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Omega Alnico XRS vs. Fritz Carrera vs. Harbeth 30.2 Speaker Shootout

3-way speaker comparison over past weekend in my home.  Custom Roon server > Holo Audio May DAC > EAR 868L pre > Pass XA30.8 w/ DNM wiring. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9074

I'd had the Omega single-driver speakers in my system for 6 months, loving the purity, simplicity, elegance of the cabinets, wicked midrange tone, and immersive soundstage.  But I was missing having speakers that could rock out and play distorted/complex music (TOOL, hip hop...). 

My space is relatively tight so I was focusing on stand-mounters to replace the Omegas (which I had been augmenting with a pair of Omega Speed 10 subs).  

This forum is rampant with love for Fritz speakers, so I placed a call to Fritz and he was kind enough to drop off a demo pair of his Carreras (he's local to me in California). He is a very kind and reasonable man (and I'm not the first to note this).

Then I arranged for a home demo of lightly used Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversaries (again, a nice fellow audiophile let me play them in my system for 30 minutes).  These speakers also get major love on this forum, and in Stereophile, etc.  Came with Skylan stands.    

Fun, huh?  Results below...
redwoodaudio
redwoodaudio OP
415 posts
 
And another bonus for the harbeth is the reproduction of the spatial information and depth in the soundstage. Worthy of the pass xa.8 amp!  
I have to say, crisp definition like in the fritzs is not the be all and end all. Tone and space as long as not too blurry are key for me. I think it also makes for a more forgiving gift experience with mediocre recordings.  Less harsh...
seanheis1
632 posts
 
I think it’s fair to say that the cabinet resonances make more of a musical instrument out of the speaker, more natural harmonics if done right, or something.it’s why I like to have resonators in my room.
Yes and why something like the Kii Three is easy to admire but hard to enjoy. 
jond's avatar
jond
5,953 posts
 
redwoodaudio congrats on the Harbeth's! On the three speakers you compared the 30.2's are the only I've heard but they were great. First time was at Cap Audiofest in 2017 I literally stayed for the entire second side of DSOTM the sound was so fantastic.

And agreed on sympathetic cabinet resonances, my Audio Note speakers share that same philosophy of cabinet design.
redwoodaudio OP
415 posts
 
@jond Thanks.  I've yet to hear Audio Note speakers, or most other brands to be honest, as I got into this hobby just prior to the pandemic cancelled shows.  Would love to hear them sometime.
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