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What Is So Special About Harbeth?

SLike probably all of you, I just received notice from Audiogon of a 20% discount on Harbeth XD. I clicked on the tab and found that the sale price is about $2700. I have read so many glowing comments here about Harbeth — as if just saying the name is the password for entering aural nirvana. I admit, I haven’t listened to Harbeth speakers. But looking at these, they just look like smallish bookshelf speakers. I’m not questioning how good others say these speakers are, but HOW do they do it out of an ordinary-looking box?

Is it the wood? Is it the bracing? Is it the crossover components? Is it the cone material? What is the reason why these Harbeth’s are such gems compared to other bookshelf speakers? What is it about the construction or technology that makes these speakers a deal at $2700 on sale versus the $800, 900 or $1,000 that others normally cost? What is the secret that makes audiophiles thrill to get such a costly bargain?

bob540
lordrootman's avatar
lordrootman
360 posts
 

Harbeth to me Are in the same category like Teckton they look plain ugly I will never own them sorry 

I think both speakers sounds amazing 🤩 but I’m not big fan of the looks 

chayro
2,936 posts
 

Interesting question.  I am admittedly a Harbeth fan, although right now I am listening to the Chartwell LS6s.  Harbeth certainly has a big fan base and I agree with those above that say they are best suited for acoustic music and vocals, although I have listened to a much wider range of music on them. Yes, the prices are high.  When I bought my HL5s, they were 4k and now they're 8k.  Things made in England are more expensive than many other places due to labor costs. Should you buy them?  Sometimes you need to get something out of your system.  Years ago, I bought a Linn turntable just to see what it was about.  I wanted the baseline of listening to a Linn as a yardstick with which to measure other turntables.  So my opinion is this - if you can afford it, buy a pair of Harbeths and see what they're about.  Then you'll know.  BTW, I think the ones on sale have slight finish imperfections, not that it matters - unless it matters to you.  

ryder
1,687 posts
 

I don’t know about the XD versions. If going with the older SHL5, pick the SHL5 Plus instead of the older SHL5. The Plus is an overall better sounding speaker - cleaner, more precise and better clarity in the bass and midrange. The SHL5 non-Plus sounds smeared and has a bloated uneven bass.

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

xd versions are very very incrementally altered over just prior gen harbeths

bigger change can be heard in 40.2 or shl+ or 7es3 versions from those prior... 40.1, shl non/plus, c7es2 - as others have said, mid-bass/bass was tightened up and transparency increased a noticeable notch

ryder
1,687 posts
 

xd versions are very very incrementally altered over just prior gen harbeths

 

That’s useful. From my observation, the popular XD models that get the most attention are the C7ES3 and M30. The other models don’t get much interest, and the P3ESR XD is a mixed bag. It appears that several P3ESR owners who switched to the P3ESR XD are having difficulty adapting to the bright treble in the new model.

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