Harbeth SHL5 and SHL5+ differences to vintage BBC derived monitors

[spikeanded]

Hi,

A bit of a silly question really (as I think I can probably guess the answer) but has anyone upgraded from a vintage speaker like Spendor BC1, Spendor SP1/2, Harbeth HL or Rogers Studio One to either Harbeth SHL5 or 5+ or done any comparisons in recent times?

The reason is I have pair of Rogers Studio Ones which work really well for me (and I prefer to the others listed above which I have also owned over the years) but have never compared them to anything more contemporary. I don't believe there is a Harbeth dealer within striking distance of Bristol for me to do my own comparison, and therefore satisfy my curiosity.

I would expect considerable improvement in dynamics, less ponderous bass, superior more open midrange, less boxy colourations and warmth with a similarly sweet and extended treble.

Having said that, I think the Rogers are really very good for their age considering the bextrene technology they employ.

One last thought - how much of an improvement is the SHL5+ over the 5?

BTW the room is fairly small so listening distance is almost near-field (in other words driver integration needs to be spot on), amplification is a Quad 99 system and none of those factors look set to change. I dislike small speakers so please don't advise the smaller Harbeths, etc!

[hifi_dave]

The Rogers is a very good speaker in true BBC tradition, with a full mid band not usual in many modern speakers. i had a customer visiting me with his Rogers, last Autumn.

The Harbeth SHL5+ improves on the venerable Rogers in the areas you suggest and would be a worthwhile upgrade. Of course, the integration is spot on, as you would expect and they do work well in small rooms and near field.

If you fancy a day out, I have the full Harbeth range on demonstration and you can bring along your Rogers to compare.

[spikeanded]

Hi, that sounds like a great plan were it not for the 6 hour round trip!
My nearest Harbeth dealer appears to be in Guildford which is not all that appealing either.
I'm guessing even the older SHL5 would be a considerable improvement on the Rogers, even though maybe not quite as good at the SHL5+ in some areas?
I'm thinking maybe if I decide to go for it I may end up buying second hand, and in the highly unlikely event I don't like them, selling them on.

[VanDerGraaf]

So, taking this a little further (and not wanting to thread hijack too much), what are the modern alternatives to the BBC style of presentation other than Harbeth?

[hifinutt]

been some interesting discussion re the shl5 and the plus recently on pfm

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/harbeth-shl5-vs-hl5-vs-hl5-anniversary.209700/

well worth a read . there are quite a few in s/h ads as folks have been buying the anniversary . me i remain to be convinced its worth the premium over the plus version .

there are several incredibly busy facebook groups for harbeth ... a lot of love out there for the brand . looking forward to hearing more of them at bristol show and one pair just might land here sometime !!

[hifinutt]

and i have just clicked that in a few weeks you can satisfy your curiosity at the bristol show

[spikeanded]

Hi,

Thanks for the link.

I went to Bristol Sound and Vision in 2015 and heard pretty unconvincing demos in the Spendor, KEF and B&W and rooms. I was surprised but I don't think the venue was great and it looked to me like only B&W had made any attempt to dress the room acoustically (possibly because the demo was being given by their designer rather than a sales person).

But I take your point, I should get myself down there next month and head for the Harbeth room.

[hifinutt]

definately , the harbeth room sounded fantastic last year with hegal 360 insitu and i believe alan will be there so you can ask questions

[hifi_dave]

There is a fair improvement with the Anniversary models and far more than you would expect, perhaps. I have been pleasantly surprised at the numbers of the various Anniversary models I have sold after comparison demos.

The shows are never a good place to listen and compare Hi-Fi of any sort. I rarely hear anything which impresses but if a product looks interesting, I borrow it to listen in my own room.

[Yomanze]

So, taking this a little further (and not wanting to thread hijack too much), what are the modern alternatives to the BBC style of presentation other than Harbeth?

Graham Audio, and some Spendor speakers like the SP & Classic series.

[hifinutt]

There is a fair improvement with the Anniversary models and far more than you would expect, perhaps. I have been pleasantly surprised at the numbers of the various Anniversary models I have sold after comparison demos.

The shows are never a good place to listen and compare Hi-Fi of any sort. I rarely hear anything which impresses but if a product looks interesting, I borrow it to listen in my own room.

thanks dave , perhaps one will get a chance to listen to some and i can compare . certainly the op on pfm was convinced enough to buy

[hifi_dave]

When you can spare some time, you know where I am..:)

[hifinutt]

thanks dave yes no doubt in 6 months time the upgrade itch will strike again !

[macspur]

I've owned SHL5, SHL5 Plus and now the 40th anniversary model and I can't see myself changing for any other brand for the foreseeable future. I was very dubious if the SHL5 Plus could be bettered, but the anniversary model is quite breathtaking. So if you want a pair, be quick as only a limited amount are being made.

[vintage60]

I've owned the HL Monitor MKII and the SHL5.

To my ears the two are quite different. The HK MKII sounds "old school" and was okay for spoken voice, but "dull" for everything else when compared to the SHL5 which I think is better in every area. The Radial woofer in the SHL5 was a significant improvement over the older woofer in the HL MKII. I've heard the SHL5+ quite a few times and think that it solved two of the main gripes I had with the SHL5. One, the bass was tighter and better controlled and second, the occasional sibilence I could hear on some songs of certain artists (e.g. Suzanne Vega and Tanita Tikaram) was cured.

For me though, the only Harbeth I really liked and had no complaints about is the Monitor 30.1 and I would take this over either the SHL5 or the SHL5+ for my system and my room.

[macspur]

I've owned the HL Monitor MKII and the SHL5.

To my ears the two are quite different. The HK MKII sounds "old school" and was okay for spoken voice, but "dull" for everything else when compared to the SHL5 which I think is better in every area. The Radial woofer in the SHL5 was a significant improvement over the older woofer in the HL MKII. I've heard the SHL5+ quite a few times and think that it solved two of the main gripes I had with the SHL5. One, the bass was tighter and better controlled and second, the occasional sibilence I could hear on some songs of certain artists (e.g. Suzanne Vega and Tanita Tikaram) was cured.

For me though, the only Harbeth I really liked and had no complaints about is the Monitor 30.1 and I would take this over either the SHL5 or the SHL5+ for my system and my room.

Wait till you hear the new 30.2 anniversary model!

[vintage60]

Don’t tempted me!

[hifinutt]

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4711/25504690457_1de7f794ff_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ERLcUn)P1050259 (https://flic.kr/p/ERLcUn) by [/url], on Flickr

so got some harbeth shl5plus in feb and put them with my valve pre /class A amp . unfortunately they are near walls but can`t help that . room full of furniture etc , carpets . my i was dissapointed . so dull , the thrax didn`t really work with them as excited a node in the room [ thrax enyo is big bulgarian valve amp] so i am afraid i arranged to trade them in for tannoy eaton legacy which did work and sound incredible in there. i guess they are more damped so they can go nearer walls ?

anyway the dealer was delayed due to various reasons so put them in upper room with little furniture and quite live room . recently had the frugalhorns playing in there with a naim supernait 2 . man , what a combo , real sense of presence. anyway popped on a rotel 965bx cd player [ value 60 quid] 20 quid speaker cables [copper] and the harbs statted singing right away , oh my goodness , what hapened there ?

anyway they are so good with rock music, the riffs just feel plucked and the piano , well ... thats sublime. feels like lang lang getting excited at the end of the rachmaninov no 2 finale . so a big sound . the naim seems to bring a vigour to these things and the live room with plenty of space . now have to decide whether to keep or get rid of and try some audionote or more frugelhorns perhaps

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/813/39047785390_c67f816f18_k.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158267783@N02/)P1050279 (https://flic.kr/p/22uw7c9) by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/158267783@N02/], on Flickr