Current or Previous Harbeth Owners…

I'm a bit in a similar position trying to upgrade from another BBC speaker, the Spendor SP2/3R2. Admittedly I couldn't test a lot of brands, but I couldn't find the "better" sound, at least not for a decent amount of money. I have recently tested  a pair of Sonus Faber Serafino at home and they didn't quite cut it (a very forward but otherwise wonderful tweeter, by the way). I would have liked to also try Devore, Fink, Tannoy (and maybe Fyne) and the other BBC type speakers - Graham, Stirling, maybe you can check them out, I couldn't. So I have just bought the bigger Spendors, the Classic 100 (the equivalent of the Harbeth M40.x). Small room so bass is a challenge, but we'll see what room treatment can do about it.

I have also owned a pair of Harbeth M30.2 Anniversary and frankly preferred the Spendors. You can read my impressions here: https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2700741. For others or in a different system the Harbeth's could simply be the ticket.

My history of speaker ownership, in no particular order.

Quad 988, Kef Reference 5, Stirling LS3/6, Klipsch Heresy 3, Kef LS50, Magnepan 1.7, Spendor BC1, Harbeth C7 40th anniversary edition.

I have also heard numerous speakers in shows, dealers, etc.

I now own Harbeth 40.3. Out of the speakers mentioned above I have kept only the Stirling LS3/6 because they are made by Derek Hughes, whom I admire, and resemble the 40.3 sound but in a much smaller scale.

The Harbeth 40.3 imo surpass all speakers that I owned previously. They excel in tonality, realism, voices, dynamics and they are tube friendly which is important to me. I have tried them with a MC275, Quicksilver mid monos, Cary CAD-300sei, and they have always sounded their best.

YMMV, but for me, the 40.3 is a truly end game speaker.

@chrys71 Indeed! Harbeth 40.x is a phenomenal speaker. It's for a select group of audiophiles who appreciate good tonality and timbre, realism, and vocal purity. In my case, the most potent combination was a solid state class A amplifier paired with a tube preamp -- best of both worlds. You'd be surprised how much more the 40.x can offer when a powerful amp takes control of those 12 inch woofers. 

@toddcowles nice post

I enjoyed a few models from Harbeth; SHL5+XD, C7ES3 XD, M40.2 and M40.3XD.
Tried them all in a few different rooms and with tons of different electronics. My favorite was the SHL5+XD in a smaller room with high ceilings; some might call it a near field setup. Not sure. In any case I really loved and appreciated the special magic well setup Harbeths bring to the table. Very satisfying speakers on the long term. I recently discovered ATC SCM40 V2 passives and I’m driving those with Moon North 761 amp. I honestly think that ATC has an even better more authentic midrange and overall tonality than any of the Beth’s I owned and listened to for months in my space. The ATC speakers scale better, have more top end refinement and sweetness. The bass is absolutely better - at least so far in my smaller space; the sealed design makes for easy room integration and awesome well defined and clear bass. The midbass energy has swing and flow to it; I could hear the limitations of the Beth’s in this area with faster music. I could sometimes hear the lossy boxes Harbeth deploys coloring the midbass. Bass ripeness or a kind of raw uncontrolled resonant thing. I will always love Harbeths and will probably try another pair someday but for now I’m super happy and satisfied with ATC. Wish I would have discovered these years ago.

good luck!

I’ve owned every Harbeth minus the 40 ( room too small ). I liked all of them and I am now using the Super HL5 plus and in my room it is perfect. Head Bangers need not apply lookin’ at Harbeth! A Cerwin Vega type speaker would be more to your liking! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm091w0sSKk