Harbeth 30.1 or legacy calibre


What would you choose between the 2 in a room without a subwoofer?
128x128phastm3
I see no problem with someone wanting to explore 2 very different speakers. Even though they are very different from each other, they both will provide a FAIRLY neutral presentation, they will both provide a good sound stage and both will image well...
You need to look at their strengths
Legacy: More Dynamic, Much more extended top end and forceful bottom, more analytical mid range.
Harbeth: Reasonably, accurate bass, more romantic upfront midrange, More neutral, leaning toward laid back in the top end.
I disagree with labtec about the Legacy being more common, in fact, it is a 180. The Harbeth use a very traditional design, their strength is their custom tailored midrange. The Legacy with its midrange material, ribbon tweeters, new cabinet designs and alined crossovers is all more technically advanced than the Harbeth.
In the end, they present music differently. You need to discover your taste.
I love the Harbeth speakers ... especially the 40.2's. I always seek out their rooms at shows and just sit and listen to the music. Wonderful and very involving.

I've owned the Legacy Signature III's for many years and they are in my main system. 

This may be apples and oranges, but with laborious tweaking and proper placement, the Legacy's are every bit as musical, involving, transparent as the Harbeth's  with better bass and highs to boot. Easy to drive too.  

Harbeth 40.2 = $16,000.  A used pair of Legacy Signature III's = $1200 - $2500.

http://www.audioreview.com/product/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/legacy-audio/signature-iii.html
@bassdude 
Judging from your nick on here you really like bass right?

And you state that "Nothing really comes close to the Legacy Calibre".

Have you ever heard any of Phil Jones creations i.e. Platinum Solo/Duo and AAD 2001/2002 or know how they compare to Calibre?
Asking as they are known to paralyze listener with bass power and enormous sound scale. 

Or maybe anyone else can advise ? thanks
Can’t help you with the Platinum Uno/Duo’s - but, from the YouTube video - they’re pretty impressive - very clear, detailed, extended highs and solid bass.

Just a note on the Harbeth 30.1’s... compared to my other speakers.

They’re bass is pretty good, but can be a bit overwhelming (mid-bass bloat), and require careful placement out into the room, and an amp with enough current and damping factor to control it (clean it up) - basically solid state. I use an A21, or pair of JC-1’s, with them and they sound pretty good - much better defined bass, and a bit more balanced.

I’m not a big bass lover... but... an "articulate," clear, balanced... bass lover.

Also... if you want them to provide appropriate extension, clarity and detail resolution in the highs - you also need a lot of current, and... I added the Townshend Super-Tweeters... to obtain that type of sound with them.

I’m also using a Audio Research Ref 5SE tube preamp with them - which helps them produce extended, clear, detailed and spacious highs, rich / organic mids, and solid, textured bass with spacious, airy stage and imaging.

Now then... with all of that they can provide a very big (room filling), balanced, resolved, spacious, rich, musical sound. They’re mids are especially rich, warm and textured with a sound similar to the Quad ESL 57’s - which are the best.

They can sound very good, depending upon the rest of your system... but... generally, seem to sound better with great solid state amps (e.g. Hegel, etc.), or solid state / tube hybrids (e.g. McIntosh SA252, etc.) - there are a few video’s on YouTube, that make the 30.1’s sound - incredible, with the Hegel H300, or the McIntosh SA252. They were the reason I got the 30.1’s.

The Legacy’s don’t require all of that - they’re AMT tweeter provides better highs and they’re bass is better controlled. I should add that I also have, and am biased towards, the Legacy Aeris speakers, which very few speakers can equal, or better in all respects. In addtion to their superb drivers, they are partially open baffle speakers, which provides an incredible stage and imaging - big sound - like dipole panel speakers. And... their clarity, detail, and resolution, approaches that of the ATC’s, or Proacs, or other studio monitors, without overly rich mids. The Legacy Clarus possesses much the same sound.
I should add... that... the combination of the Harbeth 30.1’s driven by the Hegel H300 / H360 integrated amp or the McIntosh MA252 integrated amp may be one of the best values in audio, if you pick them all up on Audiogon, or USAudioMart, for used prices, and mate them with a good DAC, like the Schitt Yggdrasil (which is also one of the best values in audio). Though, the Hegel also provides a fairly good DAC to make it an even greater value. You could spend a lot more, and do no better, or even worse.

And... correction... I meant Legacy Audio Calibre, not "Clarus."