Wharfedale 20 (circa 1967)

Model: W-20 / system 20
Dimensions: 9¾ × 14 × 8½ inches
Finish: Oiled walnut
Price (1967): $49.95
Importer: British Industries Corp., Westbury, N.Y.

Not much is known about the Wharfedale 20, and what is known comes from a handful of period reviews. It was marketed as the W-20 or simply "system 20" - a compact speaker system and the smallest, most affordable entry in Wharfedale's late-1960s lineup. High Fidelity (April 1967, p.69) listed the cabinet at 9¾ by 14 by 8½ inches, finished in oiled walnut, with a retail price of $49.95. The review described a "clean, open sound" that belied the box's half-cubic-foot volume. It also noted that the speaker covered a wider frequency range than its size would suggest.

HiFI-Stereo (August 1967, p.4) said much the same, calling the W20 "good value" and "musically listenable." It reported solid, non-booming bass and extended highs, enough that experienced listeners sometimes mistook it for a much larger system. An ad in Amateur Tape Recorder (April 1967, p.40) offered a 24-page color folder with full specifications, which suggests Wharfedale put some promotional weight behind the model.

Beyond those reviews, almost nothing else is documented. The driver complement, crossover details, and exact production run remain unrecorded in the public record. The Wharfedale 20 remains a capable little speaker known mostly through the praise of two contemporary hi-fi magazines.