What’s Old is New Again:
Wharfedale Denton Loudspeaker
Founded in 1932 by Gilbert Briggs, Wharfedale is a cornerstone of British audio heritage. Operating initially from his cellar, Briggs pioneered the use of the moving-coil loudspeaker, a technology that would redefine home audio.
By the 1940s and 50s, the company had gained international acclaim through legendary “live vs. recorded” demonstrations at venues like Carnegie Hall. Wharfedale was a leader in innovation, introducing the first two-way loudspeaker and the ceramic magnet. While ownership transitioned to groups like the Rank Organisation and later the IAG Group, the brand remains synonymous with the “British Sound,” blending traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering.
Our next “old is new” subject is a small Wharfedale speaker that has evolved many times since it was first introduced in 1967: the Denton. The evolution of the Denton series is defined by two distinct periods: the Vintage Era (1960s–1970s), which saw the debut of the original high-fidelity models, and the Heritage Era (2012–Present), marked by Wharfedale’s modern reimagining of the classic design.
The Old: Wharfedale Denton “Vintage” Series
The original Wharfedale Denton is one of the most storied names in British Hi-Fi. First launched in 1967, it helped pioneer the bookshelf speaker category by offering high-fidelity sound in a cabinet small enough to fit on a domestic shelf.
W20D Minorette / Denton
Launched around 1967, the original Denton was a compact 2-way design using an 8 inch woofer and a dome tweeter, often the famous Wharfedale purple plastic/mylar dome tweeter. It was a massive success because it offered “big” sound from a small box, making it a staple of late-60s living rooms. Originally, it was known as the W20D “Minorette”, but Wharfedale started calling it the Denton shortly after launch.
The Denton employed a “sealed box” (acoustic suspension) design, which helped it produce reasonable bass despite its small volume. Aesthetically, the Dentons used real wood veneers (Teak or Walnut) with a heavy, sand-filled rear panel—a signature Wharfedale technique of that era used to reduce cabinet resonance.
Denton 2
The Denton 2 was an evolutionary update to the original, refining the crossover and driver integration while maintaining the same 2-way format.
Denton 3
The Denton 3, introduced in 1971, was a significant milestone. It was a 3-way speaker (separate bass, midrange, and treble units) crammed into a tiny cabinet. It was marketed as the “smallest 3-way speaker in the world” at the time.
Denton XP Series
Later versions in the 1970s (like the Denton 2XP) featured improved power handling and “Extra Performance” (hence XP) to keep up with the more powerful solid-state amplifiers of the era. Wharfedale “retired” the Denton name after the XP series, as the company introduced modern designs and names for their new speakers, so this was the final version of the Denton for many years.
The New: Wharfedale Denton “Heritage” Series
In 2012, Wharfedale was celebrating the company’s 80th anniversary, and so the company reintroduced the Denton name by applying it to some modern small speakers. These were part of the “Heritage” series. The new Dentons looked vintage but used modern materials and techniques such as Kevlar cones and advanced software-modelled crossovers.
Denton 80
The first “new” Denton was the Denton 80, released in 2012 to celebrate Wharfedale’s 80th Anniversary. Just like the original, it was a compact 2-way speaker. It had a very warm, smooth, and “laid-back” sound, and featured a 5-inch Kevlar woofer and a recessed front baffle.
Denton 85
Five years later, to celebrate the company’s 85th anniversary, Wharfedale released another version called the Denton 85. Another 2-way design, it was a more “modern” take, with a larger cabinet and a 6.5-inch woofer. It is noticeably punchier and brighter (with more treble detail) than the Denton 80.
Super Denton
In 2024, Wharfedale introduced some “super” versions of their Heritage speakers. The “Super Denton” was a big upgrade, with 3-way design of the original Denton 3, adding a dedicated dome midrange driver for better vocal clarity.
Wharfedale Heritage Series
If you’d like to see the Wharfedale “Heritage” lineup, please follow this link: www.wharfedale.co.uk/heritage-series/
To see the entire Wharfedale product line, click here: www.wharfedale.co.uk/
