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Harbeth again…or other speakers for acoustic music?

Hi!

I’ve been without any decent hifi setup for a few years now but lately had the thoughts of investing in a good system again. Let me tell you little about my background and what I’m searching for. I live in a place far from any hifi-stores, I’ve not so much experience of listening to a lot of different systems or visiting hifi shows, but I’ve been playing music myself, mostly jazz, for about 20 years and have been in many performances both as musician and as audience.

About 5 years ago I first bought a pair of Harbeth P3 second hand along with a Rega amp. Pretty soon I wanted something bigger in scale so I swapped the speakers for a pair of 30.1 and the amp for a Croft 25/7 combo. The sound was really really good in so many ways, best sound and midrange I’ve ever heard before! Even though my apartment back then was not optimal with concrete walls the vocals was very lifelike. But after a while I feeling somehow that something was missing. I’m no bass junkie or so but I was tempted to try something that had little more depth and covered the bass region better, so I was started looking at SHL5+ and C7ES3. I also thought about integration some subs but never tried that route. Swapped the 30.1 for C7 but I was immediately disappointed. I never got them to sound good at my place. I thought they lacked the magic I felt 30.1 had.

 

I ended up selling all my gear, but the sound of 30.1 and Croft combo really etched back in my mind. It was more emotional to listen to music as I ever before had experienced. I prefer listen to acoustic music, jazz, small groups ensembles but occasional big band and some lighter pop, but looking for something that excells with vocals and acoustic instruments. It can absolutely be little on the warmer sound, I can’t stand harsh and cold sound.


So now I’m looking for a system again and would like to hear what suggestions you have. I listen to low to modest volumes. No heavy rock or metal. I need something that can play good on low volume. HE speakers and a SET amp would be an alternative but also is Harbeth. I know there’s 30.2 now and XD. Integrating with subs could be Ok. My living room is about 15x12 feet and the speakers cannot be to big and dominant, ex Quad ESL is not an option. There is a few softer walls and I think 1 concrete wall.

 

Happy to hear your thoughts..

philsons
philsons OP
28 posts
 

@avanti1960 Thanks for commenting. The past days I’ve been all fired up about getting some good hifi again. Since it’s a lot of money I plan on taking a trip to the capitol city Stockholm sometime during next year and audition speakers, first of all Harbeth range but if possible other speakers that are mentioned here. I can’t deny that 30.1 made a really strong impact on me although I missed some lower frequencies. The midrange, vocals and instruments was more lifelike than I’ve ever heard a hifi-setup sound before. I can’t even imagine how the 40.X must sound with the right conditions!

 

@steveashe Thank you for taking the time to write about your story and impressions, very helpful.

 

@yoyoyaya Good tip, will check them out, thanks.

 

 

I have not tried other amps than my Croft 25/7 I had back then, equipped with NOS Tesla tubes. So it’s gonna be interesting to try different ones. What amps can you recommend working real good? I played all digital and the same will be this time.

arafiq's avatar
arafiq
1,599 posts
 

I currently have three speaker models in my house. Harbeth SHL5+, Harbeth M30.1, and Fritz Carrera BE. The SHL5+ is in the main system, and I have been rotating the 30.1 and Carrera BE in my home office. Before getting the Carrera BEs, I thought nothing could touch my all-time favorite bookshelf speakers -- Harbeth M30.1s. I was wrong!

The Fritz Carrera BEs have proven to be better than 30.1 in my system at least. It is more balanced across the frequency range with better and extended upper frequency, more resolving, and far superior bass. It is also a better all rounder, i.e. does well with a wide range of genres. I have gone back and forth between the two speakers for the last two months, and each time I end up preferring the Carrera’s. And mind you, this is coming from a long time Harbeth loyalist :)

Having said that, it took at least 100 hours for the Carreras to break in. Prior to that, I preferred Harbeth’s midrange and vocals, but after 100 hours or so I can say that it is at least equal to 30.1 when it comes to midrange. Harbeth still has an edge when it comes to the reproduction of human voice. Also, the bass on Carreras is tighter and punchier, whereas the Harbeth’s bass is bigger but slightly less focused. Since I have spent a lot of money on audio equipment recently, I can’t really justify keeping both the 30.1 or Carrera BEs. The Harbeths have been listed for sale on this site. This should tell you something :)

I did a comparison a few weeks ago that you might find interesting ...

 

 

 

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 

Disclaimer: not my audio room.

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
639 posts
 

I used to sell Croft amplifiers in the 1980's. They were great value at the time when tube amps, especially affordable ones, were thin on the ground. And they sounded great for the money. I don't work in the industry any more - or at least not on a paid basis, but I do get to listen to lots of stuff. Copland, Prima Luna and Jadis are some tube brands you might consider. However, if you listen to all digital, you might be better served by a class A biased transistor amp. The Pass Int-25 and the Sugden A21SE are worth listening to in that regard.

philsons OP
28 posts
 

@arafiq Nice read of your review of Fritz Carrera, if you’re selling the 30.1 that really tells something about the Fritz speakers. I’m wondering if you can write down the impressions by comparing your SHL5+ with 30.1? Since I owned the latter I get some reference.

@twoleftears Oh man, now we’re talking! 😃😃

 

@yoyoyaya Allright thanks, I’ve read very good things with the brands you mention. Actually was about to buy a second hand sugden A21SE before I ordered the Croft.

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