JA Pulsars vs Harbeth 30.2

Here ya go!  Listen to these - you will be amazed! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E8ExBUC64c

I have both the 30.2's and the 40.3's - both of which sound very much like the Quad ESL 57's - which is one of the best sounding speakers at any price.

Though... these all excel with jazz, classical, blues, country - and all things acoustic!  You may prefer alternative speakers for rock, or similar sounds.  

If you're into those types of music... you will have difficulty trying to best Harbeths.

But... they must be driven with great, powerful, SS electronics - such as those Harbeth demos their speakers with at shows (Hegel amps).  I drive mine with the Hegal H590 - which produces their best sound.  Harbeths are not at their best with lesser electronics.  

With the right electronics they have a warm, rich, full sound with great clarity, which is not hard and strident.  A sax, or cello, or upright bass - sound live - like they're in the room with you.  

Listen to the above demo (and similar demos on YouTube), and you'll get a good idea of how live they sound.  And... if you want greater treble and dynamic emphasis - the SHL5 XD will provide that, while still providing the rich, warm, full sound.  

@tjraubacher 

I would expect your H390 to sound very similar to the Harbeths driven by the H590 - there is not that much difference between the 2 amps.  I believe several of the Hegel amps in the Harbeth videos on YouTube are the lower powered amps. And... Hegel often uses lower powered amps to drive them in shows.  

Also, you may note that the McIntosh MA252 is driving them in some of the most impressive of those videos, which is only 100 watts into 8 ohms and 160 watts into 4 ohms (Harbeth's impedence).

And... if you prefer a different sound after you've tried them for a while, they're very easy to sell.  They will require a few hours of burn-in to sound their best (if new).  But... for acoustic sounds... you'll have difficulty finding anything to match their rich, warm, airy, life-like sound and imaging... or... have to replace them with a pair of Quad ESL-57's!  

@tjraubacher

If... as you said... you listen primarily to acoustic music - you will have a very difficult time to find anything that matches the Harbeth’s rich, warm, life-like sound and imaging - except for the ESL 57’s and maybe the Maggie LRS+, which I also have, and like as well as the Harbeths.

Especially with strings, horns and all things acoustic!

Though, if you want a bit more of a "bite" in the instruments - the SHL5 XD will provide that, as well as the 30.2 XD - perhaps at the expense of a bit of some of the smoothness.