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Wharfdale Shelton XP2 Speakers Any Good?

162.237.197.62

Posted on November 19, 2020 at 22:08:19
Posts: 216
Joined: August 9, 2003
Friend of mine told me that these speakers from the 70s are the real Wharfdale speakers. I actually heard them the other day with new caps in them. Pretty surprised of how they sounded on some decent stands, mid high level end equipment. Hybrid integrated, etc. What do you guys think? Buddy also said that these speakers were made in England with made in house drivers. Ger.

 

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"real Wharfdale speakers", posted on November 20, 2020 at 02:01:20
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10293
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
I had a neighbor who used the w90d's with sand filled enclosures in the plywood. I think they were 60's.

Purple mylar tweeters, 2-12 woofers with square ceramic magnets (?)

I was thoroughly convinced back then even though I was an impressionable punk.



 

RE: Wharfdale Shelton XP2 Speakers Any Good?, posted on November 20, 2020 at 07:20:35
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2362
Joined: September 27, 2004
Are we talking about the 2XP rather than XP2 - I presume so?

This dates from mid-70s - it features in my HiFi Year Book 1976, but not in my 68/69 one, although it was then named "Denton 2XP". I suspect the Shelton was a very similar version a year or two older or younger.

The Golden Age for Wharfedale was when Gilbert Briggs, a brilliant speaker designer, was running it and they produced everything in house in Idle, Bradford, Yorkshire. Their drivers were considered about the best available with Goodmans as their main competition. Drivers and XOs were available for DIY'ers.

Although Briggs sold the business in 1958 to the Rank Organisation, they continued with updated Briggs' designs until the late 60s as far as I can establish, with their address still at Idle. By the 70s the company was more interested in mass sales and the business was no longer considered as an innovator. I doubt by then they were producing all their drivers in house and their "house" may well have moved overseas by then as their address was Rank's HO in Chiswick.

The 2XP was the smallest of their range in 1976, having an 8" bass and 2" mid/top driver and priced at

 

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