Proac D Two & LFD LE III

No disrespect to Naim owners. I once considered the Naim Supernait at one point and contacted a guy who is selling a used unit who coincidentally also has the LFD LE III for sale. He mentioned the LFD is overall more musical with better vocals that have more presence compared to the Supernait. The advantage of the Naim Supernait lies in the added features of built-in DAC among other things. The XS is close to Supernait's sonics whereas 5i slightly lower in performance so you can expect how they would fare with the LFD. Another dealer also informed on the same findings. I have listened to the LFD and can verify on its musicality but have no chance to compare it with a Naim side by side.

Of course, everybody has their own taste and listening preference so YMMV.

Ryder is chartible in regards to the Naim pairing. I've listened extensively to this speaker with Naim and Sim as I am considering them for my next purchase. The Naim does the Proac D Two no justice. The Sim integrated was far more musical and open sounding. I run a Sugden A21SE which will better the Sim. I've no experience with the LFD LE III.

I can't tell from your post whether you think the Proac D is a "replacement" for Harbeth because you like the sound of the Proac as much as you like the sound of Harbeth or whether you think that it has the same sort of sound as the Harbeth. My experience, admittedly limited, is that the two sound very different. To me, the Proac was much more resolving, while Harbeth sounded more natural and musical. Even though you've got the itch to buy right now, I'd urge you to take a little time and listen to each before you leap. Good luck.

I was heavily weighted on auditioning the Harbeth C7s but I cant find a shop around here that carries them in stock. The place I go to has the Proac D Twos so I researched them and they sounded like a logical choice given that they're in the same price range. They are smaller tho and seem to fit the bill of what I'm looking for:

- No coloring
- Non-fatiguing
- Good bass response (at low and med-high levels - I dont listen to music super loud)
- Clarity, good separation and naturalness.
- Sound stage (I read that they have a huge sound stage)

Dear Notec,

I have the LED LE III & Harbeth Compact 7ES-3. I have heard Proac's, but not the D Two's. I have also had the pleasure of hearing the Supernait. I have not had a lot of time listening to my LFD LE III with my Harbeth's, but enough now to know it's a special mix, and this is no bluster, or "I want it to sound as good as reviews say because I own one at last." I listen to 85% classical (right now listening to a Telarc recording of Moussorgzy "Night on Bald Mountain" and I'm getting chills from how good it sounds), 15% Jazz and some acoustic and some Steely Dan type pop when the mood strikes. Let's just say I'm pleased with the sound on all genres - and that's coming from one who acclimated to the sound of the alluring tube amplifiers - in my case a tube amplifier that had the manufacturers latest updates and with a tube roll into Mullards and RCA backplates. As we know about audio equipment likes: it's all subjective. I don't feel you can go wrong with any of the fine components you mentioned, but IMO the Harbeth's and LFD really do shine (at least in my experience), as long as your source material is also really good, and IMO the lack of very well engineered recorded source material is ultimately what holds back many fine systems from being good and not great. Best of luck chasing the glorious alchemy of electronics and sound.

Byegolly - thanks for your reply. I'd be curious to know what cables you've paired with your kit?

Sure. I have LFD Spirowire cables that retail for $399. which came with my LFD LE III. (I also have a set of Blue Jean Cables which are 10G copper that are impossible to differentiate from the LFD wire if you test blind). I must admit I'm not a fan of high cost cables, but even I have emailed about cables (so bit of the hypocrite in even a skeptic). I use my stock p/c's and speaker cables I have now. Alan Shaw of Harbeth and Dr. Bews of LFD seem to suggest in their various discussions on the internet that this "wire game" is just that - and I respect these engineers and their opinions far more than I do laypeople pontificating about things for which they almost certainly have no scientific background in audio engineering to be doing so. The few published double-blind cable tests on the internet seem to bear out that basic good wire is as good as most any other, costly or otherwise. Others will fiercely disagree. I'd say save your wallet from the wire trap and put your money into your speakers and power source, get the best possible recorded disc's and/or lossless files. Might I suggest you critique the system you already have with this CD disc:
"This is K2 Sound! Various Artists, FIM K2 HD 078" - and ask yourself, "Do I like what I hear?"
Note: I am a fan of audiocritic.com (have been for years).

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