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Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3

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Posted on August 21, 2021 at 10:06:31
Budrew
Audiophile

Posts: 2081
Joined: April 4, 2002
 For over 10 years I've had the P3ESR loudspeakers and I adore them. They are on TonTraeger stands.

I'm interested in the XD Harbeths and I'm curious if I might look at the 7ES-3 XDs in addition to the P3ESR XDs. I don't think I have a way to demo locally. In any case, how they work in my room is the best judgement.

Thoughts about how these two speakers might compare in the context below? I wonder if the 7ES-3 XDs are too large.

The system is in my home office / music room. Size is roughly 13x13 feet, carpeted, with bookshelves and other dampening furniture. The current P3ESRs are placed roughly 16 inches from the rear wall.

I listen primarily to acoustic guitar (Derek Gripper, Gyan Riley, Kaki King, many others) and space/ambient music (Steve Roach, Erik Wollo, many others). Piano too, and acoustic ambient. I also listen to various forms of metal, but not in this system : )

Of course, new stands also have to factor into the cost.

 

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RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on August 21, 2021 at 12:47:04
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009

Around about two years ago I sold my P3ESRs and replaced then with the XD.I
preferred the original and ended up selling the XD and replacing them with the original.
Many P3ESR owners agree with me!
I have also owned the C7 and the M30.1. In my 20x15 room the P3 is my favorite speaker of the many speakers that I have owned.
This guy likes them as much as I do!

 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on August 21, 2021 at 12:54:31
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 BTW, the originals are getting harder to get!

 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on August 21, 2021 at 17:28:26
Budrew
Audiophile

Posts: 2081
Joined: April 4, 2002
 I've read similar comments elsewhere, about people preferring the previous non-XD model.

And I've seen that video too, great stuff.

 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on September 10, 2021 at 15:54:04
el34eh@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 1935
Location: Michigan
Joined: September 6, 2003




As I'm considering buying a pair of P3 ESR | P3 40th Anniversary | P3 XD's in December, I'm facing the exact same line of questioning, as you're already aware, some prefer the older models made between 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2010 ) as per the research I've done, and while I'd rather buy new......., there are quite as few out there on the used market, in my case if it has to be purchased from a seller overseas?, I'm willing to commit to said cause.

As said newer options are reported as having a more modern sound, which reads like they're more forward presentation wise, whereas said older models allows the end user to greeted by a much calmer means of musically interacting with the artists themselves........, coming from the likes of ProAc | Neat Acoustics | Totem types, I don't believe the newer types would be difficult to live with, yet time shall tell.

The hardest part for me if finding an integrated amp besides the Croft Phono Integrated Amp, which offers a certain synergy which many far very difficult to beat?.

So far I'm thinking.......

 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on September 11, 2021 at 14:06:09
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 Those models that you list were the P3 not P3ESR. The P3ESR came out about 2010. I bought a brand new pair last year. You can still get the P3ESR new but they only come in Black. I have owned 5 pairs of the P3ESRs including the XDs!

 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on September 11, 2021 at 14:26:25
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 The HL-P3 are the ones pre 2010!

 

In a small room, I prefer smaller speakers. Unless your ceiling is very high..., posted on September 11, 2021 at 15:05:18
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 2242
Joined: February 19, 2021
 ... I think I'd stick with the smaller and more bass-limited of these two models. If your 13' x 13' has the typical 8' high ceiling, then I'd definitely call it a "small room"...

Employ a subwoofer system of some kind if more bass power and a larger sense of scale is what you crave.

Placement options for bass radiators are an important issue, especially in such a small room.

Put the main speakers wherever they sound best and put the subwoofers wherever they sound best (up, down, or sideways). It is highly likely that your mains and your subs will not perform their best in the exact same spots in the room, but exceptions to this "rule" do occur.

Experimentation is key.

 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on September 11, 2021 at 15:08:39
el34eh@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 1935
Location: Michigan
Joined: September 6, 2003




Thanks for the response.

Yet according to the period of times in which P3 types were produced...-...-., it reads as follows:

P3ES-2 ( circa 2002 ) | HL-P3ESMK ll ( circa 2004 ) | HL-P3ESR MK llll ( circa 2006;) | P3ESR ( circa 2010 ) and knowing both the 40th Anniversary | XD variants came later, I was trying to use this listing as a point of reference...-...-.., as I'm aiming towards said Eucalyptus | or Olive finishes.

Yet I'd again ask sonically speaking, how does the overall feel | sound of said earlier models differ from the last two?, as I read it the latter two are more cohesive, yet missing the sense of warmth | softer presentation of the earlier makes, all except the original HL-P3 from the early 90's that is.



 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on September 11, 2021 at 15:10:33
el34eh@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 1935
Location: Michigan
Joined: September 6, 2003




Thanks again BCR...-...-, much appreciated.

 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on September 11, 2021 at 15:58:17
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 The ones that I have owned were the P3ESR and the 40th Anniversary (same as XD). The newer models were a more forward brighter sound and I preferred the warmer original P3ESR. I was lucky to locate a new pair in Cherry. I had them in Rosewood, Olive, Eucalyptus and Tiger Ebony. BTW, I have also owned the larger Compact 7 and the M30.1.

 

RE: Harbeth XD - P3ESR or 7ES-3, posted on September 11, 2021 at 16:21:52
el34eh@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 1935
Location: Michigan
Joined: September 6, 2003


Once again......, thanks for sharing. In which case as our son gave me a pair of the " Stripped Tiger Ebony " version, I guess in truth, I should be content, or at the very least look for a pair finished in Eucalyptus, as I much much more prefer said option.

Thanks again.

 

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