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Harbeth XD - What's The Difference

FWIW a friend who owns the C7ES3 in ebony finish once posted on the HUG on glue stains or marks on the drivers also if I'm not mistaken. It was more than 10 years ago. The posts and photos were removed by the moderator. We are not based in the UK, and nothing was done to rectify the matter. No replacement drivers.

Fortunately both my new pair of SHL5 and SHL5+ did not show any of these issues.
 
Fatmarley said:
I've spent plenty of time adding mass to speaker cones using glue, then measuring the change in the thiele/small parameters, and from what I can see in your photos, it will make bugger all difference.
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What a completely unhelpful comment, buyers are entitled to clean and well built products ... are you connected to barbets or just a troll?
 
ryder said:
Sorry to hear. Are you in the UK?
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Unfortunately I am not from the UK. They all do business, no one wants to pay for problems - the buyer pays. I don't like this QC and sales scheme. This is not the policy of a 40-year-old company. I fell for marketing and forum fables, I believed Harbeth was special.
Maybe it was different before ...
 
Shipping has to be absorbed by the dealer if it is outside of UK, even though Harbeth provides the parts(drivers or speaker) free of charge. My dealer pays for shipping when Harbeth shipped replacement grilles to him.
 
Peter, I think that Harbeth has created a good marketing image but there is nothing else, just poor speakers in term of dynamics. I’ve briefly owned them and quickly sold them. What I can’t figure out are the people that wax lyrical about them on various forums, puzzling.
 
chris peacock said:
Harbeth has created a good marketing image
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I've thought about this a lot over the past weeks. I am starting to notice their marketing, which seems hidden at first glance. The company wants to appear as a glorious continuation of the BBC tradition, a collection of serious engineers and craftsmen with zero advertising.
But at the heart of Harbeth is advertising, and a very sophisticated one. This doesn't really apply to my problem, just my thoughts.
 
Peter Leo said:
I've thought about this a lot over the past weeks. I am starting to notice their marketing, which seems hidden at first glance. The company wants to appear as a glorious continuation of the BBC tradition, a collection of serious engineers and craftsmen with zero advertising.
But at the heart of Harbeth is advertising, and a very sophisticated one. This doesn't really apply to my problem, just my thoughts.
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You are right, and I admit to be taken by the hype. A very good approach which allow them to sell a completely outdated product at a premium price.
 
In this case, the premium charged should behoove the manufacturer to perform and provide for better.

In this price realm, it's absolutely acceptable to be critical of finishing quality, and accordingly to expect prompt resolution.
 
ryder said:
Has anybody compared the new XD series to the current models. It appears that all Harbeth models were replaced with the XD, a complete revamp.

Sound quality wise what is the difference between the old and new? Is it something that can be easily heard, or the difference is subtle or perhaps negligible?
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On this original post, I can't offer an experienced response on the regular vs. XD but can on the regular vs. Anniversary (P3ER). I owned both for a while, buying used, with the intention of keeping the one I preferred after extended listening.

The Annies were a stunning piece of engineering, open and transparent like nothing I'd heard. After quite some time though I found I preferred the originals, just that bit warmer for me.

This was of course my personal preference, others may differ.

On the issue of pricing, I never really understand quibbles about this. It's his business (literally), and if anyone thinks anything is too expensive, why moan, just don't consider the purchase. On which, my car is very, very far away from high end :). And having bought the Harbs. ex. dem some time ago, I reckon I could get my money back looking at current used prices. You can't say that when selling a Beamer bought from new !

I'd add that my only experience in dealing with Harbeth customer service was asking about buying a new pair of grills to replace the slightly damages ones for the previous pair of used P3ESRs I had that I replaced with the ex. dem ones. For some technical reason my emails didn't get through so I posted on HUG. AS responded directly and sent me a pair FOC asking I drop a few quid in a Charity tin, which I did. I was mightily impressed by this.
 
Sorry to hear. Are you in the UK? Difficult to judge on the seriousness based on the photos but it does look like an issue. Personally this is unacceptable for a new pair and I suppose a new replacement speaker rather than replacement drivers (which will still need to be fitted onto the speakers) is more appropriate. I wouldn't be comfortable having the drivers fitted outside of the factory by someone else. Even though your dealer may be an expert and have the skills to do the driver swap, it doesn't feel right to have a new speaker go through this.

I think the glue thing is very shoddy.

I own SHL5+ and had to get a driver replaced by the distributor here in Japan. My wife was practicing her golf swing and her phone flew out of her hand and hit the driver. Don't ask me to explain this!

No problems with the replacement.

I'm glad I bought mine when I did is all I'll say about current prices!
 
This thread is rapidly turning into a ‘bash Harbeth’ one, with ( thankfully ) some sensible posts
included.
My experience of Harbeth is positive, both with their speakers plus service and help.
Their are quite a few Alan Shaw detractors around.
I’ve never met him, so I can’t offer an opinion.
 
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chris peacock said:
I think that Harbeth has created a good marketing image ..
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Well this sentence put me off to be honest.
Maybe there could be added something, both positive and negative.

I understand those who feel a proud ownership, that's just fine and happy for them, probably a majority.
There are many good Harbeth speakers out there, I've owned a few pair myself.

Additionally I have heard other editions and my experience are bland, but many aren't interested in anything but glorious talk maybe apart from recent retail price-increase, actually some of their 3-way editions were far to high priced IME for what you get. Some people seem to get more exited because its expensive rather than how it sounds.

Then there's the brainwashed, there seem to be some people which don't accept others opinion or allow them to free speech really.
Pretty much HUG is something of a "Heil" affaire where critic (even constructive) is not allowed, meaning a pure marketing tool to brainwash the remaining public audience.
Personally I just hate places where you can't express your view without being moderated, of course within generel AUP.

I hope Leo got his issues solved, this could be another lesson of "loss of reputation & sales" because Brands don't take their responsibility seriously.
In my opinion Harbeth should replace Leo's speakers with no cost for him (but an apology) provided this is a true story.
 
Old Shatterhand said:
Strange, there is another guy with the exakt same speakers and the exakt same issues telling the same things but his name isn't Peter Leo, his name is Konstantin Orlov.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/17640...ref=m_notif&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic
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Yes. I posted this on Facebook as well.
Your real name is Old Shatterhand?
On this forum, several people have asked for proof of my words, including you. I presented them - explore. I can make a video, it's not difficult for me. I can post my materials anywhere to prove my problem: Instagram, Youtube, etc. I don’t understand something else, why are you trying to show the insignificance of the fact I have cited? Are you affiliated with Harbeth?
Both Harbeth Support and Alan Shaw have seen my photos. My real name and surname are known to Harbeth in order to decide on a replacement. They know who I am.
So far, there is only one guy looking for the truth in those glue stains and uneven driver basket. But I wouldn't be surprised if there are more buyers who find some cosmetic defects "not affecting the sound".
 
To be honest, I think Harbeth sending you new drivers and the dealer fitting them is a satisfactory outcome. It's an inconvenience for sure, and perhaps not exactly wrong to expect better, but really it seems the matter is taken care of.

If you're dissatisfied with performance, thankfully, as others have mentioned, resale value is good.
 
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