Wharfedale Jade 3 loudspeaker Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Rega Research Planar 3, VPI TNT IV turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood, Koetsu Urushi cartridges.
Digital Sources: Creek Destiny, Lector CDP-7T CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 75.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Excite X14, Epos Elan 10.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Accent Speaker Technology Blue Thunder.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Celestion, Echo Busters, Salamander Designs, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina

COMPANY INFO
Wharfedale, IAG Group Ltd.
US distributor: Sound Solutions, LLC
1811 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, IL 60660
(312) 738-5025
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Lofty's picture

I'm looking for stand mounted speakers at this price point. I intend to audition the Dynaudio Excite X14 and the Polk LSiM703. Now, due to Bob Reina's most positive review I will certainly add the Jade 3 to my audition list. One aspect of JA's measurements concern me and that is the upper bass peak in figure 3. Just wondering if Bob or John heard any male vocal chestiness which would be a deal breaker for me.

malou's picture

Keeping in mind the Opus line was Wharfedales top line before they discontinued it here in Canada
I believe it is available in the U.S.
I would audition the Opus2 M1 and M2 first.
From my experience with the Opus line they need a huge break in time especially the tweeter 500 hours Plus !

I was at Audio Oasis in Toronto earlier today and George had the Jades hooked up to a Xindak PA M amp and it was Magic

Hi-Reality's picture

Dear Robert,

I think one of the essential values of your reviews is for your readers (at least for me) to be able to experience what you experienced by replicating your setting (as much as possible) and to be able to verify (again, to any degree possible) your subjective observations that you so beautifully formulate in words.

"The bass-synth blasts and transients literally shook my large listening room, but with no sense of strain or compression."

How large room? what shape? how did you place the speakers; how far from side/front walls? what is the vendor's own recommendation, if any?

I asked the same question from Stereophile's Mr. Herb Reichert in his just published review of (the clue) speakers; no response yet.

We all know how significantly room/acoustic and listening position affect the perceived sound. With lack of these info I think your reviews are incomplete. May I suggest that the highly talented Stereophile's reviewers include for each review a very simple drawing of the room size, its shape, speakers and listener positions?

I think this info would be a great addition to Mr. John Atkinson's detailed measurements. And hopefully very useful for many of us.

Other than my critique above; I definitely have to hear the performance of a pair of Wharfedale Jade 3 loudspeaker in the Hi-Reality project after reading your exciting review.

Regards,
Babak (M.Sc. EE Signal Processing)
Founder and project manager,
The Hi-Reality Project, www.hi-reality.org

corrective_unconscious's picture

Sorry I have not found the moment to visit your website. It must be an event.

How big is your project's listening room? Where do you place the speakers in it relative to the front/side walls? Did you buy them? Why does the founder also have to be the lowly "project manager"? How many other employees does The Hi-Reality Project have...since you're making such a big deal out of job titles?

Did anyone ever actually send you a review sample or give you an industry price or take you seriously in any way, shape or form?

I think this info would be a great addition and hopefully very useful for many of us. As would learning that low end response is called, "bass," like the fish, not "base," like part of a lamp.

Regards,

rssarma's picture

I noticed the comment about shorter stands being better for these speakers due to the limited retinal dispersion. Given the height of the speaker, would regular 24" stands prove to be too tall?

TiFramelock's picture

The Wharfedale stand for the Jade 3 is 25" tall...so you should be fine with the 24" as long as the top plate fits well enough for this somewhat deep stand mount.

texanalog's picture

I'm having a problem understanding how that statement squares with the measured 5db frequency response plateau between 3 - 11 kHz. A designed 5db plateau like this is excellent performance? Help me understand!

X