A True British Classic
For 90 years, Wharfedale has been bringing the world's finest loudspeakers to the world of home audio. The new Dovedale model exemplifies the company's legacy in fine loudspeaker design and manufacturing, combining fine craftsmanship, natural sound quality, and affordability in a beautifully proportioned loudspeaker.
The Dovedale is the first speaker to be manufactured in Wharfedale’s new UK facility in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the home of British Hi-Fi, by highly trained and experienced loudspeaker experts. This three-way stand mount model stands out in the modern era with its vintage look and contemporary finish. The original Dovedale models, dating back to the W2 in 1959, were well known for their rich and natural sound quality, and the new model retains these attributes while upgrading the performance in every department with free-breathing dynamics and incredible definition across the bass and midrange, more than just a reintroduction of a classic model, it is a celebration of the landmark 90th anniversary of the Wharfedale brand. This speaker exudes authenticity and is a true British classic, proudly made in Britain.
More than a Reintroduction
The Wharfedale Dovedale Loudspeaker is a timeless piece of audio equipment that combines traditional design with advanced technology for optimum performance. The precision-shaped internal bracing controls cabinet resonances, providing clear and uncolored sound for an exceptional listening experience. With its traditional yet modern design, the Dovedale is a stunning piece that will last a lifetime and enhance any music lover's audio setup.
Three-way to Perfection
The three-way drive system is a classic example of the company's traditional design, hand-veneered with an inset front baffle and traditional cloth grille. The midrange and treble units are offset on the front baffle to scatter reflections and provide superior focus on the stereo image. The speakers are precision matched, ensuring that the sonic images in the stereo sound field are always accurately placed. Through hundreds of hours of listening tests with all types of music, the speakers have been fine-tuned acoustically to ensure that the cabinet, crossover, and drive units work together seamlessly.
Dovedale Bass
Dovedale makes use of its wide baffle by incorporating a large (by modern standards) bass driver with a 260mm (10-inch) Kevlar® cone – mounted on a rigid die-cast chassis, this combination delivers a rich, controlled bass output with superb dynamic performance.
Dovedale Midrange
The 10in (25cm) bass and 5in (13cm) midrange drivers incorporate cones made from woven Kevlar – an exceptionally strong and stiff synthetic fibre discovered in the same year as the original Dovedale’s release and not used for loudspeaker diaphragms until a decade later.
Dovedale Treble
The 25mm fabric-dome treble unit with a ceramic magnet, featured throughout Wharfedale’s Heritage Series, has been further improved by incorporating a rear chamber, damped to absorb the output from the back of the dome. This also has the advantage of reducing the resonant frequency of the treble unit to well below the crossover region, allowing full treble detail and harmonics to be revealed without affecting the smoothness of the high-frequency performance.
Making A Stand
The Wharfedale Dovedale stand is custom designed in conjunction with Wharfedale’s Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau. Every aspect is considered to create the perfect presentation of the Dovedale Heritage speaker.
Hand-made in the England, with robust British steel and a luxurious furniture-grade glass insert, the Dovedale stand reinforces the no-compromise approach in the ‘Made in the UK’ theme for the return of the Wharfedale Dovedale.
The design is based upon open frame made of carbon steel and furniture-grade glass inserts at the top and bottom. All bar 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 each speaker is positioned at the correct height, as well as reducing bass/floor interactions and providing stable and torsionally rigid support. The package is completed by a set of stainless-steel spike seats and a pair of handling gloves.
