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OMG OMG OMG Harbeth M30.1 INCOMING!!!A Few Questions For Owners

A rare & timely opportunity has made me the owner of a pair of M30.1's in Tiger Ebony finish with 1 frigging hour use!!!
 I have Pangea 24" stands & with the tweeter at 12.5" up from the bottom of the cabinet that puts the tweeter at 36.5",within a half inch of center of my ears when in critical listening mode..Anyone see a problem using my stands?
 I have about 3' out from back wall & same from side walls which are treated for reflections..Speakers can be up to 8' apart with listening position about 10'away..Suggestions on setup?
 Regarding amplification since they haven't even started breaking in I'm going to run them with my 17wpc.EL84 amp & will start looking for something with at least 50wpc...What do you guys think of a Mcintosh MHA100 @ 50wpc. driving these?How about SimAudio Moon 240i @ 50wpc.or maybe a Hegel Rost at 75wpc.???
 Thanks much,take care..
 

freediver
freediver OP
1,165 posts
 
So I spent several hours going through the Harbeth Users Group threads re: the 30.1's & holy crap the spirit of Dr.Julian Hirsch & The Audio Critic  is alive & well over there!Measurements,measurements,distortion levels,all good amps have no sound,Yamaha & Marantz integrated amplifier recommendations,wow!
 Oh and man is Audiogon loathed as a den of snake oil salesmen & charlatines!I've NEVER been so excited to be getting any speakers I've ever owned...
singintheblues
96 posts
 
If your ears remain at exactly the same height +/-0.5” during listening, you need a better record collection ;-)

In my experience, all Harbeth benefit from a bit of power.  30.1 @ 85db.
I recently heard them demoed with a Sugden a21 (23w Class A).  The most limp sound I’ve ever heard.   No dynamics at all.

....perfect if the aim is to keep your lug holes in an exact spot :-)
tlong1958
158 posts
 
I would have to agree with the assessment about Avon forums. They have become a haven for snake oil salesmen. I do find it entertaining to read about the nonsensical products that are advertised here. Magic mats, $15,000 speaker cables, expensive contact cleaners, little bowls to stick on the walls of your listening room, etc. and the claims from the shills, using expressions like “night and day difference, “jaw dropping improvement” “blacker backgrounds”. And when someone questions the nonsense, all hell breaks loose and people get all worked up about it. Very entertaining.
chayro
2,984 posts
 
I am a big Harbeth fan, but I had bad luck with the M30s.  They just wouldn't work in my room.  I'm not a bass addict by any means, but they sounded like they were missing everything from 80hz on down.  Couldn't fix it.  However, the HL5s worked great.  Go figure.  Just telling you this because you asked for opinions of actual owners.  I really wanted to love them, but it didn't work out.  
austinbob
235 posts
 
I owned the SHL5s and found they like some power to shine. I used a Luxman 505ux with great success. I see you’re a tube guy, but I would try a quality SS amp as well. I did audition and like the Prima Luna HP integrated.  
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