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Harbeth 40.2 OR Spendor Classic 100 OR ??

I'm midway through the quest for the next set of speakers, and the purpose of this thread is just to check if there are any makes/models out there that I should be taking into consideration, but are not currently on my radar.

My current two finalists are as above, Harbeth 40.2 and Spendor Classic 100.

Both of these have displaced my previous "fav", the Vienna Acoustics Liszt.

In various auditionings, I've also been impressed by Audio Note AN-E and Shahinian Oberlisk. I know both of these models are "divergent", but I mention them not because they're also real contenders, but because I was really impressed by the timbral presentation of the AN--as natural as I've heard, and the spatial presentation of the Shahinian--as, well, spacious as I've heard..  At the same time, they both have drawbacks that rule them out for me.

I hope this list gives some idea of where my acoustic tastes align.  Is there anything else out there I should listen to?  I have heard Spendor D7 and ProAc D30, and extrapolating from them, ruled out their corresponding larger models.  I've also heard Devore O/93, and again preferred Harbeth, Spendor, as well as AN (his inspiration).

I'm not really interested in suggestions from the "usual suspects" pool--you know, Vandersteen, Magico, Focal, Revel, B&W, PSB, Monitor Audio, Dynaudio, etc.

BTW, to be driven by Belles Aria monoblocks in what I would describe as a medium-sized room wherein placement would allow for a good 3' away from front and both side walls.

128x128twoleftears
salectric
747 posts
 
It's important to use the Spendors on the Sound Anchor stands designed for them.  I also tried Skylan stands and several homemade stands, but none of them sounded as good to my ears as the Sound Anchors.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears OP
5,313 posts
 

Thanks to all.  With the Daedalus, I guess we're talking the Argos or the Ulysses, right?  I've read about them but never been able to listen.  They have quite a following on Audio Circle.  I think I saw they were coming to the Capital AudioFest in November.  Hmmm.

@larryi Good question.  As far as I can tell, this: not only do I not like speakers that are generally acknowledged to hew to the brighter side of the spectrum, but I have recently found that I'm not too keen on brands that have traditionally been middle of the road or even more forgiving, but which in recent models have, to my ears, tended to try to "modernize" their sound.  The D7 and D30 would be good examples of that tendency.

I gather the 40.2 tames some of the potential bass boominess of the 40.1, and honestly, in my room, I've never been able to produce an excess of bass--quite the reverse.

I'm far from dissatisfied with my current PMC Twenty.24's, but there's always that itch to be scratched: more holographic, more natural, a bit more bass...

This has been very helpful so far; keep the suggestions coming...

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,260 posts
 
A friend whose home I have been to at least a dozen times has the Harbeth 40.2 speakers with Skyland stands and a Prima Luna Dialogue HP Integrated amp with 4 KT150 tubes outputting over 100wpc & it  sounds  sublime.  He is using a Palmer turntable, not sure of the mc cartridge but I know it was way up there in price.  He also has a tubed Line Magnetic CD player.  

He has the type of sound I really like, and it is a system I could probably live a very long time with.  It sounds best with the turntable, excellent with cd player and very good with his MD tuner.   The main thing that stands out is how effortless and smooth sounding the system is.  I am very impressed with it.
carmenc
293 posts
 
Both excellent choices.  I’d like to try some Spendors in the future.  Meanwhile, check out the Triangle Signature Thetas just to compare.  I believe Triangle is going to be back in the game here sooner than later.  The Thetas are unbelievable.  I have a pair, and I’m using a Belles Aria integrated.  The soundstage and imaging are truly amazing.  They do scale quite well so they fill a larger listening area?  Great base too for a standmount.  The “brightness” they have been associated with in the past; I don’t hear it.  Good luck with your journey.
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,185 posts
 
I'm on my second stint with Harbeth 40.1's.   I had my first pair of 40.1's about seven years ago and regrettably sold them to try a pair of Daedalus Ulysses.   Daedalus cabinetry top notch and Lou Hinckley (Daedalus owner) is a very accommodating and generous with his time, but they just did't do it for me like the big Harbeth's.  The Ulysses bettered the 40.1's with regards to speed and dynamics, but the 40.1's won handily in the areas of tone, texture, weight/fullness and midrange magic. The 40.1's will never win a beauty contest and they don't sound sexy... but they just sound right to me.

Twoleftears, the bass response of the 40.1's is strong, but that is part of their allure for me.  If your listening room is not problematic with regards to dealing with bass, you can save yourself a lot of money by trying a pair of 40.1's vs. buying a new or used pair of 40.2's.  
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