the dollar to sound ratio. I decided to get on here (www.audioreview.com) and see what they folks here had to say. Well, the name Wharfedale popped up and most people said it was a great deal. I was skeptical, and figured it would either be a good 400 dollar lesson in getting e-screwed, or I would be getting a great speaker for the cash. Well into the online auction excitement I go. I grabbed a pair for only 187, I’ve seen people grab them a lot lower though.

They showed up at my house in slightly dented boxes, damn UPS workers. I had read about everyone saying the grills were cheap, and I did expect them to be...but damn, I broke off a piece of one, in the first 15 minutes out of the box. The speakers look a lot better without those garbage grills.

The construction of the speaker box is what I expect for this price range. Grills being the exception.

I hooked them up to my heater/receiver, a Technics SA-AX710 (read the reviews). I listened to them for a few minutes, the bass was very lacking, to break in the speakers (as everyone has mentioned) I put a few classical CDs in the CD player, hit Repeat, and left for work with the volume set at a moderate level. When I would come home I would listen to them for improvement, after 30-40 hours they seemed to be complete. They sounded better than I had thought. I threw everything from Rock to Goa Trace at the speakers. They had tight bass and great mid and high range. I plan to stick with these speakers for a while (3-5 years), for the money, they're they best out there. For hanging under the 700-1000 dollar mark, these towers pack a lot of sound quality to dollar ratio.

I'm very happy to have these speakers, excellent sound quality, great bass and smooth highs. For the money I spent I don't have a lot of negative comments, only a few...

First, the grills, yes I know everyone talks about them, but hopefully Wharfedale will hear our cries. And secondly, the floor spikes supplied were very disappointing to say the least. But these are very minor complaints in the scope of the speaker as a whole.

If you're looking for a good speaker for the dough, the 89's are the way to go.

They get a Value Rating of 4 Stars, because I still had to pay for them.
They get an Overall Rating of 4 Stars because of the grills, but other than that, they will satisfy the crave for better A/V gear...for now.

stereo imaging, warm, smooth midrange, and yes BASS

None so far

Let's put this bass issue to rest. These speakers have TREMENDOUS bass. Some of you will read that last sentence and refuse to believe it. But, rest assured, I know what I'm talking about. When I purchased these speakers, I was building my home theater, and assumed I would need a subwoofer based on speaker size (and the fact that a subwoofer just seems to be integral to home theater). I quickly found that speaker placement is critical.

Placement description:
I have these speakers placed on each side of the arch that separates my entry way and living room, with the speakers facing the living room and turned ever so slightly in. These speakers have both front and rear firing ports, so you want to keep them AWAY from a wall as far as possible. The nearest wall behind these speakers in my setup is about 8 feet. Set up like this, these speakers have outstanding bass that is rich, full, but not boomy. With the screen down and the lights off, theses tall slim speakers just disappear on each side of the screen and all I'm left with is beautiful sound!

But let's not forget power. I'm using an 80 watt per channel high current separate amplifier. High power is the key. You simply won't get the right sound out of a smaller amp or combination reciever.

Fit and finish is impeccable. Very solid and stout. Sturdy
gold plated binding posts are a plus.

Could not be happier about my purchase.

good value good imaging

does not handle bass in classical music very well

For speakers which are advertised as great BRITISH speakers I was surprised that mine were made in China. Got it thru ubid for $167 each.As far as value, $$$ for sound ,it is a good value. Other than that I dont see why everybody is aving about them...I listened to many speakers and to me these are just about average. Listening to classical music like 1812 overture the cannons at the end got the speakers buzzing like bees....far cry from my Allison one....maybe they are defective...they are suppose to handle 200 watts..I doubt that...If you like classical music these speakers are not for you. They will be used asa part of a surround sound at modest volume..so they probably will do. Imaging, sound stage is very good ,that much I'll give them.. If I paid$300 more I would be disappointed. For what I paid they are a good value.. Myabe they need to be broken in as someone suggested. I will give it a try.

Similar Products Used:

Allison one.

Clarity, Sound Staging, Power, Great Music & Home Theatre Use

None that I have found.

These are mighty performers for a mini price! I got them for $172 each at UBID.com. Contrary to what others have said these are excellently constructed and the Rosewood model which I got are beautiful to look at and of great quality. But most importantly the quality sound that these babies produce is stellar! For both Music in stereo mode (Voices and sound are super clear) and as front speakers with built-in twin subwoofers (I have no need for my stand-alone sub now) for Home Theatre their performance are satisfaction to my ears and sense of feel (Booming Bass sound-effects shake my walls with medium output from my Dolby Digital Receiver- a Kenwood VR209 -see my Review here).

It's VERY, VERY IMPORTANT for maximum performance to properly place these. The fronts should be at least 3 feet from the rear wall and at an equal distance triangle between each speaker and the center listening position. They should also be toed-in towards the center listening position. This will hide the speakers in the sound field and in stereo mode give you a Phamtom sound effect all around you. Voice clarity and some sound effects will appear to be coming from straight center and simulated surround sounds from the sides and rear. Bi-wiring them to your Receiver/Amp is also best. The fronts should be 1 to 2 feet in front of your center channel speaker for a Home Theatre set-up.

I can assure you won't be disappointed or go wrong if you get these!

Similar Products Used:

Boston Acoustics

TREMENDOUS SOUND STAGE, VERY GOOD BASS FOR SMALL WOOFERS

NONE

REALLY AMAZING FOR THE PRICE, I HAVE READ SOME REVIEWS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FINISH, ROSEWOOD VINYL, BUT VERY ATTRACTIVE. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO, AS WITH EVERY SPEAKER IS A GRADUAL BREAK IN PERIOD. I LEFT THE TUNER ON CLASSICAL MUSIC TO A VOLUME THAT WAS LIGHT AT BEST, I LEFT THE TUNER ON ALL NIGHT AND DAY FOR 4 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. WHAT A DIFFERENCE. VERY IMPOSING SIZE, AND VERY IMPOSING SOUND. MY OLDEST SON WAS VERY IMPRESSED (he has heard many different speaker systems thru the years) AND I BOUGHT HIM A PAIR OF THE 87'S, AND THOSE ARE WONDERFUL AS WELL{I THINK I MIGHT LIKE THE 87'S EVEN MORE}.SO, IF YOU WANT GREAT BANG FOR THE BUCK, ONLINE @UBID.COM AND GO GET EM.

Similar Products Used:

INFINITY,DAHLQUIST, JSE,BOSTON,SNELL,DEFINITIVE,MAGGIES,NHT,SPICA,ADVENT,AND HAVE FORGOTTEN SOME.

Great performance across a variety of music types. Rosewood cabinets are really well made and look great. A tremendous value purchased through ubid.com

Bass is marginal but can be improved with proper positioning of the speakers. Addition of a powered subwoofer really made a tremendous difference to overall listening experience

Like many others I got these delivered for about $400 from ubid. I hooked them up to my Kenwood VR309 reciever with a BIC 62 Center and they sounded great. You really have to play with them from a positioning stand point to optimize the sound.

For the value these speakers can't be beat.

Similar Products Used:

Bose

Beautiful sound

poor quality drivers

Have had continual problems with the low bass drivers going out on the Left chann. Contacted IAG and they sent me a new speaker..... Guess what... The new speaker had the same problem. I really want to love theese speakers but I just seem to have continual problems with them. The cabnets are beautiful and the sound is great. I can even live with the cheezy grills. But what can I say? I am seriously disapointed in the durability and design of the drivers. I will post a further review if I ever get the situation worked out in a satisfactory manor.

Similar Products Used:

Mission,KEF

none

everything

These speakers are from the factory reject!!! They come DOA!!!!! Had to call to replace tweets!! Once you open them up and reconnect the wires for the woof, the drivers will produce very annoying pops when played a tad loud!!!! Where do I call to join in a lawsuit????

The people that gave these speakers anything above 1 star must work for Wharfdale!!!!!!!!!

Amazing clarity, beautiful soundstage, incredible highs, decent bass, bi-wiring gold terminals, unbeatable price!

vinyl covering

These speakers rock!

I've have a complete Wharfedale setup, 89's for front, 87's for rear, and a Wharfedal Modius center channel. All powered by a Denon 3600dts reciever. I bought almost all of my equipment off www.ubid.com and I couldn't be more pleased. In all the shops I have visited, and all the stereo's I've ever heard...I've never heard a system that sounds better than mine, and all for about 3 grand! I personally like DTS better than Dolby Digital, and running a dolby digital, or espically a DTS movie, like "Gladiator" really makes my system come to life...The battles in my movies recreate sound like I'm actually there, with arrows whistling overhead, cannon shots rumbling my couch, and the crisp sound of fire tearing towards me with awesome realism. I just can't give these speakers enough praise for the price they are offered on ubid. My friends and family all agree that my home theatre setup is better than anything they've ever heard and that it is 10xs better than any movie theatre as well! :) If you want to put toghether a great system, buy a set of Wharfedale Sapphire speakers and couple them with a great reciever--you won't be dissappointed...I think most of the complaints against these speakers arise because they are being underpowered, or perhaps strained by crappy recievers. My first reciever was a dolby digital AIWA 120x5, supposedly AIWA's best reciever, and it just SUCKED. I noticed popping sounds in my Wharfedales with that reciever at the higher volumes, but come to find out it wasn't the wharfedales, but instead the crappy hardware of the AIWA reciever(NEVER BUY AIWA) When I upgraded recievers-first to the Denon-1700avr-and now the Denon 3600DTS the sound has improved incredibly.

BUY WHARFEDALE, BE HAPPY,

Jonathan Von Engeln
jvonengeln@hotmail.com

Similar Products Used:

too numerous to mention...many stereo shops demos etc.