Harbeth Super HL5 Plus speakers & integrated amp pairing recommendations

@pokey77 I also heard the LM-805iA but with WIlson speakers. It sounded rather good however when I heard the same tunes a few minutes later with Harbeth and Luxman m900u + c900u separates there was a significant improvement in everything. Of course the electronics are $5K vs $30K. I liked the $5K Harbeth + Luxman over the $16K Wilson + LM-805iA on the same tunes. It could be that the Wilson needed more power.

BTW - I have decided to follow some advice you gave me in a personal message. I am going to buy the Luxman separates (you did not say this) but you did say to look at Harbeth or the TAD ME1 for my small space. After I heard the Harbeth C7ES-3 with Luxman separates I realized the small speakers would sound great with the Luxman. So my system will be centered around the Luxman electronics now and not the speakers.

You can tell Mike you helped me buy one of his systems. That should give you some free passes (joke).

@yyzsantabarbara 

Glad you are finding something you really like and want to commit to.

I've heard all the Harbeth line, I live less than five miles from Excel Audio, and think you should give consideration to the SHL5+ too. IMHO It is significantly better than the 7 and the price isn't all that much more. Better bass, much better top end and really, just smoother and more extended. Since you are now decided on the Luxman separates, the step up to the 5 is fairly insignificant.

Been a little while since I've heard the Luxman separates, so I can't really comment on them vs. the Line Magnetic. 

@rcalderon thank you for the reply. That is what I believe most people don’t understand, especially those with low powered amps. It will sound good most of the time, but the amp loses steam and you lose dynamics and detail. Seems like many people are willing to make this compromise to attain a particular sound most of the time, but it is driving me crazy! 150 wpc is not enough for Harbeths if you listen to dynamic music. Try Shostakovich’s 8th or Crime of the Century and you’ll see what I mean.

Tswisla, I’m going to check out those songs, out of curiosity what impedance outs are you using? The 4 or 8 ohm.

 Adcom GFA 5802 for $95 ? Worth checking out. But, for that amount, I figured something was wrong with it. As it turns out, it is for a front faceplate of a GFA 5802.