Interesting thread. I have the Super HL5+ (anniversary) and P3ESR SE. I had the Super HL5+ in my main system for a while and eventually replaced them with KEF Reference 1. I do like to listen loud sometimes and the Super HL5+ get a little edgy (my room, my electronics) when pushed, while the Ref 1 will take whatever I throw at them in stride.
The Super HL5+ are now in my office system, where I listen to jazz most of the day at low volume, and they are great for that. I have them paired with an ARC Vsi55 50 WPC tube integrated.
The P3ESR are in my computer system set up near field. I play these at fairly low volumes and they are great for all types of music. I enjoy them more than the Super HL5+. They are very balanced with just the right amount of detail. They are powered by a Simaudio 600i solid state integrated and it's a really nice match.
A friend has the 40.2s. They are some of the best speakers I've heard. He listens at moderate levels and they sound simply amazing. He has a really well treated room and had the Super HL5+ before the 40.2, and his HL5+ sounded a lot better there than mine do in my room, so I know the HL5+ can sound superb in the right conditions.
You mentioned taking a trip to Hawthorne. If you're in the Seattle area, you should definitely check out Gig Harbor Audio also. Eric loves the British sound and carries a few different British monitors. He seems to be particularly enamored with the Graham Audio speakers.
Hopefully I don't lose what little bit of credibility I might have by saying this, but you should give some consideration to Klipsch. Most people seem to associate Klipsch with loud rock, but at low to moderate listening levels the Heritage models really shine with acoustic music and vocals. I have a pair of Klipsch Quartets that do those things better in some ways than the Harbeths or KEFs. They only get "shouty" or "bright" when you crank up the volume. I think you'd find them more like your Tannoys than different. If you can find some older Heresy, Quartet, or Fortes you wouldn't have to spend much to try them out and if you buy used could flip them if they are not for you. They aren't hard to sell.
The Super HL5+ are now in my office system, where I listen to jazz most of the day at low volume, and they are great for that. I have them paired with an ARC Vsi55 50 WPC tube integrated.
The P3ESR are in my computer system set up near field. I play these at fairly low volumes and they are great for all types of music. I enjoy them more than the Super HL5+. They are very balanced with just the right amount of detail. They are powered by a Simaudio 600i solid state integrated and it's a really nice match.
A friend has the 40.2s. They are some of the best speakers I've heard. He listens at moderate levels and they sound simply amazing. He has a really well treated room and had the Super HL5+ before the 40.2, and his HL5+ sounded a lot better there than mine do in my room, so I know the HL5+ can sound superb in the right conditions.
You mentioned taking a trip to Hawthorne. If you're in the Seattle area, you should definitely check out Gig Harbor Audio also. Eric loves the British sound and carries a few different British monitors. He seems to be particularly enamored with the Graham Audio speakers.
Hopefully I don't lose what little bit of credibility I might have by saying this, but you should give some consideration to Klipsch. Most people seem to associate Klipsch with loud rock, but at low to moderate listening levels the Heritage models really shine with acoustic music and vocals. I have a pair of Klipsch Quartets that do those things better in some ways than the Harbeths or KEFs. They only get "shouty" or "bright" when you crank up the volume. I think you'd find them more like your Tannoys than different. If you can find some older Heresy, Quartet, or Fortes you wouldn't have to spend much to try them out and if you buy used could flip them if they are not for you. They aren't hard to sell.