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easier to drive specifically Harbeth v Vandersteen

I'm in an NY apartment, I have Vandersteen 2CE speakers driven with a YBA Integre with 50W. I know the Vandersteen's are fairly easy to drive and you can use tubes including Music Reference RM-10 at 35W. I listen to jazz, female vocalist stuff.

Now you have the Harbeth Compact 7, which I've been interested in, fits apartment living better. They have the same efficiency as my Vandersteens. Are they better with lower powered amps. I always here how you should have 100W SS amps for my Vandersteens for them to come alive but the Harbeth's do quite well with an LFD integrated, what gives?
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Showing 2 responses by zd542

zd542
5,339 posts
 
If you haven't already made a firm decision on what you want to do, I have another option you may want to consider. Instead of getting different speakers, I would get a different amp. The 2's are a much better speaker all around (just my opinion of course). They can do things that the Harbeth can't. Your YBA is a great amp but I don't think its the best match for your speakers. I would look into an Ayre 7 integrated. There is an incredible synergy with the 2 brands. The effect on SQ will be huge. The Ayre can take advantage of what your speakers have to offer in ways that the YBA can't.

I don't have the Ayre 7 myself, but I do have Vandersteen 2's and 3's and power them with Ayre V5's. I know first hand that its a great match. If you have any specific questions, post and I will try to answer them as best I can.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"09-28-14: Fidelisav
If you like we can discuss the advantages of a Harbeth C7 vs the older
Vandersteen C2.
With the understanding that in a smaller NYC apartment enjoying the full range of the music at lower volumes will not be a virtue the Vandersteen will afford you. The Harbeth is much richer through the midrange at low volumes. Next considering your specific listening preferences and room acoustics can help narrow your choice.
Harbeths excel at jazz, strings and classical or folk and are less capable
at heavy rock and saturated volume levels.
They are not particularly sensitive but do not require large amounts of current to bring to life.
In your circumstances they will surpass the Vandy's for listening pleasure at lower volumes and the even the Harbeth P3esr would."

I'm a big Vandersteen fan, but if you are in a situation as described above, there may be some logic to getting a different speaker. I live in NY myself so I can appreciate the circumstances. A lot of the buildings are pre war, making them very difficult for a good audio system. Another speaker that works very well for this type of setting is ProAc. I know several people that use the 1sc and are very happy with them. Also, the small DeVore's are a good speaker to work with.
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