These are awesome speakers for 4k, a set of speakers you will have for a long long time, great purchase! So, now about that Meridian and EE pre amp....(this is how it starts)...lol.
Matt M
Matt M
Initial Thoughts on Harbeth Super HL5 Plus
I haven't posted here in years (as in 10+ years). I'm an active reader on Agon as I'm interested in a lot but got off the audio merry-go-round after a number of members here suggested I focus more on enjoying music and less on the gear - great advice and they were so right. But I always knew that speakers would be my next upgrade when I found something reasonably priced that was significantly better than what I had - namely Totem Hawks, powered by a Meridian G57 amp, Eastern Electric preamp with some great vintage tubes and a Bluesound front end. So in with the Harbeths this week - purchased from a fellow Agoner.
This won't be at all technical but here goes my 10 point review :
1) Wow
2) I woke up early on a Saturday after a tough work week just so I could run downstairs and listen to them. Odd for this 55 year old.
3) My wife, who hasn't listened to my system in 17 years together, has been stuck in front of the speakers for the last 4 hours combing through our library and hearing what sounds and additional music have been buried in her faves. She can't believe it.
4) Not everything sounds great as the Harbeths will lay poor recordings bare. A lot of straight ahead rock and roll I would rather hear in my car or through my iPod/headphones.
5) Here's the stuff that so far sounds just incredible, breathtaking even (I do try to find and buy/stream the highest quality I can find, either HiRes or MQA) - Diana Krall, Fleetwood Mac, Norah Jones, Sade, George Michael, Steely Dan, Van Morrison, James Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Madeleine Peyroux, Housemartins, Miles Davis, Daft Punk, UB40, Alison Krauss, Band of Horses, Ryan Adams, Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd, Lyle Lovett, Camera Obscura, Blue Rodeo, SRV, Cowboy Junkies, Chet Baker, Mark Knopfler, EBTG, kd lang, Marc Cohn, Paul Simon, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pink Floyd ...
6) Which is to say, these speakers can deal with a lot of kinds of music (sometimes they don't get credit for this) and make it beautiful. And they seem to handle my musical tastes very well. Clarity and dynamics in spades but there is also a smoothness that makes you want to keep listening.
7) Sure, I wish they went lower but the quality down to 40 Hz is taut, crisp and powerful. Maybe there is a good subwoofer or two in my future but I doubt it. The bass lines and drums on some the electronic and reggae tracks just punch you hard in the chest.
8) Despite the boxiness of the speakers, on their stands with their dark wood and smartly recessed grilles, they look classy and cool to me. Certainly my wife hasn't complained which was frankly a concern.
9) Are there other speakers that would make me feel the same way - no doubt. This is isn't a comparison review and I don't have time to audition 20 pairs of speakers. I heard these at a dealer, loved them and some months later I bought a pair.
10) Am I in the honeymoon phase at this point and missing some shortcomings? Likely. I suspect a lot of speaker upgrades in particular are often a bit of an epiphany. But you only have one shot at first impressions.
Not telling anyone that Harbeth is the greatest or to go buy these speakers. But if your tastes are in line with what they do well (which seems to be a lot), for $4K slightly used, you might want to have a listen and add to your list is all.
This won't be at all technical but here goes my 10 point review :
1) Wow
2) I woke up early on a Saturday after a tough work week just so I could run downstairs and listen to them. Odd for this 55 year old.
3) My wife, who hasn't listened to my system in 17 years together, has been stuck in front of the speakers for the last 4 hours combing through our library and hearing what sounds and additional music have been buried in her faves. She can't believe it.
4) Not everything sounds great as the Harbeths will lay poor recordings bare. A lot of straight ahead rock and roll I would rather hear in my car or through my iPod/headphones.
5) Here's the stuff that so far sounds just incredible, breathtaking even (I do try to find and buy/stream the highest quality I can find, either HiRes or MQA) - Diana Krall, Fleetwood Mac, Norah Jones, Sade, George Michael, Steely Dan, Van Morrison, James Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Madeleine Peyroux, Housemartins, Miles Davis, Daft Punk, UB40, Alison Krauss, Band of Horses, Ryan Adams, Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd, Lyle Lovett, Camera Obscura, Blue Rodeo, SRV, Cowboy Junkies, Chet Baker, Mark Knopfler, EBTG, kd lang, Marc Cohn, Paul Simon, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pink Floyd ...
6) Which is to say, these speakers can deal with a lot of kinds of music (sometimes they don't get credit for this) and make it beautiful. And they seem to handle my musical tastes very well. Clarity and dynamics in spades but there is also a smoothness that makes you want to keep listening.
7) Sure, I wish they went lower but the quality down to 40 Hz is taut, crisp and powerful. Maybe there is a good subwoofer or two in my future but I doubt it. The bass lines and drums on some the electronic and reggae tracks just punch you hard in the chest.
8) Despite the boxiness of the speakers, on their stands with their dark wood and smartly recessed grilles, they look classy and cool to me. Certainly my wife hasn't complained which was frankly a concern.
9) Are there other speakers that would make me feel the same way - no doubt. This is isn't a comparison review and I don't have time to audition 20 pairs of speakers. I heard these at a dealer, loved them and some months later I bought a pair.
10) Am I in the honeymoon phase at this point and missing some shortcomings? Likely. I suspect a lot of speaker upgrades in particular are often a bit of an epiphany. But you only have one shot at first impressions.
Not telling anyone that Harbeth is the greatest or to go buy these speakers. But if your tastes are in line with what they do well (which seems to be a lot), for $4K slightly used, you might want to have a listen and add to your list is all.
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