Spendor D7 vs. Harbeth Super HL5+

@twoleftears the supertweeter adds just a touch of additional realism, especially in female vocals, a breathy / subtle tinge that makes the right recording stunningly present.

@kren0006
as odd as it sounds I agree with the Stereophile rankings even though I sold the D7 and kept the SHL5+.

The Spendors are easier to place, have better bass and dynamics yet are a touch too forward for me and lacking in midbass as to make them hyper natural sounding.  

The 5+ are finicky to place, require a more robust amplifier to sound dynamic and cabinet warmth isn’t for everyone- definitely a lesser value vs. the D7. I just prefer the Harbeth sound and have worked around the other issues and for me they are end game speakers.

twoleft: perhaps, but Spendor has not been one of those brands. Stereophile gave B ratings to Spendor A7 and SA1, just like it gave the Harbeth 

I also own SA1’s and extensively demo’d A7’s on same electronics, same room as D7 before getting D7. 
I agree with the Stereophile rankings, D7 much better than A7 and SA1, which do seem like B speakers. 
I haven’t heard the Harbeths so don’t have an opinion on them or whether they deserve their B ranking 

Prof;

yes,
As a person who has lived with Thiel speakers, they are extremely persnickety of amplification to tame the “ brightness” they are noted for.  Play them with a Class D amp( less $$$)  and your eardrums will let you know.
Play them with a Pass XA amp and they sound velvety!!!! Smooth 

so, Could the D7’s be as persnickety of amplification ?

I’ll bet it is so!
i heard the D7’s with a Chord Dave & upsampler front end at AXPONA , it was really, really, really  good ( DONT remember amp) sound

jeff

Prof has incredible listening and writing skills, but I do mildly disagree with him about the Spendors. In my case, I have a pair of walnut D7.2's purchased as nearly brand new demos. I also have a pair of DeVore O/93's which Prof has written much about. 
Prof is correct that the Spendors are brighter than the DeVores, but only ever-so slightly in my system. 
Prof does not seem to endorse the critical nature of wire to the extent that I do. Swapping out speaker cable was critical for me. I had Cardas Clear and it was good, if not very good. But replacing it (I am still holding onto them and won't part with the Cardas) with one-third as expensive Auditorium 23 benefited both sets of my speakers in my system, using ARC tubed electronics (Ref 6 and Ref 150SE). The Auditorium speaker cable "sorted out" the music as the Brits would say. Perhaps a little less sparkle and clarity but everything sounds more of a whole cloth to use yet another cliche'.
I am very very happy with D7.2's. They don't put out a wall of sound the way the DeVores do, but they do image much better and portray a deeper soundstage. The Spendor's are a bit surgical and precise compared to the DeVores, but they are by no means bright in my system unless the source is bright. I have been listening to the Spendors for four months now as my DeVores sit in the next room over from my listening room. I miss the DeVores. In two months I will carefully mark with blue masking tape the perfect spot I found for my Spendors and then move them out to make way for a return of the DeVores and then six months after that....such is my plan.