Clear difference between Harbeth 30.2 & Super HL5 Plus?

Thanks both for your replies, very helpful.

I heard the SHL5's in a brick-walled room driven by high-end Naim components, and I was surprised to find that they sounded a bit bright to me.  This would be in line with audiothesis's comments.  The 5's certainly will go down lower than the 30.2's, but that's what the 40.2 is for.  As I said, I was really very positively surprised and impressed by the 30.2's at CAF, driven by large tubed Rogers integrated.  I think a lot of the smaller speakers at CAF were being helped by bass reinforcement courtesy of the small hotel rooms.

I agree with most of the responses here on the comparison between the SHL5+ and M30.2 which have been rather accurate. I listened to the SHL5+ and M30.1 and M30.2 side by side at the dealers late last year and earlier this year. As usual, a lot will depend on listening preferences. I will always pick the SHL5 Plus over the M30 series anytime, be it the original M30, 30.1 or 30.2. About 8 or 9 years ago when I bought my first Harbeth, I compared all M30, SHL5 (non-Plus back then) and the C7ES3. The M30 was pushed aside after the first listen and I was left comparing the C7ES3 and SHL5 back and forth several times before I decided on the speaker to purchase.

Back to the thread, the M30.2 surely sounds different from the SHL5+. It’s not just a smaller box with reduced scale and bass response. The overall presentation of the two speakers is different. The M30.1/M30.2 has the small studio sound with a more controlled presentation. Due to this trait, it does not have the airiness of the SHL5+. The SHL5+ sounds airier and more open than the M30.2. The M30.2 is a warmer sounding speaker and sounds slightly shut-in than the SHL5+. It’s not exactly a criticism toward the M30.2 as folks who prefer a warmer and controlled sound will like the M30.2 better. The M30.2 sounds more glorious with vocals but the SHL5+ is a more balanced and versatile speaker to me. Case in point, the M30.2 may sound great with vocals and jazz but not very good with pop and rock. The SHL5+ sounds equally good with pop and rock. And yes, the bass of the SHL5+ goes deeper and sounds fuller and more complete than the M30.2.

Okay another question for this group.  I’m really struggling to get my Harbeth SHL5 plus to wow me.  I’ve had them for about 3 years and have them plugged into a Line Magnetic 501ia tube amplifier (100 w).  It just feel like I’m being pushed into the midrange frequencies of songs and missing nuances in the higher range. This surprises me given it’s super tweeter. Even the mid-ranges just seem slightly muted or muffled.  
I so want to be wowed by these speakers like I was when I tested them.  
I was told by another person who has these speakers that he has been blown away and seemed to attribute some of that to having a very nice solid state amp.   
I listen to mostly rock, post-punk, new wave and classic rock but also enjoy jazz and classical.  It’s the former that I’m struggling with as the jazz and classical seem to present well with these speakers.  
Thoughts?

@gunners01 - you’re always welcome to come by and listen to them at my house to see what these speakers are capable of. IMO, and from what I remember when I heard it at your place, the LM amp is not doing enough justice to the SHL5+. I tried the speakers with my other tube amp (Raven Audio Blackhawk), and they sounded like a completely different speaker, and not in a good way.

I don’t listen to hard rock or post-punk, but for almost all other genres these speakers are breathtaking. You’re more than welcome to visit :)