What Is So Special About Harbeth?

In a similar thread I mentioned that I feel Harbeths are overpriced (very overpriced) and overrated.

Alan Shaw clearly states that in the design of his speakers' crossovers:  'cost is no constraint'  and also that:  "we will add components and complexity to achieve, in combination with the shape of the cabinet and the characteristics of the drive units, the smoothest measurable frequency response"

A recent look at a Harbeth XO by GR Research found about 30 components in the XO!  Unfortunately, although this can produce a nice flat frequency response, which will satisfy potential buyers but more importantly be favourably mentioned by the reviewers, will reduce dynamics and micro-detail. Low level nuance also suffers. If cost is no constraint, then are those cheap white sand-cast resistors the best he can do? Really?

Even with the above points the Harbeths I've heard, and no I do not remember the models, sound pleasant and smooth. Too smooth. To me they sound dynamically constipated.

I usually try to listen to 10CC's ... I'm not in love. Great music but not that well recorded. On the Harbeths this was not enjoyable at all. They suit well girl and guitar music.

I have nothing against the brand. I design speakers as a hobby, do lots of XO mods or complete rebuilds and know what a simple but carefully designed XO can do.

My last design had a total of 6 components in a 2-way speaker. A coil, cap and resistor in each section. I looked long and hard for a tweeter that was 3dB less sensitive so that I could eliminate 1 more resistor but could not find one with an extended smooth roll off below the XO knee.

Guys and girls, please try listening to a good full-range speaker to get an idea of the damage excessively complex XOs do. Sure, you won't get full deep bass and treble extension and dispersion suffers, but a good full-ranger can boogie. I'm not saying that full-range designs are the answer. Only that bragging about the number of components used in an XO is misleading.

There is much more to designing an XO than 'flat response' The Cumulative Spectral Decay (or waterfall plot) will reveal things like stored excess energy and other nasties which will tell you a whole lot more than a flat frequency response will.

After that rant: best is to just listen 🙂

@avanti,

They use a lossy tuned cabinet resonance design that gives them a controlled richness

This is distortion by definition. The resonating cabinets are producing their own sound like a musical instrument and this is superimposed on the signal. Hmmmm!

The crossover design also incorporates circuits to assist the drivers in sounding as good as they can by eliminating distortion, frequency peaks and making them easier to drive

So on the one hand we have intentional distortion built into the cabinet and on the other hand we have a brilliant crossover design to elliminate distortion.

This thread is really not helping the brand. It seems that if you want to experience distortion, er um sorry, no distortion, whatever, that the only way to really hear this schitzophrenic speaker is with a Hegel amp 🙄

@tomic601,

Properly executed anti tanking parts are not in the signal path…

Could you please elaborate on this. I design speakers and can assure you that everything in a crossover is in the signal path. Everything.

@extravaganza, you make a very good point 👍

@jjss49 ,

I lost somehow a long reply to you so I'll try again a shorter version.

I have no 'stake' in this!

I have an opinion, just like anyone else and just like you.

Do I think Harbeth are overpriced? ...Yes

Do I like their overly complex crossovers and the explanation for such? ... NO

This is my opinion.

I am not competing with anybody and have absolutely no agenda. You have been around this forum for a long time and will not be able to point to any of my posts where I have tried to sell anything. Most of my posts are about acoustics, speaking of which, looking at your room perhaps you could consider adding a few more treatments  😉

I have been asked to custom design and have. Mostly for bands, gigs and clubs. Also for an audio outlet. I do the prototyping and if approved sell them the design which includes dimensions of the cabinet and XO details. Am I in competition with Harbeth? LOL

I called out tomic601 for posting stuff on XOs that just makes no sense and is misleading.

It was not my intention to piss anybody's battery wet, but every single product on the market has those who think it's great and those who disagree. Just the way it is, is it not? 

To me I find Vandersteen's speakers to be better value. He does not indulge in aggressive marketing, they are sensibly priced, sound great and perform well with any genre.  Again this is my opinion. and opinions are the reason and backbone of a forum.

Lastly, you are welcome to pop over for a visit to hear first hand my designs. I mean that sincerely. I live in Ireland.