Harbeth HL-Compact 7ES-2 - good or bad

Posted by: gavagai on 26 January 2004

My current system is:
Nait5/cd5i/stageline/rega planar 25/dynavector 10X4 mkII.
I am in need of new speakers.

Does anybody have experience with these speakers in a Naim system? I have heard great things, but dealers are hard to come by. I have a decent sized listening room (not too big). I primarilly listen to acoustic jazz and classical music. How are the bottom end of these speakers? I think they are around $2100 american dollars. HMMMMMMMMMM.

Posted on: 27 January 2004 by Jean-Marc

I have heard them paired with CD5/flat/112/Hi/200 at a dealer and I found them very very good, very neutral (BBC sound school), doing the Prat thing too. They are particularly good on acoustic music and voices.

A good match with Naim.
A Nait5i should be enough to drive them (from brochure: sensitivity 87db, amp suggestion 25-150W), but I would check beforehand.

Bass is not earth shaking (spec at 46Hz @ -3dB), but it is there, especially in small or medium-sized room.

So good in fact I'm very tempted to buy a pair for my CDS2/52/135 combo!

Check harbeth web site www.harbeth.com, there's a link to the Harbeth forum, and you can also do a search on Pink Fish.

Hope this helps
Jean-Marc

[This message was edited by Jean-Marc on TUESDAY 27 January 2004 at 08:59.]

Posted on: 27 January 2004 by gavagai

Thanks,
Now I just have to find a dealer who carries them.

Posted on: 27 January 2004 by howard karbel

You can try a dealer in Scott's Valley, California called Pure Audio. Ask for Fred Nadel. Number is 831-440-2440.

Posted on: 27 January 2004 by onlythat

I have a pair I use with my Bryston amp/pre and a CDX2.

Beautifully natural-- I actually chose these over the PMC OB1, which was a touch analytical it seemed, but had better bass.

The Harbeths are quite quick, though not as quick as Neats or Spicas, and have a beautifully balanced and even sound.

Bass is.... adequate. Not earth-shaking but quite good. No overhang or bloat.

I am getting a pair of ATC SCM 12's for comparison and I will let you know about the comparison shortly.

David