Hook
Blackbeard's former bo'sun.
The measurements don't look particularly accurate, generally down tilted fr responses and off-axis integration problems:
http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/measurements/speakers/harbeth_30_domestic/
http://www.stereophile.com/content/harbeth-m401-loudspeaker-measurements#tVZ0jQsgOQXtrX2W.97
The ~+7db at 70Hz along with a highly undamped port output (look at the impedance plot) is actually quite likely to give "heavy" bass.
If you take into account the confession that Alan Shaw voices them entirely on his own, I think you will end up with a particular sound signature. Of course if you happen to like what Alan likes then this could provide a good result.
Both of those articles are pretty old. Just a couple of months ago, Stereophile's Art Dudley gave the new SHL5+'s a positive review. The measurements section ended with:
"...Other than that lively enclosure, which is a deliberate design decisionnote AD's comment about "the consistently truthful, present manner with which they reproduce singing voices"the Harbeth Super HL5plus's measured performance is beyond reproach.John Atkinson
Read more at http://www.stereophile.com/content/...-loudspeaker-measurements#roxOtUjActCqgcT3.99
..."
Despite being no fan of the way Shaw runs his forum, I have always had a soft spot for Harbeth speakers. I owned C7s for a few years before replacing with Naim Ovator 400s. Based on recent dealer feedback, and on the confirmation of this and other articles, I will likely home demo the SHL5+'s later this summer.