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Wharfedale speaker identification

24.6.2.172
Posted on August 4, 2010 at 21:28:00
vpeebler@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: August 4, 2010
 I Recently bought a pair of vintage Wharfedale speakers that don't have a model number displayed on them. They are very big 3-ways encased in wood (24 in high, 21 in wide and 13 in deep) and are very heavy. They only have one control knob in the back to adjust the sound. Also I opened one of them up (there are 10 long screws in the back and the front has no access) and found out on the drivers it says "Made in England". I'd like to know when these were made if possible. The Wharfedale identification is attached to the cloth in the upper right hand corner. They have a very good sound and are in remarkably good condition. Previously I read somewhere on the internet that the original drivers for these vintage speakers were constructed using wool instead on paper like other ones from this era. I don't know if that is true or if mine are ones like that but they sure have held up a long time. Please send any information concerning this mystery.
Thanks

 

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RE: Wharfedale speaker identification, posted on August 5, 2010 at 05:25:52
tbcblues
Audiophile

Posts: 1958
Location: OKLAHOMA
Joined: May 22, 2002
 A picture might help, but sounds like a w-70 or w-70d model - I've owned a couple pairs of these, but was more impressed with the looks of the cabinets than with the sound. I think they're probably 1970's vintage, but my knowledge is limited.

 

RE: Wharfedale speaker identification, posted on August 5, 2010 at 09:53:55
vpeebler@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: August 4, 2010



Maybe a photo would help. Here's one.

 

W70 it is. (nt), posted on August 5, 2010 at 11:33:52
sanman
Audiophile

Posts: 1780
Location: Redwood Coast
Joined: November 13, 2004
x
"When the demon is at your door, in the mornin' it won't be there no more"
Steely Dan

 

RE: Wharfedale speaker identification, posted on August 6, 2010 at 08:42:52
Brian Levy
Audiophile

Posts: 2438
Location: Toronto
Joined: June 5, 2000
 Try recapping them. They are a very good speaker and one of the better out there. Low coloration not voiced for a particular music style though on classical and jazz they excel. With rock, etc. many persons tend to prefer the coloration of the west cost voicing.
Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada

 

RE: W70 it is. (nt), posted on August 6, 2010 at 10:54:56
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 Doesn't the W70 have that kick-ass fullrange as it's heart?

Dave

 

RE: Wharfedale speaker identification, posted on August 6, 2010 at 12:06:32
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I like my rock through a more neutral speakers. Rock sounds fine to me on my W90's!

Dave

 

I remember the speaker in the photo, posted on August 6, 2010 at 21:13:42
PeterH


 
These were sold when I was a kid in the early 60s. I think they cost $150 - $180, whereas the next model down cost $115-$135 I think (circa 1962). It runs in my mind that they had a 12 inch woofer and maybe a pair of 5 inch tweeters. They had the famous Wharfdale 'sand-filled baffle.' The cabinet walls are a sandwich with sand between two layers of wood. I think all Wharfdale speakers of that period had this feature. It may not be as elegant as B&W's matrix or Celestion's aerolam but it probably outperformed simple bracing as many speakers still use today.
The coolest Wharfdale from that period was a bigger square box on legs with four woofers. These things were very wide and tall but less than a foot deep, and had decorative cross-pieces making a square shape within the larger square of the grill. I wonder if any survive?

 

I have the 3 drivers for that, posted on August 9, 2010 at 18:46:49
PeterI
Audiophile

Posts: 1432
Location: Colorado
Joined: October 17, 2006
in case anyone needs one, i have a 12" woofer from W70.

Pete

Denver

 

RE: I remember the speaker in the photo, posted on August 10, 2010 at 13:06:03
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 - The coolest Wharfdale from that period was a bigger square box on legs with four woofers. These things were very wide and tall but less than a foot deep, and had decorative cross-pieces making a square shape within the larger square of the grill. I wonder if any survive?

These are the W90 speakers. I have a pair. My mother is using them in her living room.

Dave

 

RE: Wharfedale speaker identification, posted on August 10, 2010 at 22:29:36
ariel767


 
I've got a pair of W60D's that I bought new in 1968. They're still working as rear speakers.I think they have sand filled cabinets. Can you post pics?

 

RE: Wharfedale speaker identification, posted on August 12, 2016 at 17:00:31
alanbaratz@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Location: New York
Joined: August 12, 2016
 I have a pair of Wharefdale W70's. The bass and lower end of the mid-range are good.The problem is that the high end is very poor. I have tried adjusting the crossover but it does not seem to have any effect. I have read about switching out the capacitor. Is that the answer? I live in NYC and am wondering if there are any audio technicians who can diagnose and do the repair.

 

RE: Wharfedale speaker identification, posted on August 13, 2016 at 12:38:35
2sixR
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Location: Ca
Joined: July 22, 2014
 yep, those are the W70's, probably early 60's era... if you look inside you can see the month/year in white on the back of the driver cones showing the year they were built... also, the red band on the magnet identifies the drivers with the Alnico magnets, which are the better drivers - they went to a ceramic mag driver later on... these speaker do their best with vintage tube amps like Fisher and HH Scott... great for jazz and music from the era of their design.

Some had PIO caps, others electrolytics... I replaced my small electrolytic cans with some vintage paper in oil caps... nice smooth sound at not too crazy volume levels.
2sixR

 

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