How good are Harbeth HL-P3ES-2

Can someone explain what LS3/5a's are?

Seattle_mike
the impression I got from people was that the HL-P3ES-2 were at their best at lower levels....I heard they did not perform very well at high levels...any other opinions
Thanks

Very good, music makers, not sound makers.

lenny

I auditioned numerous small- to medium-sized speakers for my small listening room and immediately fell in love with the HL-P3ES-2s upon hearing them.

I'm suprised Mike doesn't find them to be intimate as that's exactly how I would describe the smaller Harbeths. I primarily listen to jazz and the detail of these speakers is astounding. Wonderful tightness and cohesion to music. And I'm just using a Harmon/Kardon receiver for now so you should have plenty of power to drive these inefficient speakers (as all LS3/5a's are).

I didn't have the opportunity to listen to other LS3/5a variants such as Stirling or Spendor, but the Harbeths absolutely trounced other speakers by Dynaudio, Sonus Faber, B&W, etc. (I didn't listen to the larger Harbeths as price and size precluded me from being able to get them.)

I'd say it depends on your current setup and goals. A good opportunity is hard to pass up. Plus, these are popular speakers which usually go pretty quickly on the used market if they end up not matching your preferences.

Good luck; let us know if you end up getting them.
_Todd

I'd pass. Strangely enough, they are a small speaker that sounds better at higher volumes in a larger room. Despite their small size, they are not really an 'intimate' speaker. They are very detailed, and play very loud for their size. Of all which is moot in your room.

They are not in the same league as the other Harbeths with the 'radial' drivers, so don't be swayed by the Harbeth 'mystique'. I've owned these and damn near every other small speaker you can think of. Favorites are still LS3/5a's (the new Stirlings are killer) and the Spendor S3/5 (se version only).

-M