2. speakers
  3. 147422-77695

KEF LS50 or Harbeth P3ESR for desktop system?

Currently:

Spendor S3/5
SVS SB-1000 sub
McCormack modified Micro Power Drive
McCormack Micro Line Drive
HRT Music Streamer II DAC connected to the PC
AQ cabling

Speakers are 5' apart on the desk.  2' from back wall, no side walls within 6', vaulted ceiling.
Near field - I'm 5' away from them.

Piano jazz, movies on the PC, podcasts.  I don't try to break my ears.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the current setup, but, well, you know...

KEF LS50 (not wireless), or Harbeth P3ESR (maybe even Anniversary Edition)?

Thanks,
Bruce
bbarlow690
yyzsantabarbara
4,528 posts
 
LS50 sounds OK on the desktop (58" wide) but it is no where close to the sound quality on stands and about 7-8+ feet apart. I have the LS50 for years now and have listened both ways. The LS50 on stands is something I plan to keep until it falls apart.

The new KEF replacement for the XA300A is a better candidate for the desktop over the bigger LS50.

https://www.kefdirect.com/speakers/computer-speakers/digital-hifi-speakers-lsx-wireless-speakers.htm...
bbarlow690 OP
60 posts
 
Thanks for the perspective.  As I noted, however, I don't want wireless.
james63
534 posts
 
Steve Guttenberg compares both of these directly and speaks candidly of them. Sounds like he likes the Harbeths better. 

2 minutes in he starts talking about the kef in the link below. 

https://youtu.be/64WcfVWb49E
helomech
1,521 posts
 
I prefer the KEFs to the P3s, the latter of which have a cooler tone without being any more detailed (that's speaking of the non-anniversary edition)

I find the Spendor house sound is a little more natural than either. 
More to discover