1. Home
  2. speakers
  3. 196603-208124

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
strawj's avatar
strawj
99 posts
 

Hello I use the 30.1's in a square room 11x11 areal problem of course but they work great. Quite forgiving and just big enough and contrary to urban legend I listen to and enjoy hard rock on them. Among other attributes they bring forth the subtleties of a Jerry Garcia tone really well when you get them totally dialed in.

Best JS

kahlenz's avatar
kahlenz
300 posts
 

In my opinion the M30s and the SHL5s are just going to be too much speaker for that room. Even the C7s will be tricky to set up right.

The P3s will be much easier to integrate into that room. They are a bit different than the other Harbeths (sealed boxes) and can be placed closer to the walls. You will probably want one or two subs (REL T/5x would be my suggestion, one may do the trick (depending on your room) but two may be easier to integrate (eliminate nulls and peaks, DSP can be your friend). Don't underestimate the P3s; the only concern would be if you listen to music crushingly loud and like to feel your pants legs flapping from the bass. The M30s in that room would practically force you to listen near-field so reflections will be less of a concern; add a couple of subs and crank those babies 'til you reach audio nirvana!

etph
5 posts
 

I have the Harbeth M30.2XD’s with a REL S/510 in an 11.5x11.5 room with much treatment, and they sound fantastic. I have the Harbeths about two feet from the front wall and just over 3 feet from the side walls.

vzz1924 OP
11 posts
 

@etph thanks. I’d love to hear about the treatments that you have and how you decided on them. Did you do some measurements with REW and then decided on what to get? It will be awesome if you can post a photo of your setup. 

etph
5 posts
 

Thanks for asking, vzz1924. Unfortunately, I just went on vacation until the end of the month but I can send pictures when I return.  I did not use REW but trusted my ears. John Major at GIK helped me on which acoustic treatment and where and I experimented for months with speaker and listening positions. The GIK acoustic treatment made a huge difference to my small, square room. 

More to discover