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Bryston & Harbeths - Good Match?

I have a Bryston 4b SST2 amp and am looking to upgrade from my Vandersteen 2ce Sigs. I like the Vandy’s but I think they are a bit large for my 15’ x 18’ room.

I have been looking at the Harbeth SHL5’s and I have not seen much written about them with the Bryston. Does anyone here have any experience with this combination?

I am also considering the Totem Mani 2’s, Dynaudio’s and a few others. I really hate giving up the low end of the Vandy’s so I am looking for something that might come close in my small room. I really don’t want to go the sub route.

I am looking at used speakers and my budget is in the $2k to $4k range. Any comments and or suggestions are welcome. Oh, I listen to a wide range of music. From Diana Krall to Elvis Costello to Jimmy Buffett.

Thanks.
ben77059

Showing 1 response by bgeofft-duplicate-0

bgeofft-duplicate-0
174 posts
 
You'll read some sold on the bump-up to bigger watt amps. The rational I frequently hear is Harbeth's OK with lower watts, but big watts give Harbeth's more resolution, detail, and drive at lower levels. I have not heard this in practice myself but others hear what I do not. Listened to three models of Harbeth's with several big name muscle amps and four different LFD amps of between 50-200 watts over the past three years. Two highly touted 150+ watt amps I heard with C7's and SHL5's actually sounded inferior to several lower watt amps. I heard lower watt Luxman and Leben integrated amps (one tube, one SS) that I easily preferred over two (one tube, one SS) big watt amps with same source. Best recommendation as always is go listen yourself. Shameless plug: I have a lightly used LFD Zero III for sale at a steal price that has synergy galore with Harbeth Compact 7's, SHL5's, and their latest desktop size speakers.
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