Current or Previous Harbeth Owners…

An instrument creates sound. A speaker reproduces sound. Pretty simple really. 

The Stereophile excerpt is copy. Do you think Fremer or Atkinson would give a Harbeth the same review as Dudley? What about the glowing reviews of a "dead" speakers like a Magico?

Anyway, as dpac points out, we all have opinions and these opinions should be respected and welcomed. At least among adults.

If you like the Harbeth 40.3, check out the Graham LS5/5. Same BBC heritage and similar but not identical sound. You might like one more than the other. 

All, TY for the responses.

Interesting post... I had Harbeth M30.1 bought in 2015. Loved them until I happened upon a little know speaker from Canada (by way of Belgium) called the Equation 7. Not a stand mount but a narrow, shallow smaller 2/way tower. Incredibly well built with a beautiful Spanish maple finish. They were great at the shop in NY I found them at paired with a Mastersound integrated so I bought them on the spot. Took them home and immediately inserted them into my setup consisting of Chord, Hovland, Luxman/Hana - was shocked at how much better at everything the Equations were over the Harbeths. A more pleasing sound signature on almost every level. I have since moved on to a more vintage Shindo/Altec setup but I'll never forget how I was floored by a speaker that was so totally unexpected.

I own a pair of M30.2 40th anniversary. I have listened to some other speakers since I got them 4 years ago. Afraid to lose that outstanding midrange and soundstage that is so superb with vocals. This speaker is so easy to listen to with its neutral and accurate timber.

i recently did an AB comparison with the M30.2 XD and a pair of Fleetwood Deville. Nice but it not float my boat.

However the Devore 0/96 I listened to right after were fantastic. Wow! This was something else. Would not have the bass of the 40.3 but in terms of soundstage, texture and organic sound , the DeVore would be something to consider IMHO. A lot more expensive than my M30.2 obviously, but in the price range of the 40.3