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Harbeth 40.3's. Should I buy them?

I've owned a lot of speakers. I've just finished auditioning a pair of Alta Audio Alec's. Not good at all in my system. I own a pair of Spatial X3 open baffle speakers. I really like them and my wife doesn't. I recently bought a pair of Buchardt S400 MKII's for a second system. I say second system because I have a dedicated 2 channel room 15' x 19'. Upstairs in a much larger room, the Buchardt's were anemic, fine, 2 Adam subs solved the anemia. Then just for the heck of it (and because audio is a hobby) I moved the Buchardt monitors downstairs in the 'big guys' room. The Buchardt's loved that room and my wife loved the Buchardt's except they are to small for the listening room and our listening tastes.

I'm tired of buying and selling speakers. I've been to a hundred audio shows and have "favorites". Harbeth have always sounded great, not a show stopper, but, at shows, they've been totally inoffensive, warm and engaging in the same way I like Audio Notes AN-e.
We play all types of music. My wife especially likes classical, leaning towards female singers but too, she'll rock out on Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Keyes, Journey, you get the idea. Me, classic rock but anything that soothes my soul works. I like to play loud. My wife - louder, but not teenager loud.

We have an awesome front end to work with. Allnic T2000 30th integrated (60wpc in triode 150wpc in pentode), Allnic H5500 phono and Allnic D10000 DAC.

Why wouldn't we happy with this speaker?

128x128desalvo55
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,588 posts
 

I don't know if this will help, but I used to have the smaller C7es  along with two subs.My amp is an AricAudio Transcend that was 60+watts with KT150s and half that single ended. I measured it at 90db in my 16 x 17 room.It was great with rock music but not as dynamic as a more sensitive speaker would be,which made it forgiving of harsher recordings. I really enjoyed them for a couple of years then sold them for a pair of easier to drive speakers. 

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,823 posts
 

Nothing wrong with those big Harbeths especially if you listen to all kinds of music. Vocals are a particular strength and that means a lot!

Is placement/WAF part of the problem? The big Harbeths I have heard were enchanting placed well out from the rear wall. I could learn to live with that. Whereas Audionote is designed for corners. That’s a big difference. The solution is to get speakers that work well for you in your room. YMMV.

grislybutter
2,209 posts
 

that's a new car price territory, I would definitely try before buying

gimmer
21 posts
 

@desalvo55 

I own that same Allnic amp and love it.  We have fairly similar tastes in music and after looking at my options I ordered a pair of Coherent Audio 18's.  Frank at Coherent and Gary at True Audiophile have both been great to work with.   

I can't say how they sound as they have not yet arrived.  They are being custom built to order with some special veneers that Frank found and upgraded internals.  They are sending over photos at various stages of the build process and they will look fantastic.  They are rated at 102 dB sensitivity and the Allnic should have no issue with those 18 inch drivers (down to 25 Hz and -3dB at 22 Hz).  I am hoping they end up being a final purchase, but history tells me otherwise.

I had the same experience as @rsf507 with Harbeth.  I tried out two or three models (including the 40.3XD) at my local dealer and never really found them to suit my taste in music even when driven with really nice amplification (Luxman, AR. D'Agostino to name a few). 

Good luck and let us know where you wind up!

ronboco
722 posts
 

Give the Rockport Atria speakers an audition. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Good luck ! 

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