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If you don’t mind me asking, what amp and source were you using with the H30.1?

Genelec makes a very neutral, dependable product. A quality firm that supports their products for a long time. Their larger models have been disappearing from the market, probably due to most people doing home studios now.

heyy thank you so much. I like the way you talk about sound quite a bit! i am absolutely in love with those e5000! there is something true about how they present music to me that touches my soul and shuts my brain. they always sound a little muddy at first after i tried other supposedly 'better' headphones but that changes after 10seconds (i wear the e5000 quite deep in the ear canal by the way). the timbre is just magical. so far away from tinny and disturbing. have you ever tested similar sounding closed back headphones or IEMs or heck even TWS or wireless headphones? I want that timbre, that warmth and that soul but sometimes I would like, just as you mentioned, just a little less, yet technically better bass, and a tad more details in the mix. In this case i don't care about soundstage size by the way, I really like how they keep the mix coherent and together.

I am not a fan at all of ZEN... a great pairing of dac / streamer ... Lumin Mini (has a great app and can upscale with the Aqua Formula DAC...🎶🎶🎶

I love the Spendors! I can't wait for my D7.2s to arrive this week. I just ordered them from my local dealer, Audio Forum, in Berlin. I auditioned them together with a NAD M10 against similarly priced models with even pricier amplifiers and equipment from Monitor Audio, PMC, Sonus Faber, Audium, JMR Abcisse, B&W, and the Linn 140, and they played in a different league. Even my wife was so impressed that she considered paying for them, ignoring the "boring" design and lack of a high-gloss finish. The D7.2s blew us away after the first 20 seconds of playing difficult orchestral pieces from Rachmaninoff and Lou Reed. The level of detail, crisp bass, and overall smooth transition between mid and high and the clear separation of instruments, airiness and soundstage gave us goosebumps.

Just bagged a pair of Walnut D7.2 and cant wait to pick them up. Have had original D7 since 2018 and love them. I'm hoping for more of the same and no loss of bass.

totaly agree with imaging opinion. I am actually using kef ls50 meta seraching for upgrade, because I simply cant listen reverbes being lasercut placed in to the soundstage. With human voices ls50 meta is very recording quality picky to my ears. Thought Harbeth 30.2 will heal my problem but I am now a bit concerned if it is not very do it all speaker.

Sir , I am so much respectfully thankful for this overview , as I have spent for two days listening Spendor , A4x D7 online . It’s a special sound they do not push for I would call a “space” scene , stage like even BW, Neat, dynaaudio doing , Snedor channels the sound as it should be as if on every channel in studio recorded with no other space echoes sounds …it’s an amazing , as if you listen every instrument in the song on every remote speaker placed as the musician got it. There is only question that I become stuck between A4, D7, and PMC 5.23, 5.26. Ad they are relatively aimed at the same idea of straight sound channel stream . Maybe I would still try Neat Motive SX2. I would like I am sure to buy one if these. Please , kindly help me how to better structure the test procedure to single out the right one for my ears. I listen to ELP, Doors, King Crimson, JCSS, Jethro Tull , Credence , Classical Music . I am almost sure the Spendor are just my final station of pure happiness .

Hi, I have the opportunity to acquire some Harbeth M30.2 xd for 3k. I like to listen to classic rock. Do you recommend these speakers at this price

I also find that "simple" music are what my current KEF speakers shine with (acoustic, vocal, pop, folk, bluegrass) .. Everything I've heard about Harbeth makes me think they'd be ideal for my tastes -- but having no chance to hear them where I live, that's quite a pricey investment to take in the dark. So for my next upgrade, I'm leaning a little more toward KEF R3 Metas - because I know I'll love em. (replacing my current q150s) .. I'd love to hear from a Harbeth owner who also has experience with KEFs and might be able to explain the most striking differences. I'm sure they're quite far apart in tonal quality. The KEFs certainly don't sound their best with poorly mixed or very old recordings. (Original masters of Pre 1950s jazz leaves a lot to be desired) so that's one way Harbeth would probably benefit me. I'd also like to find a second set of speakers that are best for high energy music (eg Smashing Pumpkins Melon Collie) .. I like all styles of music , but my Kefs lose coherence when I throw on music with too much going on. I wouldn't even know where to begin to look, as I'm somewhat new to the speaker market and lack experience with most brands.

100% right I❤ this streamer

Very good overview with clear explanations. Great work! But I see it's been a couple years since your last upload. Hope all's well and that you reconsider making videos again. Take care either way :)

i have the Harbeth C7s and *they* are very quick/fast. And it's cheaper than the 30.1s!

Has anyone compared the harbeth 30.1 vs 30.2xd vs 30.2 40th anniversary? If so what are the major differences.

Can you recommend Heed Obelisk for the A Line? I have heard, it is the best match ever. Thank You!

An audiophile’s MIStake. There is no such thing as a principal difference between a studio monitor and an “audiophile” speaker. Once you’ve learned how a speaker should really sound, that is to say neutral, like e.g. Genelec’s The Ones, then you’ll be realising how biased you’ve always been, and how flawed so many speakers actually are. And from that moment on there’s no way back.

The mids are not tilted up, the whole frequency range is neutral that's the design goal of monitors and these are £3.5K they are some of the best monitors manufactured today. If the mods are tilted up it's your ears or your room not these speakers. Also they go down to 35hz I'm tested it using a tone sweep on here.

Thanks for your review on H 390. I have Spendor D7s and Chord Quetest DAC. Source is Apple Music. Thinking of getting H-190. What would you say is the advantage of going with H390 vs H190 when pairing it with this combo?

I use the D8000 Pro with my AK SP8000 together with the AK PA10 and I find this compo to be absolutely gorgeous

The reason you thing the mids are pronounced are because youre listening to inaccurate consumer speakers with low end and treble emphasis being standard. They are +/- 1.5 dB from lowest to highest reproduceable range. They are what the music actually sounds like. What youve heard previously is not accurate. Music producer of 20years here and audiophile who used to design systems up to $100'000 per pair

ok, so the choice is to get a neutral correct sounding box and add character or diversions if wanted or needed, or then, get a premixed fixed coloration and try to fix it, or live with the tint.

Super excellent review. It's a pleasure to listen to such an enthusiastic guy like you! Have you maybe listened to the latest speakers from Living Voice like the R25 and could do a quick comparison? Cheers!

Hi there thank you for your review. I think you covered the topic very well and you also referenced it to previous systems, which is why I wanted to ask you a question. Currently I do own the H360 on a pair of C4 Dynaudio. I am considering the H390 but am not sure whether it is worth the money. Could you pls help me a little bit on that. I only do stream via a N130 and make use of the Hegel DAC. Thanx

I wonder how 30.1 pair with Yamaha A-s1200 🤔. They sure will look amazing together.

I saw you had Hegel amplifier there. What do you think pairing it with the Hegel?

I bought a Classic Sp 1\2 …yes i have found my Nirvana. They are so neutral, musically, the medium are really excellent and the low frequency are controlled. I drive them with a Rotel Michi x3 and i’am very …happy 😊

Excellent video, we need more of these brand overview videos on TH-cam. Question regarding the Classics, you mention that they would suit jazz well but I wonder what type of jazz you are refering to? It is an extremely broad genre spanning from easy listening smooth jazz to dissonant free jazz, I'd imagine it's more the former than the latter? I am an avid hard bop and modal listener and would think the D series is more suited, however it would be good to hear your opinion on this as I haven't had a chance to listen to Spendor in person yet.

I have owned my Zen for over 6 years, more than anything else in my system. I love it, and it is a strong platform for Roon, both Core and player, as well as a streamer.

Great review! The 'best' active speakers I've heard for musical enjoyment are the Focal Shape 65'. Would love to see a review on those :)

I love the wide soundstage of Dynaudio speakers. They plays big! How are the Spendor D7.2s' soundstage in comparison to dynaudio?

I am absolutely sure the zmf caldera will be your endgame

Spendor is a great company. They have the sense to look back to move forward, offering choices that appeal to a large and diverse population of enthusiasts.

Bookshelf speakers survive better the inclinations of cats!

Showing a pic of the pads you talking about would've helped alot instead of just saying it , I don't and some don't remember the look of it ..

How do I become an audiophile? Having been a musician for the best part of my life I never listened to music as you do. The mathematical approach. Can guys like you enjoy music even when being played from a 1970's cassette player? I always wonder. Just enjoying the artist's creativity?

Please can tell me for comfort and isolation and need to talking with this and be aware of sorrounding and here myself when talking with no ear sound pressure....i search less isolation more open filling where wire them...?

I have been a recording engineer for about 17 years, and listened to tons of audio gear RME was my latest DAC I tried, and although it is flatter than most Chinese DACs such as Topping and SMSL, it is still harsh somewhere in 1khz-2.5khz, when I say "somewhere", it that no matter how much I tried to EQ out that harshness (without killing clarity of sound), the harshness remained. Also, sound is further back from you, like you are listening at the distance. It does color the sound, but I can't say in a good way. The transients are very clear, and sharp, which can be painful for long sessions. I hear all kinds of details, but the sound is too bright to enjoy Bass is also missing something that was there when I listen through my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 interface, where I had full lush bass, but transients were not as snappy as RME. I personally would go for an interface or another DAC that is less harsh. The problem with almost ALL Chinese DACs is that they are all hyped in the low end and highs. SMSL SU-9 Pro was the one that was dead close to my Saffire Pro 40 in bass response, but had harsh sounds at the high frequencies, and missing midrange. Topping E90 Velvet had similar sound, but much more muddy and less clear. But bass was a bit less pronounced than SMSL SU-9 PRO. Still better than RME imo. My RME ADI-2 DAC had AK4493 chip, which is better than the one they got into Gen 3 model. Sound of ADI-2 DAC is too cold, it's not neutral, it's kind of harsh, and I wanted to keep that unit, because input and output latency (round trip latency) is 2.063 ms. Which is incredible, but I don't like the sound. It's not neutral enough to keep for recording, and it's too harsh to keep for listening to music and video games. I feel it in my ears, as pain after hours of listening to ADI-2. Maybe some won't be bothered, but I can feel it. My ADI-2 is being returned, as did Topping and SMSL DACs.

Room-calibrated Genelec The Ones. Nothing beats the soundstage.

No more content? I bought my 390 because of your review! 👍🏼👍🏼

I was going into this video what the fuck would this guy know... Then I saw his ears.

SO how much should the power cord be relative to the price of the amp / component? This hobby can get insane as power cords can range from 0.99 to $8,000. There has to be some "not insane" figure or percentage. lol

today in 2023 you still think they best for the price point or have better?>

I’m currently using a Hegel H190 with B&W 704s2 speakers, do you think moving up to a H390 would make a noticeable difference with my speakers?

This is one of the BEST Gaia reviews without a sound demo you are SPOT ON in your assessment on them,but especially your "Price to Performance ratio" analysis that`s the key right there. Personally I don`t believe they are "over priced" one single bit and I`m a "serial tweaker" & upgrader - THESE ARE THE BEST TWEAK/UPGRADE I have ever made to our system in over 25yrs and I`ve had quite a few:linear psu`s,oak cone feet,silicone isolation,tonearm upgrades/tweaks,isolation platforms,speaker cables,power amps,pre amps,turntables,interconnects,etc.etc.etc.

Is this integrated Class A? (Or AB..? D..?). Nice comment about the mains cable.

Interesting review. You talk of ‘simple music’, a few instruments and vocals. I listen very often to ‘TOOL’. Is this too much for the 30.1?

Thanks for the video. It's a pity you stopped making videos 😢

Is the Parasound hca 1500a that I have enough for my Magnepans or the H390 is better? Parasound has 315 watts at 4 Ohms with a 60a current.

Great review, I’m considering the 390 and I think your review has made up my mind.

Can glm work with a single monitor?