Where did you go after Harbeth?

Hi Don,

Good to hear from you. I must tell you that I'm more in an exploration route because I don't know much in audio. The best thing for me would be to be able to listen to as many components as I can in my home and then decide which way to go.

As a young audiophile, I want to explore, discover and make myself and idea or many ideas of what's possible to achieve with the sound at home.

I took the plunge in transistor class A for a while with the Luxman L-590AII and then, some circumstances obliged me to sell it and I went back to tube with a real pleasure.

Few years ago, I had a pair of Audio Physic Virgo III because I liked their soundstage, then I was on the way to discover British sound, with Harbeth which I still really appreciated.

Now, I just feel that high efficiency speakers with a SET tube amplifier is a way to explore. In my opinion, the day I will need a heavy pair of mono-blocks, I should change my speakers to get something more efficient. Plus, I usually listen at low level and my room is not quite big (18'x 24').

In the end, the question I asked above was in my mind for a while. While it looks like so many people will died with their Harbeth, we know less about those who passed thru and went to another audio route.

Sébastien

It's interesting to hear from you guys. On my side, I'm pretty happy with my Harbeth SHL5 but I'm thinking of a speaker that can be powered by SET (300B, 2A3, 845, 211, etc.). So it must be more sensitive. For sure, I want to keep the sound as natural and non-fatiguing as possible and like the Harbeth, I want an excellent balance, even at low volume.

To Hornsystem, may I ask you if you are refering to a specific horn model? I have not heard many horn speakers in my like. A good friend of mine have a pair of Klipsch Cornwall II amplified with Bottlehead 2A3 and it's not very much in my taste. I found the music very colored vs. the Harbeth.

Sébastien

Hi Garebear,

Which speaker allows you to "...NEVER looked back..." and what does it bring to you that the M40.1 didn't?

Sébastien

To Seattlehifi:

Regarding your "...former Harbeth owners...", from which Harbeth speaker do they move to the Penaudio Cenya. Because I took a look at the design of the Cenya and it reminds me of the Harbeth P3ESR and the woofer seem to be like the Joseph Audio one.

Sébastien

To Dodgealum,

I took a look a Daedalus website and these speakers are now on my "To hear" list. Plus, the designer seems to have a true love for acoustic instruments, same as me, and he built them in hardwood which I found an excellent idea. It's been many years now since I'm wondering why we often pay expensive speakers made in cheap MDF...

Well, thanks for the link. That's a new discovery for me. Then, I'll have to listen to them.

Sébastien

As I realized, there is not a lot of people on the forum who move from Harbeth to another brand of speaker. I guess that many stay with Harbeth.

Sébastien

Hi Dodgealum,

It's surprising how I recognized myself in your talking when you say:

" I would always return to my Harbeth's after a demo or show and feel that (within their range) my Harbeth's sounded much better than the speaker I had just auditioned."

Plus, it's very exciting when you mention the qualities that the Daedalus offer you and the ones they share with the Harbeth which seem as important for me and for you.

The fact is that I want to try a speaker that can be powered by almost any SET. I'm even thinking about a 2W/channel 2A3 design for exemple. I'm wondering if the Athena, which is the one I consider, will have enough high efficiency.

Sébastien

Hi Jeffreyds,

That's another option to stay with my SHL5 and try some SET amplifier with it. As I'm often on the Harbeth User Group, I know that some people use their Harbeth with SET with good results.

On my side, the lowest wattage I tried with my SHL5 was a 8W/channel transistor class A "The Zen". Surprisingly, it offers an incredibly well controlled bass. But when I want to crank the volume, it quickly miss gaz.

Sébastien

To Dodgealum,

Regarding what you said:

"If you listen exclusively to chamber music, female vocals, acoustic music and the like I could see living with a pair of Harbeth's till the end of time. However, if your tastes are more diverse and run toward rock, large symphonic works, big band, etc. then a speaker that can reproduce the scale and dynamics of those genres might be preferred."

I forgot to tell you that I mainly listen to small jazz ensemble, folk, post-rock, a little bit of new-wave, hip-hop and classical. All of which at low volume 80% of the time.

Sébastien

Hi Hornsystem,

I have some friends on a French forum specialized in tubes and high efficiency speakers (elektor.fr/forum) where many users also described this set-up to be the best.

On my side, I want to try SET and of this, I'm sure I'll need a high efficiency speaker.

Unfortunately, I live Montreal, Canada. So, I'm a little bit far away from D.C.

Regards,

Sébastien

Anyone went to Living Voice IBX/OBX R2 or RW after Harbeth?

Sébastien