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Harbeth M40.1 vs. KEF 205/2 vs. Spendor SP100R2

Three UK built speakers that offer near state of the art sound and are "relatively" affordable to many of us on Audiogon. My experience with the 3 models is limited so your opinions will be interesting and valued. My most recent demo was the Harbeth 40.1. My opinion was left incomplete due to the amp driving it. A Luxman 505u was used to drive the big Harbeth making them a little slow and soft. IMO more power and refinement is needed for the 40.1 The KEF I heard was the original 205 with the super tweeter. Let me just say it is one of the best box speakers i've heard. Maybe it was the magical synergy of the MAC 352 amp or the unknown(can't recall)cables? From what i've read the current 205/2 is not as amp or cable sensitive. I've heard several Spendor speakers but NOT the 100R2. What impressed me most with the various Spendor models was the "Quad" like tonality without the excessive warmth of some other British speakers. I would like to hear your comments regarding these iconic loudspeakers. As always I appreciate your comments.
Evan
dayglow
dayglow OP
1,993 posts
 
Were the 40.1's fully broke in? Some speakers need over 500 hours to be completely broke in. I believe the KEF 205/2 is in the 6th year of production, watch for closeout prices. Can the KEF 205/3 be to far off? Other speakers on my watch list...ATC SCM 40v2-Audio Physics Virgo 25-Elac FS249be-Focus Audio FP90se-JBL S3900-Marten Django L and the Thiel CS 2.7. The ATC is clearly the best bargain of the group retailing at $6k!
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,506 posts
 
Are you sure it was the Harbeth that made the sound seem slow? I ask because I have had 3 different Classe model amps and all of them were dark and thick sounding, slow if you will. It could have been the amp/speakers match, not the speakers itself.
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
Garebear
I know you have been on a journey for a few years now
and see Stereo5 is stumped by your comments drawing straws and the break in blame game etc.
and your own comments
""I just always felt that something was '' choking '' the music from fully coming out of those big boxes.....the excuse I got was that my room too small.....""

2 things I would take a look at first
You have a room that almost divides by 2
11' feet wide , 20' deep with 7 ' ceilings.
Why not take a look at what the room is doing
in the bass area.
If you take a piece of notebook paper and write
1 thru 11 vertically on the left side of paper
then 1 to 11 vertically on the right side.
You can download the bass warble tones from the sight below see your results.
Track 1 thru 11 is your left ch
Track 16 thru 25 is your Right ch
You will also need an SPL meter set to c Weighted and slow and compare your left and right channels for room variations and anomalies.
anyone else who would also like to join in feel free to
share your results.
Please take note to keep the volume down and you will want to have 2/3s of these tones reach 75 db as an average.
Best JohnnyR Audioconnection Dealer
http://www.vandersteen.com/vandersteen_005.htm
garebear
1,178 posts
 
Good morning members......the Classe CA 2300 was not dark in any means and was in fact a very fast sounding amp. This model and the CA 2200 was under a new design group at Classe......the room is acoustically treated by ASC. I liked the speakers- I just don't think that they fit in that room well. They were fully broken in .....and yes journey does continue and that's why was interested in this post
apdoc2004
50 posts
 
Hi Garebear,
If you are in that price range, my suggestion would be to also consider Devore Orangutan 0/96 (or 0/93 if you want to stay around $8000). These speakers have fantastic dynamics and are drop dead gorgeous to look at. Either of them is worth an audition.
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