My Harbeth C7ES-3 story...


I’ve been using Zu Omen DW’s for the past 2yrs and really enjoy them.

every time I go to RMAF I find myself enjoying the Harbeth and Spendor speakers, so I started researching them, stumbled upon the “bbc midrange magic” touted and everything thing I read pointed to something I thought I’d like.

my first step was to grab a pair of used Spendor S3/5’s. My thinking was if I enjoyed them I would then look for a bigger style. I was first looking at the Spendor A4 and A6R’s and as I kept reading I ran across the Harbeths. In particular the C7ES3 (Compact 7’s).

At this point I had researched like crazy and had my eye on a pair of used Spendor A6R’s. It was really hard to find used C7’s so I was leaning towards the Spendors.

I had a work trip coming up to Toronto and one day the week before as I’ve been scouring the audio marts a pair of C7’s popped up, and low and behold they were in Toronto!! 1 mile from the hotel I was staying. So I pinged the guy and we started talking. Told him I’ll be in town etc. so I setup a time to go over to his house. They were mint condition with original boxes, consecutive serials etc so I grabbed them! Best part the dollar is strong against Canadian so ended up getting them for 50% off new.

Another great part is the boxes are not too big and was able to check them in on the plane, so shipped them back with me for $60.

Got them home and now I have them setup on some Skylans.

my biggest fear was the low end was not going to be full enough but boy was I wrong. First impressions from just 1hr of listening... the Zu’s will be hitting the market. Everyone says the Zu’s are very forward which I was fine with and they have their place, but after hearing the magic sound of the Harbeths it suits my style better.

I’ll follow up with more impressions later.
128x128kray

Showing 16 responses by kray

Having too much fun on this Merry-go-round

Can't wait to get off it for a while... hopefully soon
Thanks @wjt3 

These speakers have a great attribute of being able to disappear easily, and the micro detail I'm hearing is great. Even at low volumes they sound full and I can hear all the details clearly. 
So after buying the Harbeths I thought I’d search for some amp synergy. Been reading up on a lot of the same culprits that keep popping up like Naim (not a fan of the looks so no go for me)

My current combo is a VTA SP9 pre that uses 4x Telefunken 12AX7’s into a Bob Latino ST120 with 6550’s. I was fairly happy with the combo but thought I’d try some solid state since the ST120 is rated around 40wpc in triode mode.

first amp I snagged a deal on was a Audiolab 8300a integrated. 75wpc in dual mono configuration. First off I think it’s a beautiful piece!! Clean/sleek/modern/silver. Love it.

First impression was very good. It handled bass better than my ST120. It was right clean and punchy. Dead quiet and a smooth non fatiguing sound. Since my ears had been use to my tube combo, I thought I’d take advantage of one of the many features of the 8300a. You can use it as a Pre or amp or integrated.

So I started by using my tube pre into the 8300a as an amp. First thing I noticed was there was just something more. There seem to be more “air” around and a more holographic soundstage. I’m attributing this to the awesome Telefunkens.

Next up I setup the 8300a as a pre and fed the ST120. This combo came across as more clinical and less dynamic for some reason. Bass was a little wooly.

so basically the Tube pre with 8300a as amp was the best combo surprisingly.

if I didn’t have the tube pre I would have been happy with the 8300a as an integrated, but tasting and knowing the depth the tube pre adds I can’t rid of it.

as beautiful as the 8300a is, I’m on to my next demo.....

Decided to go all in and bought a LFD MK IV SE and a Belles Aria used. 

Plan on having a shootout with these two over the weekend. 
@gcknapp 

will do! Both are supposed to arrive by Saturday so if all goes well Sunday should be a great listening day
From all I’ve read the LFD definitely gets most of the votes but deep down I’m rooting for the Belles due to its welcome extra features like phono, bypass, remote

don't think I can go wrong at this point. 
@badgerdmsYeah I wonder why US import is getting such jacked up pricing?

But the CAD to USD conversion is definitely in our (US) favor.

Never got to hear the 30.2's
So got the LFD mk IV today. Let it warm up for a couple hours play. The Audiolab 8300a is a great value at $1300 new (even better used/open box price) but

the LFD definitely beats the 8300a. Just better dynamics from top to bottom. I always felt the top end extension wasn’t quite there on the 8300a. No issues there with the LFD.

Belles Aria supposed to arrive tomorrow. Sending back the 8300a so it will be a shootout just between the Aria and LFD.

LFD is so far a definite keeper. Can’t really find a fault in it yet. So it’s the one to beat.

this is all with the RME ADI-2 DAC. Interestingly I’ll have a Schiit Gungnir Multibit Gen5 DAC to test with in next couple days as well. Word is it’s soundstage is bigger than RME. If that’s true I’ll be a happy audiophool
trying to get some dedicated time in and going back and forth between the Belles and LFD, changing connections etc. 

it's been really diifficult to tell much of a difference between these two. I wanna say the LFD is just a small tad fuller sounding right now.. using some test tracks. 

Everything right now is Qobuz streaming over Ethernet to Microrendu via Roon. 

The build quality on both is good, but definite edge goes to LFD. It's solid as a rock. Kinda deceiving too via pictures it looks unassuming but feels high quality in person.

I'll have some more time during the week and weekend to test more... then Thurs I get the Schiit Gungnir MB DAC to compare to my RME.. fun times lots of stuff to test 
@gcknapp agree. Think it will come down to which one I feel more fond of just aesthetically etc. will have a more thorough listening session this weekend. 
@archguy yes the Harbeths sound great out in the room. I also want to test moving them closer to back wall just to experience the difference. But I prefer near field listening so after testing that I’m sure I’ll move them back into the room
@rocray will test that and let you know. 
Haven’t hooked them up in a while with all the listening testing I’ve been doing with the Harbeths. 
@creativepart heard great things about the Rogue Cronus Magnum. Might have to audition that amp. 
@avanti1960 thanks! Another Cronus magnum user. You guys are definitely tempting me :)
@rocray
The battle is so close with the LFD and Belles. Still testing out things with different tracks etc. still haven’t decided.
 But one decision I did make. The Gungnir is staying. RME is going up for sale. The RME is very clean accurate and transparent but the Gungnir has it beat in the “size” of the sound. And picks up a little more microdetail better. The soundstage seems bigger by a slight margin. It’s probably the Multibit/R2R sound I’m enjoying more. I’m trying to simplify everything in my system and the no frills approach of the Gungnir better suits my needs. The DSP and the plethora of other options in the RME are fantastic but not sure I’ll be using them. 
Last amp I’ve decided to try out is the Rogue Cronus Magnum II

always loved tunes in my other systems so hopefully the 100wpc Cronus can feed the Harbeths well. 
@fjn04 i had no issue with full sound driving the C7’s with the LFD MK IV. I’ve heard from another friend that owned several LFD’S that the MK IV was the meatier of the amps he had. So much that he sold his NCSE and went back to the MK IV. 

Ive since found my fav amp with the C7’s. A Line Magnetic 518ia, 22wpc of class a SET. so much so I’m done with amps for a while, and moving on to trying out DACs. 

For your room size I also would not rule out the Rogue Cronus Magnum II. It was my second favorite and pushes out 100wpc with the KT120’s
@fjn04 yep! The 22 SET watts of the 518 are perfect in my medium size room. I’m sure that Cary would be awesome