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Harbeth introducing new speaker in Munich.

174.127.112.141
Posted on May 1, 2014 at 18:35:15
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 Alan Shaw of Harbeth has been posting about a new speaker he will introduce in Munich:

He has released very few details but says he is extremely pleased with the design.

 

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RE: Harbeth introducing new speaker in Munich., posted on May 1, 2014 at 19:18:56
Mike K
Audiophile

Posts: 14063
Location: 97701
Joined: September 23, 1999
 We don't need "new" speakers from Harbeth or anyone else. What we need
are incremental improvments to existing designs. Of course, that doesn't
stimulate sales quite so much as a "new" product, does it?

Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

 

RE: "We don't need 'new'...", posted on May 1, 2014 at 20:00:58
genungo
 We need anything and everything we can get! Improve on the old recipe (if possible) but please, please don't forget to bring something new to the potluck every once in a while.

Hear! Hear!

 

RE: Harbeth introducing new speaker in Munich., posted on May 1, 2014 at 20:18:04
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 A bit of a sour outlook, no?

 

RE: Harbeth introducing new speaker in Munich., posted on May 1, 2014 at 22:05:22
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 I kind of get this argument actually. I'd like more companies to take a good basic recipe and give them the ole Audio Note treatment of improving the design and taking it up and up and up levels using better cabinetry, drivers, wires caps voice coils etc. There are probably many speakers over the years that had excellent platforms but were let down because the bean counters in the company chose to use cheap MDF or the cheapest caps instead of using a better part/cabinet for the job and many said good speakers could have been made to be outstanding. I look at my Wharfedale Vanguards and I try to imagine if they used good cables and connectors - dumped the treble/bass controls and used better drivers that they could have been really very good.

To be fair to Harbeth - who knows maybe the new product is an amplifier or floorstanding speaker - stuff they don't make. I have found Harbeth to be one the most musically satisfying loudspeakers around so I'd give them the benefit of the doubt that it's not just about stimulating sales.

 

incremental improvements, posted on May 2, 2014 at 11:00:40
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010
 One can apply many such incremental improvements on your own:

1.Better wire (to your taste, of course)Pure silver, perhaps?

2. Better caps. Have you investigated caps like the V caps or Duelands? about $1k+ for the larger values....

3. Air core inductors coupled with non inductive resistors (commonplace these days in the DIY circles).

4. Better cabinet structures.

But then just add up the parts cost. Would the end product be affordable? Every manufacturer has a price point that they aim for and within that cost constraint they will search for the appropriate parts. Stan Warren claimed to listen to every single consitutuent part of his electronic designs, from transistors to resistors, to find the best combination within a price point. He made very affordable components within his taste.

The question then becomes two fold:

What is your price point?
What is your taste in music presentation?




 

I take your point, posted on May 2, 2014 at 18:30:10
Mike K
Audiophile

Posts: 14063
Location: 97701
Joined: September 23, 1999
 The manufacturer can do these same things, and cheaper than the consumer
can (do you think, for instance, that Cardas sells wire to Ayre for the
same price you or I would pay?). Further, if you were to change the
wire in your Harbeth speakers, and later have problems under warranty,
how likely is it that Harbeth or distributor would deny your warranty
claim?

Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

 

RE: I take your point, posted on May 2, 2014 at 18:48:52
Tom Brennan
Audiophile

Posts: 5879
Joined: January 2, 2000
 If we grant that the wire used affects sound then the possibility is raised that "improving" the speaker with different wire will actually degrade the performence intended by the designer.

 

If you want the guarantee, posted on May 2, 2014 at 19:54:56
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010
 buy the new model

 

RE: I take your point, posted on May 3, 2014 at 08:16:51
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3516
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 Several years ago, I remember reading a review ( may have been Art Dudley? ) where said reviewer changed out the common Solen caps in a Spendor x-over for the hottest new "designer caps". Didn't turn out to be the "upgrade" he expected and a few months later he put the Solens back in. Sometimes you've got to trust the designer's ear.

 

RE: Harbeth introducing new speaker in Munich., posted on May 3, 2014 at 15:34:29
egidius
Audiophile

Posts: 66
Location: centre of europe, center of sound
Joined: May 28, 2009
 Yeeees, but: If Merlin Music Systems announces a new "increment" on their old VSM design, everybody complains about them winding the "another huge step in performance" ;-)

I think either way has its merits (I for my part go with Merlin, so I agree with you, in theory, that is.)
e

 

RE: Harbeth introducing new speaker in Munich., posted on May 15, 2014 at 13:19:32
Double D
Audiophile

Posts: 31
Joined: May 19, 2001
 Harbeth has tweeted the announcement .. it is official, SHL5 "Plus" with revised main driver to "Radial2" status (like the rest of lineup) along with a revised crossover.

That's all folks..

 

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