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Help me choose: Harbeth 30.2 or SHL5+ XD in a 10 x 13 feet room?

Hello everyone, 

Need some guidance on speaker selection. I am primarily targeting Harbeth. Open to others’ opinions. For this discussion appreciate experienced feedback on these two speakers. Sharing my room and audio setup details below.

Room:

Dimensions: 9.7 ft (W) × 12.5 ft (L)

Ceiling: Cathedral, 9.6 ft peak

Floor: Pergo Laminated, 5.5 x 9 ft rug in center only

Speakers: Tontrager Stand on bare floor, not rug

Front wall: LG G5 77" TV + Nakamichi Dragon Sounbar. Butcher Block Acoustics stands and rack. 

Rear wall: Window behind MLP, curtained. 

Listening distance: ~5 - 7 ft

 

My Audio SYSTEM:

Main speakers - to be determined. Need your opinion.

Amp: Synthesis A100 Titan (KT66, 100 W @ 6Ω)

DAC: Holo May KTE

Streamer: HiFi Rose RS130

Subwoofer: REL S/510 (planned)

Cables: Audio Note Lexus 96, DH Labs Air Matrix Cryo, Mirage USB

 

Taste in Music: Vocals, acoustic jazz, classical, opera, Tool/Dream Theater

 

Given the room volume is small,  does it make sense to go with M30.2 or M30.3 and pair it with REL S/510, or SHL5PLUS XD or XD2? Which speakers will be optimal for best outcomes? 90% of the time I listen to vocals, jazz, and Acoustics. 

Thanks in advance for your guidance. 

 

vzz1924
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,475 posts
 

You might consider two smaller subs like T5x instead for improved soundstaging.

vzz1924 OP
11 posts
 

Back wall to MLP: 2.5 feet.
Front wall to the speaker’s rear baffle: 3 feet.
Distance from the speaker line to the MLP: 7 feet.

Planned gap between the speakers: about 5.8 feet (70 inches).

The SHL5s are 13 inches wide, so each speaker sits less than a foot from the side wall. That tight spacing is my big concern. I’ll experiment with toe-in to see how the image and balance settle.

big_greg
6,821 posts
 

If you want Harbeths, I would go with P3ESRs and a sub (or two). If you plan to play things loud, the Compact 7 might be a better choice. I would go for either of those before the two you mentioned. I have owned all the speakers mentioned, except the M30s.

avanti1960
1,744 posts
 

I had the 5s and loved them, they respond well to a direct on axis toe angle- even aimed at your nose- so avoiding reflections should be fine.  Good luck! 

clustrocasual
144 posts
 

I had the 5s and C7ES. The 5 was no sound stage, flatter curtain of sound. I kept the C7 and rebuilt the crossover on oak boards, point to point with great components including the coils. all audio note silver wiring inside. it’s very good sounding now. don’t let the harbeth cult intimidate you; they are very easy to work on and I spent years experimenting with them. I’m going to replace the main driver next, and cutting a baffle on the CNC. it’s similar to how Peter Q evolved the snell design. I think the base C7 design is pretty good. 

 

by the way - I had the tontrager woman make a custom set that I stained myself, but I wasn’t very satisfied with the sound. I got the something solid stands with the carbon fiber puck and the difference was huge. I kept the tontrager as a furniture, cut a marble top for it and has a plant there now.

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