Harbeth Monitor 40.2
- Thread starter tmallin
- Start date
Yes agree abit slow. The bass on lascala is fully horn loaded,it’s cleaner tighter and faster with better clarity.
La Scala only go down to 45hz but my two 15 inch subwoofers go down to 15 hz flat.
playing around with a pair of Harbeth 40.2 in beautiful eucalyptus veneer.
Definitely put the grilles back on and try more absorption on the floor in front of the speakers.
Tom - Your initial post on this thread raves about the big Harbeth stand-mount and you list earlier speakers in your system. Correctly if I'm wrong but I seem to remember numerous long posts from you raving about the Dutch & Dutch 8c speakers that I believe you owned.
Why have these D&Ds fallen from your affections so dramatically that they don't get a mention in your OP here? Having said that, I'm with you about the big Harbeths. Although I've not spent time listening to them at a showroom, let along having them in my home, so I'm basing my approval solely on my visit to a hi-fi show in UK 4 or so years ago when these Harbeths were playing almost as background music in a spacious room. I mentally chose them as my "best in show" sound, although admittedly it wasn't the highest of high end shows, but nevertheless I was most impressed by their relaxed rendition of music, particularly the excellent bass from their big woofers. This was in contrast to the more conspicuous (and more costly) systems that use typically 2 or 3 smaller woofers (6 or 7") for bass that always sounds like they are straining to provide good and realistic bass. Give me a decent 12" over 6, 7 or 8" drivers any day.
The Harbeth isn't a speaker for me as I don't like the look of them (too 1960s BBC monitor in appearance) and I don't like stand-mounts, but I have to admit they sound terrific. It's just a shame that your room doesn't allow them more space between each other or their distance from your chair. A bit more breathing space and they'd be even more impressive.
Whatever happened to the D&Ds? Peter
PS - Have you considered using a less "bland" amplifier than the Benchmarks. Of the dozen amps I bought or bollowed to home audition in my system, the AHB2s were just about the biggest disappointement of the lot. Such a shame because they have some great features and are truly excellent on paper.
Why have these D&Ds fallen from your affections so dramatically that they don't get a mention in your OP here? Having said that, I'm with you about the big Harbeths. Although I've not spent time listening to them at a showroom, let along having them in my home, so I'm basing my approval solely on my visit to a hi-fi show in UK 4 or so years ago when these Harbeths were playing almost as background music in a spacious room. I mentally chose them as my "best in show" sound, although admittedly it wasn't the highest of high end shows, but nevertheless I was most impressed by their relaxed rendition of music, particularly the excellent bass from their big woofers. This was in contrast to the more conspicuous (and more costly) systems that use typically 2 or 3 smaller woofers (6 or 7") for bass that always sounds like they are straining to provide good and realistic bass. Give me a decent 12" over 6, 7 or 8" drivers any day.
The Harbeth isn't a speaker for me as I don't like the look of them (too 1960s BBC monitor in appearance) and I don't like stand-mounts, but I have to admit they sound terrific. It's just a shame that your room doesn't allow them more space between each other or their distance from your chair. A bit more breathing space and they'd be even more impressive.
Whatever happened to the D&Ds? Peter
PS - Have you considered using a less "bland" amplifier than the Benchmarks. Of the dozen amps I bought or bollowed to home audition in my system, the AHB2s were just about the biggest disappointement of the lot. Such a shame because they have some great features and are truly excellent on paper.
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they do play with the grilles on, but on pictures they look better without them
If I understand you correctly, Peter, you're wondering why my original post in the Harbeth thread doesn't mention the Dutch & Dutch 8c's which I've raved about. The simple answer is the timeline.
As best I can recall, the time order of main speakers I've had in my current stereo room is:
Stirling LS3/6 (first without, and then with AudioKinesis Swarm subwoofers)
Janszen Valentina Active
Harbeth M40.2
Gradient 1.4
Dutch & Dutch 8c
Sanders 10e
You can check this by looking at the date of my original posts in my threads about each of these speakers. Thus, currently, I'm mostly writing about my Sanders experiences, although I do occasionally add posts to prior threads about speakers and other equipment I've owned or currently own.
Just before I responded to your post, I did in fact add an update on the D&D speakers here:
www.whatsbestforum.com
I still have the D&Ds, but am not currently using them. I sold the Harbeth M40.2 when I acquired the Gradient 1.4. I still greatly admire the Harbeth sound, however, and would not be averse to acquiring a pair of the new M40.3 if I had a bit larger room for them. I did not keep the M40.2s because the later M40.2 Anniversary model was already out and I knew before I sold my M40.2 that Alan Shaw would be updating to a new M40.3 model.
The Sanders happen to work extremely well in my small room because of their very narrow high-frequency dispersion. They also don't give me claustrophobia listened to at close range since the electrostatic panels are transparent.
The Harbeths are not about looks. Maybe that's why you have the grilles off, to show more of the fine wood finish. But, honestly, the Harbeths sound better with the grilles on.
As best I can recall, the time order of main speakers I've had in my current stereo room is:
Stirling LS3/6 (first without, and then with AudioKinesis Swarm subwoofers)
Janszen Valentina Active
Harbeth M40.2
Gradient 1.4
Dutch & Dutch 8c
Sanders 10e
You can check this by looking at the date of my original posts in my threads about each of these speakers. Thus, currently, I'm mostly writing about my Sanders experiences, although I do occasionally add posts to prior threads about speakers and other equipment I've owned or currently own.
Just before I responded to your post, I did in fact add an update on the D&D speakers here:
Dutch & Dutch 8c Speakers
I think that most people who have actually heard the speakers come away being very impressed with the sonics. It's too bad that in most markets these speakers seem to be sold primarily through a few pro-audio outlets rather than the usual consumer high-end stores. Many audiophiles are either...
www.whatsbestforum.com
I still have the D&Ds, but am not currently using them. I sold the Harbeth M40.2 when I acquired the Gradient 1.4. I still greatly admire the Harbeth sound, however, and would not be averse to acquiring a pair of the new M40.3 if I had a bit larger room for them. I did not keep the M40.2s because the later M40.2 Anniversary model was already out and I knew before I sold my M40.2 that Alan Shaw would be updating to a new M40.3 model.
The Sanders happen to work extremely well in my small room because of their very narrow high-frequency dispersion. They also don't give me claustrophobia listened to at close range since the electrostatic panels are transparent.
The Harbeths are not about looks. Maybe that's why you have the grilles off, to show more of the fine wood finish. But, honestly, the Harbeths sound better with the grilles on.
Sorry, I'd not noticed the date this thread was started - it just popped up when I clicked my usual start point on this forum, New Posts. As I said, I liked the relaxed way the Harbeths sounded, but it isn't me who has the pair without grills - I've never owned Harneths. I spoke with the UK distributor about D&Ds in my own room and they suggested against me getting them. Martin Logans sounded unhappy in my room (probably for much the same reason that D&D might), so I've stuck with Avantgarde horns, though recently upgraded twice - from Unos (bought new in 2002) to 2006 Duos bought 2 years ago to new Duo XDs.If I understand you correctly, Peter, you're wondering why my original post in the Harbeth thread doesn't mention the Dutch & Dutch 8c's which I've raved about. The simple answer is the timeline.
As best I can recall, the time order of main speakers I've had in my current stereo room is:
Stirling LS3/6 (first without, and then with AudioKinesis Swarm subwoofers)
Janszen Valentina Active
Harbeth M40.2
Gradient 1.4
Dutch & Dutch 8c
Sanders 10e
You can check this by looking at the date of my original posts in my threads about each of these speakers. Thus, currently, I'm mostly writing about my Sanders experiences, although I do occasionally add posts to prior threads about speakers and other equipment I've owned or currently own.
Just before I responded to your post, I did in fact add an update on the D&D speakers here:
Dutch & Dutch 8c Speakers
I think that most people who have actually heard the speakers come away being very impressed with the sonics. It's too bad that in most markets these speakers seem to be sold primarily through a few pro-audio outlets rather than the usual consumer high-end stores. Many audiophiles are either...
I still have the D&Ds, but am not currently using them. I sold the Harbeth M40.2 when I acquired the Gradient 1.4. I still greatly admire the Harbeth sound, however, and would not be averse to acquiring a pair of the new M40.3 if I had a bit larger room for them. I did not keep the M40.2s because the later M40.2 Anniversary model was already out and I knew before I sold my M40.2 that Alan Shaw would be updating to a new M40.3 model.
The Sanders happen to work extremely well in my small room because of their very narrow high-frequency dispersion. They also don't give me claustrophobia listened to at close range since the electrostatic panels are transparent.
The Harbeths are not about looks. Maybe that's why you have the grilles off, to show more of the fine wood finish. But, honestly, the Harbeths sound better with the grilles on.
I am looking to purchase Harbeth speakers which would work well in my large living room which is 14‘ deep and 37‘ wide. I will be sitting 10 to 12 feet from the speakers and do not need the sound to fill up the rest of the room. Woils the original SHL5 work there and could you recommend any other models that would work well in that space?
