For Sale: Harbeth 30.1 with dedicated Something Solid stands

[CDB3]

Harbeth 30.1 with dedicated Something Solid stands, £1750

They come with all original packaging and documents and were bought new by me with the stands from Radlett Audio in April 2013.

They sound fantastic but I moved house in late March and my listening space is now very different and I have had to get speakers suitable for the new room - I needed speakers that work against the wall.

I can only see one small blemish, which is on the outside of the left-hand speaker - visible on the close-up.

Here's an enthusiastic review:
'The best compact 2-way speaker system PS has heard, the 30.1 boasts high neutrality, superb resolution, and a matching of drivers with respect to sonic character that is equaled by only a small handful of multiple-driver dynamic loudspeakers. Speaking with a single voice in a way reminiscent of Quad ESLs, it is also of similar vanishingly low coloration and distortion, high transparency, and sheer musical authority, with an absolutely ravishing midrange. You can listen to it without fatigue for literally hours on end.'

(The Absolute Sound, Editor's Choice Awards, July 2016)

Cash on collection from Milton Keynes or Purley, south London. (Speakers can only be demoed in Milton Keynes.)

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[rdpx]

How close to a wall can you happily put these?
R

[CDB3]

Hi Robert
I can't answer this definitively. In my previous house they were on each side of a bay window in a typical Victorian terraced house, firing down the long length of the combined sitting/dining room. So they were essentially in open space on the inside and the back, with a corner behind on the outside. I'll post a photo below.

The Harbeth guide that comes with the speakers shows the speakers in corners with 0.75 m behind and 1.0m to the side. But this is slightly misleading as the speakers are shown significantly toed in, so the 1.0m from the side is measured to the middle of the back of the speaker, if that makes sense. The guide also emphasises that rooms vary considerably and experimentation for each case is necessary. I didn't toe them in much, as you can see in the photo.
BW
Clive

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[DSJR]

They should work close to a back wall, unlike earlier models, as they don't boom and the cabs are more substantial.

[rdpx]

They should work close to a back wall, unlike earlier models, as they don't boom and the cabs are more substantial.
That's interesting. Ours need to be about a foot away max, but other than that there's loads of space around.
I think it's unlikely I can organise to get these quickly, but I'd like to try a pair out sometime as they are certainly on my list as possible upgrade to my PMC GB1.

I wonder if those stands would be easily shortened if I knew a decent welder?

[CDB3]

Coincidentally, I went from PMC FB1+ to the Harbeths and it was a considerable step up in clarity. I got there in a roundabout route. I had my LP12 upgraded at Cymbiosis and heard it there before bringing it home. At home I was disappointed in how it sounded and eventually after some amp changes, came to the conclusion that the PMCs were an obstacle. Of course there may have been factors in my room that created difficulties with the speakers as they were very well regarded.

Mark at Something Solid lives a few miles up the road from me and I could ask him about lowering the stands if you were seriously interested, but I suspect that might be more expensive than getting a new pair. At £1750 for the speakers, I think the stands are essentially free anyhow!
Clive

[rdpx]

I'll give you a bump as an apology for tyre kicking.
I will very possibly end up with a pair of these, though probably not in the immediate future, unless xmas brings more than I have any right to expect.
They do look very lovely though and I would love to hear them...

R

[CDB3]

Thanks for the bump - maybe you'll get that windfall and be back!
Clive

[Rob1969]

Another bump.

I own a pair of these speakers and have done for the past 2 years. These have lasted the longest of any speaker I have owned in the past 30 years (and I have had more pairs than I would like to admit).

Truly a remarkable speaker - I have owned the Compact 7's, P3ESR's and SHL5's. The 30's, to my ears are the best balanced of the lot.

Good luck with the sale.

Thanks,

Rob

[CDB3]

Many thanks, Rob. I expected to keep them for a long time, but when I decided to move house, I thought that I would have a hifi problem, and so it has proved. I certainly miss what they do.
Clive

[rdpx]

Hey Clive, when you thank someone for a bump, you should wait a day or so until your item has almost dropped off the front page, so it's like a double bump....
R

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[CDB3]

Thanks for the tip, Robert!
Clive

[rdpx]

No problem at all.
I'm wondering whether these would be too small for a large room...

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

[CDB3]

I'm not sure. They may be too large for a small room! Probably perfect for your room!
Clive

[DSJR]

The LS5/9 from which these are descended, seem to like near field (ish) listening and set up quite high from the floor and nearby walls to keep the mid bass under control. My own pair sound stodgy, thick and muddy here, but in a room where they have some height and space around them, they sing so well and so clearly, I haven't the heart to sell them on.

The 30.1 has a huge advantage over the 5/9 and previous M30 for domestic, non BBC users and that's the fact the tonal balance isn't any longer to the 5/9 BBC directive (to sound like smaller 5/8's with an upper mid dip/mid bass rise, which the Graham re-incarnation shares I think, judging by the basic results in HFW). Like the SHL5+, the balance is more 'flat' and the mid-bass is in better (proper?) balance with the upper mids, giving a livelier tonal quality (it's quite an up-tilt to flat I'm told). I think this should enable use closer to rear walls but still with tweeters at least at ear height.

The fact they haven't sold yet? means they don't want to leave you ;) Any way at all you can make them fit in to your new abode?

I see you now use SBL's? You poor thing, I do feel for you ;)

[CDB3]

I understand that the Harbeths generally are designed for near field listening. I don't think the 30.1s need a lot of space around them but they shouldn't be pushed up against a wall or into a corner.

Given they haven't sold I have wondered about whether there is a way to incorporate them instead of the SBLs, but it really isn't possible. Similarly, I would be tempted to hang on to them if I had space to store them and if there was any likelihood of moving house again to a more suitable environment. I am surprised at the lack of interest though - I think there are some widespread mistaken views of the character of Harbeths and their charms are subtle and not necessarily well suited to quick demo assessment. Anyhow, I'm sure someone will come along eventually.
Clive

[CDB3]

Reduced to £1700.

[disarmamant]

Reduced to £1700.

That's a real bargain for someone, I'd not part with mine for that price.

[CDB3]

Sold - STP.
Clive

[rdpx]

Sold - STP.
Clive

Thank god for that.

[CDB3]

Thank god for that.

I infer that you mean temptation removed...
Clive

[rdpx]

I infer that you mean temptation removed...
Clive
Yes. I really like them...