Airedale Broch
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Airedale Heritage &Airedale Neo
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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 Stereo Sound
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Best Component Speakers Swing Journal 2002
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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.
Steve Hewlett - Head of Engineering
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The Airedale constructed in a fine hand oiled and waxed Walnut veneer, using furniture making skills built up over generations.
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Realism
Attention to detail 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 midrange - 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
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Airedale Neo
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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 midrange 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 ‘TriLaminate’ 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 craftsmanship and engineering, the Airedale gives a sonic performance that satisfies the most demanding audiophile.
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Main Tweeter
The angled baffle creates perfect coincidence on the listening position
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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.
Driver Technology.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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. Both are incredibly close to mean.
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The overall system impedance is a nominal six ohm. This graph shows how it varies with frequency.
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Airedale Heritage System Specifications
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Transducer Complement Bass driver Bass/Mid Mid-range Tweeter Super tweeter Nominal impedance Impedance variation Frequency response +/- 3dB Useable low frequency limit -3dB Low frequency limit -10dB Upper frequency limit -10dB SPL 1W@1m Distortion 20 – 600Hz 600 – 50kHz
4 way 5 drivers 15" 380mm alnico 8" 200mm alnico 3" 75mm soft dome 1" 25mm soft dome alnico 1" 25mm soft dome 6 ohm 4.0 – 17.0 ohms 25Hz – 45kHz 25Hz – 45kHz 25Hz 45kHz 90dB >3% 100dB@1M >1% 100dB@1M
Power Handling Continuous weighted white noise Peak Max peak spl Nominal coverage horizontal Nominal coverage vertical Enclosure type bass/mid Volumes bass/mid System Fb Crossover frequencies Construction material
100 Watts 400 Watts 114dB 90 degrees to 12 kHz 30 degrees to 12 kHz ported/sealed 178L/14L 30Hz & 80Hz 180Hz/700Hz/3.5Khz/9kHz entirely 25mm MDF
Finish Shape
Hard Oiled & Waxed Walnut Veneer 5º angled trapezoidal
Component part numbers Bass driver Bass/mid driver Midrange speaker Tweeter 25mm 1" Super tweeter
380mm 15" D.386 200mm 8" D.401 75mm 3" D.389 D.390 25mm 1" D.424
Product dimensions H x W x D Net weight Crate dimensions H x W x D Gross weight
1215 x 688x 514 80kg 1482 x 818 x 630 110kg
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The Airedale Neo, whilst the smaller of the two models, retains all of the hallmarks of craftsmanship of its bigger brother.
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Airedale Neo System Specifications Transducer Complement Bass driver Mid-range Tweeter Nominal impedance Impedance variation Frequency response +/- 3dB Useable low frequency limit -3dB Low frequency limit -10dB Upper frequency limit -10dB SPL 1W@1m Distortion 20 – 600Hz 600 – 50kHz
3 way 12" 300mm alnico 3" 75mm soft dome 1" 25mm soft dome alnico 8 ohm 6.0 – 35.0 ohms 25Hz – 45kHz 25Hz – 45kHz 25Hz 45kHz 88dB >3% 100dB@1M >1% 100dB@1M
Power Handling Continuous weighted white noise Peak Max peak spl Nominal coverage horizontal Nominal coverage vertical Enclosure type bass/mid Volumes bass/mid System Fb Crossover frequencies Construction material
100 Watts 400 Watts 112dB 90 degrees to 12 kHz 30 degrees to 12 kHz ported 125L 30Hz 600Hz/2.5kHz entirely 25mm MDF
Finish Shape
Hand Oiled & Waxed Walnut Veneer 5º angled trapezoidal
Component part numbers Bass driver Midrange speaker Tweeter 25mm 1"
300mm 12" D.387 75mm 3" D.389 D.390
Product dimensions H x W x D Net weight Crate dimensions H x W x D Gross weight
1152 x 517x 450 57kg 1355 x 697 x 614 90kg
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The information in this brochure is subject to IAG House, Sovereign Court, Ermine Business Park, Huntingdon, PE29 6XU, England. Tel: +44 (0) 1480 447700 Fax: +44 (0) 1480 431767 www.wharfedale.co.uk
change without notice. All rights to the mentioned trademarks reside with their respective companies. All rights reserved. ©2004 Wharfedale International Ltd. Wharfedale is a member of the International Audio Group CODE: WD.ADH.9.4.2005
