ProAc K6 or Harbeth Monitor 40.2 for Naim NAP250DR/NAC-N272

I would guess that the Proac would be more all round capable with whatever was driving it and would bring out the best of your combo. From what I have read about both of them...

The Harbeths might have you looking to upgrade the Naims.

If I had a big room I would choose the Harbeths, they look gorgeous and sure with the right set up would sound it to.

I've recently auditioned and ordered my new system, which is the 272, 555PS & 250DR. I'm fortunate enough to have been able to choose the K6s. They truly are a special speaker, but I am a self confessed ProAc fan! My dealer is a real Harbeth fan, and advised me not to waste my time auditioning them (although perfectly willing to should I wish it). In his view they are chalk and cheese, and knowing me, my musical tastes (primarily blues and rock) felt the Harbeths simply would not have what I need from a speaker. So, can't comment on the Harbeths, but the ProAcs are sublime, especially with the Naim combo you've chosen. Good luck.

Tim

Are you sure you can't audition them, where are you based in NZ?  I'm sure a trip to Auckland could be arranged for a listening session, Parmenter look after Harbeth and I've auditioned ProAc (though not the K6) through Turned-On who are also a Naim dealer.  They are a great team, certainly worth asking before laying down the not insignificant expenditure.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find these models in NZ anywhere - NZ dealers will have to special order in from the UK.

Have heard other ProAc and Harbeth speakers so am aware they have different 'house styles'.  Harbeth perhaps a bit closer to my old Quads (soundstage, imaging, clarity, transparency all quite incredible in the Quads), but maybe K6 delivering a bit more thump for rock and hiphop etc.  I did find the NAIM/Quad combo almost a bit fatiguing though (even though it could literally bring listeners to tears).  I could see (hear) why people use valves with electrostatics.  From what I have read the Harbeth 40.2s are 'easy' to listen to.  

Be nice to hear from someone who has heard the Harbeth 40.2 running with NAP250 amplification.   (Thanks Timmo1341 for your NAP250/K6 feedback.)

Top of my shortlist of speakers to buy would be any ones that I could audition properly, preferably at home, but at least at a dealers with my own electronics. How did you compile your (very short) shortlist? 

HA! If only! I'm guessing you don't live in the far reaches of the universe a million miles from civilisation :-)  The latest 'beat box' Bluetooth all in one magiwidget speaker thing is considered Hi Fi where I live, and even then very hard to find one to audition so you end up having to resort to on-line speculation even to pick one of those.  The concept of spending more on speakers than a car (or even, in some parts of NZ, a house!) is unheard of.   So I compiled my (very short) shortlist in secrecy under the cover of darkness, relying on limited personal experience and lots of on-line research, and certainly without consulting my wife.  

PS re houses in NZ being cheaper than these speakers, see:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/busi...mp;objectid=11566597

I guess I kind of knew you'd say that as I typed my post! Still, looking at the cost of these speakers, I'd have thought the the price of an Easyjet ticket to 'civilisation' might be worthwhile.

aaaahhh, you guys don't have Easyjet? Maybe you could go on a mountain bike, you guys like that sort of stuff, don't you?  

Forget it.  Just get the ATC SCM 11s and call it a day.  No need to audition.  They are awesome.  

Have you considered a quick trip to Oz?  Nice weekend away with some speaker shopping while you are about it.  Parmenter did have the 40.2 as they had pictures on FB of them in their listening room.  

I have regularly seen some truly amazing gear for sale in NZ e.g there is Avantgarde Duo Omega pair on trademe right now and I've seen all the top end B&W for sale 800D's etc.  I think there more hi-fi nuts in NZ than you think, they are just very quiet about it.  We when renovated our kitchen last year we spent more on our induction hob than my S400's and the fridge/freezer cost more than that house in Mataura, it's all about priorities.  

Have you heard some Totem options? Easy to do in NZ and a great match for your electronics.

Hey NGarritson & Simon_H, after the size of the Quads I couldn't bring myself to go back to something as small as the ATC SCM 11s.  SCM40s are on my long list though!  Conversely, after the idiosyncrasy of the Quads, I feel the need to revert to a more 'normal' speaker, like a box with big, middle and small size holes in the front of it, hence although tempting, decided to bypass the Avantgarde Duo Omega.  Cheers.

No those Avantgarde Duo Omega wouldn't get through my door either but just goes to show the plethora of options we have here.  Interestingly enough in the picture they seemed to be have a Naim Cd and Nait up front.  Back to your dilemma, you have certainly no shortage of options when it come to speakers but you really need to get them hear before buying.  I demo'd some Living Voice OBX-RW and they were beautiful, did everything you could ask for except they weren't strong for off axis listening so ended up with S400's as they sounded good wherever I stood in our open plan living area and great in the sweet spot.  Not as hi-fi as LV but more fun.  If I had a dedicated listening room it would have been the LV's or the Devores.

Living up North in Scandinavia I`m sort of in the same situation, the availability of speakers for audition are limited. Some distributors are friendly and have send speakers to me, I pay a deposit and some only the shipping cost . The Kudos distributor did not even charge shipping.

The Harbeth and Proac distributors give audition in shop only or at least in shop at first, so I have found this:

1. Blind purchase will cost me a lot if I cannot live with the speakers sound wise, due to loss of money/ value by resale.

2. Purchase speakers that I actually have auditioned at home and being confident I really like them.

3. Buying speakers that are tempting me second. Try them at home for a period and if I cannot live with them, resale will give a small loss of money.

Method 2 or 3 works best for me, but I have long experience with method 1 as well  I`m still curious on Harbeth and Proac`s, but s/h only here, due to the above mentioned.

S

I'd strongly suggest that you buy speakers only after hearing them at home or at the very least at a dealer, even though you'll need to travel. I've bought two pairs of speakers without audition (Neat Motive 1 and Naim Allae) and both were dreadful in my room. Yet I've heard them sound very nice elsewhere. 

The speakers you are thinking of are very expensive and you'll lose a lot of money if they don't work for you. Get the dealers to make an effort on your behalf, rather than just holding out their hands for you to fill with cash.

I'd also suggest that you get a power supply for the 272 before getting expensive speakers, even if it means spending less on the speakers. 

One thing I forgot to mention - because of their downward firing port, the K6s are incredibly forgiving from a positional perspective, and do not need a huge room unlike some of the 'lesser' ProAcs (my lounge is approx. 5m x 5.2m x 3m). Not saying they're guaranteed to sound good, but you'll have a far greater chance of success than with many other speakers.

Tim

Mm northern Scandinavia! Can you buy a house for the price of those Focals? 

NAP250DR NAC-N272 posted:

Mm northern Scandinavia! Can you buy a house for the price of those Focals? 

I don`t have Focals  and I cannot buy a house for K6 og 40.2 value, you`ll have to raise the price by 60 times or a little less or more, depending on.......

Get more pleasure from the speakers (or the fridge or induction job) than the house tho

I`m not sure what you are talking about, comparing speakers and houses? 

Yes, that was an unnecessary diversion, and not really related to why there is such a limited opportunity to demo high end equipment in nz. 

Back on topic, has anyone heard the Harbeth 40.2s driven by the NAP250DR? 

I don't think there is any Naim user who has the Harbeth M40.2. The NAP 250 DR will surely drive the 40.2, just like the NAP 200. The only issue you will have is you will likely not get the dynamics and bass punch out of the 40.2 at higher listening volumes.

Personally the largest Harbeth speaker I would consider is the SHL5 Plus. I would imagine the 40.2 to sound warmer, thicker and more natural than the Proac K6 which will sound leaner, brighter at the top end and more detailed in comparison. Both speakers would sound very different so the "better" speaker will be dependent on your listening taste and preferences other than the setup, room and electronics.