2. speakers
  3. 178473-6055

Joseph Audio Perspective2 vs Harbeth SHL5+

I currently own Harbeth SHL5+ and I’m generally very happy with them. I’m driving them with Audio Hungary a50i tube amp (50 watts class A) and don’t feel that the amp struggles at all. I have an opportunity to buy a used pair of Joseph Audio Perspective2 Graphene in excellent condition. Just wondering if anyone has had a chance to compare the JA Perspective2 with SHL5+. From what I understand they sound quite different but I’m not sure how. The Perspectives are obviously quite a bit more expensive than the Harbeths but I understand that this doesn’t automatically imply that they are better. Someone told me that the Perspective 2 is more in Harbeth 40.x league instead of SHL5+.

As good as the SHL5+ are, I do sometimes yearn for a wider and deeper soundstage with bigger bass (although I have a pair of REL S/510s to supplement). I would really appreciate if people who have made the move from SHL5+ to JA Perespective2 Graphene, or vice versa, can share their impressions.

Note: My room is 20 x 15 with 12 foot high ceilings. The speakers will be placed along the short wall. I can pull them out by 4 feet from the front wall and about 2 feet from the side walls. My room is treated with GIK panels. My biggest concern is whether my AH Qualiton a50i will be able to drive the Joseph Audios well.

 

128x128arafiq
prof
3,491 posts
 

arafiq,

That's usually the question I get when I post those photos :-)

The explanation for the positioning is here (where I also post photos of my Thiels in the same room):

 

 

As to the sound:  Fortunately, there are no discernible sonic consequences to the right speaker being in that position.  Sometimes it's further away from the sofa, sometimes I pull it right up for more nearfield listening like in that photo.

I'm sure it works because the drivers are up higher over the sofa (same with my Thiels) and so aren't impeded at all, and bass frequencies not being directional.

So there's zero balance issues in terms of the L/R sound that I can detect.  Bass sounds terrific too!

 

 

soix
9,947 posts
 

@prof Those are beauties!  Thanks for sharing. 

arafiq's avatar
arafiq OP
1,702 posts
 

@soix I've added some pics of the JA's from multiple angles. You can check out my virtual system.

soix
9,947 posts
 

Nice!!!  How’s the Qualiton do driving the JAs, and what are the speakers sitting on?  I’m thinking with those Rels you’re probably not far off from a pair of Pearls performance wise. 

prof
3,491 posts
 

 

@arafiq 

 

How did you end up with those matching stands under the Perspectives?

I'm looking forward to your impressions!

More to discover