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Want to accept the Harbeth 7's, but...

I divide my time between two residences, and have two systems (see below).
System 1 is crisp, clean, full, and I think I hear the music/instruments without coloration, and there is no listener fatigue.
System 2 is much less crisp. Almost muddled at times. I keep straining to hear the sound/notes/inflections I know are there. It is almost as if the sound has been pushed back into the area behind the speaker and is coming through a filter.
I use the same discs (female/male vocals, classical, soft rock) for both systems, both rooms are well furnished and curtained (although not 'treated per se' and system 2's room is smaller (12' x16' x 10')
I feel it is the Harbeths that are not coming into play like I wish. I do not live near any dealers and therefor have a difficult time auditioning. I cannot switch systems components (250 miles apart) to A vs. B, and would like other's input re: other choices in speakers for system 2 or other suggestions.

System 1
Music Fidelity Trivista 300 integrated
Sony SCD-1 cdp with van Alstine Ultra DAC
Meadowlark Blue Heron II
Straightwire Seranade speaker, Au-24 ic's

System 2
McCormack DNA-1 Platinum upgrades SS amp
Gill Audio Alana Pre
Esoteric DV 50s cdp
Harbeth 7es-3 on Skylan stands
Nordost Baldeur Speaker, ic's.
farmdoc
6 responses Add your response
farmdoc OP
45 posts
 
Unfortunately, the room was designed in a way that precludes the speakers from being more than 3, maybe 3.5 feet from the wall. Interesting in that correspondents feel that there is no way to overcome the inherent advantage of a 3 way big box speaker. I have not heard them, but does that mean that trying out another monitor such as Magico or Dynaudio Confidence C1 would still be lacking in the depth and detail I seek? I have no experience with these speakers and just am interested from the reviews I read.
Is there another smaller floorstander that might fit the room and give me more of the sound I seem to favor?

No, Seditious3, I actually fly a small plane between the two, and the weight/size of the Harbeths would be a problem.

Thanks for comments; I always learn a lot from the responses.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
If the Harbeths are close to the wall(s), you might try moving them out away from the walls and see if that helps. Early reflections and/or too much boundary reinforcement can muddle the sound.

Good point. I heard them in a demo and they were setup like you setup panels - far out into the room. The bass was plenty strong for me - even totally without any room boost - my thought is that they could be overwhelming in the bass at higher levels or just as Duke suggests - when placed too near a room boundary.
audiokinesis
2,737 posts
 
If the Harbeths are close to the wall(s), you might try moving them out away from the walls and see if that helps. Early reflections and/or too much boundary reinforcement can muddle the sound.

Duke
jb0194
476 posts
 
I owned the original Blue Herons and, if the BH IIs are similar, I'd wager almost no 2 way bookshelf comes close. Purists may quibble about the extra crossover/phase and driver integration issues of a 3 way but, properly designed, a 3 way can add much more realism than almost any 2 way (short of line arrays).
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
If you play loud or at close to realistic levels then I doubt the compact speaker can keep up with the Meadowlark's.

Nothing wrong with the Harbeth's but basically most good large box three ways are going to defeat a good small box two way in terms of clarity. In general of course...horses for courses.

At lower listening levels the Harbeth's are impressively detailed - one of the best midranges out there but I don't think they will excel on percussion as your larger speakers probably do.

The bigger room may play a roll too...small rooms do tend to sound cluttered and claustrophobic and there is not much you can do about it.
seditious3
184 posts
 
It seems like you can bring the Harbeths to your System 1 to try them there. I assume you drive from one place to the other.
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