Midrange Better Than Harbeth or Spendor?

What an interesting question. I own a pair of Harbeth M30s, which I brought in to replace Vandersteen 3a sigs (which had replaced 2ce sigs). There was no contest. I listen to a lot of classical music, and the sound of strings (massed or otherwise) on the Harbeths was richer and more fleshed out than the Vandersteens...so much so that certain CDs I considered almost unlistenable on the Vandersteens were suddenly listenable on the Harbeths. I auditioned a few other speakers in high end shops both before and after getting Harbeths, none of which struck me as being as pleasant as the Harbeths, with one semi-exception (though the electronics were not the same as mine of course, so one could argue that the comparison was flawed). I listened to Wilson Sophias (which didn't impress me much at all in 2 different set-ups), a Wilson-Benesch something-or-other, some Revels, some ProAcs (D28? I think, which were interesting--I could have spent more time with them), Sonus Faber Cremonas (which had a very interesting mid-range, but the tweeters had a bit too much "tizz" in them), some mid-priced Dalis (blah), some little Sonus Fabers (Cremona Auditors?--too much "tizz" in the highs), those wierd looking German speakers (MBL? -- I couldn't get out of the room fast enough), Audio Physic Scorpios (which I kind of liked, though not because of fabulous mids)...and I can't remember what else.

The "semi-exception" to the list was the Avalon Ascendants because of everything else they do well, but I'm not sure their mid-range is exactly better than the Harbeths. The overall sound seems notably more transparent and holographic, and I'm a sucker for that, and, after some agonizing, decided to buy the Avalons. However, I'm not selling the Harbeths. As one dealer buddy of mine from way back said to me recently, "Harbeths are for when you're tired of everything else." (And he's not a Harbeth dealer.) I can really see where he's coming from.

Bcollins - A thought: You mentioned the Super HL5's as being a bit large for your room. Is there any way you can try out the M30's? They are smaller (though about the same price point) and they have what I understand to be a silk dome tweeter that Harbeth (as I understand it) says is better than the tweeter in the HL5's. I've never heard the HL5s side by side with the M30's, but I've heard it suggested that the M30's are smoother in the top, which you might like, and they might work out better, size-wise, in your room.

Although I bought a pair of Avalons, I am still using the Harbeths at the moment, and they really are good. You're quite right, they are great on female vocals (or vocals, period), and very "clean". They respond very favorably to tube gear, too, by the way.

Cheers

Bill - Fair questions. One Harbeth dealer I know does not favor the HL5's because he considers them a bit bass-heavy. I've heard something like that elsewhere, which suggests to me that the "leanness" you report in the M30s probably reflects a consistent difference in the speakers. I also recall that one of the on-line reviewers described the M30's in such a way that I can imagine them seeming perhaps more forward than the HL5's. However, I have never heard the HL5's. In fact, I hadn't heard ANY Harbeths before I got my M30's. I had been using Vandersteens for some years before that and was suffering from substantial "detail fatigue," and one evening, after suddenly getting frustrated with the Vandersteens one too many times, located a pair of M30's and acquired them in the space of about an hour. It was one of the best things I ever did.

My room is not large (14x19). In my room, I would characterize the M30's as somewhat fat sounding, in a very pleasant way. They are 3 feet from the rear wall, and set up a pretty darn good soundstage (although they take some work, positioning-wise, and do have a sweet spot). They have very nice bass for a box that small, and the top is smooth and easy, with detail, but not drowning in it. However, I will say that they are very sensitive to whatever you run them with...with the wrong pre-amp, amp, etc., they can sound bright and irritating and probably a bit forward. As mentioned, I found that tube gear produces the warmest and friendliest effect. How "forward" they sound depends at least somewhat on what you run them with.

In your space, you may like the C7's better. As you no doubt know, the C7's were recently revised to present more detail. You may or may not prefer the newer version...I haven't heard them, but shortly after I got the M30's, I heard some of the older C7's at a dealer, and was favorably impressed. They are smaller than the HL5's and don't have the super tweeter of the HL5's.

Feel free to email me direct if you'd like to discuss this further.

Best regards

Bill - You're absolutely on the right track...a home listen for either Harbeth should provide your answers.

Good listening!