Something other than Harbeth SHL5


Don't get me wrong. I love my Harbeths, but they're all I've owned for a long time and it was Spendor before that. I've got the itch to try something new.

Budget around $8000 new.

Room size is 14.5 feet x 25 feet. Listening "area" is in one half the room.
Amplifier is Audio Hungary Qualiton A5i. Tube amp, 50 wpc
Primary source is FLAC and DSD files to PSAudio DirectStream Dac
Subwoofer is MJ Acoustics Reference 100 set at a roll-off of 34 Hz.

My musical tastes are classical, large-scale choral works, symphonies, along with solo piano, also organ (rumbling the floor). Some jazz, female voices, and a little opera, again female voices. I love good imaging, life-like sound, large soundstage, and the disappearance of the speakers. I like the feeling of being there, without going deaf. I feel like I have to play the SHL5s loud to make them come alive.  I'm very sensitive to upper frequencies going too harsh/bright.

I auditioned Audio Note AN-J in a studio and they blew me away in the way that they disappeared.  Detail, and soundstage were magnificent. However, I thought I heard a little graininess is the mid-range at one point.

I've also read a lot of reviews and did hear some samples on YouTube (I know, I know) of Audio Solutions Figaro M, and they did sound magical. They're simply not available in South Florida, so I will not be able to audition them. But there is definitely something going on with those speakers.

Has anyone heard all 3 or two out of 3 to give me some opinions? Thank you!

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I had the SHL5+ and liked them a lot but they didn't have the best dynamics and quickness.  

I picked the Spendor D7.2, 90 db efficiency and goes great with rune amps.  Deep and punchy bass, superb midrange and highs are amazing.  Imaging is right on the money but the dynamics, quickness and timing are really nice.  

Bass is special because of the bottom firing port that mimics a transmission line.  Mine measure to 25 hz in my room.  

stereo5 maybe cause the next/top of the line 40.2’s are $22K vs $8K for the HL5

I feel like I have to play the SHL5s loud to make them come alive.

I auditioned the 30.2 XD and the newest HL5s and went with the 30.2’s and 2 REL T/9x subs.

I feel the opposite - they don’t need to be played loud at all to sound really satisfying so perhaps audition the latest Harbeth's as someone else suggested and maybe the dealer would take yours in trade?

My suggestion for something completely different but still efficient enough for tube amplification is Daedalus Audio. You may have to look at used however.

Seems to me getting an upgraded Harbeth wouldn't fulfill the desire for something new. How about this: Find speakers that people are raving about that have significant return windows. Keep the Harbeths during the process. If you find the greener grass or new audio horizon, then you can sell the Harbeths.

Tannoy’s? Efficiency you are looking for, hand made in Scotland, certainly prestige especially GR level, not sure if you find a distribution demo them