So-- anyone using these Harbeth Compact 7's in their sistem? Lots of good press... comments?
Posted by: onlythat on 24 November 2003
Anyone got anything to say on these babies? They certainly are popping up in peoples' sistems and systems around the net. What say ye of them?
Posted on: 25 November 2003 by John Luckins
A friend of mine has a pair of Compact 7s and they are a beautifully voiced and uncoloured speaker. He drives them with an exposure CD player and an audiolab amp and they do a very nice job. They are from the BBC school of monitor speakers and are thus particularly fine at portraying vocals. Very clean and realistic with a beautiful midrange.
I was lucky enough to borrow them for a few days on my system (thanks John). They do many of the "round earth" things much better than my kans. They were very unfatiguing to listen to. I could have lived with a pair were it not for the size and one minor niggle which may just be a very personal thing and which I could learn to overlook. They are a ported speaker and the bass can be a little slow and very occasionally I could detect a bit of port chuffing. When I changed back to the kans the only plus point of the kans became evident. This was the snappyness of the bass and the complete absence of bass overhang. Of course there is much less bass altogether with the kans, but what there was was cleaner and quicker.
I must admit that the compact 7s have a midrange to die for though, and for some this will more than compensate for the minor bass niggle particularly in rooms that suit their bass. Would suggest they must be at least 3 feet from back and side walls, so 12 foot wide is a minimum.
John
I was lucky enough to borrow them for a few days on my system (thanks John). They do many of the "round earth" things much better than my kans. They were very unfatiguing to listen to. I could have lived with a pair were it not for the size and one minor niggle which may just be a very personal thing and which I could learn to overlook. They are a ported speaker and the bass can be a little slow and very occasionally I could detect a bit of port chuffing. When I changed back to the kans the only plus point of the kans became evident. This was the snappyness of the bass and the complete absence of bass overhang. Of course there is much less bass altogether with the kans, but what there was was cleaner and quicker.
I must admit that the compact 7s have a midrange to die for though, and for some this will more than compensate for the minor bass niggle particularly in rooms that suit their bass. Would suggest they must be at least 3 feet from back and side walls, so 12 foot wide is a minimum.
John
Posted on: 28 November 2003 by Bruckner
Hi,
I use a pair on a 72/Hi/180 running off a cheapy Nad CD player and a Sondek. I'd describe them as having quite a big sound. I also have small pair of ATC7s which can be compared to Kans. They are that bit slower than small non-ported such as the ATCs, but the overall package to my ears is one of the best i've heard. They don't sound like hi-fi in the mids and have a nice bottom end. Many systems I listen to now sound tizzy hi-fi in comparison, even expensive ones with far better CD front ends. They're also really easy to drive and work well even with a little nap90 I have. Try a listen first tho as I can understand where all the comments are coming from.
I use a pair on a 72/Hi/180 running off a cheapy Nad CD player and a Sondek. I'd describe them as having quite a big sound. I also have small pair of ATC7s which can be compared to Kans. They are that bit slower than small non-ported such as the ATCs, but the overall package to my ears is one of the best i've heard. They don't sound like hi-fi in the mids and have a nice bottom end. Many systems I listen to now sound tizzy hi-fi in comparison, even expensive ones with far better CD front ends. They're also really easy to drive and work well even with a little nap90 I have. Try a listen first tho as I can understand where all the comments are coming from.
Posted on: 30 November 2003 by alex95
Iv'e got a pair, unfortunatly boxed at the moment. They do need a bit of space but thats about it they arnt fussy otherwise.
I have not heard a better all round speaker, yes there are some shortcomings ie in the bass, its a touch soft, would say they are not slow just realistic. Vocal reproduction is second to none.
I think they differ to most speakers as they show what the electronics sound like unlike the boom and tizz boxes that add their own character. They are definetly worth a listen.
I have not heard a better all round speaker, yes there are some shortcomings ie in the bass, its a touch soft, would say they are not slow just realistic. Vocal reproduction is second to none.
I think they differ to most speakers as they show what the electronics sound like unlike the boom and tizz boxes that add their own character. They are definetly worth a listen.