WHARFEDALE Dovedale. Monitor for stand. Rear bass reflex. 3-way (treble 1'', mid 5'', woofer 10''.  25 - 250 W. 89 dB. 6 Ω.

British manufacturer Wharfedale is 90 years old and to celebrate it has done what it does best: a new loudspeaker. During the Munich High End 2022 celebration it presented the new Wharfedale Dovedale Heritage loudspeakers. It is a three-way floor-standing model, which retains similar proportions to the classic Dovedale models of yesteryear. The wood-veneered enclosures have an antique look, but the standard of finish is distinctly contemporary, paying tribute to the craftsmanship required to produce such a loudspeaker (in the words of the manufacturer).

The original Dovedale models, which date back to 1959 and were updated in 1965, were known for their rich, natural sound. The new model retains these attributes but improves performance in all departments, with free-breathing dynamics and greater definition in the bass and mids. The new model has been built on the basis of the classic Wharfedale Dovedale 3 and the current Linton loudspeakers. The Wharfedale Dovedale Heritage, however, is larger than the latter and is designed to offer greater low-end extension, improved detail and a much wider soundstage.

Wharfedale Dovedale: three ways and a stand designed for maximum sonic quality

The Wharfedale Dovedale Heritage features a 3-way design with two rear-mounted bass reflex ports, hand-veneered with a front baffle insert and a traditional fabric grille. Both the midrange and treble units are offset in the front baffle to disperse reflections from the cabinet edges and provide superior focus of the stereo image. The speakers have been acoustically tuned through hundreds of hours of listening tests with all types of music to ensure that the cabinet, crossover and drive units work together consistently and smoothly.

The Wharfedale Dovedale uses a wide baffle by incorporating a large, 10-inch Kevlar cone bass driver. This is mounted in a rigid die-cast chassis, a combination that delivers, according to the manufacturer, a rich and controlled bass output with excellent dynamics.

Both the bass and midrange (5-inch) drivers feature cones made of Kevlar fabric, an exceptionally strong and rigid synthetic fibre discovered the same year as the original Dovedale was launched and not used for speaker diaphragms until a decade later. The highs, on the other hand, are handled by a 25 mm fabric dome tweeter with a ceramic magnet, which is present throughout Wharfedale's Heritage series. In the Wharfedale Dovedale it has been further enhanced by incorporating a rear chamber, damped to absorb the output from the back of the dome.

Each Wharfedale Dovedale speaker comes with a custom designed stand. This is a handmade stand made in England, with a design that is based on an open frame made of carbon steel and glass furniture inserts at the top and bottom.

All but one of the uprights are filled with damping material, the other allows for cable management, with four large stainless steel spikes at the base. The stand ensures that each speaker is positioned at the correct height, as well as reducing bass/floor interactions and providing torsionally rigid and stable support. The package is completed with a set of stainless steel spiked seats and a pair of handling gloves.

Technical characteristics:

General description: stand-mounted loudspeaker with 3-way ventilated enclosure.

Cabinet type: Bass reflex.

Transducer complement: 3-way.

Bass driver: 10' (250 mm) black woven Kevlar® cone.

Midrange driver: 5" (135 mm) black woven Kevlar® cone.

Treble Driver: 1" (25 mm) soft dome.

AV Shielding: 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 and 2.9kHz.

Cabinet volume (in litres): 8.6L, 64.7L.

Dimensions (mm):

Height (in plinth): 660mm.

Width: 370mm.

Depth (with terminals): (417+30)mm.

Enclosure 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.