Absolute Phase
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Harbeth Loudspeakers are on demo at Absolute Phase. Demo via prior appointment only.
More awards for Harbeth Loudspeakers in 2016 for THE ABSOLUTE SOUND 2016 EDITORS CHOICE AWARD:clapping:
Welcome to the 2016 edition of The Absolute Sounds Editors Choice Awards, our annual Recommended Products list. On the following pages we present the gear that our editors and writers have selected as most worthy of your consideration. These are the components we ourselves would buyor recommend to friends and family. Each product category is divided into price ranges, with components listed in order of ascending cost (though some items, like accessories, are listed alphabetically). Each recommendation is also accompanied by a capsule review, the original reviewers name or initials, and the issue the review appeared in. Note that in a few cases a product may have been reviewed in one of our sister publications, Playback or AVguide. com, or the review may have been completed but not yet published, or the product may not have been formally reviewed but has still earned a recommendation based on a writers extensive experience with it. Given that this is the high end, where components generally have long lifespans, some of our recommendations look back several years. At the same time, in an effort to be as selective and up-to-date as possible, we have dropped some components that appeared on last years list, usually because they have been discontinued but sometimes because fresh competition has caused us to reconsider the choice.
Harbeth P3ESR :This latest version of Alan Shaws subcompact monitor is so cannily designed it almost transcends the limitations of its genre. Neutrality and natural tonal balance reign supreme, but this one can also play loud and descend to depths in the bass. Exceptional driver integration, coherence, and openness also characterize the design. PSs favorite mini-monitor.
Harbeth C7ES-3 : Arguably the ne plus ultra of BBC 2-way designs, with bass down to 46Hz, an essentially perfect midrange, and a top end that reproduces ambience fantastically, the 7ES-3 will play loud enough for serious music listeners (though not for head-bangers). With respect to accuracy, neutrality, and natural tonal balance the 7 establishes for PS a new benchmark for compact 2-ways.
Harbeth Monitor 30.1 : The best compact 2-way speaker system PS has heard, the 30.1 boasts high neutrality, superb resolution, and a matching of drivers with respect to sonic character that is equaled by only a small handful of multiple driver dynamic loudspeakers. Speaking with a single voice in a way reminiscent of Quad ESLs, it is also of similar vanishingly low coloration and distortion, high transparency, and sheer musical authority, with an absolutely ravishing midrange. You can listen to it without fatigue for literally hours on end. PS,
Harbeth SuperHL5plus : Alan Shaws new Harbeth SuperHL5plus is one of the most beautiful-sounding speaker systems reviewer Paul Seydor has heard since the original Quad electrostatic, with the same musicality and naturalness of the Quad, and a really extraordinary top-to-bottom coherence evinced by few dynamic speakers of any type. The principal deviation from absolute neutrality is a slightly forgiving quality throughout the presence range; yet, the speaker in no sense lacks presence or lifelike vitality. The midrange is drop-dead gorgeous, the top end sweet and detailed. In sum, a reference-caliber component that always sounds like music.
Harbeth M40.2 : The new version of the M40 (REGs reference) has a slightly more forward midrange, more domesticated (less pro) tonal balance, and higher sensitivity. A BBC-style 3-way monitor, with Harbeth bass and mid drivers and SEAS Excel tweeter. Neutral sound, exceptional midrange clarity, refined and extended treble, full bass extension in room, and surprisingly outside the box imaging.
More awards for Harbeth Loudspeakers in 2016 for THE ABSOLUTE SOUND 2016 EDITORS CHOICE AWARD:clapping:
Welcome to the 2016 edition of The Absolute Sounds Editors Choice Awards, our annual Recommended Products list. On the following pages we present the gear that our editors and writers have selected as most worthy of your consideration. These are the components we ourselves would buyor recommend to friends and family. Each product category is divided into price ranges, with components listed in order of ascending cost (though some items, like accessories, are listed alphabetically). Each recommendation is also accompanied by a capsule review, the original reviewers name or initials, and the issue the review appeared in. Note that in a few cases a product may have been reviewed in one of our sister publications, Playback or AVguide. com, or the review may have been completed but not yet published, or the product may not have been formally reviewed but has still earned a recommendation based on a writers extensive experience with it. Given that this is the high end, where components generally have long lifespans, some of our recommendations look back several years. At the same time, in an effort to be as selective and up-to-date as possible, we have dropped some components that appeared on last years list, usually because they have been discontinued but sometimes because fresh competition has caused us to reconsider the choice.
Harbeth P3ESR :This latest version of Alan Shaws subcompact monitor is so cannily designed it almost transcends the limitations of its genre. Neutrality and natural tonal balance reign supreme, but this one can also play loud and descend to depths in the bass. Exceptional driver integration, coherence, and openness also characterize the design. PSs favorite mini-monitor.
Harbeth C7ES-3 : Arguably the ne plus ultra of BBC 2-way designs, with bass down to 46Hz, an essentially perfect midrange, and a top end that reproduces ambience fantastically, the 7ES-3 will play loud enough for serious music listeners (though not for head-bangers). With respect to accuracy, neutrality, and natural tonal balance the 7 establishes for PS a new benchmark for compact 2-ways.
Harbeth Monitor 30.1 : The best compact 2-way speaker system PS has heard, the 30.1 boasts high neutrality, superb resolution, and a matching of drivers with respect to sonic character that is equaled by only a small handful of multiple driver dynamic loudspeakers. Speaking with a single voice in a way reminiscent of Quad ESLs, it is also of similar vanishingly low coloration and distortion, high transparency, and sheer musical authority, with an absolutely ravishing midrange. You can listen to it without fatigue for literally hours on end. PS,
Harbeth SuperHL5plus : Alan Shaws new Harbeth SuperHL5plus is one of the most beautiful-sounding speaker systems reviewer Paul Seydor has heard since the original Quad electrostatic, with the same musicality and naturalness of the Quad, and a really extraordinary top-to-bottom coherence evinced by few dynamic speakers of any type. The principal deviation from absolute neutrality is a slightly forgiving quality throughout the presence range; yet, the speaker in no sense lacks presence or lifelike vitality. The midrange is drop-dead gorgeous, the top end sweet and detailed. In sum, a reference-caliber component that always sounds like music.
Harbeth M40.2 : The new version of the M40 (REGs reference) has a slightly more forward midrange, more domesticated (less pro) tonal balance, and higher sensitivity. A BBC-style 3-way monitor, with Harbeth bass and mid drivers and SEAS Excel tweeter. Neutral sound, exceptional midrange clarity, refined and extended treble, full bass extension in room, and surprisingly outside the box imaging.
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