Spendor D7 vs. Harbeth Super HL5+

I currently own the SHL5+ and owned the Spendor D7 previously.
I ran each with a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II and now Rogue Audio tube preamp and tube power amp.

The D7s are excellent speakers and easy to place with great imaging and excellent deep bass. They are dynamic and energetic. On many recordings they sound very nice- they breathe life into dull sounding recordings. Especially excellent with vinyl playback.

The problem I had with them is that they did not sound natural. The upper midrange was too far forward on all too many recordings and occasionally the treble was over the top. This was after 250 hrs of break in and much cable experimentation to get the best sound.

In addition because of their transmission line port the speakers had excellent deep bass but was lacking in mid bass warmth to offset the forwardness- and integrating subwoofers seamlessly was nearly impossible without high passing them, something I refuse to do.

The SHL5+ are better overall sounding speakers to my ears. More natural despite being somewhat forward compared to other models.
Placement is critical with the 5+, I like them a few inches lower than tweeter at ear level and toe-in is super critical to controlling the overall tonal balance. Less toe-in = more midrange forward, more toe-in = more bass and midbass. Also they need room all around them to avoid bass peaks. I am very pleased with the sound of the 5+ and would not consider going back to the D7. Voices and vocals are far superior on the 5+.
Also the Harbeth are good to integrate subwoofers with if that is of interest.
Sometimes you don’t know what you have until its gone.

@routeman21 
be careful straying from harbeth, they can get their hooks in you ! 
i went to spendor after my first harbeths, the c73s3 and eventually came back.  both my harbs took at least 250 hrs for the sound to plateau.  
before i forget-  grilles off!  too laid back with them on, especially my old c7s.  
every speaker worth owning requires (at least for me) lots of work to get the best sound and synergy in your system.  
position fine tuning including height, speaker cables (kimber 8pr sounds great with harbeths and not bank breaking) interconnects (nordost purple or blue brings transparency and air for example).  
"work them" per above and see if you aren't happy.  

FYI the SHL5+ as well as other Harbeth models (including the larger M 40.2) sound best when treated like nearfield monitors, e.g. an equilateral triangle arrangement.   sounds more detailed and focused and yields the largest sound stage.  

another thought, the D7s were less forgiving on bright, harsh or difficult recordings making them tough to take.  
Harbeth runs the fine line between detail and forgiving like no other speakers I have heard.  

once again, try the grilles off of your harbeths if you have not.  totally different sound, dynamics, top end and transparency open up quite well.

@twoleftears the supertweeter adds just a touch of additional realism, especially in female vocals, a breathy / subtle tinge that makes the right recording stunningly present.

@kren0006
as odd as it sounds I agree with the Stereophile rankings even though I sold the D7 and kept the SHL5+.

The Spendors are easier to place, have better bass and dynamics yet are a touch too forward for me and lacking in midbass as to make them hyper natural sounding.  

The 5+ are finicky to place, require a more robust amplifier to sound dynamic and cabinet warmth isn’t for everyone- definitely a lesser value vs. the D7. I just prefer the Harbeth sound and have worked around the other issues and for me they are end game speakers.