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Harbeth Super HL5+...thoughts

I’m currently awaiting our home to complete construction.  During that time, I sold off my Dynaudio C4’s and BHK monoblocks.  Loved the sound, but I also had a rather large, dedicated, listening space.  In our new home, I’ll have an office, but on the smaller scale.  I picked up a set of Pass Labs xa60.5’s and Harbeth Super HL5’s.  I’ve read numerous glowing reviews, from many that write about audio products for a living.  Was wondering if anyone that owns the HL5+ would share their “pedestrian” experiences.  
toddcowles
prof
3,450 posts
 

That's great to hear Todd.
I found the Harbeths actually did some metal and classic rock in a more satisfyingly rich manner than many other popular speakers.
jwcinsd
17 posts
 
I listen to about all types of music and I’m very happy with my SHL5+. I’ve been tempted by SS amps by Pass and Luxman. I too have the 40th Anniversary in Tamo Ash. I would have preferred the Walnut but they were out at the time. My pair were the demos for the Florida audio show a few months ago and were run by a Luxman 509X. I came from Sonus Fabers and I’m so happy I have the same warmish liquid midrange but a much fuller, wider, and deeper soundstage. The boxes are quite big. I’m in a 12x15x12 room treated by GIK Acoustics. When I put the speakers in the old position of the SFs I couldn’t get the sound right. I turned the room 90 degrees and put the speakers along the long wall and that was the ticket. Best of luck with yours. 
toddcowles OP
134 posts
 
@jwcinsd I do not have that big of a room, but do have GIK room treatment.  I’m coming from a set of Dynaudio C4’s, which I really, really liked.  But, you really had to drive them to get the most out of them.  At low to sub-moderate levels, they didn’t sound their best.  These Harbeth’s, I’m really enjoying the Pass/Harbeth combo.  Any volume I’ve listened to, they’ve been more than apt to handle.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
If I had it to do over again, I'd build a system around a pair of Harbeth 40.2s. Harbeth's are so tonally correct, its uncanny.

Frank
avanti1960
1,409 posts
 
The SHL5+ is the speaker I should have bought a long time ago.....
currently about 30+ hours into a new set and could not be happier.  
Bass extension, impact and balance in the sound is perfect.   Midrange is legendary and the high frequencies have the perfect amount of "air" without being unnatural.  
I have heard many speakers but these are perfect for me.  
The only downside is one that is manageable as long as you realize it.  The sound is very sensitive to the amount of toe-in.  Close (but not quite) to on axis with your ears is the best I have come up with.   F few degrees wider and the sound thins out and the speakers become quite "visible".  A few degrees inboard and the sound becomes overly rich and loses detail.  
This is very different than other Harbeth models for some reason.  Get it dialed in and what a glorious sound!  
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