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

I've been working to sell off the final stock of Stirling Broadcast as the owner is suffering health issues and is in a care home now. I've got no financial interest in it though so if it loks like I am pushing stuff it is of no benefit to me, just hassle really....

We have been selling the last LS3/5as as version 3.2, which is basically the same as the 3 but the crossovers are built with Jantzen air coils and crosscaps instead of the inhouse versions from Elytone, for a very useful SQ improvement. And I have been selling the last of the AB-2 bass extenders, which turn the LS3/5as into a floor stander, with upgraded crossovers as the standard one uses an electrolytic cap plus small poly bypass which doesn't cut the mustard and compromises the band passed signal to the LS3/5as.

We are out of AB-2s apart from one 2nd hand set of matching LS3/5as and AB-2s that I am trying to push to a guy in the UK, but Graham Audio do a Sub 6 bass extender which is an expanded (bigger cabinet and bigger driver) version of an AB-2, and their anniversary model of their LS3/5a is likely to have a similar standard crossover (just not the thin wall cabinet). So that combo are likely to be somewhat similar - i.e. the very point source/out of the box presentation of the LS3/5a but improved to be a full range version.

So I sold a pair of v3.2 LS3/5as and the AB-2 bass extenders to a local customer that had a pair of Harbeth C7ES3s but wasn't qute happy with them (bass mostly). 

I first sent him some demo LS3/5as only, his comments were: 

"...I have now had a chance to listen to the speakers for a few days, then gone back to harbeths, and ls3/5s again to better understand their qualities.

They are fabulous, the insight into music without sounding harsh is magical! I have not heard anything like it. Much faster than Harbeths as well (possibly due to a smaller driver size?) - excellent foot taping groove - the bass is tighter and leaner. Very engaging holographic sound imaging - something I was after as well. They also seem to work well with the current Naim kit. So definitely tick a lot of boxes!

They sound is close to perfect, however, because of the driver size and physical size they do not fill the room as much as larger speakers. While I do not listen to music loud, and prefer speakers which do not need to be driven hard to sound best,  they can sound a bit congested with busier passages, at higher volumes in my room."

So then I sent him some standard AB-2s:

"You know I was amazed by the LS3/5as and I find the AB2&LS3/5av3.2 combination astonishing! There were three main areas I was looking to address: bass speed and texture (not necessarily the sheer amount of bass) and soundstage/imaging.  

So I've now upgraded his AB-2s as well for more improvement, some to the bass quality must mostly to the soundstagng.

I have another customer in Newbury that has V3s and standard AB-2 and is very happy with them.

In his main room he also bought some Stirling Broadcast LS3/6s but has never been really happy with them, and he has now tried multiple expensive amplifiers with them to try and make it better - started with Sugden Masterclass, then bi-amped Chord Ultima monoblocks, now a 300B tube amp.

I visted him a couple of weeks ago and upgraded his LS3/5as to v3.2s and upgraded the AB-2s as well. 

How he is even more uphappy with the LS3/6s as the v3.2s/AB-2s are so good.

I asked him what he thought of them now and the upgrade - his somewhat cliched answer was:

Now he is trialling some Graham Audio LS5/5s but also not happy with those. I asked him what he thought of the upgraded LS3/5as and AB-2s compared to the LS5/5s: 

+1 @big_greg . The larger Harbeths are too much speaker for that small room, and the ES3's are a much better fit.  With a REL sub, you'll be getting the bass extension you're looking for.  Note that the S/510 is now discontinued and replaced by a newer model.

Another consideration.  Look at ATC speakers, consumer and professional.  The professionals are made for close listening obviously.  I have a consumer brand ATC SCM-40 and it is the most revealing speaker I have ever heard in my system.  Extremely impressed.  Get a small sub or a pair and this system will be awesome!  Good luck!   

The 30.2 or 30.3 (if you have the budget) hands down. Had them in a similar room size on Ton Trager Stands (the best stands for Harbeth to allow full cabinet resonance). Particularly excellent for vocals and jazz. The C7 .3 are a very good alternative if you want a bit more bass (but will loose the exceptional mid range that is second to none for the M30). I compared and got many feedback including two Harbeth retailers) on the SHL5+ and they would definitely not be my choice. Someone even offered me to trade one for one their SHL5+ for my 30.2 because he regretted selling his pair of M30.2 XD. My suggestion would be to get the 30.2 first and see if you want to add a sub later. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thank you. I connected with Harbeth and they suggested C7 or M30 as well. I am inclined to M30 given all the feedback and data. Would love to hear more experiences from the forum.