Dynaudio, Devore Orangutan, or Harbeth

These are very different speakers. I have had the C1 and the C7, and enjoyed them both. The C-1 is more detailed and energetic, whereas the C7 is more musical and a tad laid-back. Personally, I prefer the C7, and have held onto them.

If you don't listen to this gear before you buy it, you'll probably make some big mistakes. Also, it looks like you are just piecing all this together and not really considering the entire system and how everything will work together.

I like (and own) some of the equipment you're considering. I own the Harbeth SHL5s and they're wonderful and well-suited to your room. Probably won't need the REL sub (although I do have a T9 and, well, it helps). I power them through my Luxman 505-ux and it's great too--very synergistic, better than the Ayre AX-7e I tried. Luxman does make a great CD/SACD player but I might point you to a different option--the Line Magnetic 515 CD player and DAC. I just ordered the LM 502CA DAC since I'm NOT a big CD listener--I prefer ripping my CDs and playing them through my Bryston BDP1 into a DAC for both convenience and sound quality. I do own an Oppo BDP 105 and it's a fine transport--heck it's a good player! I have been dealing with Tim at Tone of Audio in San Francisco. I suggest you call him and tell him what you're considering. He carries many of the products you like and he's very upright and candid.

Thanks for your responses! Peter S, I especially appreciate your response since you have listened to both the Dyn and the Harbeth -- what electronics did you use? what kind of music do you like? I very much understand your comparison. I've found the Dyn as having a certain kind of emotional intimacy (at least with Naim) that I'm not sure Harbeth, despite the beauty they show can convey -- Peter what do you think?

Zd -- Of course I have and will listen -- the challenge is that all the equipment that interest me can't be heard in one location at the same time. I am considering the entire system Naim and Luxman are prime Harbeth candidates and Naim is at least for Dyn.

Austinbob. I know Tim quite well. Thanks for that suggestion. I don't have the time to rip my cds -- I have thousands of them. Knowing that and being most interested in sound quality, would you suggest using the Oppo and hooking it up with the luxman DAC or simply getting the luxman CD player -- I think I'm going to stick with all Luxman if I go Luxman for one component.

I have owned the Dynaudio C1 and also several pairs of Harbeths. One comment I will make is that Dynaudio need a fair bit of power (more than either Harbeth and especially DeVore) and tend to not really come alive until you turn them up a bit. Over time, I found the excellent C1 "neutral" to a fault; I got bored. YMMV.