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Harbeth 40.2 40th Anniversary with Simaudio mono blocks

I would like to report my findings on driving my pair of Harbeth 40.2 40th Anniversary speakers with Simaudio Moon 400M pair of mono blocks, 390 Moon pre-amplifier and 260D CD transport.

I have a decent size room 25 X 35’ but irregular in its shape - it a condo so portion of the roof is high and whole construction is open between my room, living room, kitchen, and stairs - volume wise it is close to 1350ft2.
It is important to mention that the whole place is very well damped with several double decorative carpets, many record and book shelve units, tables, and heavy curtains.
Speakers are 10’ apart and 12’ from the listening sofa. Front of each is 5’ from back wall. There is no wall behind the sofa.

I have initially tried several amps from 30 - 650W a channel and have to say that I truly do not understand why would anybody even think about running 40.2s (and other Harbeths) with low powered amplification. I do not listen to music loud - 85dB at my listening spot is the loudest I go.
I am actually amazed how those large monitors came to life with Moon 400M - the scale, dynamics and sound staging is unbelievable!!! How can it be that those large boxes, set not that far from back walls, throw such an enormous, deep staging and lifelike imaging? Listening to Anna Maria Jopek, Allison Krauss, Patricia Barber, Nina Simone, Shirley Horn, transformed me to the concert club - first row seats!
Amazing Jeff Hamilton Trio "Live"album - track number 8, "Yesterdays", will challenge your speakers, amplification and room’s acoustic. Listening to that track on 150W amp was like driving BMW 750i on lowest octane gas - There was no depth to the sound, most of the Hamilton’s drumming sounded like me with a little stick hitting plastic box.
When 400W(8Ohms) a channel with 80.000uF capacitnace a channel got connected, the difference was night and day - way far from subtle. The performance gave me a goosebumps.

I have seen several Harbeth owners being disappointed by the sound of their speakers while driving them with 30W amplification. Can Fiat 500 outperform Mercedes S560? Or can you buy that S560 to feed it with 87 Octane gas?
All I am saying - next time you will be at your Harbeth dealer - ask them to hook up powerful amplification. Take the step even further - compare the powerful amp (300-400W) to the 50W one at lower (80dB) level and hear the difference for yourself. You do not need to drive 200MPH, to appreciate the 470HP of S560....

I have tired many speakers and amplifiers in my room - Pass Labs, Dartzeel, Hegel, Ars Sonum, Accuphase, Luxman, Cary Audio, Leben, Shindo, Wilson, Dynaudio, Reference 3A, Merlin, Spendor, Kiis, ProAcs, DeVore, Raidho and what I have accomplished now is by far the most pleasurable experience from them all....

If you want to know specifics, just ask and I will try to do my best to answer.


arturgorniak
prof
3,435 posts
 

I simply can't live with a "dark" sounding speaker and in fact one of the things that impressed me in auditioning the O/96 was how open and airy it sounded, in two different AV stores!  Go figure!  There must be something about their design (tweeter/big woofer?) that makes them change personality for different rooms.   The measurements taken by JA do seem to suggest they could sound rolled off in the "wrong" room.

The Harbeth 40s would be on my list if only they were not the size and shape they are.  I have some limitations, ergonomic and aesthetic in my room, that make them a hard sell.  (Though they work well in nearer listening, which is a plus in my room).
arturgorniak OP
80 posts
 
@prof 
That's why every piece of equipment should be auditioned at home. Harbeths have warm sound signature for sure and 96s can sound bright and fatiguing in the very live room. 

I agree - dark speakers can suck the excitement out from music making for very boring experience.

Many "modern" designs nowadays tend to gravitate to opposite - large, full, show-off forward sounding that simply make my ears bleed :) Initially they stealing attention to tire you beyond belief, in the end. 

I can't even count how many disappointed owners of Spendor D7, D9 and Focals I have met......
bobheinatz
705 posts
 
Thanks Artur for your detailing experience with the 40.2's.  The 40.2 is on my very short list for my my next speaker.  I see above you have listened to Pass Labs was that with the 40.2's?
prof
3,435 posts
 
I can’t even count how many disappointed owners of Spendor D7, D9 and Focals I have met......


I auditioned the Spendor D7s with hopes they retained the Spendor magic sound in the mids. I was very disappointed. The Spendor Ds were actually among the most fatiguing speaker I auditioned! Spendors!

arturgorniak OP
80 posts
 
@bobheinatz 
I did not have an opportunity to audition 40.2s with Pass Labs. I tired the INT250 with Dynaudio Contour 60s and the sound was dark and rolled off in my room. Unless you have live and open room, I would be careful with pairing warm sounding amp like Pass Labs are with romantically sounding speakers like Harbeths..

BUT what does not work for me can be perfectly acceptable for you in your room - when possible, always try equipment in your own room. 
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