I personally like the big Spendor speaker, although I have not heard it in direct comparison with the Harbeth. The primary concern with the SP100 is whether the bass response will overwhelm a room. I've heard it sound a bit upper-bass heavy in several rooms that were not small rooms at all.
I tend to prefer the classic Spendor line over the Harbeth line because I don't like the upper midrange emphasis of most Harbeth speakers. I don't mind the forward projection of the image that this creates; but, the slight burr or artificial edge this gives to the initial attack of instruments and voices is something that bothers me a little. Still, this is an issue of slight preference, the Harbeth's, particularly the 40.1, are very nice sounding speakers.
I tend to prefer the classic Spendor line over the Harbeth line because I don't like the upper midrange emphasis of most Harbeth speakers. I don't mind the forward projection of the image that this creates; but, the slight burr or artificial edge this gives to the initial attack of instruments and voices is something that bothers me a little. Still, this is an issue of slight preference, the Harbeth's, particularly the 40.1, are very nice sounding speakers.