I moved my discrete high-end “ A” system out of my audio and HT man-cave into a smaller and more intimate listening arena in my FR. ( 17.5’ x 12.5’)
New HARBETHs simply excelled , especially in the critical midrange.
Your bespoke listening arena size, your associated equipment, and the listening arena bespoke acoustic warts will dictate which model will present itself as best-of-breed.
For me, it was the new HARBETH 30.2 XD’s, paired up to a REGA OSIRIS integrated / REGA ISIS VALVE cdp/Dac. My high-end floorstanders had to go - the 30.2’s simply bested them in my new digs … full stop.
Low-level listening levels is superb.
Neither I nor my dealer buy into drinking Alan Shaw’s KoolAid that preaches his universal agnosticism that amps and cables don’t matter with HARBETHs.
I had an all NORDOST FREY cables loom that still sounded great. After auditioning a new-to-me CARDAS CLEAR array, it was another drain on my wallet for that upgrade ..,.The HARBETHs opened up to a higher level, the difference was not subtle. . Of course it is all system dependent - for me the cables mattered.
FWIW
PS
(1) Go with the new model XD’s… the design and build improvements are well worth the $$. . I had the older model 30.1s in a direct bakeoff and it was an easy choice,
(2) the HARBETH recommendation that open-form speaker stands matter is spot-on. They permit the thin-walled HARBETHs to resonate like a violin. I had a local pro high-end woodworker clone the recommended TonTrager speaker stands for ~ 25% of their dealer cost. The audio performance improvement was clear and unambiguous… my prior steel heavyweight TARGETS are now gonzo too.
New HARBETHs simply excelled , especially in the critical midrange.
Your bespoke listening arena size, your associated equipment, and the listening arena bespoke acoustic warts will dictate which model will present itself as best-of-breed.
For me, it was the new HARBETH 30.2 XD’s, paired up to a REGA OSIRIS integrated / REGA ISIS VALVE cdp/Dac. My high-end floorstanders had to go - the 30.2’s simply bested them in my new digs … full stop.
Low-level listening levels is superb.
Neither I nor my dealer buy into drinking Alan Shaw’s KoolAid that preaches his universal agnosticism that amps and cables don’t matter with HARBETHs.
I had an all NORDOST FREY cables loom that still sounded great. After auditioning a new-to-me CARDAS CLEAR array, it was another drain on my wallet for that upgrade ..,.The HARBETHs opened up to a higher level, the difference was not subtle. . Of course it is all system dependent - for me the cables mattered.
FWIW
PS
(1) Go with the new model XD’s… the design and build improvements are well worth the $$. . I had the older model 30.1s in a direct bakeoff and it was an easy choice,
(2) the HARBETH recommendation that open-form speaker stands matter is spot-on. They permit the thin-walled HARBETHs to resonate like a violin. I had a local pro high-end woodworker clone the recommended TonTrager speaker stands for ~ 25% of their dealer cost. The audio performance improvement was clear and unambiguous… my prior steel heavyweight TARGETS are now gonzo too.