RObotIcs,
I finally heard the Harbeth shl5+ at the Chicago axponia,show.
Very very impressed. The detail and voicing was excellent. Way better than I expected.
It ranks right at the top choices for me. I've listened to all the speaker choices you have to, with the same conclusions.
THe show also had the horn speakers (jbl 6500), wow very nice surprising, like the cornwalls
THIEL AND Harbeth sound pretty similar to me( cs 2.4,2.7 etc)
I like your choices, now that I've listened to your speakers.
KEEP the faith.
I'm using the Dirac and its integration with my velodrome has made the low bass very articulate and integrated.THAT I NEVER HAD,with the past speakers. One note bass
Jeff s

frozentundra July 02, 2015 00:55

Thanks Frozentundra. You have a nice setup too. How do you like the Theils?

The Harbeth SHL5 have the perfect balance resolution, dynamics and timbre for me. I love resolution too. The image specificity and depth layering is very important. But I also need the midrange to be spot on and the bass articulate and the whole freq spectrum integrated and cohesive. The SHL5 does just that. And yes late night listening is a peach because they do their thing exceeding well at low volumes. You hear a good serving at low levels.

Prior to listening to them I had auditioned way too many to list (Monitor Audios, Magnepans, Vandys, Golden ear, B&W CM and 8 series, Focal Labs, Vienna Acoustics, Linn etc. ). I have been in the merry-go-round for 9-10 years. I have owned B&W CM1, Quad 22L2, Pi speakers, Klipsch Cornwall.

The Harbeth SHL5 pair isn't leaving my system. Hopefully I will have the bigger brother 40.1 in my basement system someday. Check that system too.

rohitdev September 27, 2014 00:07

Nice setup.
I have the peachtree components too.
Nice sound for the price.

I have NEVER been able to listen to Harbeth!!!!!
Everybody raves about them.
Are they that good?
I like the detail resolution side to speakers.

What other speakers did you listen to before deciding?

Do they DoD their thing at low listening levels,too.

frozentundra August 23, 2014 11:51

System edited: Update: Upgraded from the DV 20x2L to the XX2 Mk2. Also added the DV p-75 mk3 and moved the PH3D to my basement system. I am loving the DV xx2mk2 and P75 pairing.

rohitdev June 30, 2014 14:35

24/96 is essential for recording, mixing and mastering; for headroom and fewer errors in processing, but is not a huge difference in the final delivery format. I record, and have several friends who are mastering engineers, so this is my personal experience. The design details of the DAC employed have way more effect than the sample rate used for playback. Again, capture ADC and production are totally different in this regard.

hornblower April 11, 2014 21:59

Yeah, I agree that, generally speaking, any difference between hi-res vs. redbook 16/44.1 is largely due to the hi-res version being "closer" to the master and/or better mastering. The reason I buy from HDTracks is for the convenience and immediacy of getting the music. Unfortunately, when I purchase the music, it's in a format that my whole home audio system (Sonos) can't deal with!

The Sonos, as you've pointed out, is awesome in terms of it's convenience and ease of use. Man, if it could only play hi-res formats!

rgbeach April 11, 2014 09:23

Thank you. I love the Sonos/peachtree combo. Also love my basement setup sonos/centrance combo. Initially I did hesitate on sonos for the same reason you mentioned ie., inability to play hi res. I also use my laptop (foobar / jriver) to feed into centrance dac via usb to play hi res in my basement rig. I find it hard to tell the difference b/w 16/44 or hi res on a well mastered recording as I really believe it all depends on the mastering. I did my own experiments by downloading 24/96 and used db power amp to convert to 16/44 on good chandos,DG or decca recordings. And I couldn't tell one from the other.

Also love the sonos for the multi zone capability and ease of playing via android app. Only wish it's meta art as better at cataloging.

rohitdev April 10, 2014 14:17

Nice system!

How do you like the Sonos/Peachtree combination? I was using a Sonos in one of my systems. I modified the Sonos to bypass it's output stage. It sounded great, but I was frustrated that the Sonos system couldn't handle hi-res files that I purchase from HDTracks. So, I recently switched to a PC-based system and am using a DIY DAC kit that I built. Not sure if there's any audible improvement, but I like that I can play 24/96 and 24/192 files.

rgbeach April 09, 2014 09:30