Why do Harbeth speakers have such a cult following

It's not 2-way vs. 3-way but rather different "families" within the Harbeth line-up.  40.2 and 30.2 are essentially cut from the same cloth. Although it appears to slot in between them, the SHL5 is really the top of the line of a different family. I'm sure there are family resemblances between it and smaller speakers in the lineup, but not sure exactly which.

@twoleftears 

So in your assessment, is the 40.2 just more of the 30.2 but both are similar sound-wise?

What is it about the SHL5 that is different?

Thanks.

I've owned SHL5's (non plus version) and am on my 2nd go-around with 40.1's.    

• 40.1's... full bodied, refined, smooth, organic with a lot of "meat on the bones".  Not an exciting speaker, but one you can melt into your seat with, relax and spend hours listening to with no fatigue.
• SHL5's (in comparison to 40.1's):  neutral, fast, transparent, lacking body.  I tried using with a REL Storm subwoofer, but the integration could not come close to bringing them to the sound quality of my 40.1's.  A good clean sounding speaker, but not in the same league as the 40.1's.

@pdreher

That description jives with my 40.2 listening experience.  Very "organic".  I wish I could have stayed and listened longer.

IMO Harbeth speakers, at least the ones I have heard, are easy to listen to and dont bring about the same level of fatigue as many other speakers. However this forgiveness comes at a price which is why they are not even on my "short list" of speakers to consider.