Electronics for Harbeth, Especially Monitor 40 series

@Vinnie,

In an interview accompanying his recent TAS review, Paul Seydor says that he is always found Harbeths to be "notably coherent" and Alan Shaw replies that coherence is primarily a crossover issue. It doesn’t take much of a mismatch in level or phase for the listener to become aware that the sound is coming from three drivers. He has also said that the BBC got so many things right long ago that his recent work has focused on improving drive units (Radial) and crossovers. Guess that’s why they sound so good in the near field.

Hi Paullb,

Yes, that is one of the main reasons why they sound so good in the near field!   In nearly every room that I've heard them in, I much prefer to listen to them this way.

Cheers!

Vinnie

Recently, Will Vincent built for me a set of "Super Baldwin" mono amps based on the 6l6 output tube. 25 to 30W per channel based on output tubes used. I use these amps into the new Falcon acoustics LS/3/5A BBC monitors. Similar, I believe to the P3sr speaker by Harbeth. Incredible match-in the near field. I do what red wine does when listening, felt with a 2-way. Point-check out Will Vincent tube amps-incredible build quality, sound quality, reliability, plus-no SS amp will ever sound as satisfying as a tube amp.

I heard the 40.1's powered by LFD NSCE Mark II and it sounded great. I then bought it from that guy and now it is used to power 30.1's. Without that amp, I would have sold my Harbeth's.

I have it powered my Harbeth 40.2(40th Anniversary Edition with Ton Trager stands)) with a VAC Sigma 160i SE(85W/ch and Brimar and Tung Sol NOS input tubes and Golden Lion power tubes) along with a REL sub(T7i) for the super low end and I love it. I have tried the Pass labs Integrated 30A and the Hegel 390 with it and I found the dynamics was unimpressive at lower/mid volumes.  I also own the McIntosh C2600 preamp paired with the Audio Research Ref 75 power amp and the VAC goes toe to toe with these separates. Driving these with Auralic Vega G2.1 and Lampizator Amber DAC, Kimber cable 12TC speaker cables  and  Nordost Odin Interconnects. Room size is 30' x20'. Speakers are set 12' apart and listening position is 12' from each speaker in an equilateral triangle..