JA Pulsars vs Harbeth 30.2


Well still investigating different speakers. In the used world these speakers are similarly priced and both have great reviews.  Does anybody in the Audubon family have familiarity with these two speakers. Which one would you recommend and why.  I have a dedicated room approx 20x 15 with no special acoustic treatments. Wall to wall carpet. I mostly stream with bluesound node 2. I have a Hegel 390 Integrated amp and project turntable and Yamaha CD player both around $300 - $400.  Mostly listen to blues, folk and rock. Some classical too.

look forward to hearing from you

tjraubacher

the Revival Audio Atalante 5 sounded bass and midrange centric and did not have the resolution of the Pulsar.  It does have a big bold sound that the Pulsar cannot compete with.  

Pulsars with a pair of quality subwoofers would be an interesting way to go.  

@tjraubacher

I’ve owned both Joseph, audio speakers and Harbeth.

I’ve got a good bead on their sonic qualities.
(You might also look up Herb Reichart’s review of the Joseph pulsars’s

As he compares them to the Harbeth monitor and he nails the essential difference

1. Look up the audiogon thread comparing the Harbeth SuperHL5plus

speakers versus the Joseph audio perspective speakers. In that thread, I do an extensive Comparison between the Harbeth sound qualities and what you get with Joseph. Pretty much everything I say there applies to the basic differences between the Harbeth 30/pulsar.

2. Don’t worry about driver corrosion. I’ve never seen any
Joseph audio owner report it. Bit more to the point:

Joseph audio updated their drivers quite a while ago

To The Graphene coated versions. The main point of

the graphene coating Is that it stops corrosion. (Which is only an issue in certain climates anyway).

Here ya go!  Listen to these - you will be amazed! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E8ExBUC64c

I have both the 30.2's and the 40.3's - both of which sound very much like the Quad ESL 57's - which is one of the best sounding speakers at any price.

Though... these all excel with jazz, classical, blues, country - and all things acoustic!  You may prefer alternative speakers for rock, or similar sounds.  

If you're into those types of music... you will have difficulty trying to best Harbeths.

But... they must be driven with great, powerful, SS electronics - such as those Harbeth demos their speakers with at shows (Hegel amps).  I drive mine with the Hegal H590 - which produces their best sound.  Harbeths are not at their best with lesser electronics.  

With the right electronics they have a warm, rich, full sound with great clarity, which is not hard and strident.  A sax, or cello, or upright bass - sound live - like they're in the room with you.  

Listen to the above demo (and similar demos on YouTube), and you'll get a good idea of how live they sound.  And... if you want greater treble and dynamic emphasis - the SHL5 XD will provide that, while still providing the rich, warm, full sound.