People That Have Upgraded From Harbeth 30.1s....

Interesting. Looks like they only make the 8 now though.

Thanks Tobes. Really appreciate your response. We actually have an ATC dealer close by and I think he's also a Harbeth dealer now that I think about it. Definite plan for this Saturday!

I've been hoping for a reasonable priced used 40.1 to pop up. My wife hasn't :)

What don’t you like about the 30.1 that you feel an upgrade is needed? I'm just curious!

I like my 30.1s but I want more of everything! More bass for sure. More dynamics too. A bigger image. All the things you get with better speakers. 

The minute we move and I have enough space I will buy a set of ESL57s from Kent. That’s what I had before the Harbeths but our new place is too small. I move the 30.1s in when I listen and then the go back to their resting area afterwards. 

Even though the 7es3 is less expensive than the 30.1 to my ears the 7es3 sounds better. More bass, and bigger image. The 30.1 are great speakers but sound much smaller the the 7es3. I went to my local dealer to listen to the 30.1 but ended up with 7es3. My listening room is 19'x13', and needed a larger speaker.

FYI, my room is even larger. I had both speakers here at the same time and much preferred the 30.1s.... but all of our ears are different!

The sound of 30.1 is just more refined. It handles delicate things better. Bass is less but it is punchy. The 30.1 tweeter is a tough to beat. I'm considering trying at home a set of Raidho C1.1s that my dealer has.

Thanks @timo62. The 40.1s or 40.2s are clearly where I'd go if I got a big raise but was still forced to stay in our small home. If the raise was big enough for 40s though, we are likely moving and then I'm buying original Quad ESLs. My interest has been piqued by the suggestions that were in the $4-6k range on the used market. Lots of thing to listen to. I demoed SF Cremona Auditor Ms which are nice speakers but not better speakers.

Interesting that a few people have moved to JBLs and Tannoys and others with big 15" woofers. That option will be fun to investigate!

One thing I will say, I’ve been using a new cartridge this weekend that’s particularly dynamic and I’m falling in love with the 30.1s all over again. Nice punchy bass and sparkly highs. It’s a London Decca Super Gold for you vinyl people out there. Way better match for the Harbeths than my Lyra Delos. But still going to listen to some Tannoys next weekend!

I want Harbeth plus dynamics. Was thinking the with the right front end and amplification it's easier to give souI to carmels than give dynamics to the 30.1s. I don't have space for speakers that need to be plugged in right now otherwise I would certainly try out ATC SCM20ASLs which I've used at work and I love.

I feel like I have settled in the same place. They are tough to replace, especially considering that I have space limitations..... if I didn’t, I’d have Quad ESL57s here in a second. There’s a pair of YG Carmels posted for sale here that I almost took a chance on but my wife said they were too ugly. And that’s the thing. The Harbeths are so elegant plus they sound great so replacing them has been REALLY hard.

I think the SCM19 v2 are the home version of that speaker but with a better tweeter. I'm looking for a pair to audition. 

Update: I just spent a week with ATC SCM19 v2s in the house and I can say that for me, they aren't even close to the 30.1s. Very sterile, way more "pro" sounding than I expected. Really no sense of musicians playing in a room with fingers on instruments.

So I'm pretty sure a lateral type move to a more dynamic speaker isn't going to work after trying the ATCs and the SF. Hard to replace the things I can't do without that the 30.1s give in spades.