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Quality of construction on some speakers- namely Harbeth

I have been doing, the what I am sure is impossible, looking for a great consencus speaker to try.  Because of my tinnitus and some suggestions- I am looking at cloth or other soft tweeters that emphasis mid range.  Harbeth and quite a few other BBC sound speakers are highly thought of and seem to fit my needs.  While looking at used speakers out there, I couldn't help but notice that besides being a lot of ham handed owners, a lot of these box speakers are coming apart at the the corners and their veneers are cracking.  My question is, English moist country made and then living in drier climates doom these to seperating or is it just knocking them over causing it?
mocktender
mlsstl
1,438 posts
 
There are some audio manufacturers out there that have strong opinions about various issues that run contrary to popular audiophile received wisdom. This may involve design decisions, component choices and so on. Alan Shaw is one of those contrarians on several levels and doesn't wish to waste time debating his choices. If you like his speakers, great, buy them. If you don't like them, go away.   

I've owned Spendors and heard Harbeths many times and think both brands are excellent and very musical sounding. I never had any trouble with the cabinet quality of the Spendors I owned which included two of the classic models and two of the S series. 
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
Hard to find new, Energy rc-70 pair is what your looking for.
Highs rolled off, and are sublime for low level, and volume.
Smoothest highs, and the midrange is so good, it puts me to sleep. Klipsch ruined energy, forever angry.
One of the best speakers.
If you can find the rc-70, you will have 20 years of pleasure.
The cf-70’s are ok, but have a more detailed and up front tweeter, but are tamed nice with tweaks.

$. Not to bad for the CF-70’s. Worth a audition.


Happy hunting.




 Harbeth are good speakers, tone, parts, drivers, etc etc. 
     
mocktender OP
3 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses.  I have talked to a few dealers that handle Harbeth and others.  Their opinions were that the Harbeth and other British speakers have light weight cabinets to induce the sound that they want.  But that lightness was not the trouble for cracked cabinets or separation.  It was less than careful owners, kids, dogs, etc... falling off stands or being dropped in moves. 

I not sure how to load pictures here, but there are several listings on TMRaudio.com that show what I am talking about (they seem to do a nice job showing any and all flaws in the listings: Good on them).

Anyway, doesn't seem to be a real issue.

Mock
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jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@mocktender

for example on tmr there is currently a set of spendor sp100 classic series -- asking 3 grand

the cabinets (corners, side panels, bevels) are hammered to hell, several locations, big hits gouges drops onto hard floors or moving truck floors

that is gross abuse/carelessness on the part of past owner(s), hired movers, whatever... they are large heavy speakers and lots of folks buy them then can’t handle them when it is time to move them, handle them set them up

has got nothing to do with how the speakers were made or the bbc design philosophy thin-wall ’resonant’ cabinets

sad
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