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Harbeth 30.1 ? The Ultimate Speaker under $5K ?

I have been on a mission lately to find the best speakers within my budget - under $5K ...I am definitely an audio freak and my sound engineer in LA told me we went to a HiFi convention of sorts in Newport and heard every high end boutique speaker there is and hands down the Harbeth 30.1 was the best...thought it was a live band as he turned the corner into room ! 


Local hiFi high end shops always push whatever they deal....guy near me recommends Paradigm Prestige 95s but the seem more for home theatre use...here's my profile: 

I listen MOSTLY to LPs (stream on occasion with Audioengine B1)
Marantz PM-11S1 Mono Block Amp
Sony STR-V7 Amp
Technics SL-15 
1 SVS SB1000 Sub (if necessary) 
My listening room : is approximately 15 feet from Hifi to sitting position, wood floors , pitched ceiling about 10-15 feet in spots ...entire room approx 30 feet across . I consider it a VERY live, reflective space. 

I am a drummer so I love fat , tight kick drum. Rock i.e.: Rush , Prince, old 70s / 80s fusion/Jazz  
I listen to all different volume levels, sometimes low, sometimes I turn up music very loud and crappy speakers always seem to lose definition at high volume . 

I currently have some NHTs 2.3 & Infinity IL60s for surround....

Is the Harbeth 30.1 too small of a speaker for my spot?  what do you guys recommend! Thank You !
128x128tommypenngotti
ohlala
1,235 posts
 
They lack the initial impression of what Harbeth and Devore market but the Ryan R630 are the $5k speakers that made me look inward to seriously consider if being more ambitious was really worth the extra expense. They are ridiculously well balanced in sound and design with realistic vocals.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,842 posts
 
Wait a minute! There's an opinionated, jaded sound engineer out there giving advice? Who would of thought!  😄
tommypenngotti's avatar
tommypenngotti OP
219 posts
 
exactly ! If he wasn't the best sound guy on the planet I'd divorce his opinions ! 
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,132 posts
 
You should address your room before you consider what speaker to buy. None will perform as intended in such a lively space.

Treat your room first. But when you do, klipsch speakers are a good choice.

Oz
avanti1960
1,476 posts
 
The key to your situation is your amplifier- the Marantz PM11S1 dual mono design is a superbly robust, smooth muscular amplifier that will bring the Harbeths alive in your room. I would recommend the C7ES3 vs. the 30.1 because they do have a bigger sound.
Locate them away from the back wall at least 2 feet- if you can go to 4 feet that would be ideal and they will really slam the bass.  
I have owned the C7s for a couple years now and they define the idea of detail yet no fatigue.  They have a natural sound that manages to eliminate the edginess that many speakers have.  Nearly all of my recordings sound great and if you venture into the Klipsch / Zu realm you will find that not to be true.
Again, with your amp and proper placement of the speakers on quality filled stands then you will be extremely happy with the sound of Harbeths.
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