Worth troubling with ... Wharfedale W60D?

RE: Worth troubling with ... Wharfedale W60D? , posted on November 1, 2013 at 08:29:15
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	For listening to: Yes! For resale: No! Dave

RE: Worth troubling with ... Wharfedale W60D? , posted on November 1, 2013 at 11:53:41

bjh
Audiophile

Posts: 18614
Location: Ontario
Joined: November 22, 2003

Well that's the idea! lol

Add to the collection.

There's a W70D (pair) that is said to have been fully checked out and OKed... everything working :)

It's like + 40 years!

---

Hey I just noticed ... W60D - no port! Is that true of the W70D as well? I didn't expect that.

Wharfedale SFB ... open baffle???, posted on November 1, 2013 at 16:18:34

bjh
Audiophile

Posts: 18614
Location: Ontario
Joined: November 22, 2003

I just notice Whar... is mostly sealed boxes, then this!

What gives?

If..., posted on November 1, 2013 at 16:34:39

realistico
Audiophile

Posts: 1303
Location: New England
Joined: January 12, 2003

You have the room, and the muscles, a pair of w70d's could be nice. Two things to look out for are the mid and tweeter pots can get intermittent and need cleaning. Also those purple dome tweeters are fragile and replacements are hard to find. Which may turn out to be a good thing, since a more modern tweeter could be the thing to liven up the sound. And no, no port. These are sealed, and the backs (which unscrew, which is how you get into them) are filled with sand to decrease vibration. Which also increases the weight.

good luck,
--Matt
"When you think everything is someone else's fault, you will suffer a lot."
--Dalai Lama

Well-documented Briggs design., posted on November 1, 2013 at 20:17:43

jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000

Been discussed extensively on the net, and the dimensions were the inspiration for the JE Labs / Japanese enthusiast OB designs of a few years ago.

The SFB (Sand-filled baffle) is another example of 'what goes around, comes around' - a good idea re-presented to a younger generation of music-lovers. Apparently they sound very good.

Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."

RE: Worth troubling with ... Wharfedale W60D? , posted on November 2, 2013 at 17:21:37
w1cbs@yahoo.com Audiophile Posts: 1 Joined: November 2, 2013	Running a pair of 60Ds right now. Marantz SR5007 receiver and Polk 10" subwoof....Sound great.

RE: If..., posted on November 3, 2013 at 16:57:13

bjh
Audiophile

Posts: 18614
Location: Ontario
Joined: November 22, 2003

I've made a deal to purchase these

We agreed on a price but he is going on vacation and plans to contact me upon return ... Hope I get to hear the fat lady sing.

I've seen different styles of the W70D but not one like that. Moreover I've even seen different driver arrangement, most are 4-ways with the purple tweeter, yet I've also seen 3-ways that look factory build (that were identified, perhaps incorrectly, as W70D).

Not sure what I'm getting LOL

RE: If..., posted on November 3, 2013 at 17:26:47

realistico
Audiophile

Posts: 1303
Location: New England
Joined: January 12, 2003

The w70D I had did not look like those, cosmetically, but the dimensions of the cabinet look similar. Mine were the 4 way with the purple tweeter. I suspect the cabinets were available in different styles to suit different tastes. I also understand that they even shipped drivers overseas and cabinets were built locally, which makes sense since it would cut down on costs if you were selling speakers around the (at the time) far-flung British Empire...

good luck with those,
--Matt
"When you think everything is someone else's fault, you will suffer a lot."
--Dalai Lama

RE: If..., posted on November 4, 2013 at 10:21:53
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	I think you will like the Warfedale sound. Low/medium powered tube amps are the way to go. Dave

RE: If..., posted on November 4, 2013 at 12:18:11

bjh
Audiophile

Posts: 18614
Location: Ontario
Joined: November 22, 2003

Hope so, W70D for a bedroom FM system.

Currently there is too much gear in the bedroom because my last project, restored/modified Realistic Mach 1, want more power to sound their best than the 35w/ch receiver I have, and which I wanted to be the *only* piece (besides the speakers) in the bedroom.

If the Warfedale's work out I'll likely seek out a vintage tube receiver to team up with them as per your suggestion.

BTW, I've noticed that relative to some other cherished vintage speakers (Tannoy, JBL, etc) the Warfedale's can be had very cheaply. Perhaps because the desired Warfedale models are mostly 60's vintage where the others are 70's or even a little latter?

RE: Well-documented Briggs design., posted on November 5, 2013 at 12:30:35
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	I have never heard these but I'd bet I would like them! Dave

RE: If..., posted on November 5, 2013 at 12:38:18
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	I think the lack of popularity of Warfedale is due to a few factors. They are not very well known. Although they play loud (especially my W90's!) the don't handle a lot of power. They are a very unconventional designs. If you can get over all of that, you can have some great sound! Coincidentally, I have a pair of RatShack Mach II's waiting for new surrounds. Dave

RE: If..., posted on November 9, 2013 at 13:13:09

Brian Levy
Audiophile

Posts: 2438
Location: Toronto
Joined: June 5, 2000

I assume you mean in the US. In other parts of the world the brand did and still has better name recognition. Like many other British brands Wharfddale used BIC. Sadly except for Garrard BIC was not one of the better foreign goods importers and distributors.

A limitation of many foreign goods manufacturers then and even now is the need for capacity to fill the US pipeline. British makers were limited in this way as most of their audio industry was what would be a cottage industry, i.e. small manufacturing that did not have the capital to make the numbers needed to fill the US market. Britian was not nor is the only country with such a challenge. It continues today as evidenced by issues Canadian companies I deal with have found.

Also, British pricing structure did not recognise and account for the US system that was quite different. As a result dealers had more incentive to advertise and push competing products and very little incentive for salepersons to recommend and sell the speakers. Ad money and spiffs over rode quality of sound and qualifying customers in an unbiased manner.
Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada

RE: If..., posted on November 11, 2013 at 09:41:29
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	Yes, I mean US. That is the only market I know. Having been in the business, I know what you are talking about. Dave

Vintage Asylum

Worth troubling with ... Wharfedale W60D?

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