Came across this intersting thread while going through the Harbeth User Group...intersting concept with a practical approach by Alan Shaw
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It isn't just this thread, the entire forum is a great place for the thinking rational audiophile.
Alan is the owner of Harbeth, and also the designer. He participates regularly in the forum. All posts are pre moderated, so the forum is a little slow, which isn't a bad thing necessarily!
As with all user forums, this one too breeds cult behaviour, but if that is kept in mind, it is a very useful place to read about all aspects of audio, not just speakers.
Alan is one of a rare breed. He is quite happy to admit that Harbeth Special Edition speakers, using OFC wiring and expensive veneers are made only because there is a market demand for these, and not for SQ reasons. He is equally honest in saying that the latest model of any speaker he makes is only an evolutionary iteration of a model line that goes back thirty or more years and buying to upgrade from one iteration to the next does not make sense in most cases, unless you have money to spend.
A cynic may say that this is also a subtle form of marketing, but that doesn't take anything away from the immensely useful audio system knowledge base that resides in HUG.
Highly recommended.