What amp on Harbeth speakers ?

Shaw is generally amplifier agnostic but clearly likes power. Also bear in mind that this is a 40.1 rather than a 30.1 and you need to factor in the size of the room and your seating position - given my room set up I sit fairly close to the speakers. Finally consider how loud you listen. I try to listen at normal performance levels - but not Metallica in a small club levels. So with my 30.1s I have no trouble driving them with a 70 watt tube amp. I might also add that if I had to listen to “music” like that in the video I’d sell my gear and take up photography.
 
Shaw is generally amplifier agnostic but clearly likes power. Also bear in mind that this is a 40.1 rather than a 30.1 and you need to factor in the size of the room and your seating position - given my room set up I sit fairly close to the speakers. Finally consider how loud you listen. I try to listen at normal performance levels - but not Metallica in a small club levels. So with my 30.1s I have no trouble driving them with a 70 watt tube amp. I might also add that if I had to listen to “music” like that in the video I’d sell my gear and take up photography.

Of course he must like power because he builds speakers with low sensitivity. The whole purpose of the demo was to show how much power is required with his 40.1 speakers to play back music with lots of dynamic range. Shaw was close to ridiculing the idea that someone with a 7 watt amp could drive his speakers without tons of distortion. The sensitivity for the 30.1 is the same as the 40.1. So to get back to the point of this thread, according to Shaw his speakers like an amplifier with lots of power.
 
Thanks for the video link Mark. Interesting conversation and test. Net net, Harbeths love and can handle power.

At his store, Mike drove the 40.2s with the VAC IQ200s and they sounded fantastic.

As others mentioned, I can see ARC, PASS, CH, DAG, VAC, among others as very nice amps to drive the Harbeths. Pick your flavor with enough power and enjoy the music.
 
PrimaLuna HP with EL34 running in Triode mode has plenty of power to drive the Harbeth 30.2 in my 26x31 room at normal listening levels. By normal I mean 85dB with peaks up to 92dB with no signs of clipping from the amp. When I want to really crank it up, the Ultra-linear gives me even more headroom and does not run out of steam and of course with the Luxman L590 it is not an issue what so ever. The 30.2s are rated at 150w power handling by the way. Just because the 40.2 can absorb 700w on peaks as that video shows does not mean the "need" that kind of power. No one should be listening to speakers when they are absorbing 700w of power if you value your hearing. Tubes or SS is a personal preference, I like them both equally. As long as the amps are of decent quality, the Harbeths are happy.
 
I am currently using a pair of Odyssey Audio Khartago Extreme Monoblocks with the Super HL5's, and I love the combination. I have also used the Exposure 2010S in the past. Love the way both sound with the Harbeths. They are in my opinion very forgiving speakers.
 
My favorite amplification with my Harbeth P3ESR an M30.1 is Linear Tube Audio Z40 Reference Integrated Amp,

The LTA amp brings me so much more pleasure than the other amps I’ve used with my Harbeths- EAR. DEQX, PassLab Power, Leben CS300x, Leben CS600, LFD, Auralic Monoblock, BelCanto Monoblock.

Prior to the LTA amp, it was a merry go round searching for better “sound.” The LTA simply makes you lose yourself in the music- any genre. Near field or larger listening room, the LTA makes beautiful music with Harbeth and YG speakers as well.
 
Welcome Jef

My favorite amplification with my Harbeth P3ESR an M30.1 is Linear Tube Audio Z40 Reference Integrated Amp,

The LTA amp brings me so much more pleasure than the other amps I’ve used with my Harbeths- EAR. DEQX, PassLab Power, Leben CS300x, Leben CS600, LFD, Auralic Monoblock, BelCanto Monoblock.

Prior to the LTA amp, it was a merry go round searching for better “sound.” The LTA simply makes you lose yourself in the music- any genre. Near field or larger listening room, the LTA makes beautiful music with Harbeth and YG speakers as well.
 
I have the 40.2 Anniversary speakers. I used a Luxman L-590 AXII and it worked very well but in some cases, I thought they could do with some more power. I added Gato PWR - 222 Monoblocks to the equation and they made a very noticeable difference.
 
Harbeths are a bit deceptive. They do sound nice with lower powered amps, but to sound their best they do need more than flea watt power.
 
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