Differences between Harbeth, Spendor, Graham, etc. ?


This is perhaps a foolish question, given the subjective nature of this hobby, but is there any consensus regarding differences between the above brands? I’m interested in their "traditional" or "vintage" lines, not the more modern-voiced models.

For example, I’ve read that the Spendor Classic series speakers are, overall, warmer/darker than Harbeths and offer a bit more punch in the bass. If this is true, I would lean toward the former.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stuartk

As someone who owns Spendor, And has owned the

Harbeth SuperHL5plus, and now Joseph Audio Perspectives 2

I can attest to what @helomech wrote.

actually the numbers support the @helomech view. Everything about the BBC speakers are average (average hifi) other than the price. Maybe the design is special too, like the famous English grass, a result of meticulous care over a long time

I’m certainly not saying that the “Magic“ isn’t there

in the mid range of many of these British speakers.

I absolutely adore the sound of my spenders speakers and loved

the Harbeth speakers as well.  I still think In someways both

Vocals in a particularly human fashion.  And there’s a wonderful texture and body to the sound.   I just found that there was Another level

of refinement to be found in  my Joseph audio speakers.

Thanks for the ongoing comments. I'm now less inclined to regard these brands as the right direction for me. 

I have the Graham Audio LS 5/9 and adore them, beautiful reproduction of the human voice, strings sound sublime and jazz is just very special to listen too. I have never heard the Joseph Audio speakers so can’t comment on them, but I hear good things.

I have heard a few speakers and some much more expensive that the Graham’s, but for me the Grahams just reproduce voices so nicely, especially male voices which I think is more difficult to get right that the female voice, that most high end speakers do very well.