Harbeth Super HL5+ vs. Focal Kanta No.2


This is an extension of my Harbeth Super HL5+ vs. Spendor D7 discussion where I received numerous excellent responses. I am nearing 150 hours break in on my Harbeth Super HL5+ speakers which seem to be coming around. Early on in their break in they sounded nice but didn't have the upper mid & high end sizzle & snap I desire so I ordered a pair of Focal Kanta No.2 floorstanders. They will be arriving in about a week. 

This forum is for those who have either owned or have auditioned either or both speakers. Your impressions? What amp used with them. I am using a Conrad Johnson LP70s tube amp with their ET5 preamp. 
routeman21

Showing 1 response by avanti1960

not a fan . they can often be fatiguing depending on recording.
i have found that speakers have a sliding scale that balances perceived excitement that comes at a price of less percentage of recordings that sound good.
this for me revealed itself in a big with recordings that include intentional compression and distortion, e.g. artists like spoon, arcade fire, sonic youth. a speaker like zu and focal to a lesser extent makes these recordings cringe worthy.
the other end of the spectrum are speakers that are too forgiving and lose midrange clarity and presence, e.g. 70’s big box two ways with big woofers and non dome tweeters as well as previous generations of BBC monitors.
break out your favorite and most sonically challenging recordings and see how they sound.