Harbeth 40.2 or Vandersteen Quatro CT

you have room for 5a , Kento and 7’s. See my Poverty Bay sound system pictures. Obviously Quattro are going to work well also. Your amp is fine, it’s not holding you back..much....

have fun on your journey

@karmapolice ,
I don't think you will be disappointed.
If space is an issue, you can do as I have and buy the Treo's and add a pair of 2wq subs-which is probably in the price range you mentioned, if buying used. Though a pair of Sub 3's would probably get you closer to a Kento if not a Quatro. Plus, you'd have the ability to place the subs where they are out of the way.
Bob

Thanks for everyone’s input.

I previously had 73s3 harbeth speakers and liked them too.

I have heard the vandy 5A and enjoyed it but it’s too big for my moderate sized long but somewhat narrow room where I listen in midfield. I listen approx 9 feet from speakers. Speakers are a little bit over 2 feet from side walls and roughly 3.5 feet from back wall.

I am looking at having to spend 5-6K to upgrade to new Quattro CT installed with balanced adapters.

I might regret the move for sure ....but life’s an adventure

I will try a different preamp then the pass xp32 first see if that makes me less inclined to sell the Harbeth

I owned the Harbeth 40.1's for almost ten years and sold them for the Treo CT's. I've since moved on to the Vandy Kento's. Both Harbeth and Vandersteen have loyal fan bases and both are great product lines, but with very different objectives. The Harbeth's were warm, smooth, rolled off in the treble, somewhat overly ripe in the bass, with a very liquid midrange. They were really suited to close field listening, maybe 4-5 feet from the speakers. The 40.2's may be somewhat more flexible as a result of a crossover change, but the key problem, for me, is that they are not time and phase coherent, which affects transient response and ultimate realism. If you listen at low volume and drink several glasses of wine, they'll be fine.

The Vandersteen's are built around time and phase coherence using superb drivers and minimum cabinetry. I had the Treo's, but the Quatro's would add a separately amplified bass module with analogue equalization to smooth out the impact of room nodes. The midrange is superb, and the frequency range is extended top and bottom, but without either edginess or excess bloom. I think both the Treo's and Quatro's are bargains in today's speaker market. What you get with properly set up Vandersteen's and a great recording is the feeling that you could reach out and touch the performers. 

I agree that the Harbeth will have a different mid-range sound.  You can probably find a used pair of Vandy 5As for close to $6500 or less at this time so that may be a great option.

Since the Quattros have built-in amps in each speaker for the subwoofers, your amps will only be driving the mids and tweeters (using the hi-pass filters) - completely false statement.  Increasing the power supply capacitors in the amplifier we build also added to the bass improvement in my 5As.

The Vandersteens do so much right and can be adjusted for your room now and in the future.  I do miss the mid-range of my Alon V MKII speakers though in direct comparison.

I also built a pair of the HP filters for my 5s, the original ones to me use basic parts which I upgraded and now they sound much better to my ears.

Happy Listening.

And if you do go with the Vandersteens, the Pass Labs amps will probably hold you back from what they are truly capable of. I say that as a former owner of XA 60.8s, but I have not heard the 260.8s. A no global feedback amp is a better choice. I have the M5-HPAs which were a major improvement. Gone was upper midrange glare. Welcomed was a better sense of realism and immediacy.

I agree with Soix. Having owned the Vandersteen Treo CT and the Harbeth C7 and M30.1. You can’t go wrong with either, but I warn you. You may have regrets selling your Harbeth. Vandersteens do have an awesome soundstage and imaging to die for...completely disappears in the room, but there is something magical in the mid range of the Harbeths that keeps pulling me back. The Vandersteen are truly awesome for reproducing live music...best I’ve heard, but if you play a lot vocals and jazz, I think the Harbeths have an edge. Just my opinion. I would not make any decision until you’ve had a chance to audition the Vandersteens somehow.

They are very different speakers.  If you value things like 3D imaging/soundstage, extended bass, and neutrality there’s a lot you’ll like about the Quatros.  But if it’s more the “sweetness” and smooth sound of the Harbeths you might feel a little left out in the cold with the Vandys.  To my ears, speakers that kind of bridge the gap a little more would be Verity Audio or Sonus Faber, or maybe even ProAc.  Best of luck in your search. 

+1 on contacting John Rutan (audioconnection).
He will give the dope on what you need to know.
Great advice, and free from pressure.
Bob

Of all the speakers I've heard, including Vandersteens, high-end KEF, and Wilsons (sorry, don't recall which models), the 40.2s were the ones I loved the most.  I'd keep 'em.

its a shame I dont have the room to keep both.....

As someone who has owned a few Harbeth's, 40's, SHL5 and SHL5+ and a few Vandy's, 5's, Quatro's (cloth) and currently Treo CT's I can understand your curiousty about the Quatro's. I have moved back and forth between these two brands for the last 25 years. I think the Quatro CT is the sweet spot in the Vandersteen lineup. Your long term happiness will really depend on your listening priorities. With the right equipment both of those speakers sound great.

My decision to move back to Vandersteen was due to the fact that all of the updates to the Harbeth's  created more accurate speakers that became less enjoyable to listen to. Just my opinion. The Harbeth's still are the best speakers I have heard for low volume listening. For a long time my Vandersteen's needed some volume to sound right. It seems that the CT tweeter has fixed that and my Treo's sound great at any volume. When I had my Harbeth 40's I used a Pass 250.5 amplifier and Audio Research LS26 to power them and it was a great combination.

I might suggest reaching out to JohnnyR at the Audio Connection in Verona, NJ who is a dealer for both and who sold me all of the above mentioned speakers. He can offer some insight on both speakers. Good Luck!

I own the Quatros and nothing beats the 10 band bass equalizer in each speaker and the damping controls for room tuning. One can dial these speakers precisely to the room and achieve spectacular results. The time alignment doesn’t hurt either...

@karmapolice , 
Though I understand you desire to look into new speakers, I think your happiness with Harbeth should be something that keeps you from pursuing change-at least until you can find a dealer who will allow you to audition the Vandy's at home.
I have never heard Harbeth speakers, but I have heard great things about them. 
Yes, I would like to demo them, but I wouldn't sell my Treo's in order to find out if they floated my boat.
Just sayin'
Now, what was that quote about 'Answered Prayers'...🤔
Bob

Dig Tinawiren.....

@karmapolice   The 40.2's were my get-off-the-merry-go-round speakers.  You may regret this.

I wish I could audition the Quattro but decided to leave it up to resale gods and if can get fair price will sell the harbeth.

I played Tinariwen last nite on the 40.2 and sounded sweet so if doesn't sell already a happy camper

Both of my Vandy systems are in the virtual systems pages...

Yep, Treo CT and 7 mk2 with the Vandy amps. IF you do the home demo be sensitive to what is involved with placement, tuning of Quattro and move the Harbeth out of the room.

The advantage of the Quattro over the Treo is they play lower, flatter and cleaner than the Treo and the subwoofer level and Q are adjustable. Cleaner because of high passing your amp. I have the Treo in a Condo, would have got Quattro but trying to not get evicted, ha !!!! 
Yes I have heard Kento, really amazing w M5 amplifiers...

@twoleftears ,
+1
Though I am an unabashed Vandy fan, I think the only way to know for sure is to audition them in your home alongside the Harbeth.
It is money well spend, and should 'scratch your itch'.
Bob

Given that you have the 40.2's, the only rational way to approach this is to wait until you give the Vandies an audition, ideally in your own house, or at least a couple of lengthy auditions well set up in a store.  They're both excellent speakers; the differences will boil down to personal, individual preferences and taste.  And none of us can tell you what those are.

tomstruck

Absolute Sound has a review of the Kento in the new edition, just arrived last night. I haven't read it yet, but the teaser says it's amazing. From what I have heard listening to the Quatro CT and Treo CT, I would be very happy with either (esp the Quatro!).

Quattros.

have Quatros love them powered by Aesthetix Atlas  I had made a few changes to my system thought it was sounding good so I had Samir for Audio Connection over to retune my Quatros now I feel like I'm getting 100% out of my system it sounds amazing now               I would only change my Quatros for Kentos or 7s

Enjoy the Music 
Tom

karmapolice

Tomic has the Treo CTs I know, which I have heard and love as I do the Quatros. If you are satisfied with the bass response on the Harbeths (frequency response: 35Hz–20kHz ±3dB ), would you be seeking a lower range with the Quatro CT (frequency Response 24Hz – 40kHz +/- 2dB )? The bass of the Quatros is amazing for sure.

The Treo CT has a frequency response of 36Hz – 40kHz +/- 3dB, per Vandersteen’s website. Very comparable to your Harbeths on the low end. I have listened to them at length, and they sound wonderful. I could live without the lower bass extension I think, but I don’t know what types of music you prefer. I am not sure which would be best for a smaller room, in other words if the Quatro’s bass would overload the room without acoustic treatments. It does have an adjustable crossover which may alleviate that. From their website: "High-pass filtering allows the main amplifier to perform better, unburdened of reproducing deep bass, and is also the only way to ensure flat frequency response at the crossover to the powered subwoofer. Passive speaker designs always require placement compromises between the areas in the room where the imaging is typically best (farther out in the room) and where the bass is best (closer to the walls for boundary reinforcement). In Vandersteen’s powered-bass speakers the speaker can be placed out in the room where it images best, while the 11-band EQ ensures powerful but perfectly tailored in-room bass performance. The best of all things."

Both of these Vandy models do well placed fairly close to the wall, which is why I want the Treos (can’t afford the Quatros). I have the 2CE Sig III now.

The advantage to the Treo is the lower cost, and the fact that your amp runs them at full range (you have plenty of power for that) and you don’t run the high pass filters as you would with Quatros. You could later add subwoofers with the Treos if you want more bass, which is what the rep at the dealer I shop at did.

There is no wrong answer! And as Tomic said, the Harbeth 40.2 (which I have heard) are wonderful speakers too.

Oh, to have to decide!

Love the Quattros, especially the CT. I am a Vandersteen addict w two pair. Harbeth makes a lovely speaker also and your amplifier will work splendid w either- Vandersteen powered bass will free up your amp and yes robust as it is you will get better sound.
have fun, enjoy the music and the journey 
jim

Since the Quatros have built-in amps in each speaker for the subwoofers, your amps will only be driving the mids and tweeters (using the hi-pass filters). Those Pass monoblocks may be overkill? If you love the Quatros, the matching Vandersteen monoblocks are said to be a wonderful matchhttps://www.vandersteen.com/products/m5-hpa
The two speakers are apples and oranges. Quatros are a true full-range floor-stander.with amazing bass. A dear friend has them and they are amazing.