@chorus I thought TMR was selling B-stock that's why the prices were lower. I'm a huge fan of Harbeth as well, but I feel they are not very competitive at their current prices. I really like the P3esr, but something like a Fritz Carrera BE is much better for the same price.
What Is So Special About Harbeth?
SLike probably all of you, I just received notice from Audiogon of a 20% discount on Harbeth XD. I clicked on the tab and found that the sale price is about $2700. I have read so many glowing comments here about Harbeth — as if just saying the name is the password for entering aural nirvana. I admit, I haven’t listened to Harbeth speakers. But looking at these, they just look like smallish bookshelf speakers. I’m not questioning how good others say these speakers are, but HOW do they do it out of an ordinary-looking box?
Is it the wood? Is it the bracing? Is it the crossover components? Is it the cone material? What is the reason why these Harbeth’s are such gems compared to other bookshelf speakers? What is it about the construction or technology that makes these speakers a deal at $2700 on sale versus the $800, 900 or $1,000 that others normally cost? What is the secret that makes audiophiles thrill to get such a costly bargain?
Showing 10 responses by arafiq
Harbeth speakers definitely have a slight emphasis on midrange but I don't think we can characterize them as forward sounding. Other than the midrange emphasis, I find them to be very balanced. Also, as @jjss49 mentioned, there is a substantial difference between SHL5 (non-plus) and SHL5+. I often hear folks making comments on the basis of owning the non-plus model. There is no comparison. I heard the non-plus version and own the plus version. The super tweeter in SHL5+ makes a huge difference. You simply cannot extrapolate based on your impressions of the non-plus model alone. |
@bob540 If you do go audition a Harbeth, please keep in mind that these speakers are very balanced, and can sound rather non-descript or bland during a short demo. But that is because nothing stands out and they don't call out for your attention. About 3 years ago, I went to audition Bowers and Wilkins speakers at a dealer who also happened to have Harbeth SHL5+ (I think a trade-in since he didn't carry the Harbeth line). I asked him to play the Harbeths, and after listening to them for a few minutes, I thought why would anyone pay so much to buy such a boring speaker. I bought the B&W but soon got tired of the sound signature (don't mean to offend any B&W owners but they're just not my cup of tea). A few years later I ended up buying SHL5+ and realized that what I initially thought was boring was actually an asset since it allows longer, fatigue-free sessions. |
@prof -- well said! This reminds me of a story where there was a machine failure at a factory which caused the entire line to shut down. This would have impacted hundreds of production orders and caused severe backlogs. Everyone tried to fix it for hours but couldn't figure out how to get the machine to start again. Finally, a contractor walks in, picks up a specific type of screw, replaces the faulty screw, and gets the machine to start again. He later sends an invoice for $1000 to the factory. The manager asks, "Really? $1000 to replace a screw which probably costs $1?" To which the contractor replies, "yes, $1 to replace the screw and $999 to know which type of screw to use and where to put it." |
Lol! Harbeth has been around for 40 years and has a sizable customer base. I really don't think it needs to be 'helped'. I'm running the SHL5+ with a 50 watt class A tube amp, never heard better sound in my listening room. Obviously, it's not for everyone and is not perfect. Which speaker is? |
The question is what percentage of Harbeth speakers are reported to have such problems. We should be careful in drawing conclusions based on anecdotal evidence coming from a 'few' reports. Are we talking 2% or 40%? I have no affiliation with Harbeth in any shape or form, but when someone makes such sweeping generalizations, it makes sense to ask for more supporting evidence. |
@ddafoe That’s an awesome list you got there. I am clearly a fan of the Harbeth sound, but I do believe that Harbeth is going to price themselves out of the market if they continue to raise their prices. I feel that SHL5+ and 30.2 (not 30.1 though) are very competitive with respect to their competition, but both P3ESR and 40.3 are in a segment where their competitors offer performance that is at least as good if if not better. I listened to Joseph Audio Perspectives last year, and I must say it really moved me like few other speakers have so far. If I ever decide t replace my SHL5+, the Perspectives are definitely at the top of my list. Also heard good things about Fleetwood Deville, but haven’t had a chance to listen to them in person yet. |
@lalitk Thanks for the TAD CE1 recommendation. It's a little outside my budget but you never know if a used pair becomes available for sale. I need to figure out if there's a way to audition them first though. |
@prof Thank you for the wonderful, thoughtful post above. Your views on audio are as balanced (but equally nuanced) as Harbeths :) |