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Can the Harbeth 40.1's boggie ?????

I am not looking for ear shattering volume - but everything I have read ( and no, where I live I cannot listen to them )but I am considering them. But, can they play some rock and roll and get out of their own way ???? Reviewers and owners have noted that they sound great at low volume levels - and they have an '' organic natural sound '' - that's great but can they play Lynard Skynard, some Allman Brothers and god forbid some Grateful Dead that well - like they advertise -sounds like real music ??? I also listen to Eva Cassidy, The Eagles, Jackson Browne, Pat Methany, JJ Cale and most of all The Beatles ....and why do see so many of them for sale ??? Ummmmm.....
garebear
garebear OP
1,178 posts
 
Gltan - good point. I am the original poster of this thread and I to, do attend a good number of concerts per year. I just saw Jackson Browne acoustic - just him and 14 guitars. Nice.....the Harbeth 40.1's are a good speaker, but they were not my cup of tea. At, that price range, I choose the Sonus Faber Cremona M's. I owned and really enjoyed the Avalon's - but in their line you would have to spend allot more to get that ''next step up ''in performance. Also, at 54 I do not want to be lugging big speakers around. The SF's were just right. The Harbeth's as I stated just didn't sound right to my ears......the things that they did well, they did well....and things that they did not do well......they did not do well. What really was the deal breaker for me was the tweeter - and the high end performance on this speaker. It was just not right.....I don't care how many concerts you attend and if you do attend at least one, you can't help but come to the conclusion that these speakers do not reproduce that sprectrum / presentation very well. Again - to some people and their ears - they are the cat's meow....great enjoy the music !!!! If I just listened to vocals or acoustic guitar work ...the Harbeth 40.1's were / are very good. I have the Allman Brothers on right now and Gregg's voice is spot on with the SF's......the Harbeth's ..not soo much. But it does seem thag anything stated negative about the Harbeth's that you should be watching out for the public stonning. It's all about the music and enjoying it ....okay TVAD please proof read this memo and let me know my mistakes
ebm
9,311 posts
 
No it can only cha cha.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Garebear, didn't anyone tell you? Hell hath no fury like a Harbethorian scorned.
ryder
1,738 posts
 
The tragedy of Macbeth...oops, that should spell Harbeth.

For those who have not listened to any Harbeth, I would recommend trying the C7ES3 before jumping to the big 40.1s. Depending on the type of music that is played, the smaller models (P3ESR, C7ES3 & SHL5) are somewhat more open, dynamic and less sluggish than the 40.1s owing much to the smaller cabinet and the absence of the additional 12" bass driver in the 40.1s. Of course they don't go down low in the bass frequencies but communicate the message in music in a more convincing manner -IMHO of course.

It can also be due to the room as the 40.1s are more difficult to work with. Nevertheless, in the context of this thread I guess the 40.1s are just not for Garebear.
mikewerner
119 posts
 
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I have had the speakers for awhile now, and am very pleased with them.
My system now is:
Basis Debut with Graham Phantom and Clearaudio Goldring
Pass XP-25
Pass XP-20
Pass XA-60.5
Harbeth 40.1
This is the most uncolored and clear system I have ever heard.
It is just wonderful.
I think I am finally done - except a synchro-wave power supply for the TT...
I will say that room acoustics are very important. If you ignore this nothing will work optimally.
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