Thread: I finally got to hear 40.1's today ....

Wow! Holy cow. I am going to LOVE them. I bought another pair of stands for my non-existent speakers from someone in NJ through ebay.

He has them setup up on lower stands for his room, the reason why I bought his.

I listened for about 40 minutes. I was blown away. These will be amazing. Amazingly sweet vocals. The sound was so present in the room. Full bass and sweet top end. OMG! I can't take the wait now. I had no idea how amazing they'd sound.

Jerome, my friend, you are 100% right. The 40.1 are stunning.

Bruce was with me and here's what he said ...

"The Harbeths are so different.**So much presence and immediacy.**Ridiculous upfront midrange.**It's hard to imagine anyone not loving what we heard today.**Female vocals are off the chart beautiful."

The grills were on when we heard them.

Sounds like you found them to be...adequate. = )

As Tom Petty said, The waiting is the hardest part. Glad you are loving your new speakers before you get them. Enjoy them.

Yup, pretty adequate

They will be wonderful.

nice Joe, it sucks that you had to go somewhere else to hear them after all this time waiting, but now you know you made the right choice. congrats!! few more months they should be there.lol.

Maybe I am showing my age, but I like the old school speaker design, a big woofer, mid, and tweeter. The only problem is they sit so low to the floor. It appears the stands fix that issue.

Have fun when they arrive. Don't break them.

Thanks Steve, Thanks Bud. I'll be good. I promise

Joe. great to hear. When my M40.1 left my house. I was looking for the replacement at their price range and auditioned the Devore O96, PMC IB2Is, Spendor SP100...etc.. None of them could replace the beautiful Harbeth sounds.
Enjoy them! Great speakers.

Joe,
I'm very happy that you liked them.
I did not hear all high end speakers of the market, but at any price, there are only 2 who leaves me speechless. The Wilsons XLF and the Harbeth 40.1.
And I am lucky enough to own one of the two !
They are simply speakers for life.
To me, they just smoke everything else.



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Congrats, Joe!! Harbeths are wonderful speakers! Happy listening my friend!

Nice Joe! Couple of things:

- I heard someone mention the height. Big as they are...they are absolutely stand-mounts. But...Harbeth guys will tell you; to be careful, not to go too high. Like art...they are more involving, lower than you might think.

(for the record...I think the recommended stand-height, is 12" even)

Joe...were they driven with that UR Unico; or is there something lurking behind the rack? Can you describe, how they differ from 30.1s; other than the obvious?

They were being driven by an 18 wpc Melody integrated with 300B or maybe 2A3 tubes. I don't know the model and it does not look like a current offering. The bass was ever so slightly puffy but the speakers were glorious. Waaaaaaaay bigger sound. Fuller with more meat on the bone. More immediate, upfront sound with right in front of you presence. Just wonderful. For me, no contest if you have the room. I can see how bass could be an issue in smaller rooms with the 40.1. Tons of bass.

Talk about imaging! Anything would sound sweet with that face staring at you.

Originally Posted by madfloyd

Talk about imaging! Anything would sound sweet with that face staring at you.

It was not one when we where there but it was a projection TV. I'll try and find out what model of projector.

Originally Posted by Dpod4

Congrats. What is the glorious tv - was that projection onto a screen?

His room sounded awesome!

^^ Careful fellas; is it me...or does that gal, look about 12??

(granted...12 going on 22; but still...)

Originally Posted by joeinid

They were being driven by an 18 wpc Melody integrated with 300B or maybe 2A3 tubes. I don't know the model and it does not look like a current offering. The bass was ever so slightly puffy but the speakers were glorious. Waaaaaaaay bigger sound. Fuller with more meat on the bone. More immediate, upfront sound with right in front of you presence. Just wonderful. For me, no contest if you have the room. I can see how bass could be an issue in smaller rooms with the 40.1. Tons of bass.

Joe,
You will get a much better bass with more power.
Does not need tons of power. 50W is enough or 30W of super high quality like the McIntosh MC225 or MC30's.


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Originally Posted by Jerome W

Joe,
You will get a much better bass with more power.
Does not need tons of power. 50W is enough or 30W of super high quality like the McIntosh MC225 or MC30's.


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Or XA-30.8??

Originally Posted by CDLehner

Or XA-30.8??

Absolutely.
30W of high quality class A will be more than enough.



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I think you are totally correct Jerome. I will gladly give up a little solid bass for the mid range and treble that I heard. It was great. But yes, I can see how a little more power will tighten thing up.

One thing for sure, they are wonderful speakers.

Chris,

I think the XA-30.8 will be amazing on them.

Originally Posted by Jerome W

Absolutely.
30W of high quality class A will be more than enough.



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Interesting that they were driven by an 18w tube integrated. Keep the faith Joe, they'll arrive soon.



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I will. Now I know that I'm in for a treat when they do arrive. I think I have the tube thing covered. Well maybe an Audio note integrated might be fun

Originally Posted by dlb2

Interesting that they were driven by an 18w tube integrated. Keep the faith Joe, they'll arrive soon.



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We all do it. What a crazy bunch we are, oh man.

Originally Posted by Dpod4

Oganku for sale on audiogon. I visit the page every once and a while to drool over the audio porn.

Originally Posted by Dpod4

Oganku for sale on audiogon. I visit the page every once and a while to drool over the audio porn.

Haha, I was at Bob's this weekend. He has a whole bunch of new things that recently came in. I couldn't keep my eyes off the Audio Note Kondo gear. Sigh...

I hear you, Darrin! Their Biiyura speakers are amazing!

Originally Posted by joeinid

I think you are totally correct Jerome. I will gladly give up a little solid bass for the mid range and treble that I heard. It was great. But yes, I can see how a little more power will tighten thing up.

One thing for sure, they are wonderful speakers.

Joe...the only comment I would say when you are pairing amps is that you actually do want to get the bass output as controlled and articulated and as clean as possible. Otherwise, if you get smearing or resonant bass, you will lose midrange resolution and clarity. It sounds like the speaker has a very forward midrange to begin with no matter what amp you use with it (i.e., that's a dominant sonic trait of the speaker), so spending enough time finding the right amp to control its bass so you get cleanly articulated and punchy bass will pay rewards in midrange and treble clarity and resolution.

PS: I think you have plenty of amps on hand to test out to begin with so I am sure one of your amps will do a nice job anyway (I would try that Supernait and certainly the Hegel) on it. My guess is MC275s will be too much of a good thing with the 40.1s but probably the MC601s will do a nice job as well. I can't see the CJ not being a hit on these bad boys either. So you have plenty to go around to find the right match.

Enjoy and good luck.

Cyril,

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I totally understand and agree with you. I was just saying for non-critical almost background music, I can enjoy any amp on these speakers. I am so excited to get them but I am sure my Strads will be here long before the Harbeth. That's totally okay with me

Originally Posted by cmalak

Joe...the only comment I would say when you are pairing amps is that you actually do want to get the bass output as controlled and articulated and as clean as possible. Otherwise, if you get smearing or resonant bass, you will lose midrange resolution and clarity. It sounds like the speaker has a very forward midrange to begin with no matter what amp you use with it (i.e., that's a dominant sonic trait of the speaker), so spending enough time finding the right amp to control its bass so you get cleanly articulated and punchy bass will pay rewards in midrange and treble clarity and resolution.

PS: I think you have plenty of amps on hand to test out to begin with so I am sure one of your amps will do a nice job anyway (I would try that Supernait and certainly the Hegel) on it. My guess is MC275s will be too much of a good thing with the 40.1s but probably the MC601s will do a nice job as well. I can't see the CJ not being a hit on these bad boys either. So you have plenty to go around to find the right match.

Enjoy and good luck.

Joe,

What other types of music did you sample? Seems like Female Vocals is all anyone really mentions. How do they sound with fast, congested Jazz/Fusion or Rock? Most any speaker sounds ok with a single voice and little accompanying music. Reviewers all seem to use similar Singer/Songwriter or Classical music and it's hard to get a grip on how just about any Speaker or other components will sound with my regular daily play lists of soaring Guitar, full bass lines, drumming that is much more than simple keep the beat.

How much longer do you have to wait? That's the worst part ordering anything with a long lead time.

Hi Brian,

I imagine the 40's can rock but I only heard what the guy like to hear. I know what you are saying and what was played certainly played to the strengths of the speakers. There were a few Japanese drum type songs that just filled the room. It was incredible. Soft and sweet to loud and forceful.

I expect a few more months on the 40's, sadly. I think they are having some parts supply issues.

The 40.1 can rock at incredible levels. Details, PRaT, everything you would expect from modern music is delivered beautifully.


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Thanks Jerome

I should have an update tomorrow or Wednesday. I can't wait.

Originally Posted by Jerome W

The 40.1 can rock at incredible levels. Details, PRaT, everything you would expect from modern music is delivered beautifully.


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Originally Posted by cmalak

Joe...the only comment I would say when you are pairing amps is that you actually do want to get the bass output as controlled and articulated and as clean as possible. Otherwise, if you get smearing or resonant bass, you will lose midrange resolution and clarity.

While that seems like good advice, in general; I agree...that Harbeths can take advantage of amp pairings.

Their sound, might indicate...they're an easy speaker to drive; but I have found they respond to more power than you might think.

Of course...Joe has plenty of good units to choose from.

sorry to hear that you still can't hear your own 40.1- by the time they do arrive there will probably be a 40.2 to order *L*. btw my cheapo stands are working pretty well on the 30's.Those stands you bought look very nice

Thanks Rich. My new to me stands are really nice. I can't wait. Only a few more months.

Welcome to the forum Yee. We loved your room. It looks even better now. Thank you so much for being a great host. We still talk about our visit. It sounded amazing. Thank you for joining the forum.

Yee - whatever magic sauce you have, REALLY had an impact on Joe and Bruce.


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Joe-Did your 40.1 speakers move on down the road yet?

Nope, I still have them and still love them. I'm thinking the Strads and the 40.1 are a wonderful speakers. I am not eager to sell the 40.1.

Originally Posted by mep

Joe-Did your 40.1 speakers move on down the road yet?

Originally Posted by Yee Lee

Thank you Joe and Mike. It's my pleasure and I feel honored that my humble system able to create a worth mention listening experience. I do love my 40.1 and still trying to get the best out of them. They are very sensitive to the placement/position, once you find the sweet spot, the holographic 3 dimension sound image they produce is very mesmerizing and addicting, I couldn't spend enough time with them.
I am still searching for the best placement positions for these speakers within the limited parameters due to the 135" screen behind them. Based on my sitting sweet spot It would be more ideal to place them little closer between each other but I have to compromise to not blocking the screen for movies.

That's why it's great to have separate rooms for your HT and your 2 channel system!

Originally Posted by Yee Lee

Thanks Joe and Bruce for the compliment and sharing. There's some minor tweaking and repositioning of the speakers since your visit.

Welcome to AS What a nice set up and room you have. Very impressive.

I do miss my Harbeth. I loved them

Would mind the list of gear you have ? Especially what kind of amp and cd player is that ?

Thanks in advance.

Hi guys,
I really have to share this with you.
The 40.1 do need optimal decoupling. When you do that, you are rewarded to a point you just cannot imagine.
I tried many items.
Finally, I use Pro Audio Bono Acrylic AVF between stands and ground and PAB custom made lignofol disks between speaker and stand.
Without very serious decoupling, you do not hear 50% of what the 40.1 can do.
And if you love the "overdamped" bass of the Wilson/ Magico and so on and want the beautiful mids of Harbeth : very easy. Just add Lignofol AVF between the speakers and the stands. You will change the bass response completely and will have the feeling to listen to an other speaker.


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