Speakers change

What do you have at the moment and why do you want to change them?

C.

Ovator 400 would be perfect.

Skip posted:

Ovator 400 would be perfect.

But not if you don't like them. 

Hi Mark

The very best advice that I can offer, borne out of personal experience, is to:

1. build a longlist from reviews, dealer & Forum recommendations, then
2. audition them at dealers etc. to cut down to a shortlist
3. demo the shortlist at home
4. only select from the ones that you have heard in your system in your room.
   
   
5. Or gamble and hope that you are lucky.

Happy hunting and do keep us posted on progress.  Many of us enjoy reading of others' journey along the path to finding the "right" speaker.

Best regards, FT

Some italian dealers are proposing harbeth as a best possible partner with naim gear.

I have tried super hl5 many years ago with another amplifier (sugden) but the result was a bit harsh for me.

I prefer a refined class sound rather than "live" or punchy approach, especially because they could be found on naim electronics.

Hi Mark,

Harbeth are famously not harsh.  Given that you are in Italy and have access to Harbeth, then I would certainly audition Harbeth (they sound lovely with Naim electronics) and SF Olympica II, which should fall in your budget if ex-demo or 2nd hand.

There are many other makes though to choose from such as PMC & Proac, neither of which should sound harsh.

Naimark posted:

Some italian dealers are proposing harbeth as a best possible partner with naim gear.

I have tried super hl5 many years ago with another amplifier (sugden) but the result was a bit harsh for me.

I prefer a refined class sound rather than "live" or punchy approach, especially because they could be found on naim electronics.

 

harbeth - harsh??????

How old is the Supercap, and how long was it last recapped? 252+ old SC can sound very harsh IME.

Today I have tried a pair of harbeth compact 7 es 3 with a nait xs...seems to be a good match!

Considering my naim gear I'm wondering what harbeth could be a perfect match...

Try the Ovators S-400 if you can still find them.

I would spend the money on a pair of Naim SBLs or SL-2s and the rest on a DR upgrade of the XPS which makes a massive improvement to the CDS3. 

Frank.

Concerning xps I think to replace it with a 555ps, but ony after having changed the speakers.

I didn't like ovator s400 so much, and my room is not large (6x3).

I love Avalon sound, initially I was considerong Idea or Ascendant but out of budget.

I have to admit that harbeth 7 es 3 sounds good, not harsh and very natural sound, maybe a bit close, but the overall result was positive.

Next step is to try a super hl5 plus, telling me a very good speakers.

Naim sl2 is impossible to find in italy!

Naimark posted:

Naim sl2 is impossible to find in italy!

PIty ! I just sold mine.

If you don' t like S400s, i' d give a try with something like Neat Momentum SX5 or kudos S20

Regards

Roberto

Do you like ovator s400?

Naimark posted:

Do you like ovator s400?

I do, very much. Didn't like the S600 but find the S400 beautifully balanced.

G

Me too. Prefer the 400 to the 600. Like SL2 also.

Yes the 400s are fantastic IMO.

SL2s? Dreadful old things; I don't know why people give them houseroom.

Yes Nigel, it all looks terrible....terribly nice 

Hungryhalibut posted:

SL2s? Dreadful old things; I don't know why people give them houseroom.

Much as I love my Focal 1028s, I do like the idea of speakers being designed to work placed right up against the wall behind.  A pity speaker manufacturers don't seem to do that much these days.

Mike

Hungryhalibut posted:

SL2s? Dreadful old things; I don't know why people give them houseroom.

Really???

Hungryhalibut posted:

SL2s? Dreadful old things; I don't know why people give them houseroom.

Hideous!

Ah..very small room with entry level setup.....

just to come back on my question..what harbeth model could be taken into account for my naim gear?

Mark, i had C7ES3 for a while with a similar system as yours. They did some nice things but ultimately for me they never really got to grips with what Naim does. I much preferred my Ovator and SL2. 

A speaker i tried recently and was very impressed with was the ATC SCM11. Smaller than most of the Harbeth and a genuine Naim partner. I would describe them as transparent rather than having too much of a signature which may tally with your request.

You seem to have a local Harbeth dealer, which means you can have a listen to some and get those you like best within your budget. As you are in Italy, how about trying some Sonus Faber?