Harbeth 40.3xd vs Graham LS5/5

@echoz  You really need to listen to various makes and models in person; it's too risky basing a purchase of this magnitude on votes in a thread.

I don't dispute what @chorus heard, but here's my contrasting experience.  Listened to SHL5+ at Hawthorne in Seattle, in that brick-walled room with top-end Naim, and found them unbearably bright.  Heard 30.2 at CAF and thought them very good though inevitably with restricted bottom end.  Heard 40.2's at Deja Vu in Washington DC and immediately fell in love with them.  As I said, I was in England when I heard the Spendor Classics.

Inevitably, YMMV.

If you do start to try to hear some models, add the Yamaha NS-5000 to your list.

I dont think anybody is debating that there is nothing like listening. However given the current circumstances its not possible to listen.....hence the question to compare. @twoleftears  - u purchased the 40.2 but  couldnt listen to the 5/5 and that is unfortunate.

This was a couple of years ago.  At that time I think the only pair of 5/5's this side of the Atlantic was in Canada.  And don't think I didn't think about it...

@echoz - you’ll probably love any of these speakers at this level of bbc monitor style and probably love the ATCs as well.  These are strong speakers that all will like and most will love.  No weaknesses of the smaller siblings, which are all great natural sounding monitors regardless.

As a Quad 57 owner for over 30 years, I finally gave up on them and purchased a pair of Harbeth 40.1's. Listening at the apex of an approximate isosceles triangle(about 10 ft. on each side) the 40.1's are almost as transparent as the Quads but of course can play much louder. Augmented by a good subwoofer and with DSpeaker bass correction, the resulting sound on vinyl can be spectacular(assuming a good vinyl recording)