Current or Previous Harbeth Owners…
For those of us that have had or currently have, are there other speakers you’ve listened to that you found sounded “better”? I’m eyeing stepping into a set of 40.2 or 40.3’s, but am also willing to step in a different direction. I realize “better” is subjective, but a speaker that does what Harbeth does, but better.
I have a set of Pass Labs XA100.5’s, FWIW.
i added an ATC C1Sub MK2 premium build subwoofer to flesh out the bottom octave to my 30.2XD’s using the high-level connectors.. . Integration was EZPZ and flawless. I’ve now matched the audio performance of the larger 40.2XD’s.IMO …Because the 30.2’s have the same drivers as the 40.2 but without the latter’s added bass driver, https://atc.audio/hi-fi/loudspeakers/subwoofers/c1-sub-mk2/
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@avanti1960 i felt the very same way about all my Harbeths until I auditioned ATC. They have the potential ( setup dependent) to portray that incredible transparent midrange realism of properly setup Harbeths, but the ATC’s extend top and bottom aspects of the performance. First speaker I’ve had since Harbeth, that imho, does Harbeth natural midrange better than Harbeth. |
@akg_ca I’m not familiar with that particular sub, but I would trust anything ATC makes. I pair my 30.1s with a JLAudio e110 10" sealed sub (receives signal from a very fine electronic crossover), and it’s perfect. @dpac996, I had a modest but amazing sounding pair of ATCs here on the desktop for several years, the SCM12 Pros (passive 2-way). The tweeter is exceptional, just as everyone says, and the 6" mid-woofer is pretty amazing, too. I ended up "trading up" to two pairs of sealed 2-ways that are larger, borderline too large for my desktop (vintage KEF 103.2s & Harbeth 30.1s), both of which have a 8" woofer. As I suspected, the bigger woofer moves more air and gut-punches me better than the ATC could. But really, that’s more a testament to my bass/mid-bass addiction than anything else. True, the Harbeth isn’t as good in the bass/mid-bass as it is in the midrange on up (where it is world class). No problem, though. I’m about due to swap out the 30.1s for the KEFs, which are far more dynamic in the lower register but still sound great on top. What can I say? Life is good.... |
@rubicon15 I’ve not compared them, but had owned B&W early in my hifi journey. Spent time listening to the 805 D3’s & 804’s. Certainly had some qualities that I liked, but the two speaker brands are on the opposite spectrum. You either like how B&W sounds or don’t, I believe the same goes with Harbeth. I recall the B&W’s being a little too bright and didn’t have enough of the midrange tone I prefer. I also found them to be fatiguing, all of the B&W gear was driven by McIntosh. Coincidentally, it’s what led me to divest myself of the B&W + McIntosh combo. Having said all of that, the combo is very “lively,” almost wet sounding…which is great for having an energized listening session and some really do prefer that. I do not. |
