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I haven't been this excited in a while!

I have been growing my system for 8 years going through 8 preamps, 6 amps, 5 phonostages, 8 DACs, 8 streamers, 6 turntables and 7 sets of speakers.  Lots of long drives pulling a U-Haul haha.  I live in Memphis and have been to Dallas, Bethesda, DC, Jersey, Charlotte and Asheville.  

My Wilson Sophia 1 have been the speaker that keeps making the most musical sound in my system through all the electronic upgrades.  Other Wilson(Yvette/Sasha DAW/Alexia 1) had an overly bright/harsh sound that I could not enjoy.  EgglestonWorks Viginti and Focal 1038Be did the same.  I often have an experience with gear that doesn't fit the mould of what is expected.  Wilson and dealers all were in disbelief that my inverted metal dome tweeters in the Sophias play smoother than the soft-dome, but it wasn't just me...had a couple local audiophile friends over and I will never forget, one used the expression that they make you want to run out of the room.

A few weeks ago a friend  let me listen to his Harbeth Compact 7ES-2s and I was blown away.  All the assessments and reviews were spot on.  They were so musical and natural sounding.  This medium sized speaker was also super impressive in how the bass filled my large space.  

I started looking for some older model 40s and am going in about a week to pick up my M40.1s.  I was never a huge fan of their aesthetics with the old school box design.  I do love wood however it may be used in a home and with that sound they are looking more and more beautiful to me.  

Sonus Faber have a similar reputation and with their sleeker and more modern design, I had thought they would be my next contender but at the price point and the reviews of these 40.1s, as I said...I am just giddy over getting them home and seeing how they can perform.

I listen to all genres of music and will report back in a couple weeks on how things work out.  I was curious of others that are new to the Harbeth sound.

Cheers,
Dana

dhite71
dhite71 OP
454 posts
 

@leorun 

Thanks for sharing, Leo, and glad they are working out so well in your system.  I had read about what you mention regarding the spacing and toe-in.  I have some flexibility for both of those but my rear and side walls are pretty much what they are so I have to hope for the best.  

I tried some Magnepan 3.7i last year and oh boy was that a mess!  They did not work at all!!  

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
1,063 posts
 

@OP The Sophia and the Maxx were voiced differently to the other contemporary Wilson speakers so your observations are absolutely correct.

I think it is very wise to hang on to them, even if you are making a change.

The 3 and 5 series Harbeths are very nice speakers. The 40s somewhat show up the limitations of using a large conventional box.

It will be interesting to see how they perform in your home environment.

mark200mph
843 posts
 

An audiophile after my own heart. Over the past years I have traveled from California to Virginia with my truck and trailer. Many hotels not as advertised and many stories. Including one in Pennsylvania  who sold a amp to a prominent shock jock patty. Allegedly fed ex delivered it and ask the wife who was pregnant to help lift and smartly declined and even smarter filmed the whole circus..the fed ex proceeded to drop it off the truck then roll a box up to the house.needeless to say it was trashed. Now you have to file a claim but only the shipper can do that. The TTYL called the seller and said he take care of it.he had a guy in a suit drop off a check in 24 hours. I could imagine the conversation,do you want this video to go viral? Now you can't buy entertainment like that.they were carver amazing speakers for 600$ . I'll never sell those just because the story that came with it. These guys sold pro audio and did major stadiums for pro football.what a bonus.met many fine audiophile and if your one of them thanks for the dopamine.enjoy the hunt.

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audiovicker
8 posts
 

I heard what I think was one Harbeth speaker in a repair shop, it was a smaller one, maybe an 8 inch woofer.  Sounded like a cello was literally being played right there.  That sound has been imprinted on me but I have not pursued it.  They are great speakers.  

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