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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
bgross's avatar
bgross
530 posts
 

Yeah, the two Harbeth models & REL subs mentioned are just too much for that smaller space. Honestly, get a set of KEF LS50 Meta and then maybe add the C62 wireless sub only after you've experienced the speakers in your room without it. It's an excellent combo and will be fabulous in your smallish room. If you feel that's too vanilla, a set of Opera Prima monitors and you may not need a sub at all; really great Italian smaller stand-mounts. So many options but what you've tossed out as considerations are overkill in a big way. If it's gotta be Harbeth, the P3ers XD is the match & add (1) small sub if you must. Just my opinion.

big_greg
6,821 posts
 

@yogiboy I sold my Super HL5 Plus 40th some time ago, preferring the C7s over those.  I've also owned Stirling Broadcast LS3/6, and no longer have those either.

I have owned P3ESR SE speakers for a few years, and have always kept those in a second system, thinking they were too small for the main system.  After hearing the Falcon LS3/5 2024 Limited Edition at a friend's house, I decided to try the P3ESRs in my main system.  My room is odd shaped and opens into my kitchen / dining room, but it's a fairly large space.  They sound fantastic in there and may not leave.  They are augmented by 4 subwoofers, so there's that.

I will say that the Falcon's were really amazing, providing much more detail than the Harbeths.  They were fun, but the Harbeths have plenty of detail and are so easy to listen to.

mike4597's avatar
mike4597
306 posts
 

In that price range, I would also consider the Fyne Audio bookshelf speakers, particularly the F-701 and the F1-5.  I have the floor standing G-702s, and the sound quality is superb, and the two mentioned should be superb with a subwoofer(s).

pioneerhip's avatar
pioneerhip
53 posts
 

My room is almost identical to yours. I am running Harbeths 7ES3 on Luxman amplification and JL Audio E110 sub. I couldn’t imagine “more” speaker in my room. I have kicked around the idea of going to the p3esr but am afraid I would lose the “big” sound of the 7s. Good luck in your decision! 

gramophone_canada
80 posts
 

Have a look at the much more flexible EPOS ES-7N which allow for placement close to a wall or more open placement. I find the Harbeths rather flat sounding. For the past two years the EPOS models have received great reviews and are much less expensive than the Harbeth - https://idc-klaassen.com/en/tests/epos-es-7n-what-hi-fi-award-2025-in-the-gbp1500-gbp2500-bookshelf-speaker-category/

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