Harbeth 30.2 or Falcon Gold Badge

@ryder 

Thanks Ryder, nice to hear from a long time owner. In all the years I've been in hifi I have not owned them or quite honestly given them a critical listen. My tastes have changed over the 25 years or so in hifi and these two speaker models seem to fit the sound profile I prefer most over the past 10 years or so. I always remember Harbeth in the past sounding almost too warm, so I like that they've reengineered them to sound like a more modern speaker. Should be a nice mix. 

@yogiboy 

Yeah I considered the P3, but all the listening I did (online) loved the Falcons a bit more..I am sure I'd be happy with either as both have stellar reputations. Ill check out the video

If you are set on getting the Falcons, last year I bought the Falcon Q7. They are sold factory direct from Falcon for well under 2 grand shipped, no tax or VAT is charged when shipped to USA. If you shoot Jerry Bloomfield (owner) an email he will give you the total price with the options that you want including the gold badge X over. You can get the kit or factory assembled.

I received them within one week after ordering them!!

https://www.falconacoustics.co.uk/q7-completeathome-loudspeaker-system.html

I have heard both in the same location and it is an interesting comparison.  At somewhat modest listening levels, both are quite nice sounding.  The Falcon, more so than the Harbeth, is sort of faking deep bass by bumping up the response in the 80-100 hz region.  But, both still deliver plenty of bass for being small speakers.  I hear some upper midrange coloration in the Harbeth that comes off as a bit of a sibilant edge to some notes.  Overall, I actually like the Falcon more.  However, I did not listen at higher volume levels where the Harbeth probably has an advantage—physics cannot be denied, and there are more limitations on drivers and cabinets the size of the Falcons.  I have also heard the Harbeth P3ESR in the same location and liked its sound, but, the Falcon sounded better to me.

@larryi 

Thanks, this helps, sort of validates what I am thinking as well. I am going to probably buy both and listen for a while then keep which ever I like most. The Falcons were where I started this journey but somehow got convinced the Harbeths should be listened to as well. I just need to try both in my own space.

In the same size range as the Falcon, I also like the ProAc Tablette.  Played at reasonable volume levels this is a warm, rich, yet still nimble sounding speaker; like the other speakers mentioned, with sort of faked bass, but still very musically satisfying bass.  For a speaker more like the 30.2, I also like the ProAc D2.

I hope this doesn't complicate things, but these are all great sounding speakers.  They all like to be placed away from the back wall and also a bit away from the side walls.  If you need to place the speakers closer to the back and side walls, there is always the Audio Note line.  These are speakers which are so musically enjoyable one does not bother to go down an audio checklist.  Like all of the speakers mentioned, I've only heard them with tube amplification (the only kind the dealer sells).  Most of the customers coming into the shop, if they have a brand in mind, come looking for Harbeths.  A number of Harbeth shoppers actually end up getting Audio Note speakers after giving them a listen; the opposite--those looking for Audio Note, but ending up with Harbeth, is not that common.  

I don't think you will be disappointed with either the Falcon or Harbeth, but if you have the chance, try to hear ProAc and Audio Note speakers as well.