I can’t say I really warmed to the sound of the SHL5+ or the C7.
It feels like they are trying to get an LS3/5 to extend beyond what they are comfortable doing.
The Radial woofer is asked to stretch to a lower register that it shouldn’t. So the bass is a little bloated and uncontrolled. That’s what I feel about both the SHL5+ and C7. The SHL5 then adds a super tweeter that I feel doesnt complement the sound.
The Linton sounds IMHO like Harbeth’s Monitor range - which I prefer over the C7/SHL5+.
The M30.2 uses the same drivers as the C7 but doesn’t try to extend the bottom end. It sounds more natural as a result. That’s what the Linton and Denton sound like.
If anything, the Linton sounds like a smaller (much smaller) M40.2. The bass still doesn’t go low. But it has a dedicated 8” woofer just to handle the low frequencies. And the midrange driver focuses on the mids.
M30 sound like listen to master tape or CD , neutral but sometime no surprise, all music sound as correct as expected ; SHL5 more like LP , added some coloration but at the same time alway give listeners some surprise even the recording is very familiar....
I feel that Linton fall somewhere between the M30 and SHL 5, not as accurate as M30 and not as colourful as SHL5, also , I feel the mid and Low mid is a little overwhelming compare to Harbeth, also less resolution and detail I heard in my Friend place ..... but no doubt it is great value!