A British Hi-Fi Great Just Reimagined Its Classic 1970s Bookshelf Speakers

According to the brand, they’re a “reinterpretation of what a compact, modern hi-fi loudspeaker can be.”

Two black bookshelf speakers on stands flanking a wooden cabinet with stacked audio equipment and decorative items.

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Published May 15, 2026

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Wharfedale introduced its Heritage series in 2012. It consists of reimagined versions of its classic loudspeakers from the 1960s and 1970s. At the time of writing, there are eight individual loudspeakers in this Heritage series.

Just last month, the British audio maker revealed an outlier to the series in the Heritage Centre, as it isn’t a new version of an old loudspeaker.

Instead, it’s a center-channel speaker designed to match the Denton (bookshelf speakers) and Linton (standmount speakers), both are in the Heritage series, so that their owners can build out their stereo system into a 3.1- or 5.1-channel home theater system.

Fast forward a month, and Wharfedale has introduced a ninth addition to its Heritage series. And it gets back to the range’s tried-and-true formula.

Wharfedale Denton 1S

Pair of black Wharfedale speakers, one with mesh grille and one showing the woofer, on a reflective surface. — The Denton 1S is a re-engineered and reimagined version of the company’s 1974-released Denton 1.

The Denton 1S is a pair of passive bookshelf speakers and the latest addition to the company’s Heritage series. It’s a reimagined version of the company’s original Denton 1, which was released in 1974.

Like the originals, the Denton 1S are bookshelf speakers with a modern design (curved cabinets) and a unique coaxial driver, which positions the tweeter inside the mid-woofer unit, making it appear like a single driver. (KEF is probably most famous for its coaxial driver designs.)

Two black speakers on stands flank a wooden cabinet with a stereo amplifier and decorative vases under an abstract painting. — The Denton 1S are relatively easy to drive loudspeakers, and can be paired with a wide range of amplifiers.

Pair of white bookshelf speakers with black mesh fronts and silver audio components on a wooden cabinet.

Wharfedale claims that the Denton 1S is not a simple revival of an older loudspeaker, but “a clean-sheet reinterpretation of what a compact, modern hi-fi loudspeaker can be.” Basically, even though it looks similar to its predecessor, it’s been re-engineered from the ground up.

It features a newly developed two-way coaxial driver that places a 25mm silk-dome tweeter inside a 165mm polypropylene mid-woofer unit. Both drivers radiate from a single acoustic center, which helps the Denton 1S deliver an accurate sound.

According to the brand, the result “is a remarkably unified presentation with stable stereo imaging, a wide, immersive soundstage and consistent tonal balance across a broad listening area.”

Close-up of a black speaker driver mounted on a white speaker cabinet with rounded edges. — The Denton 1S features a newly developed coaxial driver array, with a 25mm silk-dome tweeter concentrically mounted within a 165mm mid/bass cone.

Close-up of the back of a white speaker with a circular port, two speaker wire terminals, and a brilliance control knob. — The rear-panel Brilliance EQ switch allows for subtle tonal adjustments based on the speaker’s positioning.

The Denton 1S is a fairly compact standmount speaker (or average-sized bookshelf speaker) with a bass reflex enclosure. But despite its size, it promises to deliver impressively deep bass: down to 45Hz (-6dB).

The speakers have an 88dB sensitivity and an 8 ohm nominal impedance, meaning they should be easy to drive by a wide range of amplifiers. According to the brand, this makes them a “flexible partner for both classic hi-fi systems and modern integrated amplifiers.”

As for looks, each Denton 1S features a curved, contemporary cabinet design with retro-inspired badging. They’re available in three matte paint finishes: black, white and blue. And each pair comes with detachable cloth grilles.

Black wall-mounted speaker on a patterned dark wall in a modern cafe interior with pendant lights and seating. — The speakers can be stand-mounted, shelf-mounted or wall-mounted.

Pair of black Wharfedale bookshelf speakers on a polished marble surface with one speaker grille on and the other off. — No matter the color finish, each pair comes with detachable black cloth grilles.

Availability and pricing

The Wharfedale Denton 1S are available to order now from the company’s website. They’re expected to start shipping later this month.

A pair costs $999.

Blue Wharfedale speaker with a single black driver on the front panel.

Wharfedale Denton 1S

$999 at Wharfedale USA (Pair)

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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