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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
gkr7007's avatar
gkr7007
150 posts
 
If you're looking for tubes, I heard a pair of Harbeths recently paired with the Bob Carver Crimson 275.  It was very very sweet.  I dont recall the model of the Harbeths, but that 275 runs at 75 watts per channel and will be stable to 2 ohms.  IMHO a great value. Just an FYI.
avanti1960
1,474 posts
 
listening to my c73es3s with a rogue cronus magnum ii all amperex holland nos small signal tubes.  glorious sound that has it all, detail, dynamics, impact, soundstage, etc.   i had budgeted for some significant upgrades this year for speakers and or amp, preamp, etc.  but nothing i have heard is making me want it very badly....
jhills
613 posts
 
Congrats on the new Harbeths.
I agree with some of the other suggestions here - @ 85db and 6ohm the M30.1 aren't really in the neighborhood of being an efficient speaker. A lot of very, very good speakers get a bad rap from being paired with insufficient power (even at low volumes) to make them sing. If going with tubes, I'd give serious consideration to the Carver Crimson 275, the Rogue, Cronus Mag II, or a Prima Luna, Dialogue Premium or Premium HP. any of which  would pair well with the Harbeths and not leave you underwhelmed with their performance
I am running a Rogue, Cronus Mag II with a pr. of Maggie 1.7s (also not what you would call an efficient speaker) and have been most pleased.
Best of luck....Jim
freediver OP
1,165 posts
 
Well I’ve had them set up for about 20 hours and to say I am absolutely gobsmacked would be an understatement!
I expected a bass light & anemic sound with the 15wpc.Quad amp.WRONG!!!
I can’t figure out why some people say they don’t come alive without power.They play as loud and clean as I care to listen & have beautiful presence at VERY low listening levels.Bass is slightly less than the Fritz but seems to have better definition,mids & highs are clear & clean,without the very slightly darkish tone of the Fritz Carbon 7SE’s...
I believe unless I hit the slots again & can move up to the 30.2 Anniversaries I’ve found my speakers...

PS:^^^ @jmolsberg you were RIGHT,they do sound kick ass with my little amp!
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
how wonderful!!!!! enjoy the music
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