+1 about the tweeter and the speakers do have their own signature.
Harbeth C7ES-3
- Thread starter Art K.
- Start date
+1 about the tweeter and the speakers do have their own signature.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Thank you. I have not listened to the30.1 but have the 30. I was looking for a full, rich sound. Wanted to get away from the contemporary notion that more detail is good detail. The C7 seems an ideal choice for my needs. Plenty of detail and with a full bodied character. Love them and know that I made the right selection, for me.
Oh lord, I didn't need to read that! My Compact 7s have the sweetest, most natural highs I've ever heard (especially on violins). And you're telling me that I could get even more of the same with the 30s? God help me.
-Bob
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
It's all bigger and better with 40.1...I'm good with my Compact 7's!
TimF
Super Member
Hesson, I could easily live with either speaker, and really, these perceived differences in speakers at this level in my opinion are usually just that. One not necessarily being "better" than the other. Once pricing, equipment, musical tastes etc. etc. are considered, it might not even matter one bit at all. Remember, the "sweeter tweeter" is only my opinion anyway, which really is worth zero.
There will always be "better", or that newer "upgraded" thing. Sit back and relax, enjoy your music, the 7's are a fine speaker without a doubt.
There will always be "better", or that newer "upgraded" thing. Sit back and relax, enjoy your music, the 7's are a fine speaker without a doubt.
avanti1960
Well-Known Member
which is precisely why one sub properly placed, phased, transitioned and leveled works just fine.
avanti1960
Well-Known Member
Belated congrats on the speakers Art. Harbeth is the brand that seems to carry the most weight these days in the world of audiophile speakers, you go to Harbeth when you want the best. Period (within reasonable price points).
I liked reading about the realism of them, that they sounded like you were hearing the instruments / music and not speaker.
Can you comment about vocals? Male, female, rock, etc. Also about their capabilities playing rock music. Vocal image and clarity. Are the vocals focused and right there with you?
From the outside in, without hearing them, their design seems to have the built-in BBC dip, that British sound that so many of their contemporaries have. When you cross an 8" driver to a tweeter with no midrange in between, you typically violate a fundamental rule of thumb for speaker design, that being the 1/2 rule, where the next driver up the frequency chain should be no smaller than 1/2 the diameter of the lower driver. You do this to avoid beaming, distortion and / or suckout.
While I am sure Harbeth has done their best to minimize or eliminate any of those concerns, do you hear a trace of any of the above when compared to well designed 3-way systems?
I liked reading about the realism of them, that they sounded like you were hearing the instruments / music and not speaker.
Can you comment about vocals? Male, female, rock, etc. Also about their capabilities playing rock music. Vocal image and clarity. Are the vocals focused and right there with you?
From the outside in, without hearing them, their design seems to have the built-in BBC dip, that British sound that so many of their contemporaries have. When you cross an 8" driver to a tweeter with no midrange in between, you typically violate a fundamental rule of thumb for speaker design, that being the 1/2 rule, where the next driver up the frequency chain should be no smaller than 1/2 the diameter of the lower driver. You do this to avoid beaming, distortion and / or suckout.
While I am sure Harbeth has done their best to minimize or eliminate any of those concerns, do you hear a trace of any of the above when compared to well designed 3-way systems?
davidro
Lunatic Member
That would be pretty rare if any...
Actually, Alan Shaw (designer of Harbeth speakers), is adamant that his speakers do not, in fact, include the BBC dip. See the FAQ about it from the Harbeth website, below.
-Bob
http://www.harbeth.co.uk/uk/index.php?section=products&page=faq
avanti1960
Well-Known Member
thanks, this is good info. speakers with a lower treble dip are not for me. i found a store in chicago that carries these and i'll be off for a demo in the next week or so.
also going to visit axpona, the midwest audio show at the end of april.
wim1983
Active Member
So it seems this speakers works well with all kinds of music, the cabinet is pretty big too, guess no distortion or placement issue
You know, there is a shop just nearby my live place, so close, but still need to save a lot cash to get a pair of Harbeth
After months of trying to get the ATC SCM11's and my room to play nice, I stumbled upon a killer deal on the speakers I had wanted all along. I still need to spend a lot more time with them, but right off the bat I'm blown away. Don't get me wrong the ATCs were amazing - but I think to get the best of them you need to much closer to them and treat them like the monitors they are. The C7es3's fill my space much better and they're a bit kinder to some of my less-than-audiophile recordings. They'll also allow me to ditch the sub
I do have a little bit of a low-end bloom that I'm hoping some minor adjustments and some Herbies Big Fat Dots might help tame.
I do have a little bit of a low-end bloom that I'm hoping some minor adjustments and some Herbies Big Fat Dots might help tame.
