Current or Previous Harbeth Owners…

I owned Buchardt S400 when they first came out. Very different speaker with different target audience. If hearing the nth level of detail is the goal, then I agree Harbeth is not the right choice. Both are very good speakers though.

I’ve had C7ES-3XD, 30.2XD, and 40.3XD. All were very good enjoyable speakers that I had for several years but as this hobby is I moved on.
Currently have KEF Reference 3, Reference 1 Meta and a pair of Joseph Audio Perspective2. They do some things better but can be more fussy with amplification. At this level, it comes down to personal preference.
One thing about the Harbeth sound that I started to notice is that the bass on all three was a bit “thumpy” for my taste and not tight enough compared to a heavily braced modern cabinet. Harbeth midrange tone is excellent and very easy on the ears, although I found myself craving for more transparency, air, and detail.
If I were to get another Harbeth at some point, it would probably be the C7, those I felt were special in the lineup.

People have to remember that the BBC designed speakers are a engineering tour de forces of a concept where no budget was ever an constraint.

I think most people bad mouthing the BBC design, have never heard un amplified instruments being played.

I have the LS5/9 and I get goosebumps hearing a violin or cello playing, just so natural and sweet sounding, Jazz is sublime to listen to also.

If one need more omph, get a Rel sub or a pair if you can swing it.

+1 @gryphongryph  I would also add that very few speakers do vocals like the BBC speakers. I would love to own the bigger Grahams some day. When I first heard them, I preferred them over Harbeth 40.2. However, I think 40.3 has closed the gap considerably. 

Yes voices are marvelous too, of course if one is more to heavy metal or elecronica then other speakers will fair better.

I don’t think I will ever get rid of my ls5/9 except maybe for the Graham LS5/5, but I have to win the lottery first 😂