Harbeth 40.3xd vs Graham LS5/5

@redwoodaudio owns or has owned the Grahams.  AFAIK, the only person on A'gon who has them in house.

I wouldn't describe the Harbeths as forward, certainly not according to how I understanding that adjective.  By small increments Harbeths have been moving towards a more "modern" sound.  The 40.3XD does not sound exactly the same as the 40.2, and the 40.2 is a little more room friendly than the 40.1

Same can be said of the progression of the Spendors from SP100 versions to Classic 100.

Having wanted to hear them but never had the opportunity, not sure where the Grahams fall in all this.

Given recent price increases, from my perspective bargains are to be had with gently used Spendor SP100 Mk II's and Harbeth 40.2's.

Check my system to see that I'm speaking from direct acquaintance.

I listened to the Spendor Classic 100 in an excellent dealer's system (in the UK) and know the 40.2's well.  This is not a direct orange-to-orange comparison, because the 40.2's were followed by the Anniversary and now the 40.3XD.  I found the Spendor's slightly more muscular and vigorous, but would have been more than happy to own them.  Same afternoon compared with Spendor D series and for me the Classic's were head and shoulders better.  Like I said, no experience of Graham, more's the pity.

ATC is going to be significantly less forgiving.

See, for instance, here: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/perfect-match-for-atc-speakers

@echoz  You really need to listen to various makes and models in person; it's too risky basing a purchase of this magnitude on votes in a thread.

I don't dispute what @chorus heard, but here's my contrasting experience.  Listened to SHL5+ at Hawthorne in Seattle, in that brick-walled room with top-end Naim, and found them unbearably bright.  Heard 30.2 at CAF and thought them very good though inevitably with restricted bottom end.  Heard 40.2's at Deja Vu in Washington DC and immediately fell in love with them.  As I said, I was in England when I heard the Spendor Classics.

Inevitably, YMMV.

If you do start to try to hear some models, add the Yamaha NS-5000 to your list.

This was a couple of years ago.  At that time I think the only pair of 5/5's this side of the Atlantic was in Canada.  And don't think I didn't think about it...