Great value

I had read many things about these speakers, most positive and some negative, so I was very interested when I found them for sale on an auction site for less than $100/pair (factory refurbished). I wasn't able to find any store locally to hear them first, but for that price, I was willing to take a chance. Having owned them for 2 months now, I can safely say that I am amazed by the sound and build quality for less than $100/pair.

The speakers are constructed of a particle board w/ veneer, but the fit and finish of the speakers is really great....for the price. I saw and heard a few other speakers in the $100 - $200 range (Soundworks, Polks) and a few that were $300 - $400 range, but the sound quality wasn't that different to warrant 2 - 3 times the price.

The tweeter is the same 1 inch, silk-dome ferrofluid one found on more expensive Wharfedale models and it gives clean crisp highs (I'm hearing different types of cymbals on CD's that I never had heard before).

The woofer/midrange is constructed from kevlar and reproduces light base very well (I have these speakers set up with a subwoofer and would suggest the same to anyone considering bookshelf sized speakers).

I have the Wharfedale's hooked up to a new Panasonic SA-XR50 digital tuner, which could account for some of the sound quality, but I also tried them with a 55w mini system and they still offered a much more detailed sound than my older speakers.

In conclusion, I have to say that they are a great bargain at less than $130, which is the current price point for a brand new pair. They sound as good as many speakers costing more than double that. I am a novice audiophile and they suit me nicely. True audiophiles probably have a more discerning ear, but they probably devote more of their income to their gear too. Krix, Atoms, and Paradigms are exceptional speakers, but they cost more than I would ever budget for my system. To each his/her own.

I will gladly fork over another "less than $100" for another pair when I find them again.