Harbeth 30.1 or 40.1

@gte357s   Yes, I agree it's tremendously confusing.

There have been reports of really excellent performance with Vinnie Rossi products, that aren't that powerful and have a tube front end.

Likewise, many swear by the combination of the LFD NCSE which is only 70W in its most powerful incarnation.

big_greg just posted above, and I also know of someone very happily driving them with a Linear Tube Audio LTA Z40 integrated, which is under 50W.

So there's a real diversity of opinion; I can't think of an example where there's more diversity, actually.

If you like the sound you're getting, perhaps there's no need to change.

My suggestion was to perhaps try to borrow a powerful SS amp just to see what difference it made (particular in the bass region).  On the other hand, tube watts do tend to be more powerful than ss watts, so perhaps try and borrow a 75W push-pull or ultralinear tube amp.

If you go on the Harbeth User Group website, you'll find a thread with owners posting lists of amps they've used.  Shaw has some pretty extreme views on amps, but it's very enlightening to see the range of models people are listing.

If you choose to go with a solid state amp, the Plinius SA 102 gave me the most satisfaction of the solid state amps I tried with my 40.1's.  There's one recently listed (Listing ID: lisa4409) at a reasonable price that was recently recapped.  I still prefer tubes with my 40.1's (Music Reference RM9 MK2, McIntosh MC275 MKV, VAC 70/70)... but the Plinius was still good... just not a s good as the aforementioned tube amps.  If you are a tube guy as you say, you won't be satisfied with SS,IMO.

I have had very interesting results with different amps and my M40.3's.  My room (22x24x9) is terrible with bass under 40hz....but also is a bit active around 100hz..so it is quite tricky to get a good balance.  By far the best amp has been my current Parasound JC5.  The M40.3's really take advantage of high power SS amps with strong damping factor.  I ran MC275's strapped mono for a couple weeks.  Midrange was sublime, but bass and any lower control was totally absent.  MC601 monoblocks before that which sounded great, but just didn't have the bass control that the JC5 has.  I have never owned a speaker that was more sensitive to different amplifiers.  Those who say all amps sound the same are delusional, IMO.

@pdreher

At the very least Harbeth owners ought to consider the long held opinion of the designer when it comes to amplifiers, stands, cables etc.

Thereafter, as you have done, it’s a question of personal choice.

 

@snackeyp Interested to know if you still own the Harbeth M40.2 Anniversary. I'm debating on this speaker or 40.1. My preference is a warm, smooth sound with beautiful midrange. I've loved my P3ESRs (not the Anniversary or XD version) for 10+ years.