Differences between Harbeth, Spendor, Graham, etc. ?

All of these brands make nice sounding speakers and one would have to hear specific models to make the right choice. There are also other similar lines of speakers that deserve consideration.  For example, for the extremely small monitors, the Falcon LS3/5A model and ProAc Tablette 10s should also be on the audition list.  There are other models in the ProAc lineup that should also be liked by the crowd looking at this type of speaker. 

A local dealer carries Graham, ProAc and use to carry Harbeth.  By far, the line most people shopping for speakers were interested in was Harbeth.  But, those interested in hearing more than just the Harbeth that they were primarily interested in often ended up switching to Audio Note speakers.  There were very few who came in to look at Audio Note that switched to Harbeth, but quite a few that switched from Harbeth to Audio Note.  Those that owned Audio Note or who were interested in Audio Note that went with something else most often ended up with custom built horn speakers that the dealership also makes/sells.

@larryi

Interesting. As it happens, we have an A. Note dealer in Sacramento. My attempts to find prices for A. Note speakers have been unsuccessful, however, which has inclined me to discount them as a possibility. 

This dealer only sells tube electronics, so, the Harbeths were not run with the recommended high-powered solid state amps.  Still, Harbeth acquitted itself quite well.  I particularly liked the 30.2 model for its lively, yet not lean or harsh sound.  The HL5+ model was also nice, but, it was a bit more sensitive to placement and electronic choice and could sound not as pleasant as the 30.2 when its more demanding needs were not met.  The 40.3 was particularly demanding of the right amplifier, and while it is a nice speaker, at its price it was a bit disappointing--it was too dynamically polite for my taste.  

I don't know the model numbers, but the Graham that is about the size of the Harbeth 30.2 is a nice sounding speaker.  It does not have the slight tendency to have a sharp edge or sibilance in the upper midrange that the Harbeth has, but, it sounded a bit drier than the Harbeth, so tradeoffs are involved.  For a standmount in that size range, the ProAc D2 is also a decent alternative.  

But, if I had to place a speaker near the corner of the room, my choice would be an Audio Note AN-J or AN-E.  They might be a bit expensive, but, they are extremely muscal sounding speakers that sound great with the lower powered tube amps that I favor.

@larryi

It does not have the slight tendency to have a sharp edge or sibilance in the upper midrange that the Harbeth has, but, it sounded a bit drier than the Harbeth, so tradeoffs are involved.

I only just resolved a sibilance issue that plagued my system for well over a year so I’m particularly wary of introducing anything new into the system that might reawaken that particular sonic demon.

At the same time, "dry" is not an adjective that I tend to regard positively. Perhaps Spendor is a better direction for me to pursue than Harbeth or Graham. RE: amplification, I have no plans to replace my Hegel H390.

Are all Audio Note speakers designed for low wattage tube amps? ? ? 

I suppose that tendency for sibilance in the upper mids is another way of describing what I heard in the 30.2’s (and also in some 40.2’s I’ve heard in a friend’s system). But sibilance is too hard a word, I think. A shade of sibilance, No such thing in the Classic series Spendors I’ve heard ( 3/5 - those before the R2 series I think - , SP 2/3R2, Classic 100) at all, though.

Interesting that Graham is drier than Harbeth. Not my cup of tea, then (most probably).