Anyone compare Devore and Harbeth speakers?

I just heard Devore Gibbon 8 driven by VTL IT-85. I guess it's all in the matching of systems, but I don't agree with the assessment that Devores are dry... just make sure to go tube, I guess, w/ the Devores. I did hear the same speakers driven by Musical Fidelity A5. The sound was serviceable, but weirdly grainy in rock CDs. But KILLER with Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring."

Also heard the Harbeth 40 at the RNAF and would agree with Glory. One of the better sounds at the show at any price. Only topped by the ESPs.

Where could I audition both relatively easily? I don't know of any dealer that carries both lines. Would I have to travel to New York? (I'm in the South.)

I have listened extensively in my home the Devore Super 8s and Harbeth Monitor 30s.

Both are amongst the best speakers I have heard and both are very different.

Harbeth Monitor 30s have a bigger sound with more body. They also have a superb midrange. Unfortunatley, they lacked the punch in the bass that eventually robs the music of some of its energy. Overall a wonderful speaker.

The Devore Super 8s were very fast and detailed with an image that was unreal. The driver coherence is unmatched in my opinion - the sound seems to be coming from a single driver. They lacked the body of the Harbeths and sounded lean by comparison. The Super 8s are very fussy about their positioning / angle etc. When they are not positioned correctly they can sound a bit shut in and trebly. When they are positioned correctly they are spectacular. The Super 8s are not for background music unfortunately. When they are on you sit down and listen - you just cant ignore their musical delivery. As a result I found myself glued on my chair for hours each tine listening to the musical experience.

Ultimately, if i had to chose I would go for the Super 8s. Currently I am waiting to listen to the Devore Nine's that are supposed to have the magic of the Super 8s with extra body.

Caspermao, I heard the MF A5 with Gallos and big, chocolaty Paradigms at my local dealership, and the sound was grainy in the extreme, so I don't think it's the DeVores.

Actually, I was susprised to hear someone say that the DeVores didn't match well with Naim gear, as I've been hearing the opposite. Besides, the un-named dealership in Seattle is widely held to be one of the more conscientious in the country when it comes to getting things matched right, and apparently they went out of their way to match the DeVores with the Naim stuff (all of this is second-hand info, I've never been there myself).