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Are Harbeth Super HL5 XD right for me?

I am feeling like despite being very happy with my current speakers, I am missing something because they are by far the least expensive part of my system. I recently replaced my Large Advents with a pair of the new KLH Model 5s and I love them, despite being about 5% of my systems cost.

I am thinking about the Harbeth Super HL5 XD as a final upgrade. It’s a big chunk of change though and my biggest concern is that they can only be 12” away from the rear wall. They’ll be essentially open on both sides and I’ll be sitting about 8’ from them. This is fixed in stone. I’ll be driving them with a pair of Luxman MB-3045 tube amps and an ARC SP-14 playing 98% (or more) vinyl. Mostly jazz, classic rock and classical. I live in an apartment and never play very loud, and have reached the point where I really don’t have much desire to anyway.

So… Is it worth taking the chance given my situation or am I just setting myself up for disappointment and better off sticking with what I am really very happy with?

TIA

128x128jdougs
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

when i heard grahams on a few occasions i felt their treble is voiced more forward than the equivalent harbeth or classic spendor

a little more of a 'modern interpretation', and yes i agree with @yogiboy - hardly a value...

jdougs's avatar
jdougs OP
186 posts
 

So I’ve had the Harbeths for a week now and have 15-20 hours on them.  No regrets!  They are about a foot from the back wall, so could I get a larger sound stage if they were farther out?  Probably (certainly?).  But they have nothing to apologize for.  They are definitely keepers!  They are on Skylan stands, powered by Lux MB3045 tube amps and an ARC SP-14 pre.

I also want to give a shout-out to the KLH Model 5s they replaced.  The Harbeth may be better, but the Models 5s hold their own and have nothing apologize for, especially at less than 1/3 the price. Both are great speakers, IMHO!  All in all, I am very happy I decided to pull the trigger on them.  Thanks to everyone who weighed in with useful suggestions whether I followed it or not.

paulietunes
66 posts
 

Congrats and enjoy!  They are most definitely a pair of speakers I’d love to have a home demo with sometime in the near future.  

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,701 posts
 

The amount of toe in was very critical for a perfect sound stage on my HL5s. Do a little amount at a time until the sound stage dials in. BTW, glad you like them!

Toe-in is pointing a loudspeaker inward toward the listener rather than aiming it straight ahead. Toe-in is a powerful tool for dialing-in the soundstage and treble balance. There are no rules for toe-in; the optimal amount will vary greatly with the speaker and the room. Toe-in increases the amount of treble heard at the listening seat.

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

klh vs harbeth... good vs better

enjoy!

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