I think you need to also look at them in context to the professional environments that they serve.
There are two camps in England: ATC and Harbeth-like speakers.
ATC are very precise sounding speakers that enable recording engineers like myself to hear minute differences between individual tracks and takes. They are essential to mastering and found in studios like Sony.
Harbeth, Sterling, Tannoy and Spendor are all derivatives of the original KEF driver-based BBC monitors commissioned in the 1970s and were designed to enable long listening sessions while editing dramatic and live performances for stage, television and movie production purposes.
They are very different in sound. I liken ATCs and their ilk to be more like white wine--bright, festive, with a brace of acid. I liken Harbeth to red wine, warm and full bodied. Some days you want a precise sound and some days you want a smooth sound.
I think the Harbeth 40.1s are a wonderful organic sounding speaker and will play well in most consumer environments. I think that Spendor is doing incredible things with the new A6s and KEF with their 205s and 207s. All have the refined sound you expect from an English monitor.
I think ATC 150s are a true "reference" product for studio production.
There are two camps in England: ATC and Harbeth-like speakers.
ATC are very precise sounding speakers that enable recording engineers like myself to hear minute differences between individual tracks and takes. They are essential to mastering and found in studios like Sony.
Harbeth, Sterling, Tannoy and Spendor are all derivatives of the original KEF driver-based BBC monitors commissioned in the 1970s and were designed to enable long listening sessions while editing dramatic and live performances for stage, television and movie production purposes.
They are very different in sound. I liken ATCs and their ilk to be more like white wine--bright, festive, with a brace of acid. I liken Harbeth to red wine, warm and full bodied. Some days you want a precise sound and some days you want a smooth sound.
I think the Harbeth 40.1s are a wonderful organic sounding speaker and will play well in most consumer environments. I think that Spendor is doing incredible things with the new A6s and KEF with their 205s and 207s. All have the refined sound you expect from an English monitor.
I think ATC 150s are a true "reference" product for studio production.