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Harbeth vs JM Reynaud

Hoping for some input. I come from a Spendor perspective (my daughter recently inherited my BC-1s) and currently use Spendor s5e's with a Unison Unico hybrid integrated amp. Sound is wonderful. I have seen all the discussions/reviews of Spendor, Harbeth, Stirling, and ATCs, and I am partial to getting the midrange 'right' (the 'BBC' sound). With a 60th birthday coming up, I've been looking into one last speaker upgrade. With all the rave reviews of Harbeth's, I got to spend some time auditioning the Compact 7's, M30.1s and Super HL5's (not the plus). All sounded great but the 30.1's really seemed like something special. I was able to take a pair home for a weeklong audition, and truly fell in love of what these do. So now the problem. I have recently come across a several reviews of JM Reynaud speakers, including some recommendations on this forum as an alternative to Spendor and Harbeth. These really look like possible option for the BBC sound, but there is no opportunity for an audition, and that's a lot of $$ to buy completely unheard. Can anyone provide some thoughts feedback on how the JMR Bliss Silver or the Offrande Supreme's might compare to the Harbeth 30.1s or Super HL5 plus? My living/listening room is 15 x 25 (speakers on short wall), hardwood floors and plaster walls.
ihor
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,664 posts
 
ihor,
Congratulations on selecting the speakers you can live with. I know how frustrating and time consuming it can be. Are you still using the solid state amp? How low do the Omegas go in your room? What is so different you find about the single driver speakers, now that you have heard and own one? What about the high frequencies? You should really post your audio on the "systems" page.
pc123v
85 posts
 
@Ihor. How are the Omegas performing with more break-in? Vocals even better? TOP end smoothing out? Are you noticing female vocals sounding a bit "cupped"? I Guess overall sound a little closed in. Thanks. 

debrybmw
6 posts
 

@jtnicolosi

Subject: My JMR Cantabile Jubile journey with dual REL S/510 and Audio Note Jinro

It made me so happy to see others discussing the JMR brand!

I’ve been using the JMR Cantabile Jubile for quite a while and have been very satisfied. Initially, I felt the Cantabile’s low end could be a bit lean for my liking, as it tends to present a tighter, cleaner bass, which can sometimes trick the mind into thinking there’s a lack of it. So, to extend the low-frequency foundation without losing its musicality, I added a pair of REL S/510 subwoofers. The bass is now rich, deep (down to 20Hz), and seamlessly integrated.

My current setup is as follows:

· Speakers: JMR Cantabile Jubile (bi-wired with Viard Audio HD 20 speaker cable)
· Subwoofers: 2 x REL S/510
· Amplifier: Audio Note Jinro (Pure Class A, 20W/ch, tube integrated)
· Listening space: About 2.2m wide x 6.5m long

With the current setup, especially after tweaking the S/510 to +1 volume notch above default, the whole presentation opened up with more width and detail. The Cantabile’s strengths really shine through—it’s extremely delicate and clear, yet never analytical, a perfect match for tubes. It feels like a very cohesive, musical system that I thoroughly enjoy.

Now, I’m contemplating an upgrade to the JMR Orfeo Jubile. Would you recommend this move? My main concern is my listening space (2.2m wide). Does anyone have experience placing these in a smaller or narrower room? Would it be too much for a 2.2m-wide space?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
 

debrybmw
6 posts
 

Update on my listening space:

I realized I missed an important detail about my room. While the direct listening area is about 2.2m wide, there is an additional open space (approximately 2m x 3m) on the left side of my listening position — essentially an L-shaped living room. This open area extends to the left of where I sit, which likely helps with bass decay and reduces standing waves.

So my effective listening space is not a narrow 2.2m rectangle, but a larger L-shaped area. I hope this clarifies why I'm now seriously considering the Orfeo Jubile despite the 2.2m width at the speaker/listening zone.

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