Harbeth Owners - What do you think?

Thanks for the input, guys. I like a musical presentation as opposed to an "accurate" or "audiophile" one. Accurate often means a lifeless rendering of bits and pcs as picked up by the mikes and, while working well in a studio, it doesn't usually work well at home. We (I mean "I") like to be transported into the musical event and not counting lip formations, chest cavitiy sizes, chair squeaks, and other hyper-detailed "highly resolved" correct frequency reporductions. Again, that's for the engineer in the studio, not me at home. I currently use Merlin TSM-MXs which do a pretty good job of this with the right equipment but would like something for another system and something with a wood finish - you wood lovers know what I mean!

By the way, how is the fit and finish of Harbeth speakers? And I've read they're designed for use with the grilles on - is this so? Do they sound best that way or can they be played "naked" so to speak (which is how I like my wood speakers to be)?

Anyone have a favorite Harbeth dealer?

Thanks again, guys. My room is 11 x 13.5 x 8 with plaster walls/ceiling and thick carpet on hardwood over cement so it contains everything and does not flex with the music. I use a REL subwoofer so bass extention is not a concern.

I have narrowed it down to Compact 7s or Monitor 30s as I really like the idea of the soft done high end SEAS tweeter in the 30s. The closet dealer is a 10 hour round trip and doesn't have the 30s so I may work through the mail.

I'm lucky as the room is mine alone and my wife doesn't care what the speakers look like but I think they look damn good anyway. I like that classic appearance and (based on some internet photos) presume the woodwork and finish are excellent. I also will be using an Air Tight 300B amp which puts out a whopping 10wts! However, I just read a webzine review of the 30s which said a 2A3 amp drove them pretty well in a moderate sized room and my amp is three times that powerful (I like the big amps, don't you know).

The Air Tight has superbly designed Tamura trannies and the best, in my opinion, designed power supply for an SET that I've heard. In my room it has properly driven ProAc 2.5s and Merlin TSM-MXs.

Think I'll contact a couple of the recommended dealers above and see what they can do for me.

Drubin - Your accessment of the ProAcs is like mine. I absolutely loved their musicality and ability to draw me in for hours but ultimately wanted more inner resolution, but this took over 7 years to happen! I think it may be the large cabinet like you said and am very curious about the Harbeths in this regard. I'm trying to find some way to audition the 30s and would be willing to pay shipping both ways (no dealer in area) if need be.