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Harbeth Super HL5 plus Break-in

The following is an excerpt from the Harbeth User Guide:

"After exercising your new Harbeths for just a few hours they will be fully ready for a lifetime of enjoyment".

After going to the Harbeth site it pretty much said the same thing as the user guide but added that the supertweeter would take a little longer to break-in.
My new Harbeth's sounded the same after I put on around the first 100 hours so I believed the above until around the 120-150 hour mark I noticed (or so I think) the midrange sounding more realistic to the point of more enjoyment! I don't know if I'm actually hearing an improvement or I'm just getting used to the Harbeth sound since the 5's are my first experience with Harbeth in my listening room.

I would like to hear others that have owned or still own the Super 5's and whether or not you have experienced the same thing as me or something else.
routeman21
routeman21 OP
110 posts
 
donjr,

I am using the Skylan 18" stands with the columns unfilled.
rcalderon
19 posts
 
Placement, placement... please. It takes a while because a small adjustment is noticeable. Right speaker pointing somewhere between nose and left shoulder, and Of course  the same but oposite side. Yes it is a lot of toe in. It took me several months of trial and error. But when you find it you’ll know. I’m 3’ feet from front wall and 41/2 from side walls. Speakers are around 8pm’ apart. This will be different for every room. I would really like for you to experience them when properly placed, give it try, they do sound amazing, have fun with it. Good luck
hleeid
219 posts
 
@routeman21 - I now have about 150 hours on my SHL5+40s.Bass seems fuller. Imaging got a bit crisper.  Soundstage seemed to reach a bit further behind the speaker plane.
I have my Maggies (well broken in) set up in the same room and swap with the Harbeths regularly.Since the Maggies theoretically should not change sonically, it was the difference between the speakers that I noticed.The Harbeths didn't have the airiness or soundstage size compared to the Maggies at first.Still doesn't but has come a lot closer.  Very close.
Along with the above mentioned improved bass, imaging and soundstage, I am very happy with the Harbeths!Hope you come to enjoy yours as well!
Also, @rcalderon  +1 on placement!!
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