Once your system is such that you love it (or part of it) -- as you said you do -- it’s pointless to buy any new component without an extended trial (several days or weeks) in your own listening space. The key to doing that, of course, is finding a good dealer to work with. A new component will cost more than a used one, but a home trial is the only way to know if a component will be an improvement to an already good system. Avoiding a costly and troublesome mistake is, in my opinion, worth the premium. That way, your money goes to making your system better and better, not to churning through components that are good (maybe great) but not right for you.
Are Harbeth Super HL5 XD right for me?
I am feeling like despite being very happy with my current speakers, I am missing something because they are by far the least expensive part of my system. I recently replaced my Large Advents with a pair of the new KLH Model 5s and I love them, despite being about 5% of my systems cost.
I am thinking about the Harbeth Super HL5 XD as a final upgrade. It’s a big chunk of change though and my biggest concern is that they can only be 12” away from the rear wall. They’ll be essentially open on both sides and I’ll be sitting about 8’ from them. This is fixed in stone. I’ll be driving them with a pair of Luxman MB-3045 tube amps and an ARC SP-14 playing 98% (or more) vinyl. Mostly jazz, classic rock and classical. I live in an apartment and never play very loud, and have reached the point where I really don’t have much desire to anyway.
So… Is it worth taking the chance given my situation or am I just setting myself up for disappointment and better off sticking with what I am really very happy with?
TIA