Gilbert Briggs began making speaker drivers in 1932 in Ilkley, Yorkshire near the river “Wharfe” and set up shop in nearby Bradford soon thereafter to sell ’em.
Briggs went on to develop the first two-way speaker in 1945 to meet growing demand for quality home audio and three years later he would publish “Loudspeakers: The Why and How of Good Reproduction”. And the rest is hifi history.
The original Dovedale models date back to 1959 and this all-new version was introduced to celebrate the company’s 90th anniversary. As you can see, it fits into Wharefdale’s Heritage line with lovely stout retro hand veneered appeal.
The Dovedale is a large, for a standmount, 3-way comprised of a 10-inch Kevlar cone bass driver, a 5-inch Kevlar mid-range, topped off with a 25mm fabric-dome tweeter. The lovely and sturdy British steel stands with glass insert are included. Frequency response is rated at 36Hz ~ 20kHz (+/-3d8) with an 89dB Sensitivity (2.83V @tm) and 6.5 Ohm nominal / 3.5 Ohm minimum impedance.
Dual ports, a pair of chunky speaker binding posts, and Wharefdale badge, “Loudspeaker manufacturer since 1932” adorn the just-as-lovely-looking backside. The Dovedale, like every speaker offered by Wharefdale, are made in their UK headquarters in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Wharfedale’s Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau, had more than a hand in the Dovedale’s design and I highly recommend listening to Darko’s podcast where Peter busts some hifi myths and shares decades of knowledge and experience in an easy to follow and entertaining manner. Bravo!
I’ve already got the Dovedale burning in on the Barn’s B-Side and look forward to listening to these classic lovelies.
Wharfedale Dovedale Standmount Speakers
Price: $6995/pair w/stands
Company Website: Wharfdale
US Distributor Website: MoFi Distribution
Specifications
| General Description | 3-way vented-box/ standmount |
| Enclosure Type | Bass reflex |
| Transducer Complement | 3-way |
| Bass Driver | 10′ (250mm) black woven Kevlar® cone |
| Midrange Driver | 5″ (135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone |
| Treble Driver | 1″ (25mm) soft dome |
| AV Shield | No |
| Sensitivity (2.83V @tm) | 89dB |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 25-250W |
| PeakSPL | 112dB |
| Nominal Impedance | 6½ |
| Minimum Impedance | 3.6½ |
| Frequency Response (+/-3d8) | 36Hz ~ 20kHz |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 25Hz |
| Crossover Frequency | 560Hz & 2.9kHz |
| Cabinet Volume (in litres) | 8.6L, 64.7L |
| Dimensions (mm) | |
| Height (on plinth) | 660mm |
| Width | 370mm |
| Depth (with terminals) | (417+30)mm |
| Carton Size | 570 x 520 x 835mm |
| Net Weight | 26.2kg/pc |
| Finish | Real Wood Veneer – Walnut Finish |
| Standard accessories | protective feet |
| Optional accessories | Dovedale Stand |
