Are Harbeths really "all that?"

When I look at them, driver configuration, cabinet size, etc., I have trouble reconciling the price with what I see. I suspect its a boutique type sound that some will love and not be able to live without. But the fact is I have never heard them. Would like to though.

There is an A'goner who just acquired a pair of nice Harbeths to replace some very nice large Dynaudios. Results reported are mixed so far. HE reports that the Harbeths are more satisfying at lower to moderate listening levels. That is not the greatest strength of Dyns in my experience so I can believe that. Using a good higher power, higher current, more efficient amp can often solve that problem with many speaks though I have found, including Dyns.

Harbeths do present a relatively high input impedance though I think which would make them natural mates with tube and other SS amps that may not deliver a lot of juice compared to others. That is other end of the spectrum from speaks like Dynaudio and OHM even however.

"listening fatigue is very low"

I always liked Maggies largely for exactly this reason.

I owned them for years and they were fantastic for extended listening sessions with no fatigue.

When they were tuned in, they always sounded better the more you listened and once you started, you didn't want to stop.

Funny Bozaks are mentioned.

I actually got to hear a pair of BIG, old Bozaks in good operating condition the other day at a local dealer who had taken in a pair in a trade. They were "sweet to the ear" indeed, but the dealer thought they were colored. I didn't get to listen long enough to say, but I suppose they were. Afterwards, we listened to some brand new B&Ws in the next room and I was still liking the Bozaks! They did have a certain warmth and ease about them whereas the B&Ws were way more detailed like most modern speaks yet also way more "in your face".

"All have the refined sound you expect from an English monitor."

"Refined" is an accurate and useful description for many high end audio components, in particular speakers, that come out of Britain I have found.

I'd toss DNM Reson ICs into that category as well. I use them to inject a bit of restraint and refinement into my system when called for.

I prefer to tweak my system towards the more subtle and refined sound when called for rather than make it inherent via the speaks.

Of course, as has been pointed out on person's "refined" may be anothers "boring" and vice versa so YMMV on any particular day even just depending on your own personal mood.

I also like wine analogies very much when discussing the various fine points of audio!