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Harbeth vs JM Reynaud

Hoping for some input. I come from a Spendor perspective (my daughter recently inherited my BC-1s) and currently use Spendor s5e's with a Unison Unico hybrid integrated amp. Sound is wonderful. I have seen all the discussions/reviews of Spendor, Harbeth, Stirling, and ATCs, and I am partial to getting the midrange 'right' (the 'BBC' sound). With a 60th birthday coming up, I've been looking into one last speaker upgrade. With all the rave reviews of Harbeth's, I got to spend some time auditioning the Compact 7's, M30.1s and Super HL5's (not the plus). All sounded great but the 30.1's really seemed like something special. I was able to take a pair home for a weeklong audition, and truly fell in love of what these do. So now the problem. I have recently come across a several reviews of JM Reynaud speakers, including some recommendations on this forum as an alternative to Spendor and Harbeth. These really look like possible option for the BBC sound, but there is no opportunity for an audition, and that's a lot of $$ to buy completely unheard. Can anyone provide some thoughts feedback on how the JMR Bliss Silver or the Offrande Supreme's might compare to the Harbeth 30.1s or Super HL5 plus? My living/listening room is 15 x 25 (speakers on short wall), hardwood floors and plaster walls.
ihor
zd542
5,339 posts
 
There's no substitute for doing an in home demo. You tried the Harbeths in your system, and liked them enough to buy them. If you can't do the same with the JM Reynaud, I wouldn't even consider it. I don't care how good the reviews are, there's just too much that can go wrong.

What part of the country do you live in? I know a really good Harbeth dealer. His whole store is built around the "British" sound. That's his specialty. Harbeth, Spendor, Rega, Naim, Audio Note, Nottingham, and some others.
facten
2,884 posts
 
I have not had Spendors or Harbeths so I can't compate for you against my JM Reynaud Offrande Supreme 2s. I do find the JMRs to offer a very balanced and refined sound with good soundstaging. Purchased them w/o auditioning and never regreted the decision; not saying that you shouldn't but if you are in a situation like me with no audiophile retail stores anywhere near I wouldn't have the anxiety that some have. Original drove them with Ayon Spirit 2 tube integrated and now with Modwright LS100 pre and KWA100SE separates - both have matched well
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,747 posts
 
If you had the Harbeth's at home and you fell in love with them,why would you look at anything else? BTW, I have owned many Harbeth and Spendor speakers and if your taste runs with that sound then you should look no further!
ihor OP
88 posts
 
The 30.1's filled my room very nicely. I guess the reason I am interested in the JMRs is that there are the several reviews from folks that have Spendor and/or Harbeth preferences/tastes/leanings that favorably compare the JRMs. In the review here:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue48/jmreynaud.htm

The reviewer concludes:
["I am notably monogamous when it comes to loudspeakers: while I know plenty of audiophiles who "flip" their speakers with regularity, my relationship with the Spendor/Harbeth/BBC school lasted from the mid-'90s to 2009. But that relationship has finally been supplanted, and these two brilliant offerings from Reynaud are my new ideal of sound—the standard against which others are measured."]

I know each to their own in terms of the sound they like, but this seem like pretty high praise that at least begs some mental consideration of the JRM Offrande Supreme 2s over the 30.1.

I live in the Chicago area and the Harbeth dealer here is very good. In store auditions were done with Rogue preamp and Cary tube amps. Sounded very good.

Anyways, thanks for everyone's thoughtful replies.
bcgator's avatar
bcgator
355 posts
 
I recommend you buy both and spend 3-6 months listening and comparing them, and then sell the ones you like least. Seriously. It will require the larger up front investment, which may seem radical, but if this really is your last set of speakers then you want to get it right. If you buy both, listen to each pair for a week at a time then switch off, back and forth, one of them will make itself obvious as your favorite and you sell the others. Sure, you'll take the resale loss, but if you buy either one by itself and it turns out to be the wrong choice you'd take that resale hit anyway.

Getting other peoples' opinions is valuable and helpful - I've been there myself - but in the end it won't get you to where you want to go.
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