The Best Vintage-Style Speakers for Modern Hi-Fi Setups

Active and wireless loudspeakers may be the future of the category but the desire for old has never been stronger in audio. Vinyl, audio cassettes and reel-to-reel have all made a comebacks in recent years. So, too, have high-end loudspeakers that look like they were plucked straight out of the 1970s.

JBL, Klipsch and Wharfedale are three brands at the tip of the spear, where they’ve been for more than 75 years — outlasting myriad format wars, advancements in amplification technology, the home theater revolution and the shift to active and wireless loudspeakers.

Each company also makes new-age versions of its classic loudspeakers, catering to audiophiles who love the look of retro gear but still want modern technology and state-of-the-art sound. (Shag carpeting sold separately.)

Wharfedale Linton Heritage

Crutchfield

Wharfedale Linton Heritage

Specs

Frequency Response	40-20,000 Hz (±3dB)
Power Handling	25-200 watts
Sensitivity	90 dB

• $1,798 at Crutchfield
  $1,998 (10% off)

Wharfedale introduced the original Linton in 1965. The loudspeaker utilized three drive units and developed a strong following with its smooth midrange, punchy low end and sense of scale.

The model disappeared from its lineup in the ’70s, but it was recently reintroduced as the stand-mounted Linton Heritage. Wharfedale also makes a custom stand for the Linton Heritage that puts the tweeter around 36 inches from the floor and includes room for records.

The three-way loudspeakers are larger than most bookshelf loudspeakers and the stands a logical accessory to maximize their performance. The modern Linton features an 8-inch Kevlar cone woofer, 5-inch Kevlar cone midrange driver and 1-inch soft dome tweeter. Listeners may decide to ditch the woven grille covers. However, these give the Linton that old-school look that makes them stand out.

Wharfedale designed the Linton with two rear ports which require giving these loudspeakers some distance from the wall behind them; the 8-inch woofer can deliver the goods playing Led Zeppelin with only 20 watts so don’t confuse old with polite.

The Linton Heritage speakers offer all of the midrange resolution and natural sound of the original, but with a lot more detail, speed and transparency. If your budget can stretch to $1,800 (which includes the stands), the Linton should be on your short list.

JBL L100 Classic MkII

Crutchfield

JBL L100 Classic MkII

Specs

Frequency Response	40-40,000 Hz (-6 dB)
Power Handling	25-200 watts
Sensitivity	90 dB

• $2,400 at Crutchfield

JBL introduced the original L-100 Centurys in 1970 and they soon became one of the best-selling loudspeakers of all time. Priced at $250 each back then, they were derived from JBL’s 4310 studio monitors and the home version were fussy beasts that needed space and a lot of power.

The L-100 Centurys were detailed and dynamic-sounding loudspeakers that worked well with classic rock but were not the last word in refinement. Their trademark orange, blue or black foam grille covers are still coveted by collectors today.

JBL reintroduced the L-100 Classic in 2018 and after the sticker shock wore off, audiophiles discovered that decades of driver innovation at JBL were something to appreciate in the new design.

The L-100 Classic utilizes JBL’s pure-pulp cone five-inch midrange drivers, 12-inch bass driver, and 1-inch Titanium dome tweeter in a stand-mounted loudspeaker that delivers all of the accuracies of the world’s best studio monitors, but with a lot more finesse and a warmer tone than the original.

The L-100 Classics still require a lot of space and a powerful amplifier, but they fill a large room with ease and are one of the most dynamic sounding loudspeakers available for the price.

Klipsch Heritage Forte

Crutchfield

Klipsch Forte IV

Specs

Frequency Response	38-20,000 Hz (±3dB)
Power Handling	100-400 watts
Sensitivity	99 dB

• $4,998 at Crutchfield

Paul Klipsch developed the legendary Klipschorn with the premise of recreating the sound of live music in the home, and that Klipsch “sound” has remained true for over 70 years.

While the physical size of the Klipschorn doesn’t make them practical for most rooms, the Heritage Forte loudspeakers are, and the updated versions are much easier to use in most listening spaces.

The Forte was introduced in 1985, but there is considerable daylight between the original and the latest version, though it still looks like something your father had in his living room in the 1970s.

The Fortes are large, heavy and unlikely to impress anyone initially with their drab appearance — but all that changes the moment you drive the super-efficient speakers with 10-15 watts of tube power and put some distance between the loudspeaker and your listening position.

Music pours out of the Forte’s drivers and smacks you in the face; in a good way that becomes more natural sounding once you get over the shock. Unlike other Klipsch models which can sound bright and forward sounding, the Fortes sound more restrained without sacrificing the tone, dynamics and sense of realism they deliver.

All genres of music work with a pair of Fortes. And with warmer sounding amplifiers and sources, they make a lot of really super expensive audiophile loudspeakers sound rather lifeless.

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