Harbeth Owners - What do you think?

Thanks for the input, guys. I like a musical presentation as opposed to an "accurate" or "audiophile" one. Accurate often means a lifeless rendering of bits and pcs as picked up by the mikes and, while working well in a studio, it doesn't usually work well at home. We (I mean "I") like to be transported into the musical event and not counting lip formations, chest cavitiy sizes, chair squeaks, and other hyper-detailed "highly resolved" correct frequency reporductions. Again, that's for the engineer in the studio, not me at home. I currently use Merlin TSM-MXs which do a pretty good job of this with the right equipment but would like something for another system and something with a wood finish - you wood lovers know what I mean!

By the way, how is the fit and finish of Harbeth speakers? And I've read they're designed for use with the grilles on - is this so? Do they sound best that way or can they be played "naked" so to speak (which is how I like my wood speakers to be)?

Anyone have a favorite Harbeth dealer?

Tomryan:

I'm going to take the quick way out and second what was said above--particularly Arnold's spot on assessment. I've owned C7ES for over 6 years now and love them to bits. Clinical? Absolutely, positively, no friggin way. Quite the opposite. The Harbeth's are, IMHO, the most musical speaker out there AND the best value for money in audio. Obviously one man's view here but with a twist--I have been trying to find something to replace my C7's for over 2 years now. Why? Got married, redecorated the house and the somewhat big boxes on stands just don't cut it with the new decor. I've listened to nearly every attractive floorstander out there (some even costing 10K!) and for me the Harbeth's simply cannot be beat. I end up returning to my system and realizing that much of what is out there is really not good value for money. Are the Harbeth's better in every respect to what I heard--no. They don't do really deep bass or present a huge panoramic sound stage. But, more than most (at a lot more money) they get the music right. Ditto and then some for the Super HL5. If you have the space and can stand to look at these rather large boxes the HL5, after direct comparison, betters the C7 in a significant way. The HL5 may be one of the best speakers currently made--and for under 4K. I am also using Audio Research (100.2 SS Amp and SP16 tube pre). A very nice, synergistic mix. I had used Naim and the Audio Research is better by a mile. The Harbeths like power so don't short change on the amp--though I've heard them blow the doors off most speakers powered with a cheap Japanese receiver! Harbeths are made to run with the grills on--look at the wood on the sides--there is a lot of it. Tomryan, so many opinions out there in audio land, who to trust? Forget the reviews, internet chat etc. Grab a few CD's and go listen. You will be instantly hooked--I guarantee it. As for dealers. Try John Rutan at Audio Connection in Verona, NJ. He is a great guy and lover of two channel sound. If you are not local he may send you a pair with the option to buy certain you will not send them back. One final thought--if you have the room, go for the HL5's, they are that good.

Wow! I have a pair of HL5s coming shortly (should be very different from my Thiels). Y'all can come over and listen.

Fit and finish is very good. The Audio Research 100.2 is a great amp, though I haven't heard it with the Harbeth's, I'd be very willing to give it a try. As for Harbeth dealers, contact the main man - Walter at Fidelus Audio (I think that's spelled right) in New Hampshire. I imagine if you don't have a local dealer, he could ship directly to you, and he is very nice to work with.

Thanks again, guys. My room is 11 x 13.5 x 8 with plaster walls/ceiling and thick carpet on hardwood over cement so it contains everything and does not flex with the music. I use a REL subwoofer so bass extention is not a concern.

I have narrowed it down to Compact 7s or Monitor 30s as I really like the idea of the soft done high end SEAS tweeter in the 30s. The closet dealer is a 10 hour round trip and doesn't have the 30s so I may work through the mail.

I'm lucky as the room is mine alone and my wife doesn't care what the speakers look like but I think they look damn good anyway. I like that classic appearance and (based on some internet photos) presume the woodwork and finish are excellent. I also will be using an Air Tight 300B amp which puts out a whopping 10wts! However, I just read a webzine review of the 30s which said a 2A3 amp drove them pretty well in a moderate sized room and my amp is three times that powerful (I like the big amps, don't you know).

The Air Tight has superbly designed Tamura trannies and the best, in my opinion, designed power supply for an SET that I've heard. In my room it has properly driven ProAc 2.5s and Merlin TSM-MXs.

Think I'll contact a couple of the recommended dealers above and see what they can do for me.