@ryder Yes, indeed! What a nice problem to have. I feel blessed to own and listen to both speakers. I don't think I will be able to pick a favorite anytime soon :)
Moving up the Harbeth line
I was fortunate to move my home office to another room which is a bit bigger than the previous one. Dimensions are 12x13 with almost 20-foot ceilings. As much as I love my Harbeth P3esr's, I can't help but notice that they've been outclassed by the bigger room, especially the high ceiling. This pair of speakers has been a mainstay in my home office/study for a number of years, and I find it to be a perfect fit for my listening habits and music preferences. But in the new setting, it's not able to fill the room as well as it used to. For examples, horns and piano now sound much smaller and distant. So that got me thinking of an upgrade. I have been using a Raven Audio Blackhawk MK3 for a few months and would want to stick with it if possible. There are very few speakers that have allowed me to make an emotional connection with the music, and Harbeth is certainly one of them. So my preference is to stay with the brand.
Now, before the 'search bar is your best friend' folks come swinging at me, I have read a few threads on similar topics but they all seem to be inconclusive, or at least I'm not able to decipher a reasonable consensus. Having spent way too much money on this addiction, err, hobby, in the last 12 months, I have to resort to buying used equipment only, and that too has to wait for at least 2-3 months. So, doing an in-house demo is going to be difficult if not impossible. And, AFAIK, there are no dealers nearby (Dallas area) either.
I would love to hear from people who have moved up the Harbeth food chain. The M30.x seems to be a logical next step, but I see an equal number of negative opinions (too polite, too boxy, pipe and slippers) as positive ones. Is there anyone who thinks that the M30 retains the same magic as the P3esr's but serves it in relatively bigger portions? Because that's what I'm mainly looking for to be honest -- a bigger version of P3esr. Or do you think the cons negate the pros offered by the bigger cabinet size?
Next up is SHL5+. Again, the opinions vary widely. Some are saying that this particular model deviates the most from the classic Harbeth sound. Another concern is that my room might be too small for them (?). Also, I cannot pull them more than one and a half feet from the front wall. Is that going to result in ugly bass problems?
I'm not against trying another brand, but would prefer an opinion that is based on an actual comparison with Harbeth speakers.
Now, before the 'search bar is your best friend' folks come swinging at me, I have read a few threads on similar topics but they all seem to be inconclusive, or at least I'm not able to decipher a reasonable consensus. Having spent way too much money on this addiction, err, hobby, in the last 12 months, I have to resort to buying used equipment only, and that too has to wait for at least 2-3 months. So, doing an in-house demo is going to be difficult if not impossible. And, AFAIK, there are no dealers nearby (Dallas area) either.
I would love to hear from people who have moved up the Harbeth food chain. The M30.x seems to be a logical next step, but I see an equal number of negative opinions (too polite, too boxy, pipe and slippers) as positive ones. Is there anyone who thinks that the M30 retains the same magic as the P3esr's but serves it in relatively bigger portions? Because that's what I'm mainly looking for to be honest -- a bigger version of P3esr. Or do you think the cons negate the pros offered by the bigger cabinet size?
Next up is SHL5+. Again, the opinions vary widely. Some are saying that this particular model deviates the most from the classic Harbeth sound. Another concern is that my room might be too small for them (?). Also, I cannot pull them more than one and a half feet from the front wall. Is that going to result in ugly bass problems?
I'm not against trying another brand, but would prefer an opinion that is based on an actual comparison with Harbeth speakers.
81 responses Add your response
@prof Good observations, especially about the misconception regarding Harbeths being pipes and slippers speakers. I've always found them to be very well balanced. I've been going back and forth between the SHL5+ and 30.1 and have to say they are both excellent speakers. Yes, the 30.1s are less airy ad open than SHL5+, but IMO they are better when it comes to vocals and midrange. They have a special quality where the human voice and instruments just pop out of a darker background. For me, this quality alone makes up for any other perceived deficiency. If you just want to sit back and relax and listen to jazz or vocals, the 30.1s have that special magic that even the SHL5+s don't. They do the 'small, intimate ensemble in your room' feel better than any other speaker I've ever owned. Of course, the SHL5+ are still more versatile and dynamic. Horses for courses. |
| Post removed |
Good stuff arafiq! I love Harbeth speakers. Easily in my top 5 favorite brands if not higher up. I auditioned the whole line up and eventually owned the SuperHL5plus for a while. When I compared the M30.1 vs the HL5plus, I found the M30 sounded wonderful, and even had a nice amount of bass for it's size. The main thing that pushed me more toward the HL5plus was that I found the M30 just a bit shelved off, a bit less airy, just a bit "darker-than-life" tonally,whereas the HL5Plus seemed to open up the high frequencies with greater realism, while maintaining much of the Harbeth midrange magic. Also I appreciated the extra bass depth of the HL5plus, and how even it sounded from top to bottom. It's interesting that some people find the Harbeth speakers to be "pipe and slipper speakers" not suited to some genres like rock or electronica, but I found just the opposite: the HL5plus was so evenly balanced it sounded "right" for pretty much all genres.It was one of the best all rounder speakers I auditioned. |
@jjss49 [ i give you two months to get mon 40s in the big room] Haha! Just saw this comment. I guess it takes one to know one ;) I would be lying if I told you the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. But right now, I have exhausted the goodwill of my spouse given what I’ve spent in the last 12 months. Having said that, I have a strong feeling that this will be the next logical step in a couple of years. For now I want to focus on music and get off the speaker upgrade merry go round. Read my lips ;) |
@twoleftears The Ls5/5 design looks very interesting. When I was looking earlier, I did consider Graham and Falcon as Harbeth competitors. The problem is it is very difficult to audition these speakers anywhere. I have been burned in the past buying speakers without auditioning, so I decided to not take a chance. For now, I have decided to sit back and enjoy the two Harbeths I already have in the house. The two speakers I have (M30.1 and SHL5+) are so different in character, yet each offers something unique and alluring that I’m finding it hard to declare an outright winner. They’re both extremely satisfying in their own way. The SHL5+ is more suited to the bigger room and definitely more versatile with different genres of music. The M30.1 is the perfect speaker for home office/study. It’s more buttoned down, coherent, and slightly better when it comes to stuff like tonality and timbre. It also sounds better at lower volumes. IMO, it does jazz, vocals, and small ensembles better, but gives it up to SHL5+ when it comes to rock, blues and indie music. The SHL5+ is definitely the more ’fun’ speaker between the two. It is more open, airy, dynamic, and the bass extension is far better. The only weak link in my system is the Raven Audio Blackhawk driving the M30.1. The Blackhawk is definitely a great amp but perhaps better suited for more efficient speakers than Harbeth. No one should take it as a knock against Blackhawk, but I will say that their assertion that the 20 watts it offers are the equivalent of 100 SS watts is not true at all, at least in my experience. I will start looking for something else in a few months. |
@arafiq If you really want a curveball, one of the most interesting releases in recent years has been from Graham, another UK manufacturer in the BBC tradition, that brought out a LS5/5 update. https://www.grahamaudio.co.uk/products/ls55/ Unfortunately, in the States, Graham distribution is even more sparse than the Spendor Classic line. |
+1 and to reinforce twoleftears' point anyone with real interest in the shl5's (and harbeths in general) should familiarize themselves with the spendor bc1 and the bbc licensing lineage ... understand why and how the speakers were developed and designed, and how they have evolved into the various modern day versions bigger and smaller listeners will then understand their limitations (in past and present forms) why they do the things they do so well, and why their weaknesses are what they are... |
Update ... Finally got proper stands (open-style, wood, 18" tall, very similar to TonTrager) for the SHL5+, and what a difference they have made. The problem with excess bass that I described earlier is completely, 100% resolved. I have removed the REL subwoofer for the time being and still the bass from the speakers is astounding. You can actually feel the bass in your chest, something the SF Olympica IIs never achieved. The other big surprise is the super tweeter. I guess it had to be raised further up the floor to really come into its own. The sound I’m getting now is airy, open, and extended. The soundstage has also improved both in terms of width and depth. One thing I appreciate is that the super tweeter only springs into action when called upon, otherwise it sits in the back and does not affect the music in a negative (bright, harsh) way. Well done, Harbeth! Next weekend, I will do a side-by-side comparison between the SHL5+ and M30.1 and report back. But right now, I have to admit that the SHL5+ is proving to be a more engaging and versatile speaker compared to the M30.1. It is also, without a doubt, better than SF Olympica II in every regard. |
@arafiq no subs yet; situation might change when in the larger room; The bass response in the current room is dependent on where listening; moving to the center ( about 8 feet from speaker face) is thinnest due to room mode- and steadily builds traveling closer to speakers or further back from room center; Room modes are our #1 chief problem in this game; Your 12 foot ceilings are great ; I suspect the proper stands will do wonders for you; can't wait to hear about it; Your Luxman 590 has plenty of grip on the woofer; As i'm sure you know, power cables can make a big difference too- some dim the highs accentuating the bass; Cheers |
@jjss49 The SHL5+ are for my media room which is 20 x 15 x 12. They are 4 feet from the front wall and 3 from each side wall. I think the bass issue is because they’re not sitting on proper stands.I have them on audio racks which are barely 8-9 inches off the floor and too wide. I’m currently driving them with Luxman 590 axii. Hoping to get proper open style wooden stands in a few days which will be 18 inch tall as recommended by Harbeth. Let’s see if that solves the problem. The 30.1s are in my home office which is 12 x 13. I am using a rel sub in this room and to me they sound amazing when I try them with the Luxman. They still sound good with the Blackhawk but nowhere near as good as with the Luxman. I might try a Hegel in the near future as it’s high on my list of components to try. |
arafiq 1) shl5 too much for that room 12x13... they need 30-36 in around rear and sides to not bloat 2) tube amps on shl5 will exacerbate the bloat problem, lack of damping factor/current - too much mush not enough clarity and control - esp 6L6 ravens, weak tubes insufficient leverage through the transformers 3) i have shl5+ and the best amp is the hegels 190 or 390 - tremendous damping factor, reigns in the bass makes the woofer play nice never overshoot - furthermore, ultra smooth treble of the hegels mate perfectly with c7 shl5 tweeters which are a touch more lively than mon series which are rather rolled off both high and low 4) mon 30’s are ok but are too rolled off for me... not a full range speaker - maybe with rels they work well - to me they are a vocals and violins/violas specialty speaker left alone unsupported from below 5) given your room dimensions, the right speaker (sans sub) is the c7 -- paired with hegel, for same reasons as above (or pass or ayre, same ultra smoothness and lack of bloat but lil less damping factor than hegels) -- what you heard briefly in the c7 somewhere else was not proper implementation of c7’s good luck have fun... seems like you are already :) |
@audiopacer -- thanks for sharing the details about placement. I am having the stands being built this week and hope to pick them up over the weekend. I'm really loving the speakers but the bass is still an issue. Of course, the speakers are sitting on an audio rack which is barely 8-10 inches off the floor. Hopefully, the new 18 inch stands will solve the problem. BTW, are you using a sub with the speakers? |
@arafiq As it turned out, I got a pair of Harbeth SHL5+ XD and so far I like them immensely; I am having a wonderful time listening to music!! The system, with these speakers, presents a compelling and complete natural sound; I remarked to a fellow audio nut, that I was brought to goosebumps & tears whilst listening to Beethoven's 9th Symphony (Telarc label)-- something that has not happened in ages with my many recent systems; These are gorgeous sounding speakers and I keep going back to - the sound is "right"
-sorry for the double post - I figured moving to your Harbeth thread better than my now deprecated SF post, lol; FWIW, I got them setup with the TonTrager stands; room is 13.5ft x 16ft x 9ft and the speakers are set on the window side of the room, which consists of a bay type bump out about 2 feet deep (starts at 8 feet centered in width of the room, and angles back to window which is 4 feet wide and set back about 2 feet); Floors are hickory and there is a small area rug; The bass becomes sucked out and lean as I move to the center of the room, and is perfect as I move closer to the speakers, and then again further back from center; I am 100% sure if I did a freq sweep in the various spots in the room the results would confirm the obviousness of the peaks/nulls in this particular space; Where I have found the best sound is about 2/3 back; here the quality of bass (clean/tight impact as well as low extension- I can hear and feel 30Hz ) is excellent. Transients, especially snare drum are so cleanly rendered I am just amazed; The whole enchilada, however, is stunning; When I had the 40.2 they were in a different room (big open basement with carpet on concrete, basement open plan about 35 x 40 x 8.5) and with totally different electronics, but there the results were basically not that great; This is not to say the SHL5+XD are better than the 40.2 in absolute terms; more like the speaker/room synergy matters massively as well as supporting gear, but definitely room trumps all; Once the basement remodel is complete (closing off a section to make a new room 14.5 x 21 x 8.5) I'll try it all down there; |
@twoleftears -- the panels are from GIK Acoustics, and are supposed to be a diffuser/absorber combo .... https://www.gikacoustics.com/product/impression-4inch-bass-trap-diffusor-absorber/ The ones that I lowered are situated on the side wall just a few inches ahead of the speakers where the first refection points are. Once I get proper stands, I will adjust the height again. The sound signature still has the Harbeth family resemblance, but you were right that the 30 and 40 are voiced differently from the rest of the siblings. I know I need to be more patient and give the SHL5+ proper respect in terms of stands and placement before forming an opinion. I went through the same exercise with P3esr's. |
My apologies for the confusion. I thought I already mentioned that I'm having the stands built by Z Audio (@trn) based out of Autin. He does an amazing job and is very responsive to special requests and designs. My questions were really about what more I can do in the meantime. Reading my own posts, I can see the inherent silliness. It doesn't make sense to spend any considerable amount of time fussing about positioning until I get the stands. But, FWIW, I was able to tame the bass quite a bit by pulling the speakers out further by another 6 inches and lowering the acoustic panels. I will order more panels from GIK to go closer to the floor. Also, I found that toe in has a pretty big impact on the sound, much more so than the Olympica 2 or 30.1s. I found that a toe in position where the left speaker is pointing right between my nose and right ear (and the reverse for the right speaker) is giving the best results -- much less bass and more centered, precise imaging. It does reduce the soundstage width a bit, but the results are worth it. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed! I will post my impressions once the speakers are properly dialed in on stands, etc. |
Agree that the TON TRAGER stands are the best for Harbeth’s but if you cannot spend the $1500 for them the Something Solid XF stands are really good. https://www.hificorner.co.uk/something-solid-xf-speaker-stand.html The bass issue will be fixed with proper stands. |
I presume 3 feet from side wall and 4 feet from front wall are clear space from wall to speaker cabinet? Placement does not seem to be an issue if there is ample space from the walls. Is distance between speakers in the range of 6 to 8 feet centre to centre? Open frame stands do make a difference but the sound quality with stands which come with a top plate should not sound too shabby. |
The SHL5+ were delivered this morning. So far I've only put a few hours on them. They're not new so I'm assuming they have enough hours on them to rule out burn in related issues. Since I don't have proper stands yet, they're sitting on a wooden audio rack which is barely 8-10 inches from the floor. I know it's unfair to form an opinion just yet, but the bass is a little too much for my liking. It's not the booming kind but there's definitely some bloat that is bleeding into the mids and highs. I'm definitely missing the clarity and detail retrieval of my SF Olympicas 2. I'm seriously hoping that getting proper wooden open style stands will make a change for the better. The sound is similar to 30.1 in many aspects but I feel that the SHL5+ are not as coherent and immediate. The sound is definitely bigger and fills the room better but, man, that bass is getting on my nerves. And I do miss that quality of the 30.1s sound emerging from a dark background. My room is fairly well treated, so I'm pinning all my hopes on getting them on proper stands at the proper recommended height (18"). Other than getting better stands, please feel free to share what else I could be doing to get them to work better in my media room (20 x 15 x 12). |
@twoleftears -- Currently, the M30.1s are placed on metal plate-top stands from Pangea. Although, I've filled them with sand, I'm aware that they're not ideal for Harbeths. With my previous P3 speakers, I could hear a little bit of ringing that was definitely due to the stands. Using blutak solved the problem. I now face the same issue with 30.1 since they're currently on the same stands. I have ordered wooden open style stands for both the M30.1 (24 inches) and SHL5+ (18 inches) from Z Audio (Terry, the owner also sells audio racks on this site under the user name trn). Unfortunately, it will be at least two weeks before I'm able to pick them up from Austin. I will refrain from providing any type of critical assessment until I've had a chance to put them on proper stands. Will definitely share my opinion once everything is settled. |
@big_greg - I really loved the P3esr's and never thought I'd move on to something else, but here we are. When I was in a smaller room and seated about 5 feet from the speakers, the P3s were very satisfying. However, once I moved to the bigger room and sat about 8 feet from the speakers, they just couldn't keep up. Also, my Blackhawk was never able to drive them all that well. The M30.1's, in my opinion, build upon the P3esr's with better scale, dynamics, and go deeper. They're also better for low level listening, I can easily hear more details at low volume. They're also an easier load for the Blackhawk. As I mentioned before, the way the sound leaps forward from a dark, quiet background is something to behold. But I think if you're listening near field, i.e. 5 feet or closer, 30.1 might not be that much of an improvement. They definitely need more space around them. Now, when it comes to human voice the 30.1s are superb, much better than my Olympica IIs, but I still think the P3s hold a slight edge. |
I've owned the SHL5s, the 30's and the P3s and IMO, it's all about how they interface with your room. In my room, the 30's did not work at all - sounded like everything below 80hz was missing. The little P3s do much better for me. The SHL5s worked much better in my room and I don't know why people keep saying they don't work well in smaller spaces. I really wanted the 30s to work out, but they just didn't. |
I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts on the 30.1 compared to the Super HL5 Plus. I have those and the P3ESR and have had some listening sessions at a friend's house with the 40.2, but haven't heard any of the 30 series. The fact that you like them better than the P3ESR says a lot. I go through a lot of gear and nothing is "sacred", but if there's anything I have a hard time imagining leaving my system, it's the P3ESR. I went through a lot of speakers trying to find the "goldilocks" speakers for my near field computer system and have been super happy with mine. |
I found a used pair of Super HL5+ in rosewood at a very reasonable price. Should be getting it in a few days. I'll compare it to 30.1 for a month or so, and decide if I want to keep the SHL5+ or replace with a 30.2. Right now, I'm really loving the 30.1. It's by far the most engaging speaker I've ever owned. Let's see how the SHL5+ competes with it. |
My experience with the models is that they are a family, but not a nuclear one. The P3ESR is like an only child. The Monitors (30 and 40) are one set of siblings while the C7ES3 and the SHL5+ are another set of siblings. They are all cousins and you can tell they are family, but the siblings' similarities are much more noticeable. |
With so many solid offerings from Harbeth, it is so difficult to pick a path. After listening to the 30.1 in the main system, it was hard for me to find faults with its presentation. Before buying this speaker, I had heard comments about the boxy, closed-in nature of the speaker. While it very well might be true, I’ve found that I don’t notice it, or at least it doesn’t bother me at all. That slightly forward sound of instruments and human voices emerging from a quiet background is very appealing to me. It’s by far the best I’ve heard, but then again my repertoire of speakers is fairly limited -- this is ’only’ my ninth pair of speakers that I have owned so far. You can argue that I don’t know what I don’t know, but at least I have a better understanding of where my preferences lie. I almost had my heart set on 30.2, but my brain is telling to me to add some variety and go with an SHL5+. From the way @ryder describes the SHL5, it sounds more similar to the Olympica 2 that I already own -- airier and slightly leaner sounding with good bass extension. My media room is 20 x 15, so I have the space to work with. I also have a subwoofer and planning to add one more in a few months. Supplanting the bass with 30.x should not be a problem with a little bit of trial and error. If I can find a used pair of SHL5+ at a decent price, maybe I can scratch that itch. It’ll be easy for me to compare it with 30.1 since I already own it. Who knows, I might like it as much as the 30.1. Only one way to find out I guess. @twoleftears -- actually, I have been thinking about the 40.x, but they rarely if ever show up in the used market, and even then the asking price is too rich for my blood. I bought my Olympica 2 for $5500 and was trying to stay in the same price range. Your comment about the 40.x sharing family resemblance with the 30.x is a very enticing prospect. If it is a bigger, fuller, better M30.1 then it sure has my attention. This can very well be the endgame speaker for me -- by the way, when I say endgame what I really mean is 3-5 years tops :) Buying a 40.x will require more planning, and convincing (you know who). This might be a very strong possibility next year! |
@arafiq As has been pointed out, the larger models above the 30.X are not all cut from exactly the same cloth. I think you'd find more "family resemblance" between the 30.X and the 40.X rather than the SHL5+. If you can accommodate them, the 40.X's would be a superb replacement for the Olympicas. Gently used regular 40.2's are now affordable; the Anniversary model adds little but price, and the 40.3 XD bears a relation to it rather as the 30.2 does to the 30.1, and is now wildly expensive new. |
For your larger room, perhaps the 30.2XD or 40th? That way you keep the general sound profile (including unparalleled midrange/human voice reproduction) but gain, presumably, from the slightly more open and foward dynamics invited by a grander space. There occasionally are some terrific deals on lightly used 30.2s here and on USAudiomart. A nice set of subs would then balance everything out. |
Arafiq, the comprehensive and detailed account is surely useful. I’m glad the 30.1s have worked out well in your system, particularly with the Luxman L-590AXII. There’s nothing more for me to add here since you will be more familiar with the speakers when you spend more time with it. My very brief experience with 30.1 vs 30.2 is the latter sounds more open and forward than the 30.1. However, there was an owner of the 30.1 who upgraded to the 30.2 and felt that listening fatigue was a bit too high with the 30.2. SHL5+ is a much larger speaker than the 30.1 and will have a larger sound and fuller deeper bass. The sound will be slightly tame in the sense instruments and vocals do not pop out from the background as much as the 30.1. However, the SHL5+ is an airier, leaner or lighter sounding speaker(as opposed to warmer and fuller/thicker sound of 30.1) and will need more space from wall boundaries to sound good. Lastly, the 30.1/30.2 that you have now is one of the best if not the best when it comes to reproducing human voice to sound as life-like or natural as possible. Even the SHL5+ can’t match the 30.1 in this respect. There are many high end speakers costing much more than the Harbeth that do vocals well but the Harbeth just have that extra edge or magic. Enjoy ~ |
@ryder -- Now that I have had some more time with 30.1s, I can say without a doubt that they have far exceeded my expectations. They sound glorious in my home office, and a substantial step up from the P3ESRs. Right now, they are a little too close to the front wall due to the way the rest of the furniture is laid out, and this is causing a little bit of boominess on some bass heavy tracks. I pulled the speakers out by about 6 inches and that took care of the problem. I’m going to rearrange the furniture this weekend so I can position the speakers optimally. Now, here’s something else I did that took me by surprise. So my main system in the media room consists of Sonus Faber Olympica II driven by Luxman 590AXII. On a whim, I hauled the 30.1s to the media room last night and connected them to the Luxman. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.Yes, it was one of those cliche’d jaw dropping moments. The Harbeths sound so much more musical than the Olympicas that I’m now questioning if I need to just sell the SF and buy a pair of 30.2s instead. As good as the Luxman/SF pairing is, there are a few issues with the way they present the music. Mind you, the issues are relatively minor and some of them I didn’t even realize existed until I swapped the SFs with 30.1s. The first problem is that on some songs I could feel just a tiny bit of harshness (brightness), and I always felt that the midrange could have been richer. I chalked it up to the neutral nature of Luxman. The second problem was that the vocals were a bit recessed for my liking, plus I could hear some sibilance, although very recording dependent. The way the Olympicas portray the position of the singer is as if he or she is standing alongside, or maybe even a couple of steps behind other musicians. With some songs I felt that the drummer was either in front of the singer or on the same horizontal plane, which always came across as a bit unnatural to me. In a few concerts and live jazz events that I have attended, the drummer is always behind the vocalist by a good 5-10 feet. Once I paired the 30.1s with Luxman, it was definitely one of those educational moments where you learn more about your preferences -- something you did not even know existed until you experience it. So here’s a quick summary of the Luxman/Harbeth 30.1 combo ... - Much more musical -- which for me means more warmth without sacrificing detail retrieval. - No harshness/brightness -- I played some songs that I knew didn’t sound amazing on the SFs, but the 30.1 just took the edge off without losing anything else in the process. Even some old 80’s recordings sound more bearable. - Improved vocal representation -- I understand that this might be a personal preference, but I like the way the singer is the most prominent element in a song -- a couple of steps ahead of the rest of the musicians. The drummers are in the background, the way I like it. The famed Harbeth vocal prowess is at full display here. - The disappearing act -- this should come as no surprise though. The 30.1s disappear far better than the Olympicas. The music starts from the center and flows in all directions from thereon. I will do more comparisons in the next few days to make sure it’s not just a case of the ’new toy’ enthusiasm. But at this point, I’m seriously considering another Harbeth. The question is which one -- 30.2 or SHL5+. |
Glad to hear the M30.1s are a clear improvement over the P3ESR. All the differences that had been described mirrored my experience as well. The M30.1 has a monitor sound which is more controlled than the domestic models (P3ESR, C7ES3 and SHL5). It has a forward and dynamic presentation where the sound leaps out more from a silent background. The same experience when you hear everything pops out more. The other Harbeth play it safer with a smoother or flatter presentation. Enjoy the M30.1. I do think it is an overall better speaker than the P3ESR although all Harbeth are great. You may need some time to acclimatize to the presentation of the 30.1 since it sounds quite different from the P3ESR as you currently experience. Listening fatigue may be slightly higher with the added dynamics of the 30.1 but it’s still very smooth at the top. In other words the treble doesn’t sound bright or shrill and the overall sound is still smooth, full and warm, not harsh. |
Fedex finally decided to deliver the second box today after a 4-day delay. I hooked it up to the Blackhawk and have been listening for about an hour or so. Within the first 5 minutes, any trepidation I had about the switch from P3esr's ceased to exist. It's basically the same sound signature as the smaller P3esr, but everything is served on a bigger, richer, and fuller platter -- wider soundstage, much better depth, and the sound is all around me. I was worried whether the vocals would match the quality of P3esr's ... well, it's better in every way. That feeling of 'the singer in your room' is enhanced and more realistic than before. I'm hearing more details than before. So is there anything I'm missing about the P3esr? Well, I would say that I do miss the laid back, easy going nature of the little ones. The 30.1's are more immediate, everything seems to pop out more. While I'm enjoying this particular aspect, I do wonder if it might lead to the dreaded listening fatigue in longer sessions. But it's too early to form an opinion. On some songs I do miss the buttery smooth presentation of the P3esr's. Other than this, the 30.1 is a definite step up in every way imaginable. No regrets so far. A big thank you to all who nudged me in this direction. |
Has anyone else experienced problems with Fedex? In the last 12 months, I've sent and received around 15 shipments using various carriers including UPS, USPS, and Fedex. Without exception, UPS and USPS have delivered on time. And without exception, Fedex has f'ed up the shipment each time -- 5 to be exact! If you are planning to use Fedex for sending or receiving audio equipment, avoid Fedex like a plague! |
There you go arafiq, sounds like audiothesis wants to play with your gear!, his words not mine!! |
@ryder Thanks for sharing your opinion. Last year when I was in the process of building my main system, I was almost set on getting the SHL5+ from a local seller. I went to his house to audition, and absolutely loved the way they sounded. I made the mistake of not walking out with the speakers that day. I sent my offer a couple of days later but the seller changed his mind and decided to keep them after all. I found a used pair of SF Olympica II and ended up buying those. These are really good speakers, actually more similar to Harbeth than I imagined, but I still wonder about the SHL5+. Maybe in a year or two, I might sell my Olympicas for the 40.x. As you noted, the only reason I didn't consider SHL5+ for my home office/study was the lack of proper positioning options. The 30.1s were supposed to be delivered today, but as usual Fedex dropped the ball ... again! I just hope I don't regret selling my P3ESRs. The night before I sent them to the new buyer I was listening to them for the last time. And I kept saying to myself, 'why are you selling them?!' They sounded so good in my room (bolstered by a small REL T/Zero) that I honestly thought about returning the buyer's money. Of course I would never do that to anyone, but I was certainly tempted, lol! |
A lot of good responses here which clearly show the members who posted have experience with Harbeth speakers. I’ll keep it short and cut to the chase. I’m referring to the previous generation Harbeth line since I don’t have experience with the current new XD version. Firstly, if you find C7ES3 to have too much energy in the treble, I presume they sound bright to your ears. I would not dispute with that as everyone hears differently. If you find the C7ES3 to sound bright at the top, the SHL5+ will be even worse as it is leaner sounding and brighter in comparison to the warmer C7ES3. The M30.1 or M30.2 may be a better option for your listening preferences. Secondly, SHL5+ will not sound good if placed close to the front wall in my experience. They have about 3’ clear space from the front wall in my room. 2.5’ is still acceptable but closer to 2’ the airiness is compromised and the sound is slightly congested in the middle. Side wall placement is not as critical as they can go nearer to the side walls with toe-in. They still need about 1.5’ to 2’ from the side wall though. In summary, the SHL5+ can still work in the room but the real question is whether the sound is to your preference. The M30.1 might be a better fit for the room, size - wise. Personally I prefer the SHL5+ over M30.1 as I find it more balanced across various music genres. The M30 series sound too smooth and laid back for my tastes. In the end it depends on what you are seeking and the best is to hear all options and decide for yourself. |
