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In Reply to: RE: Are Spendors "working-man" Harbeths'? posted by Eldragon on May 17, 2015 at 16:39:55
The only person who can determine that for you is you. Harbeth ranges in price from what $2kish to $19,000US for the 40.2(or so I am told).
So that's quite a range - $2kish I suppose would be a poor man's Harbeth and you still get a Harbeth.
Based on my experience I prefer the sound of Harbeth's that I've heard over the years.
It might be best to simply look at speakers in the budget you can afford and not get too attached to name brand recognition - you might find something else you like more. I like the sound of Harbeth but personally I like other speakers for considerably less money as much and in some cases more.
BUT - you have to always consider NET cost not just price paid. So while I might pay more to get the Harbeth I might resell it for more in 10 years - so the NET cost may actually be less than something else - but you'd have to do homework on them to determine that.
People below, including me, cited a bunch of speakers they like and many of those offer speakers in the $2k range. While not my cup of tea, the Magnepan 1.7 has a huge fan base and is definitely worth listening to. Even if you like the Harbeth or Spendor more - because you have turned over more rocks and auditioned more things - then in fact it makes you a "happier" consumer in the sense that you know more where your favorite speaker stands against the competition.
In 2004 I bought Audio Note J/Spe speakers and sure they, for me, killed everything I auditioned them against. But my pool of competitors was mostly the big name brands that are heavily advertised. 10 years later I have turned over a LOT of rocks and in 2014 I almost bought another pair of them but went with the bigger brother.
Bottom line is this - If you love a particular speaker - then use it as your reference point and determine WHAT if anything beats it - and what if anything beats it for sane money.
Way back in 1991 I bought Wharfedale Vanguards viewed by many as mid-fi horn speakers (although today the E-series of which they came and the Vanguard) have a bit of a cult status following and are somewhat sougt after now because of their ease of drive. Mostly 10 ohms and can pelt out 120+dB from their Japanese Ring Horn and heavy ceramic woofers.
For years I read audio magazines raving about some puny ass dynamically bankrupt two way standmount going for triple the money (Although the Wharfedale was $2000 back in 1990 so it wasn't chump change).
Still I would walk away wondering what the fuss was about. Sure I though - the imaging and soundstaging are better on the two way - some had a flatter response BUT in terms of "alive factor", "Excitement" visceral impact the old Wharfedales were embarrassing ALL of those two ways. And I bet it would embarrass the $27,000 Magico standmount in those areas as well - and the Wharfedale wasn't a total misfit in terms of music - it wasn't just a loud noisemaker - It was refined enough (barely) that it didn't shock you into turning it off after ten minutes - you could listen for 8 hours and not scoop the blood from your ears.
The bottom line is that the lesson I learned was that if I am going to pay MORE for something it can't cause a bunch of heavy trade-offs - the puny standmounts might be better in three areas but I would have to give up maybe 5 other areas to gain the advantage.
If the Harbeth XYZ is your favorite speaker but costs too much then you basically try to find the speaker that retains the KEY things you love while remaining decent enough in the less important areas. And perhaps in the hunt you will discover something that will completely shake your notions and will instantly remove your favorite speaker(and reference point). And that's pretty cool if it happens.
I personally find speaker hunting the most fun. I almost bought a pair of speakers last week - just because I always wanted the particular models and the price was such that it was very tough to turn them down - even though they're not as good as what I have and would get less play time. Still thinking about getting them (Reference 3a MM De Capo originals series) I could trade my KEF LS-50 for them - hmmmm).
Follow Ups:
Jack Roberts: Linn Audio Loudspeakers Athenaeum review.
$60K - WOW!
But honestly, one of the best reviews I read...and surprising results from what I thought, was a "scam" company. The prices are unrealistic, but Linn guy is legit.
"Somebody was always controlling who got a chance and who didn't. - Charles Bukowski
You should think more about old Master Controls or Royal Master etc. They were superior to the De Capo MM.
I got a pair of L'integrales you can have cheap if you are interested because I don't use them anymore (not with the Odeons in the house).
Email if you are interested. Are you still in Hong Kong?
Thanks (Hong Kong I will try and make permanent).
It's more of a situation that they happened to be in the second hand shop and I happen to be ready to part with the KEFs and I can get them for around $100 with my KEFs. I have heard most of the entire Reference 3a line as it was my favorite line-up for a half dozen years.
I grow a little weary of just reviewing stuff for something to review - I kind of want to review only things that I think are good enough to replace what I have (or have the chance to). Which is why I held off the De Capo because it doesn't. If I could find a La Suprema now THAT might be something. The Sema Zen might but it may be too big for my apartment.
I have rearranged my set-up and put everything on the short wall and I can sit 10-12-15-18 feet away. But with the relatively rectangle shapes of HK apartment it means it suits the AN's well because they can be put right up near the side walls - Other speakers might have a lot more trouble. Plus the 219IA is a behemoth for an HK apartment but for now it sits where it sits.
Why not audition an early Grand Veena(with the Murata supertweeter). Very reasonably priced and attractive. Besides they sould very good.
Edits: 05/20/15
Yes they do sound good - if one comes around I would be more interested in them than the De Capo.
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