anyone heard the Harbeth 40.1's

2bigears · « **on:** 4 Feb 2009, 01:35 am »

what a simple lookin' speaker,zero flash here.how do they sound,,,,?? any help thks

jhm731 · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 01:51 am »

Quote from: 2bigears on 4 Feb 2009, 01:35 am

what a simple lookin' speaker,zero flash here.how do they sound,,,,?? any help thks

Do a search on:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/regsaudioforum/

Lots of Harbeth fanboys and measurements.

BTW- there's two pairs for sale on audiogon.

PS- this is the best looking H40 set up I've seen:

2bigears · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 02:01 am »

same price as Vandy 5A's ,,,, in a real square box.is it the dollar exchange ??

TONEPUB · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 02:08 am »

Got a pair in for review right now and am buying the review pair..

One of the most musical speakers I've EVER heard at ANY price!
And if I could figure out how to upload a pic I would.

We'll have a full review in April.

$6900 with stands is a steal.

The only reason I got rid of my Compact 7ES-3s' was to buy
the 40.1's. Absolutely fantastic.

Way more interesting and musical than Vandersteen 5a's, much
more tonally correct. (and Yes, I've had 5as') The 5a's will let you
play pink floyd at a higher level, but the Harbeths are much more
magical.

When at The Show last month, I went into the Harbeth room with
my good friend Rob LoVerde (Mastering Engineer at MoFi) to listen
to their latest Marvin Gaye release on SACD. Alan Shaw from
Harbeth had them hooked up to the Luxman L-590A II integrated
and D7 disc player (of which I own both pieces).

20 sec into the disc, Rob said "I've spent three months with this
master tape and this sounds EXACTLY like what I heard in the
studio..."

So, don't just take it from me...

Snap em up at this price before someone else does.

Even at retail, these speakers are worth every penny.

2bigears · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 02:17 am »

well thks much for that,you may have just cost me.next question is,how can they do this with the box they come in.do they use top secret type drivers ,, they just look simple and plain..????

zybar · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 03:21 am »

Being a 5A owner, I would definitely like to hear a pair of 40.1's and hear what they sound like.

Thanks for your comments Jeff.

George

rydenfan · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 03:33 am »

you would probably get more responses in audio central as compared to the review section...

I have always been very impressed every time I have heard Harbeth speakers but have never auditioned them in my home.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 03:39 am »

If they weren't in a simple box, they could probably charge twice as much...

You need to hear them. You will either respond to what they do or you won't.
If you really like to rock at heavy duty levels the 5a's are a better choice.

It will also depend on the gear you are mating them with. These speakers
completely reveal what is in the chain behind them, so the better the rest
of your system is, the better the results.

Also, if we are comparing to the 5A, the 5A is a much better "big room" speaker
than the 40.1. The 40.1's are meant to be about 5-7 feet apart and listened to about
6-8 feet back.

So, as always it depends on what your needs are....

2bigears · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 03:50 am »

my room is on the small side and the system gear is pretty good stuff.i do do mostly rock,old time stuff.loud is good,but not enough to damage the old ears.are you saying they don't like rock,they lean to classical stuff.think my room is too small for 5A's.these spark interest.also,the KEF 207's look interesting also.Jeff,have you heard these ?? they can be had for around the same $$....thks

2bigears · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 03:57 am »

opppssss,wrong address.....so sorry guys

ted_b · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 04:17 am »

The 40.1's are one of 4 or 5 (at most) pairs of speakers I could live on a desert island with (my SP Techs, and ATC's to name two others

). They are as musical as they get. A wonderful sound that I always seek out at RMAF, CES, etc. Wonderful speakers. A musical instrument, really (that plain box is actually tuned like a musical instrument, and they vibrate around in that tuned box very nicely).

TerryO · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 04:29 am »

Quote from: 2bigears on 4 Feb 2009, 03:50 am

my room is on the small side and the system gear is pretty good stuff.i do do mostly rock,old time stuff.loud is good,but not enough to damage the old ears.are you saying they don't like rock,they lean to classical stuff.think my room is too small for 5A's.these spark interest.also,the KEF 207's look interesting also.Jeff,have you heard these ?? they can be had for around the same $$....thks

The KEF 207's don't measure up to the Harbeth's, but then very few do. I've never heard a pair of Harbeth's that wasn't topnotch and I've heard some very ($$$$) highend speakers. They use a special (inhouse) woofer that according to some reviewers has "no sound of it's own." I don't know about that, but they sound more life-like than just about any conventional speaker.

If you are consumed with doubts, don't buy any speakers that cost more than a couple of hundred dollars until you get to hear the 'Beth's. Or just live large and buy them, it may very well be your last pair of speakers

Best Regards,
TerryO

2bigears · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 04:55 am »

thks guys,to say the least,i am blown away.may have to give them a run....

they are ok for rock and roll,right...

jhm731 · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 05:52 am »

The "top secret type driver:"

"The core of the Harbeth sound is the exclusive RADIAL™ driver technology" found in the H40/40.1's midrange driver, see:

http://www.harbeth.co.uk/uk/uploadfolder/m40t_a_s.pdf

If you want to sit on a stool like REG, see: http://www.regonaudio.com/REG%20Listening%20Room.html,
and the rest of the Harbeth nearfield marching band, you just found your perfect speaker.

Since I doubt TONEPUB will provide any measuremnts in his upcoming rave review, I suggest you look at the JA's H40.1 in room measurements. Red curve-AD's room. Blue curve- JA's room.

richidoo · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 06:09 am »

I've heard them at RMAF last two years. Better this year with lots of bass treatment to help the single bass driver dig deep. I prefer more midrange detail (tonal texture) than the plastic driver offers, but it is not veiled by any means, just slightly smooth. They are easy to place in a room, I think because of the thinwall, screwed, solid wood cabinet. Worth every penny at that price. The importer Walter Swanbon is a great guy.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #15 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 08:24 am »

Quote from: jhm731 on 4 Feb 2009, 05:52 am

The "top secret type driver:"

"The core of the Harbeth sound is the exclusive RADIAL™ driver technology" found in the H40/40.1's midrange driver, see:

http://www.harbeth.co.uk/uk/uploadfolder/m40t_a_s.pdf

If you want to sit on a stool like REG, see: http://www.regonaudio.com/REG%20Listening%20Room.html,
and the rest of the Harbeth nearfield marching band, you just found your perfect speaker.

Since I doubt TONEPUB will provide any measuremnts in his upcoming rave review, I suggest you look at the JA's H40.1 in room measurements. Red curve-AD's room. Blue curve- JA's room.

And your point?

JA doesn't know any more about measuring speakers than I do.

He does not have any formal training in electronics, engineering or acoustics.
As I recall the people at Harbeth were in disagreement with JA's measurments
of their speakers, which were measured professionally at the BBC's laboratories.

Neither we nor Harbeth said anything about a "top secret driver".

I like the Harbeths a lot. I'll tell you why I like them in the upcoming review.
If you feel intrigued enough by the review to investigate for yourself, you will
have to decide whether you like them as much as I do. If you do, buy em if
you can afford em. If you don't, continue on your quest for the speaker that
makes you happy.

I suspect, just like any other speaker, you will listen to them and respond one
way or another, as you would with any other thing that you have purchased.

If there was one way to audio nirvana, there wouldn't be so many choices.

And I think you might be surprised at just how much detail the Harbeths DO
provide, given the right electronics. I've now tried them with about ten different
sets of amplification from the Red Wine Audio 30.2's all the way up to a CJ premier
350.

I've also tried them with about six different sets of cable as well.

If you haven't heard the speaker in your room with your gear, you really
don't have much to comment on. Every component made has its set of
compromises, I particularly like these and could easily live with these for good,
especially in a small to medium sized room.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #16 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 08:51 am »

Hello Pat....

Hope all's well up there...Spring is just around the corner...

I see your on the hunt for more speakers...Harbeth 40's...a good speaker.

What amp/preamp are you going to pair these with ? Good luck....

Chris

2bigears · « **Reply #17 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 09:45 am »

hey Chris,how goes the winter ???? i am with the VAC Sig MK2 pre with MF KW750 amp.i would hope this is good enough for the 40's....

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #18 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 09:55 am »

Quote from: 2bigears on 4 Feb 2009, 09:45 am

hey Chris,how goes the winter ???? i am with the VAC Sig MK2 pre with MF KW750 amp.i would hope this is good enough for the 40's....

You'll be fine then Pat....

Winter goes on...snowed yesterday....cold today...Spring 45 days away...

Good luck........

pardales · « **Reply #19 on:** 4 Feb 2009, 12:38 pm »

I heard a pair at AKFest 08', in the David Michael Audio room. I do not remember what electronics they had driving them though. I thought they were a really impressive sounding speaker but doubt I heard all they could do as the set-up in the hotel room was not optimal. They sounded pretty soulful as I recall. I remember that they were spinning some 50's jazz on vinyl at the time

Harbeth has a definite "house sound" of sorts. I have heard the 5's and 7's in my own room and almost bought the 7's. Alas, I decided they were not for me but it is worth seeking out a Harbeth speaker if you have not heard one. They do some really special things that many people will find very pleasing to the ear.