Help chossing a good speaker. $ 3-5 K

If choosing between the ATC and the Harbeth M30 I'd go Harbeth. The ATC is really too large for your space and, going on my memory of the ATC 35 from which the 40 is based, is nowhere near as good a speaker as the Harbeth, particularly through the midrange.

In Plano, go to High End Theatre and Audio to hear the Vienna Acoustics line, particularly the Beethoven Baby Grand. They're at 972-208-4382.

Audio Concepts on Preston carries ProAc, which is another excellent speaker, my second choice to the Baby Grands. They're at 214-360-9520.

Don't do a blind buy if you can avoid it. DFW has several good dealers, IME.

Dave

Thanks again. I have narrowed my choice to harbeth vs ATC. Dodgealum showed little entusiasm for the ATC. I undertsand that they maight be a little too big. The only reason I though they might work is that it is a sealed enclosure. The mid range has great reviews. Could you elaborate a little more? With regards to the dealers in Dallas, I have visited some of theme. I heard the Viennas and at my price range I did not think it offered a signifincat improvement over the JM Focal Cobalts 826 that I just sold. Have not heard the proacs. May try to do that today. The Wilson Benesch at AUdio Concept are great but above my spending limit.

Thanks again. I have narrowed my choice to harbeth vs ATC.

Either will make a great choice and should make you happy.

IMHO, Harbeth's excel at lower volumes with a lovely midrange and warm delicious sound. ATC's prefer to be driven harder as they have a very precise tight punchy bass (sealed box low Q). Depending on your music tastes and how well the room is treated one may work better than the other.

ATC's midrange could easily overpower a small untreated reflective room without carpet - too harsh - so vocals and pleasant sound may favor the Harbeth. However if you want detail in large orchestral classical pieces or big band jazz then ATC will probably carry the day. Horses for courses - remember Harbeth's tend to be used in broadcasting and drama and excel in speech intelligibility and natural non-fatiguing sound whilst ATC's are more like a race horse (rock, movies soundtrack and classical monitoring).

Are your listening preferences more towards going for a nice pleasant enjoyable trot in the countryside or do you want the exhilaration of tearing around the race track? Or put another way, if you like drums with a kick drum and crash that sound like the real deal then ATC will float your boat (for others it may drive them from the room...)

Thanks Shadorne. Do you think I will need to crank the ATC's volume up to more than an average of 75-80 db to get them to sound good? That would definetly be a problem for me. That is my average listening level and I do want to get good/decent orchestral/symphonic sound that is not congested and grainy.