Electronics for Harbeths -- $5-10K


I've been looking for an amp/preamp or integrated to pair with my mid-sized Harbeth speakers (86dB sensitivity, minimum 6ohm impedance, ~50Hz crossover to a powered sub).

I've dug deep into Pass Labs, ARC, Levinson, HiFi Rose, PrimaLuna, Ayre, MF's Nu-Vista line, Hegel, etc. -- the usual suspects. But I haven't found a perfect fit, b/c I have a few constraining requirements:

- weight not much over 40 pounds

- an HT Bypass input and at least 2 line-level outputs (for powered sub & headphone amp); no digital inputs required

- I love well-designed tube gear, but in this case, I'm restricted to SS

In terms of sound -- the most important factor, of course -- I rarely't exceed moderate listening levels in a smallish room (10 ft to seating position).  I do, however, enjoy a large, three-dimensional presentation & uncompressed dynamics, and sonics more like the sweet, tubelike house sound of ARC & Pass than the "analytic" superdetailed sound of Luxman or Levinson (both outstanding companies, but just not the right fit in this case).  One motivator is that after recently switching to more revealing Analysis Plus Silver Apex cables, I find I can no longer stand the sound of my last-gen Class D amps.

A Pass Labs XA25 amp + SP-12 pre combo comes pretty close, but doesn't have quite enough power. MF's new NuVista 800.2 would be perfect if it didn't weigh nearly 90 pounds. 

Then there's Ayre's new VX-8 amp, or EX-8 integrated, sound great on paper, but which I know almost nothing about, aside from specs & a Stereophile review.  Anybody own one of these?

I have no opportunity to demo any of this gear live -- disabled & don't get out much -- but if anybody would like to recount their first-hand experience finding a soulmate for Harbeth speakers, I'll be listening. 

 

cundare2

I have Harbeth 30.2 and had a McIntosh integrated which in my opinion did not match well. I switched to a Luxman 590AXii class A and it’s a keeper. Close in sound to tubes, plenty of power (Luxman under rates their power.) I understand your comments about Luxman, but I myself do not find it too analytical with Harbeth speakers. I have occ copper speaker cables. 
I almost went with a Pass, but liked the Luxman a bit more. 

deadhead1000: You're the second person to tell me that Luxman Class A complements Harbeths C7 & 30.x models well.

Art Dudley recommended Harbeth when I was forced to sell my Quad ESL & Quad II Class A monoblocks.  He mentioned that, in his opinion, the Harbeth line was in many ways as close as dynamic-driver speakers got to the 1960s Quad "sound" and that I'd really appreciate his comments if I powered them with a Class A amp; and not necessarily tubes.  I didn't take him completely seriously at the time, but comments like yours now have me thinking.

Roxy54: No, I haven't looked at the Esoteric line at all.  Any particular model you're thinking of?  Have you heard a Harbeth/Esoteric combination yourself?

 

I would add Accuphase to the list.

Luxman or Accuphase should give you a synergistic match with your Harbeths.