Wharfedale LoudPanel Wall Speaker (Natural Wood Frame with Black Subwoofer)

by Wharfedale

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.4 x 19.6 x 22 inches ; 26.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 35 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B00004SY5J
• Item model number: PPS1 Natural
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,679 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Some folks say they want a revolution--but not many are actually part of one. Wharfedale's LoudPanel wall speakers (also available with black wood frames) let you rid your home of obtrusive box-design speakers. A little more than an inch thick, the LoudPanels look exactly like a pair of picture frames and hang directly on the wall--you can even decorate them with your own images, whether paintings or commercial art prints. The package also comes with a small yet butt-kicking passive subwoofer that, to our admitted surprise, sounds mighty fine.

Flat speakers themselves are nothing particularly new--electrostatic and planar magnetic types have been around for ages. Like conventional cone drivers, those technologies act like pistons, pushing back and forth to create sound. (Electrostatics and planar magnetics, like conventional speakers, also need space to breathe, usually requiring at least three feet between speaker and wall.)

NXT, the company that developed the technology for Wharfedale's LoudPanel, has invented something entirely new--a speaker that, much like a piano, acts as a vibrating soundboard. Also like a piano, the LoudPanel is nondirectional, which means that room placement and seating arrangements are not especially critical when compared to normal speakers.

Finally, because random energy is emitted from both sides of the panels, the panels need no enclosure to contain the sound-killing out-of-phase air, making for very thin structures that can be placed right against the wall.

Hooking up this three-piece system is a cakewalk. Any concerns about the LoudPanels' sound quality were quickly addressed: the sound is remarkably clear rather than muddy, the high frequencies present and accounted for (though the treble isn't quite as extended as that from most conventional tweeters). And dynamic range? Very good, if less explosive than some box designs.

The LoudPanel's sonic strengths are its spacious presentation, fine detail, textural clarity, and the even balance between its panels and subwoofer. (The sub, in fact, can be tucked away in a corner or under a coffee table.) The LoudPanel is not quite as airy sounding as most conventional systems, but then most conventional speakers dominate whatever room they're in. And keep in mind that the LoudPanel sounds as good as or better than most comparably priced in-wall speakers.

The bottom line: If you hate having speakers in your room (or simply don't have room for speakers) but love music and home theater, Wharfedale's LoudPanel system has your name all over it. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Picture-frame cosmetics disappear in a room
• Can be decorated with art of your choosing
• Clear, spacious, nonlocalized sound
• Subwoofer packs plenty of wallop
• 5-year warranty

Cons:

• Works best in a reflective room (not too much carpet or furniture)
• High frequencies are slightly attenuated
• Dynamic range not as explosive as some conventional designs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wharfedale - Speakers as Art, August 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Wharfedale LoudPanel Wall Speaker (Natural Wood Frame with Black Subwoofer) (Electronics)

The Loud Panels from Wharfedale allow the placement of the speaker to blend in with the livingroom. The technolgy behind them is interesting as it differs from the stndard cone speaker. The Loud Panel allows for a room with live acoustics (many surfaces) to sound better. The limitations come when the room has a larger number of people in it, or lots of SOFT surfaces, sofa, drapes etc.. These soft surfaces absorb the sound and make these not the ideal speakers for the room. The Speakers rated response doesn't really hit the lows as well as I would like, 30hz is the rated low end.

I do like the ability to place a poster in the frame and not detract from the sound (about 18"x19") and the subwoofer is small for easy placement.

If you are building a high end system these are not the speakers for you, but to give quality sound to a room that has decorative limitations you have the perfect set-up.

I found them to be pleasant to listen too and the flexibilty of placement was their strongest attribute (they sound good too).

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Loud Panels (application review), December 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Wharfedale LoudPanel Wall Speaker (Natural Wood Frame with Black Subwoofer) (Electronics)

These are an excellent choice as a rear channel speaker. takes up no room and you can put a 16x20 poster print in them to cover the white panel. (this does not affect the sound). plastic frames...yes, but a little simulated wood-grain contact paper and an exacto knife and you got a psuedo-wood frame.

Now to the speakers themselves: Good sound with the PASSIVE subwoofer attached...without the sub, they sound thin and bright.

These don't even begin to sound right till you give them some real watts...(not a speaker for someone with a 50 wpc receiver). Now when they get linear you have a speaker (sub attached) that i would rate between a 3-4... If you add too many watts the sound worsens (rated at 70 watts, and thats pretty accurate). I tested these as both stereo speakers and HT rears. as fronts I wouldn't put them in a room bigger than 12x12. the sound is non-directional, so there is no soundstage, but they arent that bad for casual listening.

OK for home theater as back or side channels (where soundstage isn't an issue); they do a very good job...they dont need a symetrical placement like box speakers. as a rear speaker compared to other HT rear speakers, they rank a solid 4. If you have a high-powered system that you usually crank up...these will be a disappointment... But at 50-70 watts of input these will do a very good job... sure, they are 'inexpensive' looking, sorta 'inexpensive' sounding, but remember one key point...they *are* 'inexpensive'...and like others before have commented, they really are cool.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for a bedroom surround sound system, May 15, 2001

By 

Shannon Whitaker (Cleveland,OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wharfedale LoudPanel Wall Speaker (Natural Wood Frame with Black Subwoofer) (Electronics)

I have 2 sets of these in my bedroom hooked up to an Onkyo DR-90 all in one Dvd stereo, with a wharfedale center. All who have heard it have been surprised at how great it sounds. I dont even need a powered sub with the 2 passive subs. A big tip for all, Do not adhear pictures to the loudpanels,instead use a spray adheasive and put your pics on cloth, this way you can easily change the artwork, it also looks more like finished framing. With a set-up like mine people would not even know that you have a full surround sound system,but crank it up and they will envy what they can't see.

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