harbeth factory tour video

[Marco]

Hi Tim,

Nice one Phil and interesting to watch as a Harbeth fan. I've been lucky enough to meet Alan Shaw and what impresses me about him (apart from his glorious loudspeakers) is he's not only passionate about what he does, but he's also passionate about music. Those two together I feel are what puts him above so many other manufacturers.

Based on what I saw of Alan Shaw on that video, and what I know about him in general, I would agree. He came across really well there and seemed genuinely warm and friendly. I also admire his approach to loudspeaker design, as outlined in the video.

I just wish he'd come across like that on the Harbeth user forum, especially when the subject of cables (and such like) comes up, where his science-first objectivist leanings often get the better of him, and he can come across as the complete opposite of warm and friendly!

He definitely does both himself and Harbeth a gross disservice by writing some of the stuff he does on there. That attitude might appeal to some diehard 'measurists', but I can assure you that it turns off everyone else, especially most subjectivists like me. Maybe he's realised that though and changed? I've not looked there for a long time.

Anyway, that aside, when it comes to the speakers themselves, I'm a big fan, as like you, I enjoy their 'natural sound', and thus how they've been voiced to reproduce music, and especially the human voice, as believably as possible. I admire their heritage and in general am a fan of BBC-based loudspeaker designs.

Plus, Harbeth speakers are beautifully made and not stupidly priced either, considering the quality on offer, and what some other so-called 'high-end' manufacturers charge for their designs!

Enjoy yours when you get some more, mate

Marco.

[hifi_dave]

Hi Tim,



Based on what I saw of Alan Shaw on that video, and what I know about him in general, I would agree. He came across really well there and seemed genuinely warm and friendly. I also admire his approach to loudspeaker design, as outlined in the video.

I just wish he'd come across like that on the Harbeth user forum, especially when the subject of cables (and such like) comes up, where his science-first objectivist leanings often get the better of him, and he can come across as the complete opposite of warm and friendly!

He definitely does both himself and Harbeth a gross disservice by writing some of the stuff he does on there. That attitude might appeal to some diehard 'measurists', but I can assure you that it turns off everyone else, especially most subjectivists like me. Maybe he's realised that though and changed? I've not looked there for a long time.

Anyway, that aside, when it comes to the speakers themselves, I'm a big fan, as like you, I enjoy their 'natural sound', and thus how they've been voiced to reproduce music, and especially the human voice, as believably as possible. I admire their heritage and in general am a fan of BBC-based loudspeaker designs.

Plus, Harbeth speakers are beautifully made and not stupidly priced either, considering the quality on offer, and what some other so-called 'high-end' manufacturers charge for their designs!

Enjoy yours when you get some more, mate

Marco.

Exactly so.

Have you seen the thread "Amp upgrade towards Luxman" on the HUG ? I have patiently tried to explain that no owner or potential owner of a pair of Harbeths is going to even consider a £300 mass market amp. He disagreed, told me my customers must be 'different' and did a phone round of other UK dealers. He got the same answer from them.

There are two, just two, on the HUG who constantly bang on about the £300 amp thing to every enquiry. Similarly, all cables, CD players sound the same. Turntables are crap and stands make no difference. Naturally, this puts people off and they never bother with the HUG again. It's a pity as this attitude is putting off people from joining in on the HUG as they do on AOS.

[hifinutt]

and yet , you see those amazing stands from hi fi racks with many users . surely they would not bother spending such a lot if they did not bother .

http://www.hifiracks.co.uk/products/...r-stands/Grand

i can`t afford the 800 pound price tag and if i ever do it will be an ikea type stand possibly with the new iso pucks

https://www.gear4music.com/Recording...SABEgKnTvD_BwE

[Marco]

Have you seen the thread "Amp upgrade towards Luxman" on the HUG ? I have patiently tried to explain that no owner or potential owner of a pair of Harbeths is going to even consider a £300 mass market amp. He disagreed, told me my customers must be 'different' and did a phone round of other UK dealers. He got the same answer from them.

Lol... You see it's that type of nonsense that completely undermines Alan Shaw as the (undoubtedly talented and knowledgeable) loudspeaker designer he is. I wonder what kind of amp(s) the guy interviewing him on the video was using with his Harbeths, for example?

I doubt it'd have been a cheap mass-market one (as he doesn't seem the type), and so how would he have reacted if AS had arrogantly told him that whatever hi-end amp he was using was unnecessary, and that a £300 mass-market one instead would've been 'adequate', and indeed indiscernible from it?

Would he have left the factory afterwards still as big a fan of Alan Shaw? Somehow I doubt it.

There are two, just two, on the HUG who constantly bang on about the £300 amp thing to every enquiry. Similarly, all cables, CD players sound the same. Turntables are crap and stands make no difference. Naturally, this puts people off and they never bother with the HUG again. It's a pity as this attitude is putting off people from joining in on the HUG as they do on AOS.

My point exactly, Dave. That blinkered attitude and the nonsensical 'advice' being offered on the Harbeth forum does the company and AS no favours whatsoever.

However, that is quite common amongst a lot of engineers I've encountered. They think they know it all, are extremely ego-driven (up their own arse), and often completely blinded by what they consider is the efficacy of their 'science first' approach to audio, to even entertain the notion that in some areas they might be wrong!

However, as I've said, none of that should detract from the quality of the speakers, which as you know is superb.

It's also great to see a small British company doing well in the current trading climate, and in terms of how the hi-fi industry has gone in recent times, so long may that continue. They'd probably do even better if they ended the perpetration of such arrant objectivist bollox, on a forum that effectively acts as a 'shop window' for the company and its products

Marco.