I was literally minutes from purchasing the Special 40's...
Before pulling the trigger, I suggest you check the review and comparison w harbeth p3sr of sound artist ls3/5a at 600 dlrs from China at zero fidelity https://youtu.be/XMPnTmEZaZw , plus another review coming shortly that will compare them to the Rogers, I have the SA since a month and I am very happy, using them for desktop also. |
Thank you Rumble, that's excellent advice of course. When I catch the audio 'bug', which I get bad from time-to-time, like the flu, I'm like an impatient kid. Nice Harbaugh reference, by-the-way. I have heard both the Proac Tablette and Harbeth P3ESR as recently as January 2019. The dealer talked me into listening to a pair of Special 40's and maybe it was just the uptick in dynamics and the extra bass, but I loved them. What I ended up buying was something I hadn't even heard, the Harbeth C7's, which quite frankly, I found a bit lifeless and not nearly as transparent as it's smaller sibling. I appreciate the responses from everyone. I'm kinda looking for something I can enjoy in the house at night while others are in bed, something that sounds fantastic at lower volumes, probably will pair with a Naim XS3 or Hegel 120. After reading Art Dudley's article from last year comparing the two Grahams and the Falcon, I may be leaning toward the LS3/5a by one or the other. I've also considered the ATC SCM11 and Kef LS50 meta. Most important thing is that magical midrange transparency, insight, layering... if it can get up and rock when called for, hey, that's a bonus. |
@yogiboy , Thanks for the link. The least ambitious Harbeth might well be the best loved. I've always been wary of JA since he ended up on Peter Aczel's infamous list of audio's black hat wearers way back when. Still it's interesting enough. "Toward the end of the review period, I was giving the speaker a workout with some high-level rock when the soundstage lurched to the right and the balance became bright and brassy. "What the . . . ?" Wrong music, wrong speaker? @vitto, Great link. A well-balanced review and comparison of the bargain priced Sound Artist LS3/5 v Harbeth P3ESR. From a Harbeth owner no less! This could be the stuff of nightmares for Haywards Heath based company. Yet there is still another serious contender that needs to be considered. What about the Harbeth P3 ESR v the KEF LS50 Metas? Makes you wonder whether we're in a new golden age of the mini-monitor? |
@hailtothevictorz The Spendor A1 is another option! https://generubinaudio.com/shop/ols/products/spendor-a1-speakers |
