Hi all Harbethians!

My fist post here. Very glad to see a Harbeth thread here.

I am Harbeth user too. Currently I got SHL5 and old Compact 7. My amp is LED Zero LE III and Marantz CDP. My friend old p3 is resting in my room too.

How you guys thought abt Harbeth? To me, Harbeth is my last and final speaker

PS: Still got a wish : own a pair of M40.1..I wish I can

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Added on April 14, 2009, 7:39 amHi kkthen,

Tak-one is right. You can contact Roland directly or if you come to Sg we can visit him together.
I will visit him this Sunday to listen to LFD + SHL5..A simple "bath in the music" gathering...

PS: Thx Hakka Bro, poison_arrow for the kind words..

This post has been edited by keithwwk: Apr 14 2009, 07:39 AM

Hi take-one and hakka bro,

I will share more Harbeth/LFD combo here when I got time. Recently I am very buzy.



Hi kkthen,

I saw your post here and echoloft pm. I replied you thru pm too. Pls check.
Due to busy work, weekend support and also Queen reason (my wife, I mean ), I need to know will you come alone and what time will you coming because I need to pre-arrange my work and talk to my wife 1st before I can commited to you on the date. Pls take this off line.

IMHO, as for the LFD sound, I must say, if you really want to know the LE III full potential, you shld visit Roland directly. His listening hall is really good enough for every one to judge LFD sound due to zero booming in bass in that hall. According to Roland, new LE III shippment will arrive by next month (May). It is really worth for you to make a trip down to visit him.


Allow me to talk a bit...as for Harbeth + LFD sound, Harbeth was paired with LFD in recent hifi shows like the M40.1 with LFD PA3 and the new LFD NCSE amp in CES with Harbeth new P3R. UK stereonow still demo the M40.1 with LFD and now the M40.1 is back ordered. There is a real synergy betwwen Harbeth and LFD.

Cheers

HFW article: see attachment (Below)


LFD with P3R
http://www.my-hiend.com/vbb/showpost.php?p...4&postcount=677

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Added on April 17, 2009, 10:49 pmHi aawcy,

I can not share you much on this due to huge difference in our taste. I am a 90% classical musics + 10% of Jazz and vocal listener.

But, to allow me to talk a bit...

IMHO, the way Harbeth play Rock or Techno is very very differnet from what you heard (if any) from US, France or Canada speakers. Harbeth will not give you chest whacking mid bass and ground shaking deep bass. If you like deep and tight bass, my adivse for you is to look else way. I know few Harbethians like to play Rock, but, to me, Harbeth rock in very civilised way that some Rockers can not appreciate.

If you value "correct" or "right" timbre accuracy and tonal purity of instrucments (e.g, color of sax, violin, wooden feeling of cello, skin tighness of a drum) and human voices, Harbeth is for you. If you value only bass whacking and deep low bass to shake wall or floor, you need only US or Canada speakers like JBL or PSB.

Bring all your favourite albums to Tropical Audio there is the best way for you to know the answer.

Cheers!

This post has been edited by keithwwk: Apr 17 2009, 10:50 PM


Attached thumbnail(s)

Hi aawcy,

1stly, I am sorry have to repeat again, guess from the musics you mentioned, Harbeth is really not suite you. Harbeth is best for close up enjoyment with moderate volume. It is not to play loud with chest whacking bass musics. The cone movement is combined with Harbeth "loose cabinet" to produce true midrange or human voice with warmth bass.

2ndly, my meaning of greater bass is different from yours, for sure. Do my ear, SHL5's bass is greater than C7es3 because it play better texture bass, better color bass, more extended, details, more volume and affortless.

If you need large speaker excursion, long-thru coil with solid hard bass, go for solid cabinet design like B&W, Focal/JMlab, Monitor Audio, Paradigm, Totem, Chario, JBL, Thiel or any other USA speakers. There are many 8" driver speakers can give the bass you want but not Harbeth's true midrange.

Sincerely..

This post has been edited by keithwwk: May 11 2009, 10:50 PM

Hi skydna,
The P3ES2 sound a bit more transparent than the old P3. To my ear, the old P3 sound a bit more musical or "Wei Dao" then the P3es2.

The P3R with radial cone is out soon. You can consider too.

Btw, how big your room is?

Cheers!

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Added on November 16, 2009, 11:12 pmCame across this review just now:


[ZT]迄今看到最感人的器材评价－Harbeth C7ES－供有耐心且懂英文的朋友慢慢看


［转贴］雨后初晴 Compact 7 ES　的评价
作者在一次意外中身受重伤后，生命中带来欢乐和希望的是Harbeth C7 ES。。。


Harbeth C7 ES-2 review

Summary:
What I will disclose herewith is the truth , the whole truth and nothing but the truth. On September 2, 2003, life gave the most surreal wake up call imaginable as I suffered a massive and near fatal stroke to the right hemisphere of the brain, When I arrived at the hospital 16 hours later I was in a deep coma and in severe respiratory distress , a tracheotomy was performed in my throath permitting me to breathe thru a tube. I did not see a blinding light or my life flashing in front of my eyes. It was simply a total void of will I survive or will I be a vegetable. 3 weeks later I emerged and had the entire neurological staff at my side with their inferior jaws almost touching the ground. They pronounced me a miracle. I had absolutely no clue that I had just entered the twilight zone of the mentally unwell. The following 6 months was wall to wall therapy facing the rest of my life confined in a wheelchair. I was fighting a battle against the most complex entity in the universe, and it possesses a door lock for which there is no key. I have to become my own locksmith. To this day I have not witnessed a single hint of improvement Given my total incapacity to climb stairs I had no other alternative but to terminate my lease and take my entire life savings and purchase a condo unit in a building with elevator service. As if a stroke was not enough on May 5th 2004 I suffered my first of 10 epileptic seizures that will require that I be medicated for the rest of my life. being denied the permission to drive a motor vehicle.I needed that like I needed a bullet in the head. Given that my condo floors are made out of reinforced concrete doing physical therapy with an epilepsy condition becomes a very risky endeavor. Imagine living the rest of your life with a 2 by 4 instead of a left leg .I am the proverbial leaf in the wind. For me walking 200 feet with my quadripod cane is like running 5 consecutive Boston marathons. I wake up every morning seing life in a foreign brain with emotions that I dont recognize. Thank god for me in 1998 I had the foresight to upgrade my Rogers LS7t speakers for a pair of Compact 7 SE2.I also had the foresight to upgrade my YBA Integre DT integrated amp, to the then brand new YBA Integre Passion integrated. The foundation for pure musical nirvana was in place.I think of these 2 components as the Romeo and Juliet of high end audio. The radial driver is an exceptional piece of acoustical engineering. Specs claim 46 Hz to 20 Khz. With my YBA amp the bottom end feels much more like 40 Hz. When using the fine YBA Diamond speaker and interconnect cables in a by wired configuration. They will melt the harshest heart on earth. You will be very hard pressed to find a more pleasant and pristine sound. At any price. These speakers are not to be analyzed but appreciated as exceptional musical instruments. Need I say more we are in presence of greatness here.Wait until you listen to Yo Yo Ma. You will recognize genious and passion for the artform. Put your seatbelt on as you will be jumping with joy and have entered the qualitative dimension of the universe. Close your eyes and immerse yourself in the ocean of wellbeing and serenity.

Strengths:
Cello's wind intruments, classical guitar , harp are to die for. Piano is not an orphan with these speakers, piano peddles have a gorgeous weight and piano keys exhibit exemplary behavior with a beautiful and progressive decay. Dont imagine that this investment is of service to classical music only. Kenny G. will send shivers down your spine. Wait until you listen to Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, you will fall in love again. These speakers are only meant to do service to humanities greatest legacy and invention by bringing order to chaos and removing all the clutter and noise we hear every day. From now on everything musical will be immensely coherent to your ears.These speakers are also meant to remind us to stop and smell the roses to truly appreciate the wonders of life. I would never have believed that audio gear could have brought me to tears but It as on numerous occasions.The compact 7 is the most engaging and hypnotic instrument I have ever heard in my life. I can listen to them 24 hours a day, they are musical windows to my soul.They give and give and never ask anything in return. When I play my Loreena McKennitt The visit CD I am transported to the lush green pastures of the Emerald Isle. They are today the most cherished presence in my life. I could not live without them. Intimacy and neutrality is the operative word. Break in is short. They are like the finest bottle of red wine improving with time. I am on cloud nine with these babies.Performance to price ratio is expressed in stratospheric terms. Best physical placement is 5 feet from the rear boundary and 9 or 10 feet apart. I matched mine with top of the line Sound Anchors Pro Monitor stands wheighing about 100 lbs each and dampened. A very beneficial addiction is the dividend this investment pays to it's enlightened owner.

Weaknesses:
None whatsoever.

Similar Products Used:
Why bother I am in pure musical nirvana as it is.


This post has been edited by keithwwk: Nov 16 2009, 11:12 PM

hi bro,
From out side, most obvious change from P3 to P3es was the front panel. In term of sonic, the p3es is a little bit open and smoother than p3. The different is not significant. I heard the P3, P3es and P3ES2. The overall sonic is still very very close.

Cheers~

This post has been edited by keithwwk: Nov 21 2009, 10:34 PM

I am still with Harbeth. My SHL5 is over 10 yrs old now lol. Wonderful musical partner.

Hello....any one here still listen to their Harbeth? Any new owner?

I am still enjoying my 30th Ann SHL5 to bit. Time flies, 14 years of ownership till date....All the best guys!

This post has been edited by keithwwk: Apr 7 2021, 02:49 PM

The older Harbeth surely sound something special which might not impress but slowly creeping in your mind, like it or not is another matter. Not sure on newer Harbeth from "plus" onward.. some commented it is more transparent or some said bright. The is also comment on DX sound duller...Very subjective indeed.

Due to my hall size, I am listen with full tuning in and grill on. This is the best position I get good bass augment and spacious sound stage with good snap on vocal image. Bare wire direct in to the speaker pot with great result.

This is very subjective have to ask oneself. There is no correct answer. As the old say follow your heart.

This post has been edited by keithwwk: Apr 10 2021, 12:24 PM

Hey guys....times flies 2022 coming to end soon...how you all doing? Still enjoying music with your Harbeth?

Yes, I am still with my SHL5 30th Ann. Loving it. Just recently added a Marantz NA-11S1 use as DAC listen to my CD collection. What a worthwhile piece of equipment to acquire it let my 5s sing even better than ever. One of my friend being poisoned and bought a same DAC as well

Stay safe and enjoy music with good health to all

Listen with grille on

Hello guys!

Time flies! 2024 is going to end soon.

Yes, I am still with my Harbeth Super HL5 30th Ann. How's yours?
Last year changed my amp to a Marantz PM-KI Ruby and added an Eversolo A6 MA, fine tuned speaker main tweeter's height to match with my seat ears height. Worthwhile effort and get very good result. Beside power, height is very import. Try it if you haven't done before.

Wishing you guys happy listening with good health!

Cheers!

Hey guys,

Again, time flies. 2025 is going to end. How you doing?

Yes, I am still enjoying my 18 years old Super HL5. Stil keep amazed and surprises me thru its ability to do music. How's yours? Any new comer?

The old Harbeth, which still sound fairly decent even in today standard, is getting cheap in used market now. Very good value. So good for whom wanted to try Harbeth sound. Feed it with at least 100w clean power, a value but decent all in one streamer, set it up on a stable stand, spike is best cheap way to stable a stand, proper placement and correct tweeter height while listening that's all to enjoy beautiful music for years.

I am wishing you guys happy listening with good health ahead! 🙂💪

Cheers!