Electronics for Harbeths -- $5-10K

Have you checked this review ?

https://www.stereophile.com/content/harbeth-monitor-302-40th-anniversary-edition-loudspeaker-page-2

The best match for the Harbeth 30.2 40 th was the Pass Lab X25. I've got this match: Fantastic! Just need to pick the preamp that best fits your source, analogue or/and digital. And you're in business.

I just spoke with an LFD rep, who confirmed that the company’s amps can’t be used with a speaker system that requires a subwoofer. There’s no way to get variable-level output to a sub.

Too bad. I was actually thinking of buying a used unit on eBay just to play around with for a while. They run from $2500-$5000, so it would be an indulgence, but you guys have got me curious. But now it sounds like it might be more trouble than it’s worth.

If I was younger, though!

During my misspent youth, I used to buy a lot of "junk" 1950s & 60s tube gear made by the likes of Quad, restore it, learn from it, listen to it for a while, and then ultimately resell it for whatever I’d put into it.

But these days, I just want to hit a button, sit back & listen.

I just spoke with an LFD rep, who confirmed that the company’s amps can’t be used with a speaker system that requires a subwoofer. There’s no way to get variable-level output to a sub.

You can use a subwoofer that can take high level (speaker level) input. Many subs today (REL, SVS, Rythmik, KEF etc) have connectors to accommodate both high and RCA line level input. Basically connect the sub in parallel with the main speakers.

yogiboy & akg_ca: I followed up with LFD, and the rep was very clear about its products not being designed for systems that have an external powered sub. Only one variable-level output, intended to drive the main speakers.

mspot, I’m aware that, because sub interfaces have such high impedance, you can connect both speakers & sub to the same amplified output. Some mfrs that make great-sounded, but functionally constrained amps (like ARC) even recommend that owners do so. But I’m sure that LFD would shudder at the thought! These are the guys that refuse to provide a remote because doing so would compromise the purity of their design. Agree or not, you’ve gotta respect their expert opinion on this.

This is all moot, though. I could use the LDF’s tape out to drive an outboard headphone amp, and wire two sets fo speakers to a single set of terminals to power a subwoofer, but there’s still no HT bypass mechanism. That last issue is the dealbreaker, since this amp would, in addition to providing audiophile sonics in a stereo system, be driving the front channels of a multichannel system. I’m sure that these LDFs are spectacular-sounding boxes, but they’re just not a good fit from a functionality/connectivity standpoint.

So the Ayre integrated still seems to be the best choice for my particular application. In addition to Ayre’s reputation for outstanding sound quality and reliability, its preamps and integrateds are one of a very few that do everything I need without compromising sonics.

I’ve never owned an Ayre product, but after a month of excruciatingly deep research into $10,000-ish amplification from Levinson, ARC, PrimaLuna, Nu-Vista, Pass Labs, bel Canto, Hegel, and the rest, Ayre, to my initial surprise, remains the stand-out.

One of the nicest amplifier pairings I can remember with my Harbeth HL3PES was some earlier Naim Audio gear.  I used a Naim NAC72/Hicap/NAP135x2 and a Naim CDi compact disc player. The sound was quite good back in the day (late 1990's).