What Is So Special About Harbeth?

I heard Harbeth speakers for the first time at Axpona in 2019. They were set up in one of the standard hotel rooms, and they flat out COMMANDED the room. I would say they were in the top five rooms I heard all day. It wasn't a particular characteristic, they just sounded incredible. They sounded so big in the room, and they just disappeared. Some rooms with much more expensive gear didn't even come close.

Go listen!

-Geoff

I spent a lot of time, with a lot of input here for a small office system.

Need speakers to go an actual bookshelf.  Wanted warm and not fatiguing.

Like others, thought the Harbeths were kind of ugly.  Especially the HL.

Went with the P3 ESR.  No regrets.

Seeing them in real life, they are beautiful and so well made.  I walk in most morning and run my hands over them.

They are musical, no fatiguing and warm with nice bass at low levels in a size appropriate way.

I am looking for another set of bookshelves for a secondary home room.  

I really wanted something not Harbeth....but I have hit the TMR b stock site about 50 times....

Nothing magic about them.  But I have a hard time thinking someone would not enjoy then.

Biggest problem with Harbeths is that they are bulky for the bass you get. The other minus is soundstage. Otherwise so sweet. 

Have both the 30.1’s and 40.2’s and they do sound great in all respects... when... driven by the right amplifiers - especially, the Hegel’s, which Alan Shaw demos his speakers with.

The SS Hegel amps control the woofers and mids properly, which adds clarity, detail and dynamics. Makes all the difference in the quality of their sound and elevates them more to a sound similar to Quad ESL57’s, or even close to ATC’s.

They also sound great with the Mac MA252, or MA352 tube / SS hybrids.

Though, I’d prolly still prefer the ATC’s - they’re harder to find at a reasonable price.

And... if you want something that’s much easier to drive, which can rival the sound of the Harbeths - the Klipsch Heritage line is a great option - which can sound great with some great tube amps (e.g. Line Magnetic LM 219ia, etc.). And... you can likely find them at a better price.

I've been in this hobby since the 60's and I've heard everything known to man.  I've owned horns, electrostatics and a range of dynamic speakers.  I've listened to every kind of music in every kind of room.
I'm older and wiser now.  I have a modest system with P3 esr speakers.  These speakers do everything well and are engaging and non-fatiguing.  They are plenty loud for my needs (they do need a bit of oomph to get going).
If you are looking to rock the house down and need to feel your pants flap in the breeze and want to feel the bass thump in your chest, don't get these.  If you want to be delighted with hours of engaging and fatigue free listening at reasonable volumes, put these on your short list.