The “H” word (Edit: Harbeth!)

Audio has taken a back seat to work this week, but was able to squeeze in some listening on Thursday night and again tonight.

There is something vey compelling about these (duh)... I need to keep listening to come up with words, but "clarity" with every positive connotation (and no negative connotations) is kinda what I'm thinking I'm hearing - not "horn speaker in your face" clarity, or "metal tweeter on Cocaine" clarity, or even "Yes, officer, I understand" clarity, more like "wow, I can actually hear the overtone interaction between the Celeste and the glockenspiel up above the orchestra" type of clarity, or "gee, I never knew she was actually smoking a cigarette on stage during this performance" type of clarity, or "I think this was recorded with ribbon-mics" type of clarity.

Still need different/better stands to get the height correct and improve the coupling, or lack thereof, but the motivation to do so is heightening.

@Don C , i would love to know the names of the tracks you were listening to and give them a listen on my Spendors. Obviously, “Cocaine” is describing the tune.

I auditioned the Harbeth Super HL-5 Plus and it is the only 3-way loudspeaker I’ve ever considered buying and still might. What a tremendous presentation.
 
In regards to it being a 3-way speaker, the super-tweeter comes in around 15khz, just to augment the tweeter. I would call it more of a 2-way with a bit of seasoning.

Many years on and I'm still astounded by these speakers every time I listen to them. At this point, with the gear that's in front of them, I don't even hear them..again, its just music in the room.
 
In regards to it being a 3-way speaker, the super-tweeter comes in around 15khz, just to augment the tweeter. I would call it more of a 2-way with a bit of seasoning.

Many years on and I'm still astounded by these speakers every time I listen to them. At this point, with the gear that's in front of them, I don't even hear them..again, its just music in the room.

@JohnVF , I went back to look at specs right after I posted and saw the super tweeter designation and what you say makes sense. Spectacular sound, even powered as they were by a Line Magnetic 518 which may be slight under powered at 22wpc.
 
I've run them off of my 15 wpc Leben in a small room and they were still quite a bit of fun, and sounded great. They sound better with more power, assuming that power comes from a good amp, but I've heard a LOT of worse systems than that setup.
 
That would probably vary from person to person, given that we all listen to different music, some more dynamic than others, some favor dynamics or finesse, etc...

For me, I think you need around 40wpc in a small room with tubes to start to open them up. I had 100wpc in tubes behind them for a long time, and it was more than enough in a medium/small room. I currently have 170wpc of very sweet and balanced solid state behind them, and I think its perfect. A lot of people love them on a 60wpc LFD or some of the lower powered Luxman Class-A stuff. The 100wpc (IIRC) Luxman L-505u is a popular match. But it took me a lot of time and $$ to find 170wpc solid state amp that I thought did these justice. It's hands down the best I've heard them...but a LOT of that is the transformer volume control in front of the amp.
 
@Don C , i would love to know the names of the tracks you were listening to and give them a listen on my Spendors. Obviously, “Cocaine” is describing the tune.

I auditioned the Harbeth Super HL-5 Plus and it is the only 3-way loudspeaker I’ve ever considered buying and still might. What a tremendous presentation.

I don't remember the specific tracks, but I'll do some digging and see if I can find/remember.
 
Minor update... a year later. A couple of months ago I finally decided to order the Resonant Woods C7 stands (with some help/encouragement from @MikeT. ) who has the same speakers and recently got these stands too, after trying a couple of others and not being thrilled with them.

They (finally!) arrived at my local dealer this week and I was able to get them today between appointments. And in between kitten duty (one sick kitty under observation) and preparing for an event tomorrow, I managed to get them set up and even a little listening this evening.

Obligatory cell-phone pic:

78BB6934-632E-4687-846F-EBAE3A21A677.jpeg
 
Very nice! I hope that you find, like I did, that really good stands really bring these speakers to life. Cool setup.
 
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Minor update... a year later. A couple of months ago I finally decided to order the Resonant Woods C7 stands (with some help/encouragement from @MikeT. ) who has the same speakers and recently got these stands too, after trying a couple of others and not being thrilled with them.

They (finally!) arrived at my local dealer this week and I was able to get them today between appointments. And in between kitten duty (one sick kitty under observation) and preparing for an event tomorrow, I managed to get them set up and even a little listening this evening.

Obligatory cell-phone pic:

View attachment 16959

Very nice! Similar to my system.....only in respect to Harbeth and Resonant Wood stands. Pass Labs and McIntosh are still on my wish list.

Glad you’re liking the Resonant Woods.
 
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Minor update... a year later. A couple of months ago I finally decided to order the Resonant Woods C7 stands (with some help/encouragement from @MikeT. ) who has the same speakers and recently got these stands too, after trying a couple of others and not being thrilled with them.

They (finally!) arrived at my local dealer this week and I was able to get them today between appointments. And in between kitten duty (one sick kitty under observation) and preparing for an event tomorrow, I managed to get them set up and even a little listening this evening.

Obligatory cell-phone pic:

View attachment 16959

Can you give a ballpark cost for the stands?

And thems some honking insulators! Nice collection. I’m presuming decorative not functional?
 
What you don't see are the 4 other sets of speakers, 2 sets of stands, and about 4 more boxes of records from downstairs, plus other junque. Time for a fire sale?

Probably more like an Elac-Kef-Sonus Faber (and possible Mcintosh-Denon-ProJect) fire sale!

Wow, too bad you missed the FORD/SMAC sales meets yesterday. I am sure you could have moved all that. 🤣


Can't believe you still have those KEFs, I didn't even know (or maybe remember) you had Sonus Fabers.


What is the deal with the fans in the windows at 45 degrees? No wonder the puddy cat is sick.
 
Can you give a ballpark cost for the stands?

A little under $800, all in.

And thems some honking insulators! Nice collection. I’m presuming decorative not functional?

Thanks! They do function as cable risers, doorstops (really), and reliable toe-manglers in a dark room, but otherwise they are just decorative.
 
Wow, too bad you missed the FORD/SMAC sales meets yesterday. I am sure you could have moved all that. 🤣


Can't believe you still have those KEFs, I didn't even know (or maybe remember) you had Sonus Fabers.


What is the deal with the fans in the windows at 45 degrees? No wonder the puddy cat is sick.

Everyone’s a critic...
 
A little under $800, all in.



Thanks! They do function as cable risers, doorstops (really), and reliable toe-manglers in a dark room, but otherwise they are just decorative.
Thanks. Now, do I sell my mint C7s or go the distance with proper stands?

And, funny, The ‘lectic Co pulled these off the house last week during rewiring.

97EDA6BC-3B83-4194-BB28-D4F6698E64E2.jpeg
 
Wow, too bad you missed the FORD/SMAC sales meets yesterday. I am sure you could have moved all that. 🤣


Can't believe you still have those KEFs, I didn't even know (or maybe remember) you had Sonus Fabers.

Nothin’ wrong with KEFs bro, nothin’ a’tall. My winter project waiting for the bench:

90A33525-BC18-4ED3-921F-224F4DC4AA15.jpeg
 
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