Are Harbeth the only warm and euphonic speakers in town ?

@henry53

“ ….Harbeths...Dull as a a dishwasher. With what amp….”

AMP?

- how about the REGA OSIRIS integrated amp , a killer upstream powerhouse. Or the Luxman L-590AX Mkii amplifier, or Hegel H390 Integrated Amplifier.

- if you pair them with crummy upstream components, their transparency will religiously expose all those warts and deficiencies.( and dullness …) BUT …..Drive them with quality build hefty options, and they excel in the extreme.

DULL?

- Hardly. You are in the very distinct minority, sir. …. there’s a big army out there that will immediately oppose your opinion.

- sample reviews:

https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2021/10/26/au41h1kkayv2m6xyjff3svgy8clt6n

“ … I’ve owned a lot of speakers, both big and small, and it’s rare that I find one so engaging and musical, so at home with all types of music. This is a speaker that makes you excited about listening to music, makes you want to hear as much as possible and offers a connection to the artist that you don’t always find easily. The 30.2 XD is not just a speaker that I want to listen to music on, it’s a speaker that I want to live with, so much so, I put my money where my editorial mouth is and sent the distributor a check. Hats off to Shaw and co for producing a world class musical product.…

https://www.stereonet.com/au/reviews/harbeth-m30-2-xd-loudspeakers-review

” ….Not having the pre-XD version of the Monitor M30.2 XD to compare the new model with, I cannot comment on the improvements. Yet I’m well able to applaud what’s now on sale. Certainly, this Xtended Definition edition is easily the best Harbeth I’ve heard so far – to me, it sounds very special, especially when playing through a serious amplifier. It may not offer any particular technological frills, but this is still one of the finest speakers around at its price and will put a smile on many faces. ..”

Stereophile: Herb’s verdict: "the most tuneful, accurate, neutral, fun, and music-loving stand-mounted two-way speaker I’ve heard."

DULL?

- Hardly. You are in the very distinct minority, sir. …. there’s a big army out there that will immediately oppose your opinion.

Since this is all personal perspective/tastes, there is also most likely an equal army out there that will not place Harbeth any where near the top of their lists for speakers that are highly dynamic (i.e. fast), highly resolving, throw a massive soundstage, etc.  Driven by a Hegel or not.

I've listened to a few Harbeth speakers and liked them; but compared to other speakers I've owned (Revel F52s, Magico S1s, Klipsch Cornwalls IIIs, Spendor D9s) and demoed (Kaya 45s, Fleetwood DeVille), DULL could certainly be used relative to my list.   Many in that Harbeth army will likely say all of the speakers in my list will make their ears bleed, etc... and that is fine.   

To each their own...

The CSS Criton 1tdx walk the fine line of warm but still detailed and dynamic. Very powerful little guys. They are one of if not the most easy to listen to speakers I’ve heard for all genres that I care about. 
 

Very different sound than my Focals. Not sure which one I prefer yet. 

Gershman Monitors.