My ATC 20s have been banned

I quite liked the tonality of the active 50s I had, nice music making, I didn't find them cold at the time, tastes do change, but I can quite understand about the thwack issue, I havne't heard many spx. that do thwack.
Dreadfully disappointing to realise 9 inchers, or even 15s don't thwack.
Even proacs response 3 which are giants weren't any better than my bro's respose 1sc's.

The harbeths' are great, one of the very best, but i thought the bass was a bit of a limp lettuce, in comparison to the peerless mid and top.
Interesting, alan shaw said he doens't like forwardness, but I did find them a tad forward.

 

I found that as well - great tonally and make pretty good music.. And they give an idea of what's going on in the bottom octave - much more than I feel a lot of hifi speakers with that 50ish HZ bloom so it sounds impressive..

Harbeth 40s gave a much better picture of the bass, with that lovely BBC mid/top - though they are big buggers when sat on their stands, and not the most handsome of speakers.. Heavy as well, especially if you get the active ones..

However, I can recommend THESE again for those who don't mind a strange pagoda in their living room. I like the look of them, and they sound brilliant (at least as good as anything else at the £3k mark), with an amazing soundstage..

Otherwise Kef 104/2s 2nd hand are a great bargain..

 

Please do and tell us about it, I'm currently investigating the SHL 5s, too.

 

Any idea of their cost in active form? Also, do they have digital equalisation? The Harbeth website is curiously devoid of info on those.

 

Markus, drop an email to Alan Shaw (the contact email's on the website), he's very happy to answer questions.

-- Ian

 

Try Canford:
http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/productdetails.aspx?productid=76-136

They're nearly £6k active, and if I remember correctly have nothing fangled and digital in them (pah!), but they do have a bass/treble level control of some sort..
Passive are £4250.

 

And if you want something unobtrusive, check THESE out.
I though they were taking the piss, but perhaps not
Rock loudspeakers, whatever next!

 

And even more ridiculous - the Punk Rock , Soundstone, Rocky 2
Wonder where you can demo these?

 

yes afaik, most actives have analogue stuff on board, amplification, one to each speaker unit, an active crossover, this IMO largely will set the 'tone', and give that studio sound, protection to drive units via limiters, and a volume boost/cut(shelving filter) on both top and bottom, and perhaps frequency cut for room adjustment.

you pays £1800 for this on the harbeths, I bet they are nice, you get around 250 watt amps for this. May be a tad clean with the amps, sometimes its nicer to get outboard amps, Michell alectos or sugden masterclass would partner these nicely methinks

 

i know how matt feels. i bought a pair of martin logan sequal SL3's last week and the other half won't allow me to connect them up. looks like i won't even get to hear them as she says they go or i go!

 

r&r is she really that bad that she would end your relationship over them?!?!

I think I'd be tempted to say

' if our relationship means less to you than the aesthetics of our living room, then maybe YOU should go!'

Dont listen to me though, you'll end up a bachelor!

 

Call her bluff.

If you relationship is worth anything then you'll stay together. If a pair of speakers is all it takes to finish a relationship then it isn't worth having anyway.

 

Joel on your link to the harbeth site there is a man looking lovingly at a pair.

In order to enjoy these speakers do you need to wear a jumper like that, and do you need to smoke a pipe?

 

...and wear slippers, have a log fire, a lap dog and malt whiskey slightly uncool, harbeths...

 

They don't sound too bad either, and with a little work can really come alive

 

Do tell.

 

To all guys on here that have a problem with their wife/girlfriend insisting that speakers are ugly. Just tell them that you are willing to change as long as they look like this.

http://www.glacieraudio.com/Manufac/gilmore-a.html

A nice top end, beautifull bottom end and I bet the middle range is pretty hot.

However, if you have one that already looks like this, what the HE_LL you moaning about.

Ken

 

So,
good-looking speakers that sound good. My suggestions:

Neat Acoustics
System Audio
Infinity (although I have to admit I think I prefer the more natural styling of the first 2 companies. Despite the fact that I have a pair of these)

andy c

 

Ken, she has boss eyes.

 

garyi,

I was talking about the speakers!!!!

With a pair like that and a tight bottom end in your room, who cares about her eyes!!!!!

(she is actually on of USA' top models).