Wharfedale Denton 1S review: these compact little standmount speakers are all business

Date:
Tue, 03 Nov 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Description:
They're bijou, yes, but they're all business where it counts and you won't need a brute of an amp to drive them

FULL STORY ======================================================================Wharfeda le Denton 1S: Two-minute review Wharfedale has been having a lovely old time with its range of Heritage loudspeakers lately revisiting, remixing and reworking some of its Greatest Hits. The new Denton 1S, though, is slightly different. Its an update of a 1974 design that went all-out to present as modern and forward-thinking. And so this reinterpretation has a modern retro vibe rather than the antique feel of other Wharfedale Heritage models.

The curvy cabinet with its recessed front baffle, the mildly dramatic coaxial driver arrangement (which sees the tweeter positioned in throat of the mid/bass driver) and the handily compact dimensions are all attractive and the option of a fairly deep blue as a finish doesnt do any harm in this respect either. The numbers, both in terms of frequency response and of sensitivity, are encouraging too. And when theyre doing their thing, its immediately apparent that the Wharfedale Denton 1S are no mere pastiche they are a profoundly competitive pair of loudspeakers on their own terms and yes, it's a good enough performance to make them some of the best stereo speakers on the market, right now. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

The sound is, ultimately, slightly small-scale but its organised, confident, entertaining, loaded with detail and has real unity and singularity to the
way its presented. Yes, $999 / 649 spent elsewhere on a small pair of passive standmount speakers will buy you something different in sonic terms, certainly, but its very debatable indeed as to whether it can buy you
anything better . Wharfedale Denton 1S at Peter Tyson for 649 Wharfedale Denton 1S Review: Price and release date Launched May 31, 2026 List price of $999 / 649 / AU$1,699 The Wharfedale Denton 1S speakers are available now,
and in the United Kingdom a pair will set you back 649. In the United States this solution costs $999, while in Australia the going rate is AU$1,699 or thereabouts.

At this money, the just about cheaper Dali Sonik 1 might be their chief competition, at $900 / 449.99 / AU$849. And just to throw it out there, while many pricier options obviously exist, Cambridge Audio's Award-winning active L/R S can be yours for a little less, at $549 / 399 / AU$949. Something to consider, anyway. Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Features Coaxial tweeter / mid/bass driver Brilliance switch Rear-facing bass reflex port Passive loudspeakers have purity of purpose and are, unless someones being bloodyminded, relatively simple devices. Their list of features is seldom exhaustive. Its a sign of just how straightforward passive loudspeakers tend to be that the Denton 1S stands apart simply because of a small rocker switch on the rear of each cabinet. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Unlike 1974s original Denton 1, the Denton 1S features a truly coaxial driver arrangement. Here a 25mm soft-dome tweeter sits in the acoustic centre of a 165mm mid/bass driver made from polypropylene. Here, as with any coaxial driver, the idea is to offer superior time-alignment and driver integration. (Image credit: Future) With the forward-firing drivers bolstered by a rear-facing bass reflex port, Wharfedale is quoting a frequency response of 50Hz 20kHz and sensitivity of 88dB that second figure strongly suggests
this speaker will be in no way tricky to drive. Of course, the orientation of the reflex port means that low frequency presence is likely to increase the closer to a rear surface the speaker is positioned and thats where the
little rocker switches come in.

Its described as a brilliance control, and its two positions are labelled
norm and max. The idea is that setting the switch to max will give a 1.5dB boost to the 2 - 4kHz area, which should allow the upper frequencies to hold their own against the emboldened low end in the event that the reflex port is delivering a little too much of a good thing. Of course, it will take the listener roughly no time at all to establish whether or not they think the
max setting is a good idea or not. Features score: 5 / 5 Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Sound quality Detailed, energetic and rhythmically coherent sound Great imaging and stereo focus Ultimately sound fractionally small-scale Owners of loft apartments, aircraft hangars and the like, look away now. Theres a huge amount to enjoy about the way the Wharfedale Denton 1S perform, but when it comes to outright scale, the ability to fill an authentically large space with sound, there are better options around that cost a similar amount of money.

Everyone else, though, should read on.

No matter the source of music, no matter if its as straightforward as Looped by Kiasmos or as relatively complex as Re-make/Re-model by Roxy Music, the Denton 1S get an immediate handle on it. Theyre a generously entertaining listen, vigorous in a nicely controlled manner, and carry enough detail along with them to make sure youre as informed as you are stimulated. (Image
credit: Future) That coaxial driver arrangement works a treat inasmuch as the imaging and stereo focus the speakers are capable of is completely
convincing. Theres a unity and a togetherness about the way the Wharfedale present recordings thats never less than enjoyable and periodically
absorbing. In combination with their spirited and enthusiastic attitude, it makes for a genuine sense of performance even if youre listening to a recording that was never a performance in the first place. And while the soundstage isnt the largest, its properly defined and rigorously organised.

The tonal balance is, fractionally, on the warmer side of neutral but as
long as the system thats powering the speakers isnt overtly toasty then it really shouldnt be an issue. Frequency response, too, is just slightly
titled. Theres a tiny suggestion of emphasis on the lowest frequencies, but again this is only likely to be a concern if the speakers are powered by a bass-centric set-up. Anyway, low-end control is confident and the Wharfedale express rhythms with real coherence as a result. (Image credit: Future) Midrange resolution is impressive too, and theres real eloquence to the way the Denton 1S handle voices. Detail retrieval, which is impressive across the board, really comes to the fore here the character and attitude imbued in a vocal performance, as well as information regarding timbre and technique, are made apparent. And at the top of the frequency range, the Wharfedale attack with determination but theres plenty of substance, as well as brilliance, to treble sounds, and never any suggestion of edginess or hardness.

The attention to detail extends as far as the dynamic of harmonic variation, and theres a fair amount of capacity where the broader dynamics of volume or intensity are concerned. When the charge into the last chorus or the massed orchestral crescendo kicks in, the Denton 1S track it faithfully and they do so without altering their sonic characteristics in the slightest.

And you dont need a brute of an amplifier to enjoy all of these admirable attributes. The Wharfedale are in no way tricky to drive; even a modestly priced amplifier with unremarkable power numbers should have no problem getting the best from these speakers. And the best is, on a pound-for-pound basis, at least on a par with the very best around. Sound quality score: 4.5
/ 5 Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Design 330 x 236 x 229mm (HxWxD)
Magnetically attached grilles Choice of three finishes The coaxial driver means the Denton 1S should be just as happy (and effective) positioned on its side as it is standing upright. And the fact that Wharfedale has provided an integrated fitting for a wall bracket suggests the company thinks the speaker will perform successfully if its wall-mounted too. Cabinet depth of 229mm (which obviously increases with the pair of speaker cable binding posts at
the rear) doesnt automatically shout wall-mount! to me, though, I have to admit.

Mind you, no matter where you position the Wharfedale they look good. The cabinet features the same curves and the same recessed front baffle as the original Denton 1 in white, especially, theres more than a hint of that late-60s / early-70s futurism that started years previously with the likes of Dieter Rams and Stanley Kubrick. Unlike the original model, though, which was made from moulded polyurethane that looked and felt super-modern but was a
bit of a disaster in acoustic terms, the Denton 1S is made from bonded and braced fibreboard. Less modern, more effective. (Image credit: Future) That recessed front baffle allows the magnetically attached grilles to almost sit within the cabinet, and theyre flush with the top, bottom and side panels
when theyre in position. Both the grille and the front baffle features a
quite assertive stylised W logo that lets you know youre in the presence of a Heritage Wharfedale design.

The compulsory options of black and white are joined by a third finish the deep-ish blue of my review sample. Each of the available finishes looks good, no two ways about it, but the dimensions and the shape of the Denton 1S could quite easily lend themselves to quite a few other colours. It works for Dali and Cambridge, and I see no reason why Wharfedale shouldnt produce the Denton 1S in some livelier finishes than are currently on offer. Design score: 4.5 / 5 Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Usability and setup Attach some speaker cable running from an amplifier Position the speakers to your satisfaction Experiment with grille and brilliance switch Just as with features, theres really not too much to get your head around here. Youll decide to position your speakers on dedicated stands, or on wall-brackets, or on a shelf no matter where you want them, though, theyll need to be connected to an amplifier via a couple of lengths of speaker cable.

After theyre positioned and running, you have just a couple of chances to
have some input into the way they sound. The sonic difference between grille on and grille off is, quite honestly, less significant than the visual difference but you will most definitely have a preference as to whether you prefer your brilliance switch at norm or max. Usability and setup score: 5 /
5 Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Value Its very hard indeed to argue against
the notion that theres great value for money on offer here. The Wharfedale Denton 1S are properly made, expertly finished, visually interesting (everythings relative, after all), intriguing on a technological level and, most importantly of all, sound engaging and alert. Unless you crave
absolutely as much sonic scale as this sort of money can buy, theres an awful lot to enjoy and even admire here. Value score: 4.5 / 5 Should I buy the Wharfedale Denton 1S? Buy it if...

You like a bit of positional flexibility Portrait or landscape, speaker
stand or shelf even the wall isnt completely off limits.

Modern retro is your thing Wharfedale has managed to take the spirit of the original design without turning it into a pastiche.

You enjoy lively and informative sound Theres no shortage of finesse here, but the Wharfedale are predominantly interested in a good time. Don't buy it if...

You want to fill a particularly big space with sound The soundstage the speakers create doesnt escape the confines of the cabinets quite as fully as it might

You enjoy vibrant interior decor All three of the available finishes are
nice enough, but none are a match for the vivacity of the Denton 1S sound Wharfedale Denton 1S : Also consider

DALI Sonik 1 The DALI Sonik 1 are usefully smaller and usefully more affordable than the Wharfedale Denton 1S - and in their own way, theyre just as successful when it comes to performance. They can get overconfident at the top of the frequency range in a way the 1S simply dont, though Read our full DALI Sonik 1 review.

Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 Spend a little more than Wharfedale is asking and
the 606 S3 by Bowers & Wilkins come into range. Theyre a brilliantly refined, detailed and punchy listen - but in visual terms theyre made to look a little pedestrian by the Denton 1S. Read our full Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 review . How I tested the Wharfedale Denton 1S With the Wharfedale Denton 1S on a pair of Blok Axis stands, I connect them to my reference system: Cambridge Edge W power amplifier, Eversolo DAC-Z10 pre-amplifier, Technics SL1300G turntable (with Goldring 1022 cartridge and preamplified by a Chord Huei), Arcam ST25 network streamer and Rega Apollo CD player so I was able to listen to music from many storage formats and at a wide variety of resolutions. And then in
an effort to up the retro credentials just a little, I replaced the pre- and power amplifier with an A&R Cambridge A60 integrated amplifier from 1976. First reviewed: October 2026 Read TechRadar's review guarantee Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Wharfedale Denton 1S: Price Comparison 649 View 649 View voucher gift 649 View voucher gift Low Stock 649 View No price information Check Amazon Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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