Wharfedale W80A (1971)
Documentation on the Wharfedale W80A is thin. Enough survives in period advertisements and reviews to show an unusual, well-thought-out speaker. The W80A was Wharfedale's "Variflex" model, introduced for 1971 as a full-range omnidirectional system meant to free the listener from conventional placement constraints. High Fidelity (June 1971, p.35) described it as offering "smooth, wide-range response plus more than usual versatility in terms of installation possibilities."
The cabinet measures 29 by 17¼ by 17 inches and originally listed for $317.60. It used four drivers, including a 12½-inch long-throw woofer. The defining trick of the Variflex concept was that you could place two W80As end-to-end horizontally, or angle the top panels to steer the sound stage. Audio (September 1970, p.67) noted the system "eliminates the usual limitations involving speaker placement." Angling the discs outward gave a broader proscenium effect for large-scale works. Angling them inward focused the image for small ensembles. That flexibility was the core pitch - Wharfedale claimed the W80A was "unlike any other speaker system available."
Little else has survived in the record. No service manuals, production year ranges beyond 1971, or successor models have turned up in the usual archival sources.
- Type: Full-range omnidirectional speaker system (“Variflex”)
- Drivers: 4 drivers including a 12½-inch long-throw woofer
- Dimensions: 29 × 17¼ × 17 inches
- List price (1971): $317.60
- Made by: Wharfedale Division, British Industries Co., Westbury, N.Y.
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.
Related Models
- Wharfedale 100
- Wharfedale 20
- Wharfedale CHEVIN (1978)
- Wharfedale DENTON-3 (1994)
- Wharfedale MACH 9
- Braun AUDIO-1 (1965)
- Braun AUDIO-250 (1965)
- Magnavox Component Systems (1972)
- Acoustic Research AR (1967-1976)
- Acoustic Research 11