Harbeth Owners - What do you think?

Tomryan:

I'm going to take the quick way out and second what was said above--particularly Arnold's spot on assessment. I've owned C7ES for over 6 years now and love them to bits. Clinical? Absolutely, positively, no friggin way. Quite the opposite. The Harbeth's are, IMHO, the most musical speaker out there AND the best value for money in audio. Obviously one man's view here but with a twist--I have been trying to find something to replace my C7's for over 2 years now. Why? Got married, redecorated the house and the somewhat big boxes on stands just don't cut it with the new decor. I've listened to nearly every attractive floorstander out there (some even costing 10K!) and for me the Harbeth's simply cannot be beat. I end up returning to my system and realizing that much of what is out there is really not good value for money. Are the Harbeth's better in every respect to what I heard--no. They don't do really deep bass or present a huge panoramic sound stage. But, more than most (at a lot more money) they get the music right. Ditto and then some for the Super HL5. If you have the space and can stand to look at these rather large boxes the HL5, after direct comparison, betters the C7 in a significant way. The HL5 may be one of the best speakers currently made--and for under 4K. I am also using Audio Research (100.2 SS Amp and SP16 tube pre). A very nice, synergistic mix. I had used Naim and the Audio Research is better by a mile. The Harbeths like power so don't short change on the amp--though I've heard them blow the doors off most speakers powered with a cheap Japanese receiver! Harbeths are made to run with the grills on--look at the wood on the sides--there is a lot of it. Tomryan, so many opinions out there in audio land, who to trust? Forget the reviews, internet chat etc. Grab a few CD's and go listen. You will be instantly hooked--I guarantee it. As for dealers. Try John Rutan at Audio Connection in Verona, NJ. He is a great guy and lover of two channel sound. If you are not local he may send you a pair with the option to buy certain you will not send them back. One final thought--if you have the room, go for the HL5's, they are that good.

Tomryan. I'd be interested in your views on the Proac 2.5 as I am looking for a floorstander to replace my Compact 7s. I am thinking of the 2.5 or new D25 as a possibility. After you get the Monitor 30's or C7's up and running I'd be interested in your thoughts comparing them with the Proacs. I love the Harbeth sound but need something that will blend better into the room decor. Good luck with your Harbeth's, you will love them I'm sure. (That said, though I have no experience with your amp I really have concerns over the power output. My C7's did not really begin to sing until I put 100 watts or ARC solid state behind them. A 35wpc Naim amp just did not do them justice. FWIW.)

Drubin. I would be very surprised if the HL5's did not give you everything you are after. I have been listening to a lot of speakers over the past 18 months and I don't think there is currently anything better on the market (sub 10K) than those. Enjoy.

Drubin. You will be surprised. In my experience, the Harbeth's resolve detail in an extraordinarily natural fashion. The first time I heard the Compact 7 I thought I was listening to an electrostatic speaker--such was the unboxiness and level of detail. The Radial driver is an extraordinary woofer. It adds ZERO coloration and resolves gobs of inner detail. Beware--not the kind of hifi theatrics that some speakers do. I've heard a number supposedly high resolution designs that SEEM to present lots of information. What they do, I suspect, is emphasize parts of the frequency spectrum to present the illusion of detail. This is why, ultimately, they grow fatiguing and send their owners off to find another pair of speakers that are "more satisfying". What the Harbeth's do is present an extremely rich and musical experience but without tipped up highs or forward mids that throw everything in your lap. Some people seem to like speakers that are aggressively forward because they feel like they are not "missing anything". For me, I like to listen "into" the soundfield and follow the interplay between musicians. I know that this all really boils down to what strikes your fancy but something tells me that folks who like "high resolution" "forward" sounding speakers really are about impressing their friends by playing the same audiophile junk over and over while pointing out the creeking floor at the rear of the stage or whatever. Harbeth's won't impress anyone, really, unless they are a musician or a music lover. (I know I'm gonna catch it for this!) I'm dying to know how things turn out so please return to the thread and share your observations after you have the HL5's up and running. BTW:
1. What gear are you using with them?
2. Check out the Harbeth users group at Smartgroups, lots of Harbeth lovers there swapping tips etc.

Drubin. I am drooling at the thought. However, if you follow the HUG posts Alan Shaw seems to have some serious reservations about building a floorstander that can compete sonically with the monitors. He is all about panel resonances and seems to feel that they cannot be controlled in a long panel floorstanding design. I have to give some serious consideration to this because I have come to believe that the transparancy and lack of boxy colorations found in my C7's (and your HL5) are due to the lossy cabinet construction. It also has driven me toward looking for floorstanders that have employed some unique methods of controlling panel resonances (beyond ever thicker MDF!). Thus, speakers like the Wilson Bensch Curve or the Vandersteen 5's or the Wilson Sophias are all at the top of my list. I have heard all but the Curves and think they are excellent, open and transparant sounding speakers. The only traditionally built speakers I am still considering are the Focus Audio 788/888's and the Proacs. Bottom line, if Harbeth manages to work out the cabinet issues this could be an extraordinary speaker. It has two 8" Radial woofers and a new 6" Radial midrange. The possibilites are really great but this needs to be followed a bit further. Thanks for the suggestion. Can't wait to hear your reaction to the HL5's!
p.s I'm not familiar with your electronics but the Rowland monos I suspect have lots of juice. I've seen them before, I believe. Very tiny right?

Drubin. I listened to the SCM 35 as part of my search. Nice speaker. Nothing extraordinary there, IMHO. The Harbeth's are better by a significant margin. I'm trying to find something that will exceed the Harbeth's by a good margin--otherwise, why bother? The ATC has that nice midrange dome but I think it sounds better coupled to their monitor designs, like the SC50 or 100 which I heard while I was in England and like a lot. Again, however, these are big box monitors that don't move me toward the more wife friendly appearance I'm looking for. Thanks so much for your interest and please, keep making suggestions!

Tomryan. Try John Rutan at Audio Connection in Verona, NJ. He may be willing to help.