Imperfectly perfect. Why the Harbeth P3ESR may become my FINAL loudspeaker!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Paying respect to the P3ESR.
Harbeth P3ESR Product Page:
www.harbeth.co...
Harbeth P3ESR 40th Anniversary Product Page:
www.harbeth.co...
US Distributor (FidelisAV) Page:
www.fidelisav....
#Harbeth #P3ESR #ZeroFidelity
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Want to see the crossovers? Then visit the following website:
www.hificorner...
Want a soundclip comparison between the M20.1 (P3ESR) and the 40th Anniversary P3ESR? Then check this out: • 【PK】 HARBETH M20 1 VS...
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Link to my original review of the P3ESR: • Harbeth P3ESR Review!
Link to my review of the P3ESR 40th Anniversary: • The Harbeth P3ESR (40t...
I used to have the standard P3ESR (not the 40th Avviversary), which I loved for many years. Now I own Falcon LS3/5a. In comparison, the Falcons are truer but also more 'ruthless'. The Harbeth are more easy-going and can work well with not so good recordings. The Falcons do not ameliorate non-ideal recordings. So, horses for courses.
Wow unbelievable... I just bought a pair after months and months saving money! I can't believe you're talking about them!! Well I love the P3ESRs, in fact, Hartbeth is the reason why I'm an audiophile I just admire their products and the way they do business, their philosophy... amazing speakers, amazing brand... if "love" could be materialized and converted into a product, that would be the P3ESRs... sweet, warm, beautiful like the girl you love most. That's what I feel when I look and listen to the P3ESRs. I want to kiss them! haha
Hell yeah! I hope you enjoy them for many, many years!
@@ZeroFidelity thanks Sean!! Oh! And they are the original ones, forgot to mention that in my comment.
Congratulations, enjoy them in good health!
@@512bb thanks!!
I used to have these paired with 2x Rel t7i before I had to sell my setup to move overseas. Was absolutely my favourite Hifi setup. Can’t wait till I get it all back. They pair great with the Lavardin isx amp too
I have always loved the wood finish of Harbeth speakers! That P3ESR is gorgeous.
Looks don’t make it sound bette, but it does look better
I love my P3ESRs. I've been through a lot of speakers to get them and the only thing I'd think about changing them for is the new version of the P3ESR. I reckon they're actually pretty good value for something made by craftspeople in the UK. If you can tolerate lesser speakers, that's great for you but I use mine every day and expect to get many years of happy listening out of them - plus they've still got value when I go deaf or die so that seems like pretty good use of money to me.
Your videos have really grown on me. I appreciate the thought you put into them. This one was very interesting, with a lot of insight. It's nice to see videos from a person who is as passionate about audio as you are.
Your comments about the desktop/ near-field experience being potentially so important for you in the near future are very relevant; what with condos and residences in general getting smaller and smaller (in larger cities), it makes a lot of sense to be concerned about near-field listening quality.
I appreciate it SV. Not sure how my videos could grow on anyone - but I'm glad you're here just the same. :)
@@ZeroFidelity lol. Cheers to that! Have a great weekend!
There is nothing I miss listening to mine!
They are perfect for me! I‘ve finally arrived
Given the fact this speaker closes shop @75hz +/-3dB i'd say you don't know what you are missing.
Really good, honest video Sean. You mentioned the original p3 was smooth and easy, like all the music was recorded in the same studio but still that was one thing you really liked about them. I recently refurbished some 35 year old classic speakers which sound fantastic and I was thinking the exact same thing, all my music had that same similar “house” sound... I was thinking that was a fault but after hearing you comment this speaker had that same character and how much you valued that it made me realize I could really appreciate that quality too in my speakers. Thanks for your insight...Marc
That rosewood is to DIE for. I know we LISTEN to speakers but many of us place quite a bit of emphasis on how they look as well. I share your eclectic taste in music, which drives my wife crazy. If I had to pick just one pair to live with for the rest of my life it would have to be my original walnut veneer bullnose Advents. Believe it or not, they sound darn good in a nearfield environment as well as in a traditional listening setup. They have the low end grunt, and the fried egg tweeter is more that adequate for the top end. Too bad you can't get the 40th Anniversary Harbeth's in rosewood.
Yep, it's gorgeous in person! And yep - sometimes going from one genre to another will drive the innocent bystander absolutely nuts!
Great video Sean,
I agree with your comments. There comes a time and place for everything and Life can be tuff at times so all of this stuff about "chasing the Dragon" and your never satisfied with what you got don't buy it, it's all about choices everybody don't have the Luxury like you or the other reviews that have a ton of product coming in to review
And able to listen to a lot of different setups and products
And given your experience it sounds like you have made that determining factor that "IF IT CAME DOWN TO JUST ONE SPEAKER" could live the rest of your days with the Harbeth so with that being said 👍👍
This reminds me of myself always going back to sennheiser hd600s or 650s after all the hyper detailed and/or unnatural sounding hyped up high end headphones
Although I enjoy the sound of Harbeth speakers, I still believe that they are way over priced. IMHO
I hear you. I think its all a matter of what you want and value.
Couldn’t agree with you more. 👍🏻
Things ain't cheap these days. Made in UK has lot to do with it. I personally wouldn't buy Harbeth made elsewhere. Heritage is something worth pay for.
So to everyone liking this comment, I have a question for you all: How much experience do you have running a successful high end audio business? Are you familiar with freight costs, manufacturing costs, parts procurement costs, taxes, duties, labor, r&d, office essentials, marketing budgets, travel budgets, tradeshow budgets, basic economics, and all that goes into producing a product? Do you think that sourcing legal timbre, paying people a proper living wage under UK law, designing and then building your own woofers in-house, assembling most products by-hand with exacting quality control - all comes cheap? What other British company is offering the same product for significantly less money that isn't mass-produced and uses the same approach listed above?
@@ZeroFidelity Not British, but Danish: Buchardt.
I like everything you have noted about these speakers except for two things.
1 - I haven't heard them. Hearing them through excellent equipment and fed from good source material would be critical. Sadly, when it comes to listening to a wide variety of equipment, I'm not anywhere in your league.
2 - I'm now semi-retired. I simply don't have a flexible enough budget to buy them as well as all the components that would properly feed these nice appearing speakers.
So, I will continue to watch, and occasionally salivate over the components you review.
Keep on doing the excellent reviews. I just hope you're financially rewarded commensurate with your presentation skills.
I couldn't bring myself to sell my P3ESRs, even though I've gotten my dream speakers - the Super HL5+, which I first fell in love with in 2015 and was finally able to buy last month.
I hear ya.
Would love HL's in rosewood.
@Fat Rat Theses are the Harbeth(Airbed)phones !
Very few audiophiles ever sell their P3’s. Which is probably the greatest indicator of how great they really are! I know this firsthand, as I’ve been searching Audiogon and other sites for a few years for an “affordable” used pair and have had no luck:)
@@Diatonic5th As a violonist selling a Stradivarius you must have a solid reason to do so.
I've bought the Harbeth P3ESR 40th-anniversary edition but ended up selling on eBay due to a small sound stage and fatiguing highs. They are overly detailed to a point of fatiguing and I could not enjoy them. Please check a few video clips that I posted on TH-cam.
The Dynaudio Special 40 sounds way better than the Harbeth 40th in my system.
Nothing is for everyone. Hence why there are so many options out there. Enjoy the 40's.
Well put. I have just mentioned elsewhere the issue of system matching.
I listened to Special 40 at my dealer and they were so mid fi. P3s overly detailed or fatiguing? Now that's a good one!
@@awdadwadwad1723 Well, you listened to the Dynaudio for a very short period time at your dealer. hahaha. I've compared the Harbeth 40th to the Dynaudio 40th at home side by side for a few months and sold the inferior one on eBay. Also, check Steve Huff's review on Dynaudio Special 40.
I drive my P3s & Rel sub with a Rogue Cronus Magnum 100-watt tube amp and have never got fatigued. I got hyperacusis, a rare hearing condition from listening to them with a super-bright amp (Musical Fidelity) that I sold right away. The Cronus works perfectly with the P3s. I just wish it had more wattage, TBH.
Love your videos Sean. You're very good at what you do which is providing great info, honest opinion, and well thought out.
thanks for framing this speaker to just "desktop" context, it makes it clear for me, crystal clear. thank YOU.
You gotta hear them though! They sound so much bigger than you would believe. No they aren't gonna rattle the rafters but they don't sound tiny and weak AT ALL!
@@trekjudas thks for sharing but for $4000 in my currency for desktop solution and secondarily a music hall listening, is expensive. There are many options.
@@wiebl5266 maybe there are many options but those are one of the best, so why bother looking for smt else
I'm more in the LS3/6 world, but all the BBC speakers share a sound that does music, especially the midrange.
Useful comparison, thanks.
Love the look of speakers from Old Blighty.
I have a pair of ProAc tablettes which are more detailed sounding and scaled down sounding. On the other hand, my black edition LS50s give me that coherent full toned final speaker sound with a pair of REL subs, but not the fine furniture vibe;-)
@H. G. Wells
Good to know.
Got mine for $940 (thanks KEF). $2000 buys a couple of good REL subs, or a lot of CDs
Hi, please please give me advice! I’ve been looking into Falcon ls3/5a or ATC scm7 / 11 / 19 and the Harbeths..
I listen to Vinyl mainly and prefer MC cartridges.
Which speakers overall offers the best sound quality? In that, I mean Voices, textures, separation and soundstage. Bass textures is important too.
Thanks!
Unfortunately - Fat Rat is right. There is no best in terms of sound quality. Just different. And whats more is that all of those speakers do a great job of what you're looking for. The ATC's will give you the fullest-range sounding and the most output capability - so if you listen at loud volumes and value a clean sound - this is the way to go. The Falcons and Harbeths are limited in output, dynamics, and range.. but they will have a warm tone and a more forgiving nature. Which speaker you prefer will boil down to preference. Hard to go wrong with either - especially if you have no reference points to draw from. In that case, you go with whatever is least expensive to you / looks best to you.
Zero Fidelity thank you. I guess what I am trying to ask is which speaker is more capable of conveying real instruments and voices and is musical enough to simulate a live performance. from your answer is seems maybe ATCs are more more neutral and dynamic. Thanks again.
Had the latest Atc scm 11,and will say.They need lots of current to get them awake.With mine i was using a Primare a34.2 power amp,150 wpc ,and even this did not seem to get them going.Low level listen,was not very good,very sterile ,left me cold,and could not listen for too long.Sold them and got Harbeth p3esr se.Best choice ive made.For me they do most things to perferction ,but the Atc scm 11 just did loud.
I give you that: you’re very knowledgeable. Although these Harbeth or any other 1-inch dome tweeter/6-inch woofer small monitor configuration with 87 dB sensitivity isn’t my cup of tea (been there, done that, especially with B & W, Paradigm and JBL). Basically, they all sound the same with minor differences.
Well, if you like “smooth and easy going”, even “revealing“ I guess they’re the way to go. But at 3 K, I guess you can do A LOT of shopping before picking up these. My 0.02.
Videos like this make me regret selling the P3ESR I was using as a desktop/computer speaker. There was some magic in the little box.
Want to see the crossovers on both speakers? Or maybe you'd like to experience some sound clips. If so, expand the description box and follow the links! Note: This is not a formal review. If you want a more detailed analysis, click on the description box and follow the links to my dedicated review(s) of each speaker. Another Edit: A lot of you are asking me about the gear that I use with the P3's. Truth is, I've used literally hundreds of amps on the P3's through the years. So far, my favorite (reasonable) match with them has been the Heed Audio Elixir integrated. Compact. Pretty. Musical. It's a great combo!
IIRC the crossover is indeed slightly different, apart from component selection, saw pictures elsewhere online.
POP THE HOOD 😆
Is that the only link to the crossover, they're not identical and I can't really see the values on both. I don't know If you could take a picture of yours and posted them?
What is so special about the binding posts? They are not silver! Are you finding the anniversary forward side of of Bright, you could stick a resistor in there just off the terminal lead to the tweet try something like 0.3 ohms 7 or10 Watts 1% will pull that top back a bit. Make sure both tested for matching. Try it like this even, find a felt turntable mat thin as possible cheap one, cut it to cover the tweeter baffle slightly overlapping on the bottom wood, quarter of an inch, and slightly underlapping on the top about half an inch exposing the battles age, the centre hole as a rectangle exposing the lip of the tweet baffle about half of an inch, experiment with this because it's a rectangle on the horizontal plane and vertically plane if you feel like you want more vertical plane have the rectangle in the vertical plane and vice versa. but Keep those overlapping gaps top and bottom the same. Stick it down with double-sided tape
Hey Sean, do you use a subwoofer with these?
@Fat Rat thats supposely the best signal transfer conductor right now !
I 100% agree. I have owned Lynn’s, Theal’s, and I have worked with Genelec’s and other amazing reference speakers... The P3ESR is perfection for audiophiles who appreciate reference style audio and have a listening space that is more appropriate for bookshelf speakers. Paired with the Heed Elixer and clearaudio turntable / Rega Planet CD player it’s a joyful and rewarding listening experience.
Michael Polier did you mean Linns and Thiels?
Preach!
Dave Nelson
Yes - I dictated and did not proofread before posting… My bad. Thanks for the correction!!
Great nice review, now I am more torn between what I want to build for a small room or large living room. You made a good point and I just went from a home to an apartment and it is a limiting game changer for my personal enjoyment.
Wondering, however much later, what you're using to drive your desktop system...
Great video!
As I watched this vid and many others listening via an old set of Fried B's - (Rogers LS3/5a upgrades) - Yes - musical and fun to listen through also, somewhat forgiving. Thanks
"Audio version of Sophie's Choice." - Hahaha! Halarious. :)
I get your point Sean but that is so insensitive. If you have known holocaust survivors who lost family on arrival, I think you might not use the term so loosely.
I enjoy your reviews and wish you could review the Super HL5 40th before you make your final mind up as I had both the p3 40th and Super 40th and while I love the p3 40th The Super 40th is ... so I decided in keeping the Supers
I use the Super 40th as a near field desktop which are actually at the sides and set back a little with 2 Rel S5 Sho subs and the sound is amazing
I know you tested the regular HL5 but in my opinion the 40th is very noticeably better
Near field listening on the Super 40th is phenomenal
Also the super 40th are very easy to position unlike your review of the original supers
Having said all that if you were to take one pair of speakers for the rest of your life wherever you go for the ease since they are so small and amazing I can see why the P3 FTW
The 40th would be cool to check out. I had the regular SHL5's for awhile. Enjoy the Super 40th's!
Zero Fidelity thank you and all the best
Number three reason : it’s one of those uncountable pocket sized speakers the manufacturers send around via DHL to all TH-camrs out there …LOL
I’ll keep Dynaudios thank you
I've sold dynaudio contour for shl5+, never looked back. I do admit dynaudio were way more high fidelity, but Harbeth midrange is just addicting.
Frequency response 75hz… wow needs a woofer pretty badly 😅 - for 4500 CAD thats poor value. Many many amazing options at that price.
I can’t think of any other speaker that retains its value as well as the P3’s. It’s impossible to ever find a “cheap” used pair online.
Try getting a JBL 4344 monitor in above average shape. Not only do they hold their value, they've gone up.
Great observation. Something that I forgot to mention in the video... The P3 has commanded a very strong after-market price for the better part of 10 years.
If I'm hearing you correctly, you would not recommend these speakers for a two channel main system? Only for multitask listening while working at the computer? Genuine question as I'm considering these for a small room main system, listening will be opera only.
I'm guessing that ZF likes his volume at high levels. But if you accept their volume limitations, P3s would be great for a small room especially if you can add a REL subwoofer.
Thanks for posting this video and it is very helpful to understand what it is and what situation it is ideal for. May I know what amps you are pairing it with on your desktop setup?
Too many amps to list. A consequence of reviewer life. So far, my favorite (reasonably priced) match has been with the Heed Audio Elixir.
Great one!
I find it very difficult to believe an audiophile would consider any bookshelf as their Last Speaker.
An audiophile is somebody who cares about sound reproduction. I do. And if ya watched the vid until the end, I think you'd get the reasoning why.
Sean has yet to disappoint me with any of his video reviews regardless of whether I'm interested in the particular product he's reviewing or not. Kudos once again Sean. You are the man.
I tell you man, these dudes ears are a national treasure. He is so spot on.
Tone whores unite. Love my pair of Harbeth SHL5+ 40th.
Iv'e owned the P3ESR's for two years now and I'm bored. They could never become your final loudspeaker. We are audiophiles and need to change and upgrade. :) If you're going to keep one pair I'd keep the original.
@ Yippie - We need to change and upgrade? Not always.
@@kingtrance6826 Most audiophiles do, yes.
@ Yippie - yeah well been there done that. I certainly understand the desire to grow and change. Enjoy...
Nah I'm done with mines too. I lost on my audiophile journey about 15-20 grand though.
Where is the 3000 dollars in a pair of bookshelves
I have a pair of P3ESR 40th anniversary, two Lyngdorf BW2 sub woofers, one behind each P3, all being superbly integrated by a Lyndorf TDAI -2170 integrated amplifier with room correction built in. This really is all you would ever need. Truly magical. Truly perfect.
Sounds like a great rig. Enjoy!
I could only IMAGINE....
Richard my main system configuration is very similar to yours and I got the same impression: MAGIC!! I have the P3ESRs with a pair of REL T-Zero subs standing behind each speaker. All connected to a PrimaLuna Prologue integrated amp. Amazing, jazz and female vocals are amazing... and it gets decently loud too! Obivously they are not as "room filling" or punchy as the Buchardts S400s... but the pair of RELs covers the lack of punch of the P3ESR and the results are superb.
NETnews that sound very similar. I think an extra advantage of the Lyndorf approach is that you can set the cutoff frequency of the main and sub speakers first, I have mine set at 150Hz, and then run the RoomPerfect optimisation for your room. This sets the time alignment and the frequency response of the subs to main speakers to be perfect. The result is fantastic and now you can really push the volume as the P3s are cutoff earlier. It’s a bit techy, but worth the time spent. Cheers.
@@richardtrussell8220 wow that's cool man, very clever approach. It's like blending the subs into the speakers and then adapt it to that specific room... I'm sure it sounds amazing, no doubt about it. The only "problem" I have with that kind of solutions is: room correction stuff uses tons of DSP... and I'm a vinyl guy. I prefer to keep everything in the analogue domain in my stereo system.
In my 5.1 system I use room correction though, I have nothing against it... for stereo I follow the romantic way. :D I'm a Harbeth fanboy you know how We are...
I paid $$$ for a pair of 30.2 and McIntosh MA5300 after watching a bunch of great reviews but I am not completely happy with the sound especially for the money. I feel like the details and clarity can be or should be a lot better (especially for the money). Not sure if I am expecting for too much 😜
I could totally see that. The 30.2 uses a soft dome tweeter and has an even more polite sound than the 40th Anniversary P3. I think this is all a part of the discovery process. Keep searching. Try to audition before ya buy. And eventually - you will find the kinda sound that makes you happy.
Hi Sean - Thanks for the review and comparison. I've wondered why the P3's, and others in this range, cost as much as they do. If you have time in your review cycle, you might consider comparing the P3 components and build quality to a few 'generic box' speakers at several other price points. No manufacturer names, just common construction, driver cost ranges, construction materials, crossover quality - stuff like that. You noted that you wouldn't choose the P3's as number 1 in any other situation than the desktop, so you could do the same for a top speaker in a living room environment, like the Tekton Double Impact you mentioned. BTW, check out the Angel Records 1953 recording of Schubert's "Trout" Quintet - Hephzibah Menuhin and the Amadeus Quartet if you can find it.
It is down to the cost of the quality components they are made in small batches usually by hand.
I dig it.I have a main system with large two way horns and tubes.But really I spend wayyyy more time at my desk where LS50's have replaced Mackie MR5's (great $200 option),B&W 302 (great in there day),Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 (great alternative to Elac Unfi 5 or equal) and they could be i my main room with a REL 7 or 9 . and I would be fine.I think the Harbeth would be great move (have heard them at show and in store).Other stand mount my buddies Devore 3XL are mazing (would love for you to get any Devore in for review).Yes often times for the buck large floorstanders is way to go (Thomas has replied to that point with me before).But you are right if a monitor works well near field (there you'd want Buchardt S300 over S400) it is in a way the swiss army knife of transducers.Most can work in large room and pulled off the wall disappear (that's how maestro Guttenberg uses his P3ESR's) and toss a sub and your in business.No it's not going to be a Klipsch Cornwall but you can't put those MF's on your desk or often get the blend say in a bedroom.Maybe the Tekton DI monitor makes sense money wise with a sub but let's face it they are even on stands not the same animal.Want to check out the Revel126be.Supposed to be amazing but at $4K aren't cheap (didn't mention B&W 805D3 because though I have owned many B&W's and worked a few years at a dealership D3's are not worth the cash and the 705's while good meh I have moved on.Long response (which of mine are short) great pointy about small monitors being the safest bet in transducers even with their limitations
I love my LS50's too, without a sub......
U.K. price for the rosewood is £1,895.00 with 20% VAT. So, true price is £1,516, which is $1,993 today. That's about $1,000 or 50%!! U.S. premium. I always wanted Harberth, but 50% premium.. Maybe one day when I visit London, I will bring a pair for $2,000 since a U.S. person is not subject to VAT.
25% increase on all imports into the US as of this summer. Freight costs. Extra red tape. That all costs money. If you're in a position to bring home a set from the UK and don't mind fibbing on your re-entry sheet about the value of the product you purchased and are bringing into the country (or helloooo tax)... then go for it!
Excellent video thanks! Of all the speakers in my shop, The P3 esr XD and the 30.2 XD are my favorites. The 30.2 XD is what I use myself at home.
I tried 30.2 xd and in my room on stands and it was horrible, but i tried them in friends room, just putted on boxes and it was quite good. Room makes impact but xd version tweater felt not ok.
I totally get paying for heritage. Ppl do it all the time when they buy a Harley. And that rosewood cabinet is stunning.
But for that price, I think I’d rather have the Tekton Double Impact.
If people feel this way about Harbeth, I wonder if there will be the same response to McIntosh products... My guess is that the same people will see the big power figures, the big blue meters, and then drop their pants appropriately. :D
If LS3/5A a vocal bias, P3 is both vocal and Bass balance
Excellent Speaker 🔊 Review . Cool Watch . Please Play Yngwie Malmsteen ( Swedish Guitarist ) : Far Beyond The Sun . Take Care
Hi Sean, do you think the P3ESR would pair well with the Yamaha A-S1200? Thanks.
Everyone has their favorite book shelf speakers. If cost is no object, I prefer the KEF Reference 1. On a budget? Dali Rubicon 2.
By far one of the finest for the price indeed. It would be a cold day you know where for me to ever sell my 1988 Celestion SL6se's.
I would go on food stamps before selling my british monitors.
What a great vlog you have given us, thank you.
I missed the boat on the SL6, indeed in '88. They were head and shoulders ahead of all other speakers demo'd.
Harbeth is smoother than ls35a which can be edgy. Never liked kef sound. In a live performance the highs are gentle and subtle but immensely integral to the musical fabric. With Rogers u know you're listening to a speaker, albeit pleasurably, but not to a performance.
we've seriously reached a point where you can have a speaker equal to a 30000 speaker if you're willing to not fall for the hype and just buy the dang prototype and make sure they match
Any Reviews On Tube Amps ? Thank You . Sir .
I love the Harbeth speakers, especially the 40.2s. So tonally correct.
3000usd or 2000usd is just way too much for mini monitor !
This speaker costs 300usd to make , and you can have someone like Danny from GR design mini monitors for 500usd that may rival or beat 3000usd mini bought in the store.
It costs more than $300 to make. And no, Danny doesn't offer anything that can rival these. Beyond that, Danny has a completely different approach. His priority is on a measured flat-frequency response and his idea of what good parts are. Nothing wrong with that. It's just a completely different take on design.
@@ZeroFidelity Trust me I watched Herbeth vid and long interview with thier head designer.... sorry but parts quality in their crossover just like 95% of industry are crap.
They use nice drivers worth maybe 200usd for a pair of speakers , their crossover maybe worth 30usd , cabinet maybe 100usd period .
Im not bashing Herbeth but the whole industry ....
To me that is unacceptable for 2500usd retailed set of minis and you cant justify it by saying it was part of the design.... Speakers like this should cost 800usd max.
No wonder little better caps and inductors along with better resistors make a huge difference in detail and resolution of 40th ann. version.
Let me tell you , swaping just caps from tweeter filter for type of sound cap you like costing you from 30 to 150usd will make a stunning improvement difference all at fraction of your out of pocket cost
I did swap parts for better in many speakers and differences are huge ... Also cabinet quality in small mini is not as critical as in larger speakers .
By the way I agree that flatter sounding speaker does not always sound better and to me with 25yrs of moding experience I can tell you that often just a capacitor choice on the tweeter filter can be personal stamp or factor on how to make your speakers soundstage patern , coloring (voicing) , imaging and overall character be exactly how you like it.
Do not be affraid to grab the solder iron , screwdriver and have a ton of fun experimenting... trust me I have never went back to original cap found is a crossover 😁
@@kdomster9141 I think your perspective will change if you start up your own serious manufacturing hi-fi company and learn what the real costs of doing business are in a niche industry. It'll begin to make sense pretty darned quickly!
@@ZeroFidelity You are correct again, unfortunately I have to stand on the side of my best interest and I know how to squeeze a lot more from my every dollar spent on Speakers.
If you can afford to fork out 2500usd for mini monitors with cheaply build crossover thats your money .
I would love to see crossover from 40th anniversary version 😉
@@kdomster9141 - Hell yeah man. I totally get where you're coming from. The great news is that you don't need to fork out thousands of dollars to enjoy wonderful sound. Rock on!
Hey Shaun. As much as I like all your videos, I have to say that using the P3ESRs just as desktop speakers is like using a Porsche 911 just to go the store. :)
Hey man, if I get a daily that makes me happy - even if its from red light to red light - then I'm all about it! Most exotics never see the track anyway. Just Garage queens and weekend cruisers!
Exactly. And what's better than driving a Porsche 911 to the store?!
Talks...talks...
Can you make a video of the best near field speakers? So many people want to recommend trash options like active/powered speakers, I want passive! Had nothing but hell with active/powered speakers. Give me passive + an amp please! How about BR03, PSB P5 etc? Show me all the speakers you think are good near field please! :)
Not to forget ATC SCM7!
Have you had the opportunity to listen to the M30’s? I am trying to figure out if a 20 watt custom tube amp can push the M30.2 in a typical 2 channel application.
While I would agree that finding a speaker that fits your ears can be somewhat of a journey, albeit an expensive one, the Harbeths kind of cut to the chase.
My SHL5+ are rosewood and P3ESR cherry. Rosewood colour in live is AMAZING.
I had a ton of diffrent speakers through my audio journey, but if I needed to chose one it would be definitely P3ESR. Sure they roll off already on 15kHz+ and under 70Hz, but when you hear them? Damn, they are freaking magical. SHL5+ do even have a super tweeter and I still prefer aluminium one in P3s. When comes to tonality all Harbeth line sounds very alike, just the sound is getting bigger and bass going deeper when you go up the ladder, I find this fact very interesting how similiar all those speakers are and as their creator is saying you should just get the right size for your room, don't care about anything else. New they are pretty expensive, but used one you get them for just over 1000€, which is fine. Their tonality - mids is just perfect. Same as you I always come back to mines and they will never go. I use my P3s mainly on desktop, but honestly they profit so much when placed on normal stands on the sides of desktop instead of 10-20cm stands over desktop. Still on weekends I take them to my main room and place them 1 meter from front wall and listening position 2 meters away they produce beautiful sound, they completly dissapear and bass performance is just right, you don't feel you are missing anything - there is just music.
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing your impressions! Enjoy the music!
Shaw stresses the importance of no listening fatigue. My SHL5 does just that. Good speakers.
The funny thing is that all the reviewers whose opinions I trust own Harbeths.
Thanks for clarifying @ 10:00 that if you were to use them in normal setup 6' away they wouldnt even figure into your top 20 speakers.
Kind of a stealth (way)After the Hype episode! From your description, the originals sound like they are more my style, and a better value to boot. Definitely need to hear those someday. The looks have grown on me, but you would need a certain style of room.
Very good and honest review of the Harbeth speakers, I've never have had the opportunity of listening to them. I own a pair of Watkins Stereo Generation 4s, the same price range as the Harbeths, made in in the USA (Kingsport, TN) out of solid cherry wood which has a fantastic presentation of music reproduction. If you ever get to hear a pair of them you will understand how good they are.
I have really wanted yo hear the Watkins but just haven't had the opportunity yet, I hear nothing but good things about them.
@@512bb I was at his business yesterday, Bill Watkins Jr installed a new cartridge on my TT. Bill is very knowledgeable and a first class guy to do business with.
Thanks for the review; I’m still diggin’ the Buchardt S400’s.
Love mine.
i am selling now my Bowers Wilkins 805s.
changed for buchardt s400: )
Just bought a used (2 years and in great shape) pair for 1000 €. Now i'm getting a Rel Ti7 for 730€ and i'm done. Thanks to you i looked out for the Harbeth P3esr, and got lucky. THX
Congrats! That's going to be one ridiculously musical system. Spoiler though: You won't be done... You'll want a second T7i. ;)
@@ZeroFidelity Using it also as my Desktop system. Was thinking about 2 x Ti5, but went for the faster Ti7, because it's for the Desktop. Still not sure about the amplification for the Harbeth with the Rel. What amplifier could you recommend for this setup considering this being a nearfield Desktop system??? Please help ;-) Listening to a wide range of music. Best regards from Vienna / Europe
@@alwaysexpandinghorizons6173 - I enjoy the pairing with the Heed Elixir integrated. :)
With three thousand dollars we can put together two audiophile quality hifidelity systems instead of just buying one set of speakers, when money is not an issue more power to you but when you have a budget you have to get the most for your money.
Doesn't KEF LS50 work well nearfield? How do they compare?
It's OK in the nearfield. Totallllllly different sound. KEF is forward, tilted up, open, dynamic, dry yet clean along the mids, they lay down a huge soundstage and have strong bass for the size. The P3's are much smoother on top, warmer, more natural sounding along the midrange (especially if you're sensitive to tone), boast of significantly better build quality, command higher resale value, etc. Totally different. Just depends on what you want.
I had the LS50s... P3ESRs are more vocal and jazz oriented speakers in my opinion... LS50s are GREAT all-rounders you cannot go wrong with but, imho, they play in an inferior league compared to the classy P3ESR. LS50s are a VW Golf and the P3ESRs are a vintage Aston Martin coupe (I know car analogies are stupid but you get the idea).
NETnews S Aston Martin for me ☝️🤓
So which ones did you decide to keep? The regular P3s or the 40th edition? I wish they had a walnut finish available. I have a pair of Spendor A1s...wondering if I would prefer the sound of Herberth’s?
I owned the P3 until I bought the Buchardt S400. The P3 didn't survive and I'd take the Buchardt any day over the P3. A Harbeth 40.2 is another story.
S400 will take it almost every time in a conventional stereo system. At least in that 'all around' sense!
A "premium" price tag on a last century technology is always a deal breaker for me. But good review Sean, thanks.
right? so many others out there at this price
Almost every loudspeaker on the market today is built on "tech" that dates back to the 20's - 50's. I get what you're saying, but unless you're going for some fancy looking DSP speaker with class-D amps built-in, it'll be hard not to find something thats based on 'antiquated' tech. For what it's worth, at least the Radial tech is relatively recent insofar as woofer tech is concerned.
@@ZeroFidelity There is nothing wrong with the "old" tech - on contrary, pretty much everything except DAC's and headphones from 15-20+ years ago is spot on! No question about it.
The problem I have is with a pricing related to such products. Most (but NOT all) of audio hi-fi/high end manufacturers products are priced the way they are for reasons that do not have much to do with the sound reproduction itself.
At the end - it goes down for a personal choice what one is willing to pay for whatever, being it. £200, £2000, £200.000.....doesn't mater. It's a personal thing so I do not intend to judge anything here. But I personally have a hard time justifying such a purchase knowing that such a product is a recycled idea from many decades ago with close to none R&D invested in it during a last decade or more.
And I am not alone in sharing such a thoughts.
Anyway, as I said earlier, your reviews are spot-on and keep-up with a great work Thanks.
@@temp7774 - Thanks. One day I need to post up a video on why hi-fi gear costs as much as it does. I feel like most of these comments regarding value come from people who have no experience with manufacturing, business operations, understanding economy of scale, tax laws, labor laws, etc.. Particularly as it relates to the audio industry. Once you do, the pricing structure begins to make a whole lotta sense and comes across as less of an egregious ripoff.
@@ZeroFidelity Thanks Sean.
Here is some food for thought:
1. MAGNAT Transpuls 1500 - £800 (Made in China)
2. JBL L100 Classic - £4,000 (Made in China)
3. Harbeth Super HL5 Plus - £3,700 (Made in UK)
4. Klipsch Forte III - £4,000 (Made in USA)
5. Spendor Classic 1/2 - £5,500 (Made in UK)
Prices in UK are roughly 1-2-1 to US ones (numerically).
All 3-way, front - ported (Klipsch on the back), wood chassis, same crossover topology (more or less) and size - well, BIG! ..... you get the idea ;)
Transport & dealer "cut" are the same (in %).
Excellent review. Watched till the end. Thank you.
Does your Mistral LS3/5a come close?
BTW Sean, the red t-shirt and the mohogany speaker and the lighting, looks really cool and relaxed yet talking abt substance... Good combo!
keep one for the left, the other for the right ;-)
Thx for another great video Sean!
I was surprised that you rank the P3esr so low in a “normal” listening setup. Which speakers would you recommend, with a similar sound (slightly warm, rich mids). (Room 13x40 feet, speakers close to front wall).
The Dynaudio Special 40s were way better than the Harbeth 40th in my set up. I compared side by side and posted on youtube.
Thx Young for the tip but I have tried the Dynaudios. Too boomy bass in my room. I have to have speakers that can be placed close to the front wall. Dynaudios are designed to be far out from the wall.
Poms don't make good stuff, there QC is shit, but hey TH-cam flogs will never tell you..
I sold my P3ESR then got another pair as I regretted it. The rosewood is kinda too red eh? My second pair are the cherry finish.
Yeah ... great as an end game speaker. But I wish it had a bit more extended highs. Just a little bit more.
I believe your suspicions are correct about the xover.
If you want more extended highs, then I think the 40th's may be your huckleberry!
Zero Fidelity ... unfortunately no stock here. Distributor did not bring it and he’s retiring. It’s ok. Just settle for the P3ESR.
What about the s400! Haha I guess cause they're not good with desktop listening.
S400's are great in a normal environment, but wouldn't exactly be my first (or 10th) choice for desktop listening. :D
@@ZeroFidelity they are on my wíshlist.
Interesting comment re S400, was my first question, thanks
Would love for you to review those Magico bookshelves.
Hey there is no final speaker! 😂
Imperfectly perfect Brit sound , sounds like my B&W ...
I share Sean's priorities: great sound and great looks. With regard to looks, fourteen visible ugly screws on the front face is a deal-breaker. Dozens of other speaker designers manage to avoid this sort of eyesore. On an expensive product, it's inexcusable.
i would have thought that the mesh covering the tweeter dome was a deal breaker, it is for me, and i still want want the thing. i would looks for a replacement speaker all my life if i had it.
i know from experience that i cant live with something that have a flaw, but its worth to own if the sound quality if good.
The P3esr are designed to be played with the grills on.
whats the point of having speakers if you use grills anyways?
😂
Klipsch RP-600M FOREVERRRRRRRRRR!!!
Prefer ATC SCM7 in this size
What you should do is sell both pairs and get something different, that way you never regret for selling the one over the other.
Hello Jay, I am sending you a reminder just in case you missed my last message from 10 days ago....
So which version did you settle with - original or 40th and why ?
After spending hours watching and reading reviews your video finally made drive 2 hours to visit the closest Harbeth dealer and listen to those P3ESR. I could bring my own amp and it was instant love. I shall have them early March and I can't wait!
Seiko skx009!!!
I love hifi stuff and watches.
Omega Speedmaster - pre-moon ;)
No wonder they are nice but I’m happy with my B&W 804 D3 and Pioneer TAD S1EX.
With bnw you know you're listening to a speaker, albeit pleasurably. With harbeth You're listening to a performance.
Probably the most "raw" audio channel around, keep up the great work 👍
Overpriced British crap,that's a wrap
hello master, do you heard p3esr xd ( new version )?!
The loudspeaker version of Sophie's Choice....lol...love it! Great job.
A magnificent review and I have to agree with you, I'm in the Uk and was wondering which one to go with, think you have helped me a long way, cheers
It is a very pretty speaker - albeit a bit boxy - and those who claim they don't care how the gear looks, speakers especially, is a bold faced liar.