Are Harbeth Super HL5 XD right for me?

I am leaning towards pulling the trigger on a used set tomorrow, there is no dealer within a reasonable distance.

@jdougs

good call... i think buying a used set in excellent condition at a fair price is the smart way to learn whether the shl5 is right for you

hearing it in your own system, for an extended period, playing with placement etc etc allows you to really appreciate any high performing speaker, and fully understand whether they will meet your expectations as an end game speaker

my only other add is that you might want to try a nice solid state amp in the 75-100 wpc range... many of us harbeth owners feel that refined solid state works best with the bigger harbeths to tighten down the bass response -- the speaker itself adds a lovely dose of midrange dimensionality and treble refinement -- these traits coupled with tube amps may be somewhat duplicative

it is true that the Harbeth model line-up's pricing is linear - as opposed to other speaker series (B&W, KEF, Tannoy, etc.) that are more exponential -  not that it's an apples to apples comparison.  So possibly, from that lens, the more expensive Harbeth models are more bang for the buck

I think you'll be surprised by the bass response especially in a small room.

I brought in a few records to play when I auditioned my 30.2 XDs. One of them was an older MOFI Dark Side of the Moon. Even the shop owner was somewhat surprised at how good the bass response was on this recording.

And they sound great with tube amps.

They do need proper stands. I use Resonant Woods of New Hampshire.

Good luck with the purchase.

@macg19 That’s good to know, since the bass has been my single biggest concern with them. Thanks for that info, it makes me feel much more confident in my decision.