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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
taters
1,149 posts
 
Pdreher, what kind of electronics were you running with the Dyn's?
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,208 posts
 
I tried Simaudio W6 monoblocks and Plinius SA-102.
taters
1,149 posts
 
With solid state electronics I find Dynaudio analytical to. I run all tube gear with my C-1's and the last thing you would ever say is that they sound analytical or unnatural sounding. Amplification on Dynaudio speakers makes a huge difference. I don't think the Harbeths are that fussy when it comes to electronics. I think the designer of Harbeths says the same thing.
wim1983's avatar
wim1983
221 posts
 
hmm it's happening reading debates here, and finally come to the gear matching point, yes recently I face some problem with Wharfedale Jade 3 too, it sound too analytical to me, compare to Denton 80th Anniversary, it's not very forgiving in playing a lot of my music, so I think is because I'm using too straigthforward gears like JDS Labs ODAC, Class D Audio SDS 400C, it's like full blown sound without filter on the Jade 3, but these gears work on the Denton. I think some people will find Dynaudio sound analytical or thin, free of color if pairs with transparent gears, but neutral sound will sound good if play some state of the art recording, like Mike Oldfield, and most of the mid range voice music, but still I think I prefer a bit light color on the sound, more engaging to listen to, especially on vocal, while most of the background sound I prefer to be a touch wing wing show, not too forward but still able to listen to the details. I think both Dynaudio and JM Reynaud should be compared, we should analyse our own audio chain instead, and decide what to do accordingly?
ryder
1,689 posts
 
It's all horses for courses when it comes to listening taste and preferences. The poster of this thread prefers the sound of the Harbeth M30.1 over the Compact 7 and Super HL5 but I find the M30.1 to sound too thick and shut-in for my preference. I prefer the more open and dynamic sound of the C7ES3 and SHL5. To each his own I guess.

The Dynaudio Confidence line of speakers are a lot fussier than the Harbeths as they require more attention in amplification. They are ruthlessly revealing as well. Good music will sound great with the Dynaudios and less-than-perfect recordings will sound bad on them. On the other hand, mediocre to poor music will sound pretty good on the Harbeths.
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