Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:24 AM Page 1

Airedale Heritage
&Airedale Neo
Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:24 AM Page 2

The Airedale by Wharfedale

Our Head of Engineering, Steve Hewlett

has been charged with creating an enduring
statement piece – a loudspeaker which sets
an absolute standard in music reproduction.
They follow the finest traditions of artistic
craftsmanship and represent both the
contemporary and the traditional.

Uncompromising in design, and completely

hand-built, Airedale speakers are
engineered using the finest materials
available. Each and every drive unit and
component are bespoke designed, then
measured and calibrated within 0.5dB of a
reference standard.

Whichever model you choose, the Airedale

Heritage or the Airedale Neo, you are
assured of a loudspeaker that will never fail
to achieve the highest standard of
performance – a joy to behold now and for
generations to come.

‘Grand Prix’ 2002 Best Component

Stereo Sound Speakers
Swing Journal 2002

2
Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:25 AM Page 4

Recreating the Airedale

Wharfedale was founded in 1932, by

Gilbert Briggs. During the brand’s early
years, it became known for producing some
of the finest loudspeakers in the world.

During this time, the finest of these was the

‘Airedale’ – a large, chambered hexagonal
enclosure with Alnico magnets and the
famous upward firing ‘ambience tweeter’.

Now, Head of Engineering, Steve Hewlett

has created a masterpiece – a large format
loudspeaker, once again worthy of the
Airedale name. Retaining much of the
original design philosophy, the Airedale
Heritage faithfully follows the hexagonal
form of the original and the upward firing
tweeter.

The Airedale Neo extends the concept into

a modern aesthetic with cleaner lines and a
more conventional enclosure.

The Airedale -
constructed in a fine hand oiled
and waxed Walnut veneer, using
Steve Hewlett - Head of Engineering
furniture making skills built up
over generations.

4
Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:25 AM Page 6

Attention to detail Realism

As a statement loudspeaker, we ensure the
very highest standards of manufacture and
performance are maintained for all Airedale
models.
To this end, each individual drive unit is
tested and certified by an engineer. Each
completed loudspeaker is subjected to a
rigorous testing procedure, the results of
which have to be approved by Head of
Engineering, Steve Hewlett.
Each pair of speakers is supplied with full
certification and individual frequency
response graphs for each drive unit - so that
perfect replicas can be created should
anything happen in the future.
Airedale has been engineered to offer
something above the ordinary. To be
considered a superlative music reproduction
instrument, it must meet a number of
exacting criteria.
Firstly, it must offer breathtaking detail and
resolution. This requires a tweeter with a
response well into the inaudible frequency
spectrum.
Then, it must have a neutral, realistic mid-
range - uncoloured by cabinet boxiness and
revealing of the true recording.
Furthermore, it must have exceptional
bandwidth - capable of plumbing the depths
of timpany with not a breath of overhang.
Finally, it must gel completely in a package
that is ambivalent to room surroundings -
exhibits a broad, even dispersion without
phase interference or colouration. It must at
all times sound relaxed and effortless as it
traverses octaves.
It must present an almost holographic
representation of the recording which leaves
you in no doubt that you are in the presence
of a truly great loudspeaker system.

Performance

The performance expected from a speaker

such as Airedale is of the very highest
standard. Such a result can only be achieved
through complete design synergy.

Uniquely to Wharfedale, every single part of

every drive unit and component is
manufactured entirely in-house. From casting
the drive unit chassis and winding the voice
coils to producing the crossover PCBs and the
craftsman-built, furniture grade cabinet.

This allows us to control each and every

aspect of quality - ensuring that no
compromise is taken and that the finished
loudspeakers can provide a lifetime of
pleasure.

Airedale Heritage Airedale Neo

6
Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:25 AM Page 8

Acoustic Theory

The design philosophy of the Airedale
models follows traditional audiophile
principles. Each drive unit is meticulously
engineered for rigorous use, but under
normal conditions operates with around ten
percent of capacity.
Each driver is only asked to reproduce a
fraction of the frequency response it is
capable of. In particular, the dome mid-
range covers the entire vocal spectrum with
an unbroken response - critical for a
realistic, natural sound.
The tweeter operates only at frequency
extremes, whilst the ‘ambient’ tweeter of the
Airedale Heritage enhances room
integration, adding to the remarkable
soundstage.
The bass driver is a revolutionary ‘Tri-
Laminate’ cone, using a layer of woven
Carbon fibre between two layers of glass
fibre. Fast, light and strong, this diaphragm
is completely pistonic even under duress.
Each driver is time-aligned, using the
angled front baffle, for an exceptionally
integrated sound, crystal clear mid-range
and complete absence of bass overhang.
Integration of dispersion is equally
important. Ensuring that all drivers are
effective, even at obtuse listening angles,
dramatically enhances room integration -
both Airedale models demonstrate
remarkable off-axis responses - attributable
to superb driver dispersion integration

Airedale Heritage

Each drive unit is used with ample headroom, and in

perfect synergy with the complete speaker

Ambient Tweeter

A superb combination of traditional

Main Tweeter
craftsmanship and engineering, the
Airedale gives a sonic performance that
satisfies the most demanding audiophile.
The angled baffle creates perfect coincidence on the
listening position

8
Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:26 AM Page 10

Driver Technology. Driver Technology.

The Bass driver has been engineered around
a new design of cone. By sandwiching glass
and carbon fibres together the cone has
been made incredibly rigid. With the rim of
the cone also being stiffened, energy losses
in the cone transfer mechanism are
extremely low.
The Chassis on the drive units is of an open
design; where narrow legs and the largest
openings are cleverly used to minimise back
reflections.
The performance of the driver is enhanced
through mechanical damping using a dual
spider configuration, aswell as a high
performance, Alnico magnet system; which
is fully vented.
Motional noise has been eliminated by
placing vents not only in the spider, but
also in the cone and coil, the magnet system
and in the chassis.
The Midrange driver and tweeter have been
mounted in die-cast aluminium fascia
plate. This allows the units to be placed as
close together as possible for the very best
integration.
The close configuration of the midrange
gives the Airedale great coverage and very
low distortion over its entire working range,
typically less than 1% for 100dB at 1 metre.
The highest frequencies are handled by the
soft dome tweeter(s), designed in synergy
with the midrange drivers. This adds to the
minimal distortion and a much wider
dispersion.
The upward firing tweeter has its own
switch, and can be used to enhance the
ambient natural of the sound - widening
the soundstage and adding depth.

Main Tweeter - D390

Mid-High - D389

Mid-Bass - D401 Woofer - D386

Ambient Tweeter - D424

This graph shows the Airedale Heritage frequency

response on-axis and at 30deg and 45deg respectively.
The overall system impedance is a nominal six ohm.
Both are incredibly close to mean.
This graph shows how it varies with frequency.

10
Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:26 AM Page 12

Airedale Heritage
System Specifications

Transducer Complement 4 way 5 drivers

Bass driver 15" 380mm alnico
Bass/Mid 8" 200mm alnico
Mid-range 3" 75mm soft dome
Tweeter 1" 25mm soft dome alnico
Super tweeter 1" 25mm soft dome
Nominal impedance 6 ohm
Impedance variation 4.0 – 17.0 ohms
Frequency response +/- 3dB 25Hz – 45kHz
Useable low frequency limit -3dB 25Hz – 45kHz
Low frequency limit -10dB 25Hz
Upper frequency limit -10dB 45kHz
SPL 1W@1m 90dB
Distortion 20 – 600Hz >3% 100dB@1M
600 – 50kHz >1% 100dB@1M

Power Handling
Continuous weighted white noise 100 Watts
Peak 400 Watts
Max peak spl 114dB
Nominal coverage horizontal 90 degrees to 12 kHz
Nominal coverage vertical 30 degrees to 12 kHz
Enclosure type bass/mid ported/sealed
Volumes bass/mid 178L/14L
System Fb 30Hz & 80Hz
Crossover frequencies 180Hz/700Hz/3.5Khz/9kHz
Construction material entirely 25mm MDF

Finish Hard Oiled & Waxed Walnut Veneer

Shape 5º angled trapezoidal

Component part numbers

Bass driver 380mm 15" D.386
Bass/mid driver 200mm 8" D.401
Midrange speaker 75mm 3" D.389
Tweeter 25mm 1" D.390
Super tweeter 25mm 1" D.424

Product dimensions H x W x D 1215 x 688x 514

Net weight 80kg
Crate dimensions H x W x D 1482 x 818 x 630
Gross weight 110kg

12
Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:26 AM Page 14

The Airedale Neo, whilst the smaller

of the two models, retains all of the
Airedale Neo System
hallmarks of craftsmanship of its Specifications
bigger brother.
Transducer Complement 3 way
Bass driver 12" 300mm alnico
Mid-range 3" 75mm soft dome
Tweeter 1" 25mm soft dome alnico
Nominal impedance 8 ohm
Impedance variation 6.0 – 35.0 ohms
Frequency response +/- 3dB 25Hz – 45kHz
Useable low frequency limit -3dB 25Hz – 45kHz
Low frequency limit -10dB 25Hz
Upper frequency limit -10dB 45kHz
SPL 1W@1m 88dB
Distortion 20 – 600Hz >3% 100dB@1M
600 – 50kHz >1% 100dB@1M

Power Handling
Continuous weighted white noise 100 Watts
Peak 400 Watts
Max peak spl 112dB
Nominal coverage horizontal 90 degrees to 12 kHz
Nominal coverage vertical 30 degrees to 12 kHz
Enclosure type bass/mid ported
Volumes bass/mid 125L
System Fb 30Hz
Crossover frequencies 600Hz/2.5kHz
Construction material entirely 25mm MDF

Finish Hand Oiled & Waxed Walnut Veneer

Shape 5º angled trapezoidal

Component part numbers

Bass driver 300mm 12" D.387
Midrange speaker 75mm 3" D.389
Tweeter 25mm 1" D.390

Product dimensions H x W x D 1152 x 517x 450

Net weight 57kg
Crate dimensions H x W x D 1355 x 697 x 614
Gross weight 90kg

14
Airedale Broch 23/08/05 8:26 AM Page 16

The information in this brochure is subject to

IAG House, Sovereign Court, change without notice. All rights to the
Ermine Business Park, mentioned trademarks reside with their
Huntingdon, PE29 6XU, respective companies. All rights reserved.
England. ©2004 Wharfedale International Ltd.
Tel: +44 (0) 1480 447700 Wharfedale is a member of the
Fax: +44 (0) 1480 431767 International Audio Group
www.wharfedale.co.uk CODE: WD.ADH.9.4.2005