Electronics for Harbeths -- $5-10K

I have the HARBETH M30.2 XD standmounts with an ATC C1 Sub Mk2 Subwoofer.

My best-of-breed integrated amp to drive them is a REGA OSIRIS integrated amp that is a bona fide “soulmate” contender and no pretender, that satisfies your amp features .wish list .

highly recommended

https://audiofi.net/2012/08/rega-osiris-punching-heavy/

https://everydayaudiophile.com/2019/12/23/rega-osiris-a-dual-mono-champ/

One new candidate is Ayre Acoustics's Series 8 line. The new VX-8 power amp just got a great review in Stereophile, although the corresponding preamp may not be a great fit.

However, the updated EX-8 2.0 integrated looks pretty close to a perfect match, at least on paper.  The $8000 analog-only version (it'll sit behind an external DAC/streamer) weighs a mere 25 pounds, pumps out about 135wpc into 6ohms, has all the connectivity I need, including HT bypass & sub out) as well as unique features like the ability to disable individual outputs. 

That last function is especially important because the Harbeths will also be used as the FL & FR speakers when playing multichannel content.  That is, a multichannel source will be decoded by an existing A/V receiver that will forward the front-channel signals to the new amp.  This means -- think about it -- when playing stereo content from a turntable, Tidal, or SACD, the new amp will drive the sub.  The receiver wouldn't even be on.  But when playing surround sources, the sub will have to receive a multichannel-mixed LFE signal from the receiver & the new amp should not be sending a second signal simultaneously to the sub. (I have a powered MartinLogan sub that can autoswitch between any of three line-level or amplified input signals, but should never receive two inputs at the same time.)

So from a functionality standpoint, the Ayre is the only option I've found that can do everything I need.

What I don't know -- and yeah, this is the same old problem -- is whether the EX-8 2.0 is a good fit with the Harbeths sonically.  Stereophile's review of the original & 2.0 versions are pure raves -- praising even the built-in headphone amp, to my surprise -- but hey, so are half the reviews in the magazine. 

So although I've made progress finding a credible candidate re: functionality, I'm still at Square One re: sonics.

Maybe I need to start another thread with a title that specifically asks about the Ayre/Harbeth combo.  Unless any of the people here have tried that pairing themselves.

Oh boy -- woke up this morning to find all these reeplies!  Thanks, everybody!!

Hope I don't miss anybody:

Jimmy: I'm up in the air re: Benchmark.  I hear so many good things about both models, but I still wonder: At that price point, could they possibly be in the same league as the $10K boxes I've been looking at? (And yes, you don't have to point out how ludicrous that question might be, but, you know...)

arafiq: my characterization of Luxman's house sound was culled  from many comments by Luxman owners on this & other online forums; plus hints garnered from remarks in published reviews from trusted authors.  As with almost every other component mentioned here, I have no way to hear anything first-hand since the only audio showroom in my state closed some years ago (a matter of continuing frustration for me).  But sure,  I'm certainly willing to be convinced otherwise if you have a different perspective based on live auditioning with speakers similar to mine.

soix: THx for the recommendation, but I am locked into solid-state.  You don't have to sell me on tubes -- I'm a tube roller from way back and when my hands used to be steady enough to hold a soldering iron (today, they shake so much I sometimes have trouble using a mouse), I loved building, refurbishing and modifying tube gear.  Unfortunately, tube electronics simply wouldn't fit my room configuration & physical constraints this time around.

dweller: You know, I haven't checked out BAT, but I will at your suggestion.  Have you heard the equipment described at your link with Harbeths?  Again, what I'm interested in is synergy -- not the "best" there is, but the best for my particular system.

avanti: Thanks for reading every line in my post!  You know, I have looked breifly at the Bryston cubed line, but never followed through for reasons that elude me right now.  Unfortunately, again, tubes are not an option, although I've certainly heard great things about the Cary preamp.  Maybe it's time for another look ath the Brystons, though.

One new candidate is Ayre Acoustics's Series 8 line. More on that in a separate posting.

Dudes the OP has a 40lb weight limit requirement.  

@cundare2 can you go tube preamp solid state amp?  

if so, try a Cary SLP 98 tube preamp with bypass and then a Bryston 3b3 power amp.  Each are under 40 lbs.  The Cary is super transparent with a spectacular atmospheric sound stage and fast life like dynamics.  

The new Brystons are super smooth and powerful, the 3b3 has 200 bona fide watts per channel.  It also has adjustable gain, the lower 23db setting a perfect match with the Cary.   I get excited thinking about how amazing this pairing would sound with your Harbeths!

... than the "analytic" superdetailed sound of Luxman ...

May I ask how you reached this conclusion? Is it based on what you've been hearing or did you try a specific Luxman model and found that to be the case?

I know you said you want solid state, but given the sound qualities you’re looking for I immediately thought of a hybrid integrated amp and specifically the Unison Unico Due.  It’s only got a couple small tubes in the preamp section and is very low maintenance, and the amp section is high biased to provide some Class A-like sound qualities that I thought you’d also like as the Pass amp seemed to really appeal to you.  And obviously you have the opportunity to swap tubes to dial in the sound best to your liking.  It’s got plenty of power (100+100W RMS into 8 Ohms, 180+180W RMS into 4 Ohms, 290W+290W RMS into 2 Ohms) and at about 35 lbs. it comes in under your weight requirement.  It’s available from places like Sound Approach and The Music Room who offer a return policy if it doesn’t work out for some reason, which is nice and while not free is certainly a nice option to have.  Just another option to ponder FWIW, and best of luck in your search. 

https://soundapproach.com/unison-research-unico-due-class-a-dynamic-integrated-amplifier.html

My favorite with Harbeth was Benchmark preamp and amp.  I’ve had Luxman separates as well as the 590AXII, Primaluna tubes, a class D amp from Nord, and I preferred the Benchmark.  

Nice prices on my go-to integrated at Upscale Audio.

upscaleaudio.com/products/balanced-audio-technology-vk-3000se-integrated-amplifier-open

$4495 open box or $5495 new (on sale).

I would add Accuphase to the list.

Luxman or Accuphase should give you a synergistic match with your Harbeths.

deadhead1000: You're the second person to tell me that Luxman Class A complements Harbeths C7 & 30.x models well.

Art Dudley recommended Harbeth when I was forced to sell my Quad ESL & Quad II Class A monoblocks.  He mentioned that, in his opinion, the Harbeth line was in many ways as close as dynamic-driver speakers got to the 1960s Quad "sound" and that I'd really appreciate his comments if I powered them with a Class A amp; and not necessarily tubes.  I didn't take him completely seriously at the time, but comments like yours now have me thinking.

Roxy54: No, I haven't looked at the Esoteric line at all.  Any particular model you're thinking of?  Have you heard a Harbeth/Esoteric combination yourself?

I have Harbeth 30.2 and had a McIntosh integrated which in my opinion did not match well. I switched to a Luxman 590AXii class A and it’s a keeper. Close in sound to tubes, plenty of power (Luxman under rates their power.) I understand your comments about Luxman, but I myself do not find it too analytical with Harbeth speakers. I have occ copper speaker cables. 
I almost went with a Pass, but liked the Luxman a bit more. 

What about Esoteric?