???Compare-Contrast or Comment???Harbeth-ProAc or Reference 3a???

Congratulations! You chose wisely. Happy listening. 

Congratulations! You made a great choice!

Quick update:
  Well it's a done deal..
 Brand New pair of M30.2Xd in Tamo Ash finish are now mine!Dealer assures me they have never been run,only opened & removed from box for pics..4 hour round trip to pick them up begins in a few minutes...MASSIVE feeling of anticipation is awesome!
 

@audition__audio  +20000

And I would say that any speaker with a thin, lossy cabinet and large front baffle cannot have any of the attributes you ascribe. Please keep in mind this isnt personal just physics. The larger the cabinet the more this cabinet resonates (much like a speaker driver) coloring the sound. It can be no other way.

So when you listen to a Harbeth, especially the largest model, all of the things you dont hear with other speakers that you think is detail the others are missing it is in fact coloration that isnt present to the same degree as the other speakers.

Having said this, no speaker is perfect and the best speaker is the one you prefer. I just object to the words you use to describe this speaker line when suggesting someone else purchase.

+1 on Harbeth 30.2. Give it good amplification and it will reward you in ways few speakers can. Natural, balanced, beautiful tonality and timbre, and an exquisite midrange. 

These are great speakers, but overpriced, for different reasons, and also vastly different in nature. Really apples and oranges. 

Still, by sheer data and specs, the Reference 3a is the best value. The ProAc may be the best sounding though, for you needs. 

One of my least favorite speakers are Harbeth. Be careful when a manufacturer proclaims something to be of sonic benefit which then turns out to be the cheapest way to make the speaker. They sound just as they should given the lossy cabinet and wide baffle. 

I would say go with the De Capo although running drivers at full range can limit dynamic output. 

@freediver

HARBETH 30.2XD ….. hands down ….full stop. Rest assured that the DULCET BE II is a very fine performer regardless.

- Its midrange, tweeter are class leading, not surprising in that the 2-way speaker drivers are the identical in the $19000 three-way 40.3 XD model.

There are extraneous factors contributing further to my assessment ..

First off , I run both speaker systems, each with a quality subwoofer, in a 2.1 system configuration, so bass extension below their respective roll-off point is not a factor. In fairness the ATC sub bested all contenders and pretenders at its pricepoint as a best in class sub synergy stablemate to the HARBETHs,.

The REFERENCE 3A speaker product line is more efficient than the HARBETHs,The REF 3a. Mm DE CAPO BE II are 92 db…. DULCET BE II a bit less.

This may matter more to some tube fan AGONers,, in that both the MM DE CAPO BE II, and the DULCET BE II are both favourably driven by more modest SS amp options (and price) .
-REF 3a models are arguably easier to sync up even with modest price tube amps. . The manufacturer showcases their speaker line with COPLAND high-end tube amps.

FWIW, I run my HARBETHs with a much more beefy, immensely refined, (at multiples more price-point…) solid state REGA OSIRIS integrated amp, along with a premium build high-end ATC C1 Sub Mk 2 subwoofer. This 2.1 combo mightily bests my “B” 2.1 system with an ARCAM FMJ A39 integrated amp, driving the DULCETS, with a MARTIN LOGAN DYNAMO subwoofer.

TAKEAWAY:

IF:

(a) … Price is what you pay, BUT value is what you get…” ….and,

(b); “ You always get what you pay for ….”

then HARBETH rule in MY home …

@akg_ca :
 if you could only keep 1 pair,discounting the limited bass of the Dulcet,which would you keep?

The ribbon tweet if you know what:s good for you.

If you get ProAc speakers I recommend the ribbon tweeter. I think it sounds better than the soft dome.

I’ve got the HARBETH 30.2XD’s in my “A” system and the REFERENCE 3A DULCET BE up in my “B” system.

MY TAKE:

(1) The current HARBETH 30.2XD  model is  terrific and a step better then the 30.1. Their performance is wonderfully fleshed out to the max with a sealed quality build subwoofer for the added bottom-end bass. For me, the ATC C1MK2 sub that bested all cintebders and pretenders at its price-point,

(2) I auditioned all the REFERENCE 3a lineup with the “old” soft dome tweeter (pre-owned) and compares it to the “new BE” beryllium tweeter in their lineup.The new one is an improvement IMO, so I bought the BE model for my secondary 2.1 system

Any brightness you may experience will be a function of your upstrsam components and your cables; not from the speaker .

I own Ref 3A with the Beryllium tweeter and I don't find it harsh at all. Also the De Capos come up for sale used a lot, so keep your eye out. With no crossover to the main driver I find them very revealing speakers.