Harbeth P3ESR vs the new XD

Also, keep in mind that it will take quite a while (100+ hours at least) for the bass to improve. I was initially dissatisfied with bass response, but boy did it improve after 100 hours or so.

Thanks smrex13! 😃

@kw6  Congrats!  You're going to love them more and more as you listen to them.  Enjoy!

To update this thread I got a new in box P3ESR! Last one! In photos if you look at XD new crossover parts you would think it's can improvement but case people said here even after break in sound of XD still not as yummy as original. My P3ESR tonality sounded great right out of the box. After few hrs things maybe  got a bit more focused but similar sound. With my gear cymbal strikes sound authentic with the sweet detail and bite like the real thing. Even some speakers costing up to $60k can't do this.

Some dealers have the xd new in stock

As someone suggested above, buy what is available as you may have to wait a while for the XD's to be available.  Depends on your urgency --- both are fine model versions.  I waited for my XD's and am very happy with the sound---I can't compare it to any earlier versions though, just to my prior non Harbeth speaker.   I'm thrilled with them!

Thanks Donvito!🙂

Ok gotcha helomech!🙂

Why would they name that LS3/5a the 70th anniversary limited edition? That makes no sense to me!
https://www.rogers-hifi.uk/latest-news-from-rogers/2018/6/19/70th-anniversary-edition

Rogers the loudspeaker company was founded by Jim Rogers in 1947.

@kw6
How can there be a 70th anniversary of a speaker that was introduced in 1975?  Sounds very fishy!

I agree with you guys but here is the kicker is Harbeth better than Rogers 70th anniversary?

I agree with @yogiboy on the Harbeths.  I have had both the original P3 and the anniversary edition, and I far preferred the original.  The anniversary edition just didn't captivate me the way that the originals did.  They weren't bad speakers, but they didn't have the magic I heard with the original P3s.  

@kw6
Here is a review on the MoFi Falcon!
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=zero+fidelity&qs=AS&cvid=ab49a7b379834c6f8eefa6a036cb08...

I have owned a few different Harbeth’s. The original SHL5, the original 40, the 30th Anniversary SHL5 and the SHL5+. In every case I found the older versions more musical than the updated versions. The newer versions may have been more accurate but they were not as enjoyable to listen to.

I have gone back to Vandersteen speakers. This is just my opinion and not a knock on Harbeth as I spent 10 years listening to the various models. YMMV and your ears should be your decision makers. Good Luck!

It I can’t find a pr of P3ESR are the Mofi LS3/5a just as good?

How is the Spendor 3/1? Is Harbeth still king?

Were they ever king? Guess I wasn’t around for the crowning. My experience has been that they’re closer to the level of a Duke.

I would expect the Falcon/MoFi LS3/5a to be better than the P3ESR.

The sales are higher now....i believe they made these improvements based on cust feedback etc. Saying most like older models is impossible to say accurately. You would have to speak to most customers, not some. Being accurate when posting is preferred. This is the speaker now...plenty others out there. 

Hey guys,

It I can't find a pr of P3ESR are the Mofi LS3/5a just as good?

How is the Spendor 3/1? Is Harbeth still king?

@helomech

agree that the older harbeths are certainly not worse sounding than the current ’updated’ ones

i think spendor and harbeth have taken their approaches quite differently --- alan shaw has fundamentally the same models for decades - little ls3/5a lineage p3, compact 7, super 5 (itself a descendant of the spendor bc1) and monitor 40... the smaller monitor 30 was added some years back -- alan just keeps rolling out anniversary models and very very incremental updates to each

spendor, otoh, has preserved their bbc heritage models in the ’classic’ line... and they have developed their modernized a and d series of floor standers, these are fundamentally new/different speakers than the bc-1 ls3/5a ls5/7 descendants -- the a and d series floor standers are newer distinct designs for audiophile 2 channel and ht markets... spendor’s speaker development output is significantly more robust...

Mr. Shaw turned to a marketing company for his new business model. Any bets that soon they will have a new model called P3ESR Classic? Back to original design they discontinued.

Seems there are quite a few who prefer some of the older Harbeth models over the new stuff, like the SHL5 vs SHL5 Plus. Same phenomenon occurs with Spendor owners. Model revisions are often a matter of trade-offs. Owners of older models need not lose sleep. 

Mr. Shaw turned to a marketing company for his new business model. Any bets that soon they will have a new model called P3ESR Classic? Back to original design they discontinued.😊

Harbeth is no different from any other audio manufacturer. Vandersteen, Spendor, B&W, Audio-Research, etc., etc., always have an improved version in their product line. BTW, Harbeth does use the word ground-breaking in their new speaker line up. Here is the new Harbeth introduction from the company!!
https://harbeth.co.uk/

op is correct

very slight shift towards treble emphasis in xd suffix - difference is pretty minimal even in direct a-b - the fundamental goodness and character of the speaker is unchanged

alan has adopted the bain school of profit maximization for minimal added value - but he has a cash cow by the tail so may as well milk it for what it is worth - expert speaker designer expert capitalist

Go away

English please? 

Well, the sales have been much higher with these improvements. Why dont you call the distrubitor and ask him..rather then posting here. I dont care if you buy them or not. But, if sales are higher and the improvements were based on what customers wsnted..id say its a good move for them. If you prefer, im sure others can give you 75 different speakers. As to marketing from them..thats what this hobby and most things are about...getting you excited. Are we in the 1970s ?? 

Sounds like Harbeth has a great marketing department!  Ground-Breaking!  Wow. 

I love my P3ESR SE.  And my Super SHL 5 Plus 40th Anniversary.  I'm sure they could be improved on, but both are already fantastic speakers.

Ok - visit your local Harbeth dealer and take a look at the New "IMPROVED" XD line - cheap manufacturing, really cheap looking and feeling to touch veneers, no more engraved plates but rather white stickers!!! $500 Quads from China has a better finish than whole XD line....did I mention MAJOR price increase in US???? Harbeth became a total joke in my eyes...terribly overpriced and overhyped.

If you really want pair, get Anniversary edition - they are discontinued BUT some dealers still might have a pair or two....as for difference in sound - NONE!!!!!
I own 40.2 Anniversary and my local dealer is a friend of mine so I had a chance to hear all models from XD line.....the whole change was done to charge EVEN more for same speaker - Alan is a BRILLIANT business man!

When I see the words “groundbreaking”, I need to take pause.  

^It would have to be a significant improvement in clarity and detail to warrant such a statement.

 I auditioned the “SE” variant not that long ago (a precursor to the 40th but essentially the same I was told), and even they were not that impressive in terms of resolution. I consider them a neutral, non-offensive speaker for low-level listening of low complexity music. Great for an office desktop system. 

From dealer in michigan....david michael audio...

The Harbeth’s development team has, once again, redefined what is possible from this use anywhere loudspeaker. The completed redesign maximizes the performance potential of the Harbeth exclusive RADIAL2TM Cone Technology, the evolved P3ESR XD delivers breathtaking transparency, accurate bass and dynamic integration across the audio spectrum.

 

Arguably one of the most advanced speakers in its class, this mini monitor allows you to discover those transparent moments where you feel like you’re breathing the same air as the musicians on the recording.

 

The completed redesign is one of the most ground-breaking speakers ever released by Harbeth.

Um, the distrubitor told me the xd is a better selling speaker and what MOST wanted in an upgrade. Have to find another speaker then if you want new, the older version has very few left. 

Everybody has there opinions..there eill be some who dont like this and that. Its up to the person. Most people, do like the anniv which is now the xd version. The sales have been better with xd version. 

My dealer also said the original is better, and this include the C7ES3 and SHL5+. The XD version is more expensive but has a different sound. Only you can judge whether the sound is better by comparing both in the same room.

Ok thanks yogiboy!☺️

The XD has a redesigned crossover. Flatter frequency response.

@kw6
Mine never changed. I sold them and located a new pair of the original ones. There are some dealers that have the original ones but they are only in black!

Thanks yogiboy! Yeah when I called around to look for standard version another dealer said XD is much better after 200 hr break in! 🤔

@ kw6
I am pretty sure that the new XD is the same speaker as the 40th anniversary limited edition. I have owned both and found the 40th a brighter sounding speaker. I sold the 40th and went back to the original model. Your dealer is correct.
Here is a video on the comparison on both speakers!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22BwUQZ50eQ&t=1s

Is it really better? My dealer said he prefers the original over Anniversary but hasn't heard the XD yet. My assumption is cleaner sounding more treble information to a point being a bit tipped up and losing some bass heft. Would I be correct?

New XD has better crossover, better enhancements to cabinet construction, and improved upper midrange and lower midrange. These are on back order, unless a dealer has them in stock. 6 weeks minimum