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?
@acdvd, the big improvement for the shl5 was going from the non-plus to plus model. The subsequent models (40th Anniversary and XD) only had small incremental updates. If you have a good deal on the plus, I would go for it. |
I had the opportunity to buy the SHL5+ or the XD and chose the +. The XD model was too smooth and laid back to my ears, more like the 40.2. It did have excellent bass. The 5+ is clearer and more detailed yet still a smooth, warm speaker overall. The tweeter is very well integrated with the woofer and never bright or harsh. I love the sound of the 5+ . |
Recently acquired a used set of mint SHL5 Plus 40th Anniversary with TonTrager stands at a decent price which I consider a much better value compared to buying both speakers and stands brand new. Purchased the set without ever auditioning any Harbeth speakers prior. I based my decision primarily on the collective experiences of everyone online and understood the strengths and weakness of the brand. Most importantly, one needs to know their priorities and preferences for sound. My music preferences mirrors the OPs and listening habits not needing SPLs beyond 85dB, Even when demoing to F&F, there's no need to crank it up to show how great a system sounds unless you and your friends are into same loud concert SPLs. Harbeth brand is not for everyone. Luckily, it is for me. No regrets here. I can see myself enjoying this kit for years to come.
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I bought p3esr xds and based on what I’ve read was prepared to be wowed but ended up selling them after a few weeks. I thought they sounded like a good small speaker, for a narrow range of simple acoustic or vocal music. I thought rock sounded flat, compressed, and a bit muddled. I also felt there was a bit of a treble edge which was unexpected. Maybe what bothered me the most is that the box vibrates like a cello and bass sounds like the product of a vibrating box rather than the driver. At first i tried them on some hollow stands and the stands literally rang like a bell. I gave them a go replacing genelecs in my desktop setup and the sound was noticeably stuck in the boxes in comparison, and they vibrated the desk. I might have kept them at maybe half price. |
As I've mentioned, Harbeth are one of my favorite speaker brands. I've heard the whole line up a few times and owned the SuperHL5plus. I could certainly live with Harbeths as my speakers. If I could fault them on anything, the Harbeths do lack some of the punch and solidity I find in some speakers (especially my Thiel 2.7s). The Harbeths do have a clear, open sound. And one of the attributes I love is the density - voices etc have a corporeal, filled out sound with body. So they are rich and have a sense of density in that sense. But the overall sound, compared to my Thiels for instance, is a little bit "puffy," sort of like I can sense the box a bit, and drums, bass guitars etc don't have quite the "right there" solid slam and presence. The Thiels (and some other speakers) also sound a bit more tidy and clean, more precise. I still think Harbeth have a particularly great sense of balance to the sound, and I enjoy all genres on the Harbeths. But if I had to pick nits, those would be mine.
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Something I've noticed today as I've tried my AR 5SE preamp and AR 150SE amp class A tube amps with my Harbeth 30.1's is that they seem to drive the 30.1's better on the 16 ohm speaker taps, than on the 8ohm speaker taps. They seem to have a bit faster sound with greater clarity on the 16ohm taps, and a bit slower, thicker, muddy sound on the 8ohm taps. Don't know why that would be? That was the primary reason I got the Hegel H590 to drive the Harbeths - because it had so much greater clarity with them, than with the AR tube amps, when I first tried them. But, using the 16ohm taps seems to clear them up - more like the H590, but with a bit of tube air. That was my one issue with the Harbeth 30.1's and 40.2's I have - until I got the H590... and... now having discovered their sound using the 16ohm taps of the AR tubes amps. |
jjss49"according to harbeth/alan shaw, the xd models are supposed to give a very slight treble lift and midbass lean-out compared to each respective models' prior versions (mon 30, 40, super 5 and compact 7)"
That is why I got the Hegel H590 to drive my 30.1's and 40.2's - because I wanted more of a treble balance and leaner mid-bass sound, as the new models seem to have. The H590 cleared them right up, as does the 16ohm taps on my AR tube amps seem to. |
very much agree w comments by @bassdude @prof @bassdude great call on hegel h590 - the 590 in particular has a little extra sparkle over the warmer voiced 390... and it is not an accident that alan shaw uses hegels in development and at audio shows, he ain’t no foo’... 😁 not to say there aren't other amps that make these harbeths sing beautifully |
Bob540 - I suggest you check out their website for alot of information about their speakers' design aspects. Also there are plenty of reviews on the web, done over many years which provide comprehensive insights into their sound and what reviewers have liked and not liked about them. I did all of the above before I bought my 30.2 XD speakers. That was a year ago and I've been very happy with them. |
