Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary Edition Review

TheOctopus said:
These monitors create a soundstage like any other smaller speaker. In fact monitors often image better than bigger, boxier speakers.
The 30.2 seem to sign off completely on any audible bass around 30 Hz from the frequency sweeps I have done so far in my 26x31 room and away from wall boundaries/reinforcement but the rest is there just not as prominent up until 50Hz and up. Bass frequencies are not directional like the higher frequencies to our ears so have nothing to do with a soundstage per say. Having said that, any time a well placed subwoofer is used, it does tend to create an "illusion" of more focused and fleshed out instruments that have presence in the bottom octaves. It's just an illusion. This is not a bass head speaker by any means though. All the acoustical bass instruments are still present and accounted for in a more natural way like you would hear at any live event with acoustic instruments playing in some acoustic space large enough to house an audience.
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The 30.2 do well with soundstage, but I don't agree with your assessment. To me the 30.2 is for the person who wants to have great sound without much fuss and just enjoy the music. The recessed soundstage is incredible to me and done in a way I've heard no other speaker do it, and I guess in that way it could be unique. However, for sheer soundstage and overall audiophile qualities, these have fallen short compared to the Rosso Fiorentino Fiesole at a similar price, especially given space to breathe. The 30.2 are less fussy with electronics IMO and hold their tone well.

Regardless, I find that each speaker has their audience and fit to a room. It seems much of my offerings have evolved around monitors/stand mounts and integrated amplifiers and the great thing is each one is unique.
 
DSkip said:
The 30.2 do well with soundstage, but I don't agree with your assessment. To me the 30.2 is for the person who wants to have great sound without much fuss and just enjoy the music. The recessed soundstage is incredible to me and done in a way I've heard no other speaker do it, and I guess in that way it could be unique. However, for sheer soundstage and overall audiophile qualities, these have fallen short compared to the Rosso Fiorentino Fiesole at a similar price, especially given space to breathe. The 30.2 are less fussy with electronics IMO and hold their tone well.

Regardless, I find that each speaker has their audience and fit to a room. It seems much of my offerings have evolved around monitors/stand mounts and integrated amplifiers and the great thing is each one is unique.
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I am not familiar with Rosso Fiorentino so can't comment which is better in terms of soundstage and audiophile qualities. Harbeth would not be necessarily my first choice if I was concerned with those parameters. I've owned enough speakers that did all that very well but left me cold in the end. With the 30.2's I don't think about those things, I just get lost in the music! :)
 
That was my point Serge :) Harbeth is the music-lovers speaker that really leave little to complain about.

RF has a similar tone to the Harbeths but also offer the audiophile qualities to the mix. I won't go further as that isn't the point of this thread, but if you like the 30.2s, you will likely love the Fiesole.
 
DSkip said:
That was my point Serge :) Harbeth is the music-lovers speaker that really leave little to complain about.

RF has a similar tone to the Harbeths but also offer the audiophile qualities to the mix. I won't go further as that isn't the point of this thread, but if you like the 30.2s, you will likely love the Fiesole.
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If I ever get a chance I would happily audition just for fun but the 30.2 are keepers. It was love at first listen :)
 
Paul said:
Which you like better ? Luxman or Primaluna ?

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Summerhouse upgrade finalized. Heard TAD ME-1 (superb details, excellent top to bottom reach), Sonus Faber Homage Tradition (gorgeous build, superb mids and highs) and Harbeth 30.2 (natural sound, voice world champions).

Can’t help, just like the Harbeth sound. And I want something else than what I have in the in the main system.

I know it’s blasphemy, but for me the grilles are off. Otherwise I find them too mellow.


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