Why do Harbeth speakers have such a cult following

Question for Harbeth experts out there:

Are the two way models as good with vocal clarity as the 3-way models?

I heard 40.2 over the weekend with some very elaborate Conrad Johnson amplification driving them.

Vocal clarity and detail ( Donna Godchaux on the streaming Grateful Dead track "Sunrise") was the thing that struck me most. The setup had the speakers well into the room with a lot of space behind which produced an interesting sound stage from the speakers to about half way back to the wall. Not 3-d really, but pretty cleanly left to right, mostly from just behind the speakers with some things a bit more forward, nothing back near the rear wall.

Also I read and hear people talk about Harbeth and CJ adding some perhaps warmer color to the sound. Gotta say I did not hear that at all. Things were very clean, clear and neutral top to bottom IMHO, nothing offensive whatsoever that I heard, which is what I tend to look for.

I had had some exposure to Harbeth Super HL5s and 40.2 at audio shows prior, enough to peak my interest, but this was my first more in depth exposure otherwise.

It's not 2-way vs. 3-way but rather different "families" within the Harbeth line-up.  40.2 and 30.2 are essentially cut from the same cloth. Although it appears to slot in between them, the SHL5 is really the top of the line of a different family. I'm sure there are family resemblances between it and smaller speakers in the lineup, but not sure exactly which.

@twoleftears 

So in your assessment, is the 40.2 just more of the 30.2 but both are similar sound-wise?

What is it about the SHL5 that is different?

Thanks.

I've owned SHL5's (non plus version) and am on my 2nd go-around with 40.1's.    

• 40.1's... full bodied, refined, smooth, organic with a lot of "meat on the bones".  Not an exciting speaker, but one you can melt into your seat with, relax and spend hours listening to with no fatigue.
• SHL5's (in comparison to 40.1's):  neutral, fast, transparent, lacking body.  I tried using with a REL Storm subwoofer, but the integration could not come close to bringing them to the sound quality of my 40.1's.  A good clean sounding speaker, but not in the same league as the 40.1's.

@pdreher

That description jives with my 40.2 listening experience.  Very "organic".  I wish I could have stayed and listened longer.