Are Harbeths really "all that?"

"All have the refined sound you expect from an English monitor."

"Refined" is an accurate and useful description for many high end audio components, in particular speakers, that come out of Britain I have found.

I'd toss DNM Reson ICs into that category as well. I use them to inject a bit of restraint and refinement into my system when called for.

I prefer to tweak my system towards the more subtle and refined sound when called for rather than make it inherent via the speaks.

Of course, as has been pointed out on person's "refined" may be anothers "boring" and vice versa so YMMV on any particular day even just depending on your own personal mood.

I also like wine analogies very much when discussing the various fine points of audio!

Yes, wine analogies are very good. So are photography analogies -- over- and underexposed, lighting, soft focus, Kodak vs. Fuji color (hmmm...not sure I remember what those two look like these days).

So are photography analogies -- over- and underexposed, lighting, soft focus, Kodak vs. Fuji color (hmmm...not sure I remember what those two look like these days).

Not sure of the photo analogies but the bokeh on my Nikon AF-S VR NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED is awesome and yet the subject is as tack sharp as you will ever find. I even have a Polar Bear shot on my virtual system for fun (a photo taken up North in Hudson Bay - yep - that Bear is wild and NOT in a Zoo and it was extremely COLD outside)

What would be the equivalent of bokeh in the audio world?

Drubin: Instead of a third trip down Harbeth Lane have you reconsidered the Daedalus's? For me these were the answer since they retain all the natural musicality/tonality and glorious midrange of the Harbeth's but add realistic dynamics, the ability to play loud without strain and deeper, tighter bass. I think you heard the old DA-1's but the new models are way better.

My third trip is with the little sealed box models, so a different approach altogether. And not the forthcoming revision with the Radial drivers. I'm just an audio neurotic.