Harbeth Super HL5 plus Break-in
With tube amplification there is absolutely no way, grilles must go in the box. Ok, looks like our experiences differ. I auditioned the HL5Plus using solid state amps. And on my Conrad Johnson Premier 12 tube mono blocks, the Super HL5plus absolutely sang - open, airy, realistic, no problems at all suggesting the grills needed to be off once I used tube amplification. |
For the most part, I've left the grills on my Super HL5 Plus, mostly because they are in a somewhat high traffic area in my living room. I keep the grills off my P3ESR, they are in pretty safe spots. I love the way both sets of speakers look with the grills off. I don't notice a significant difference in sound either way. And I use tube amps with the HL5s. |
I’d say my experience with the 5 plus is pretty similar to the OP. I was not that impressed right out of the box. But over time, I’ve become pretty happy with them. I really can’t tell the difference between grilles on or off. And I do think they sound better in a near field set up. Currently grilles are off, using SS amplification and Resonant Woods stands. A recent listen to the Jamaican version of the Wailers “Catch A Fire” album was a transcendent experience. I don’t think they’d ever be my one and only speaker but I do enjoy having them in the rotation. |
In my experience, the Skylan stands made the SHL5s sound dull. I tried putting some hard interfaces on the stands, casino chips as I recall, which improved the sound, but I eventually went to an Epos open-frame metal stand, which was far better. So IMO, the SHL5s are quite stand-sensitive and you have to work with them. I don’t know if the Epos stands are still around. Here you go - https://www.hifi4sale.net/t30619-epos-11-speaker-stand-used |
