Chat
Contact us
Close contact box
Connect ID #
690 672 428 4
Connect ID #
690 672 428 4
Don't wait on hold. We'll call you back when it's your turn to talk with the next available .
Please enter your name  
Please enter your phone number  
Please enter a message  

Calls may be recorded for training and quality control purposes.

We are located in Virginia USA.

Thank you. We will be calling you .
We're sorry. We have encountered a problem.

Wharfedale Denton 85 Bookshelf speakers (Mahogany)

Item # 336D85MGY

The Denton 85 is a celebration of Wharfedale's storied history and combines an iconic design with modern engineering.

The Denton 85 is a celebration of Wharfedale's storied history and combines an iconic design with modern engineering.

12 questions - 18 answers

Item # 336D85MGY

Low stock
$999.00 -$97.40 Outlet savings
$901.60 pair

Other options

About the Wharfedale Denton 85

Kramer Crane

Classic look, modern sound

For a remarkable 85 years, Wharfedale has delighted music lovers with their diverse lineup of high-quality loudspeakers. The Denton 85 is a celebration of the British hi-fi company's storied history, combining an iconic, timeless design with modern engineering and superb craftsmanship.

Classic look, modern sound

For a remarkable 85 years, Wharfedale has delighted music lovers with their diverse lineup of high-quality loudspeakers. The Denton 85 is a celebration of the British hi-fi company's storied history, combining an iconic, timeless design with modern engineering and superb craftsmanship.

Wharfedale Denton 85 bookshelf speakers

Each Denton 85 features an inset front baffle and hand-applied wood veneer finish.

Sparkling performance

Wharfedale is known worldwide for their natural, revealing, ultra-smooth sound. The Denton 85 is no exception — it uses the same 6-1/2" Kevlar® woofer and 1" woven textile dome tweeter that are found in the company's popular Diamond Series.

For the best performance, I recommend pairing the Denton 85s with a quality home theater receiverpower amp or integrated amplifier.

Upscale fit and finish

Each Denton 85 is hand-finished in walnut or mahogany by Wharfedale cabinet makers. An inset front baffle and traditional black cloth grille add to its classic good looks.

Get the most out of your new speakers

Proper speaker placement is crucial to getting the best sound out of the Denton 85s. Placing them on a pair of speaker stands helps eliminate unwanted vibrations and reflections. Read my article on stereo speaker placement for positioning and setup tips.

READ LESS

Product highlights:

  • pair of bookshelf speakers for music or home theater
  • 1" woven textile soft dome tweeter
  • 6-1/2" woven Kevlar woofer
  • frequency response: 45-20,000 Hz (±3dB)
  • recommended amplifier power: 20-120 watts
  • sensitivity: 88 dB
  • nominal impedance: 4 ohms
  • each enclosure is hand-veneered by Wharfedale cabinet makers
  • woofers are mounted in a special die-cast chassis to ensure dynamic performance
  • bass-reflex design with dual rear-firing ports
  • binding posts accept pins, banana connectors, or bare wire
    • two sets of input terminals allow bi-amping or bi-wiring
  • removable cloth grille
  • 9-7/16"W x 13-7/16"H x 11-15/16"D
  • weight: 19.8 lbs. each
  • warranty: 5 years
  • MFR # WHDEN85THRM

High-performance amplifier recommended. See receivers & amps for this speaker

What's in the box:

  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
  • 4 Jumper-plates (pre-installed)
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads
  • Pair of white gloves
  • User's Manual

Scratch & Dent items may be missing non-essential accessories. In some cases the manufacturer's accessories have been replaced with generic equivalents.

See the difference between "Open Box" and "Scratch & Dent" Outlet items

Customer reviews for Wharfedale Denton 85

Loading reviews...

Average review:

5.0 out of 5 stars
46 reviews

Thanks for submitting your review

Filter by rating

Customer photos

Customer provided image, click to load a larger version.
Customer provided image, click to load a larger version.

Sort reviews

Sort by:
Items per page:
View page:

Verified customer (What's this?)
Verified employee review (What's this?)

Reviewed on Samsung.com

This review was collected as part of a promotion

Pros:

Cons:

Crutchfield response
Customer provided image, click to load a larger version.
<< >>

More details on the Wharfedale Denton 85

Stacey B.

Features & specs

Enclosure Ported
Finish MDF/Wood Veneer
Color Mahogany
Tweeter Type Soft-Dome
Tweeter Size (inches) 1
Midrange Size (inches) N/A
Woofer Size (inches) 6.5
Woofer Composition Woven Kevlar
Woofer Surround Rubber
Power Range 20-120
Sensitivity 88 dB
Impedance (Ohms) 4
Frequency Response 45-20k Hz
Connector Type Binding post
Bi-amp Inputs Yes
Height (inches) 13-7/16
Width (inches) 9-7/16
Depth (inches) 11-15/16
Weight (pounds) 19.8
Wall-mountable No
Bracket Included No
Recommended Stand Height (inches) 24-28
Parts Warranty 5 Years
Labor Warranty 5 Years

Product Research

Features

Two-Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker: The Wharfedale Denton 85 is a two-way bookshelf loudspeaker which incorporates a 1" textile soft-dome tweeter and 6.5" woven Kevlar cone woofer. A finely tuned crossover guarantees a smooth transition between the tweeter and woofer with an enjoyable audible experience, both on and off-axis.

  • 1" Tweeter: High frequencies are handled by a 1" woven textile soft-dome tweeter with high flux ferrite magnet, engineered for smooth, detailed high frequency extension.
  • 6.5" Woofer: The 6.5" woofer features Wharfedale's innovative woven Kevlar cone mounted on a rigid die-cast chassis for rich, detailed bass/midrange output with superb dynamic performance.

"Classic"-Style Bass Reflex Cabinet: The Wharfedale Denton 85 features a "classic"-style bookshelf enclosure that is beautifully hand veneered in a Black, Mahogany or Walnut finish. It features an inset front baffle and traditional black cloth grille. There are two rear-firing ports that aid in increasing efficiency and delivering bigger bass response.

Dual Binding Posts: Each bookshelf loudspeaker has two sets of binding posts connected by jumper-plates. The binding posts will accept bare wire (up to 10AWG), pin connectors, spade connectors, & banana plugs (single only). Using these dual binding posts, you can bi-amp or bi-wire the speakers. Bi-wiring or bi-amping the speakers provide improved bass & treble performance. If you decide to bi-wire or bi-amp, you must remove the jumpers between the terminal posts (failure to do this could result in damage to your amplifier and loudspeakers).

  • Bi-Wiring: Bi-wiring can provide noticeable improvements in the overall transparency of your loudspeakers. Run separate speaker wires to the low & high frequency drivers from a single amplifier (the upper set of binding posts are for the high frequency drivers; the lower set of binding posts are for the low frequency drivers).
  • Bi-Amping: Bi-amping allows you to use separate amplifiers for the high & low frequency sections of your loudspeaker for greater dynamic range & lower distortion. We recommend that your separate amplifiers have identical gain to preserve the speaker's voicing balance.

Mounting & Placement Options: The bookshelf loudspeaker can simply be mounted on a speaker stand (sold separately - see Accessories Tab), tabletop, shelf, or other piece of furniture with a solid flat surface. Self-adhesive rubber pads are included to place on the bottom of the speaker to protect your mounting surface and provide greater stability. The rubber pads add approximately 0.125" to the overall height of the speaker.

  • Try to position the loudspeakers equidistant from one another and the main listening position.
  • The speakers should ideally be positioned so that the tweeters are roughly at ear level to a seated listener.
  • The speakers can be "toed" or angled (up to 30°) into the main listening position to control the soundstage or "sweet-spot".

Note: The Denton 85 does not include a bracket, keyhole slot, or threaded insert to wall-mount the speaker.

Loading accessories...

Customer Q&A

12 questions already asked

Q
what speaker stands can you recommend for this speaker? I was thinking a 24" Pangea
joseph  Jul 15, 2023
1 answer
A
Pangea would be an excellent choice, Joe. Both the DS-200's in the first link or the sturdier DS-400's in the second link would be a great pairing to the Wharfedale Denton 85's. Both are available in the 24" height you need! https://www.crutchfield.com/p_325DS20024/Pangea-DS-200-24.html https://www.crutchfield.com/p_325DS40024/Pangea-Audio-DS400-24.html
bo  Jul 15, 2023 (Staff)
Q
Will my NAD C3050E have trouble powering these?
darrin  Mar 15, 2024
1 answer
A
Greetings Darrin. Thank you for your question. Your NAD will put 100 watts to these. You can only run one pair as they are 4 ohm speakers.
hogan  Mar 16, 2024 (Staff)
Q
Are these speakers a good match for use with an Audiolab 6000A integrated amplifier?
jeffrey  Apr 08, 2023
1 answer
A
Excellent question, Jeff. The exquisitely finished Wharfedale Denton 85's can handle 120-watts max RMS, and they do need at least 20-watts to function properly. The clean and crisp Audiolab 6000A would deliver around 75-watts max RMS into a 4-ohm speaker like the Dentons, and that is right in the sweet spot performance wise! I see no issues here, and this would make a fantastic pair. To get the most out of your setup, consider using the Audioquest Rocket 33 Bi-wire cables in the link below! https://www.crutchfield.com/p_703R33BW10/AudioQuest-Rocket-33-10-foot-pair.html
bo  Apr 08, 2023 (Staff)
Q
How is it if compared with KEF LS50 ?Im struggling on chosing both of these speaker which is the best for me, by the way I like to hear vocal, and bass sometime, and Im using Marantz PM8006 amp with Teac Nt505 dac
eric9711  Jan 06, 2022
1 answer
A
Thanks for your question. For information on comparing two or more models I would recommend reaching out to an Advisor by phone (1-800-324-9695) or online chat. They will be able to help determine the differences and help you make the best choice for your system and your budget.
kenneth  Jan 06, 2022 (Staff)
Q
I used to have these speakers on a stand and moved twice and they were wonderful. Now I've moved again and have them sitting on a entertainment unit with no stand and they sound muffled. Could this be the lack of stand or a problem with the wiring...?
emma  Jun 06, 2021
3 answers
A
Speakers are affected by their environment because they bounce sound off of nearby surfaces in the same way that a light bulb causes light to reach you by illuminating other surfaces in the room. Unfortunately the best sounding location for the speakers isn't always the most convenient and most speakers need space around them to sound their best.
bryan  Jun 07, 2021
A
I think the most likely Scenarios are: 1) You reversed the wires 2) They are too close to a wall or back panel of entertainment center which would affect the sound greatly if too close. I have the stands and realized I mixed the POS. and neg. (Red/black) even the I was "sure" I had gotten right. I had to take the red/black ends of my speaker wires to feed through the tubes on the stands, so it was difficult to know which end was which. The wires themselves were not marked.After thinking I had a myriad of other issues causing the muffled sound, turns out it was the simplest mistake. Good luck.
mike  Jun 06, 2021
A
Definitely get them back on the stands and a couple and 18" from walls.
scott d  Jun 06, 2021
Q
Do the ST-1 stands work with these speakers?
steven  Mar 27, 2021
1 answer
A
Yes. They seem to be designed for them (even if they aren't). They are of very good quality. There are openings for cable routing, which is a little tedious, but work well once wires are run.
mike  Mar 28, 2021
Q
How far from rear wall should these speakers be placed?
kevin  Dec 10, 2020
4 answers
A
I have mine between 2-3 feet. It's subjective to your rooms acoustics though. Move them close and far as well as play with the toe in or out and you will find what is best for your listening room.
douglas  Dec 22, 2020
A
I had good results in my room and set up around 20"
scott d  Dec 22, 2020
A
I have them approx. 12 inches with a slight toe-in. They are truly wonderful. Sound better as you break them in. Using them with a 6w tube; 45w hybrid & (soon) the new Outlaw Audio receiver @ 110w. Rated on line as one of the best speakers below $1000...enjoy!
greg  Dec 22, 2020
A
16"-20" seems to give the best bass response
joshua  Dec 21, 2020
Q
I have a vintage Yamaha CA-810 stereo amplifier. It's power output is 65 watts per channel into 8O (stereo). Can it drive these 4O speakers? Would love to buy these, but I'm afraid the answer is no.
pete  Apr 17, 2023
1 answer
A
Hi Pete, thank you for your question. From the specs I can find on your cool Yamaha amp, you have 80 watts RMS at 4-ohms. That should be enough to drive the Wharfedale Denton 85's!
andrea  Apr 17, 2023 (Staff)
Q
I've never had speakers with bi-amp terminals. How do I connect to them?
dennis  Dec 03, 2022
1 answer
A
That will depend on whether or not you are bi-amping or bi-wiring the speakers. If you are NOT bi-amping or bi-wiring, leave the terminal jumpers in place and simply use one each of the positive and negative terminals on each speaker. If you are planning to bi-amp or bi-wire, here is a link to an article that discusses both in detail: https://www.crutchfield.com/learn/why-biamp-your-speakers.html
zachary  Dec 04, 2022 (Staff)
Q
I've just got these speakers and they sounded overly bright with high sibilance (..sss..). Does anyone found the need to break these in and for how many hours? Thanks.
jim  Aug 08, 2021
1 answer
A
Hi. I had the same concern. My wife said they hurt her ears. I swapped out jumper bars with these 4 Units - 6 Inch - Canare 4S11 - Audiophile Grade - 11AWG - HiFi Speaker Cable Jumper Terminated with Gold Banana to Spade Connectors from Amazon. They toned down the Dentons considerably. I'm glad I found a solution for her ears b/c I love the speakers. Hope this helps.
eric  Aug 10, 2021
Q
Will the Denon PMA-600NE provide enough power to these speakers?
thomas  Jun 23, 2021
1 answer
A
While it wont give them the full RMS they can handle, it is on our list of recommended amplifiers for these speakers. :)
thomas  Jun 25, 2021 (Staff)
Q
I have a Yamaha A-S701. Will it be able to power these speakers without any issues?
dustin  Oct 29, 2020
2 answers
A
Your Yamaha integrated amp will be able to power these speakers because it is able to power 4 ohm speakers and has plenty of power for them.
jason  Nov 26, 2020 (Staff)
A
Simple answer to your question is yes, however this speaker really shines with vocals. There are better options at this price point for rock and rap such as the Dynaudio Emit 20. I have personal experience with both speakers as I own both.
scott d  Nov 23, 2020
SHOW MORESHOW LESS

Loading articles...

Compare all details
Compare the sound