New Harbeth P3ESR

[kraiker]

lius;15380]Congrats on the P3's! It is amazing how you don't miss the low frequencies! I don't know how Alan does it...

BTW, while looking at your new speaker, I feel like I have Superman's x-ray vision...[/QUOTE]

I feel the same way,x-ray man,what the
I should put some more pics of my Harbeth's SE Rosewood.

[engjoo]

Has anyone compared (I mean audition) the P3ESR along with the M20? How are they differentiated in terms of sound and applications ?

{Moderator's comment: you would be auditioning two generations of Harbeth mini-monitors of which the latest is the P3ESR.}

[Babyboomer]

The subject of the Harbeth Xtender subwoofer-in-stand that we made for earlier generations of P3ESR has been mentioned as the ultimate add-on, so why not make it for the P3ESR? I've been looking through the server archive and all the technical drawings are safely filed there, so technically we could indeed reactivate this product. The question is - what business case is there for making it. And what are the dangers.

As commented here as an impartial listening to the P3ESR confirms, as we very well know, that the P3ESR has a remarkably solid bass doubly so considering its tiny proportions. So I'm concerned that making available any sort of Harbeth-branded subwoofer may send the wrong signals to the public that a subwoofer is needed. We know that it isn't, but that may be the impression that such a product introduction may give. And there is plenty of anxiety in the audio market without consciously adding to it.

Second - the Xtender is at least twice the size of the P3ESR. You can see an earlier P3 + Xtender for sale here - very good pictures which give you an overall impression. The size of the Xtender means that our daily production output, which is directly linked to the physical size of the speaker, will eat into the quantity we can produce per day. That means an overall extension in lead time.

Next we must consider the tricky and insurmountable problem of veneer matching. We simply cannot guarantee that the veneer colour/grain of the Xtender will (ever) perfectly match that of the P3 which sits atop it. We have three cabinet makers, and if we purchase the Xtender box from one and the P3ESR from another (as will happen) there will be differences in veneer. We, and our dealers, cannot be expected to open sealed cartons and pick-through perfectly good cabinets hunting for a close veneer/colour match.

This Xtender project is technically trivial - but commercially very fraught indeed. I am nervous about complicating a production system that is already working at maximum efficiency for what would be a very low-margin addition.

Hi Alan,

I read briefly about the comments regarding the bass perfromance of the P3ESR. I have two concerns; 1) I usually listen at quite low levels and due to that reason find the bass of similar sized (well known) speakers anaemic. When I cranked up the volume {of the other similarly sized speakers} the higher frequencies becomes unbearably bright and vocals seem to shout at me. 2) The other concern is whether what I had expereinced was a speaker / amp mismatch. I own a 100 watts Class D PS Audio Trio pre/pwr. Speaker wires are the Kimber 4TCs. Any advise is most appreciated.

{Moderator's comment: Iassume that as we have indicated above {...} your comments are about another speaker, not the P3ESR. Correct? Can you give us a little more info about what that other speaker is perhaps be country of origin, number of drive units and the philosophy behind the design ... a 'BBC philosophy' or not?}

[Babyboomer]

They're UK made 'BBC philospohy" type as well - sealed box, same number of drivers, varied wall thickness..... I forgot to mention they sounded lovely when driven by Sudgen amp at the shop.

My room is about 12 ft x 20 ft, speakers firing across the shorter end - not very well damped; hard floors, light curtains, 2 settee with glass coffee table top & glass shelf display cabinet .... Read somewhere that says "Beware of Class D amplifiers and their interaction with speakers". Thanks.

{Moderator's comment: yes our experience with Class D whilst initially impressive can be rather hard on the ear. You mention that your pleasure degrades as the volume increases with your current speakers. This surely can only be then increasing distortion (of various types) either in the drive units, crossover and amp/source since your ears and room are constant. If the drive units do not perfectly blend through the crossover region (e.g. crossover too high or low for the drive units latent abilities) then this can give a hardness which is extremely fatiguing.}

[Heretic]

Has anyone compared (I mean audition) the P3ESR along with the M20? How are they differentiated in terms of sound and applications ?

Hello.

Recently heard both the Mon20 & the P3ESR at Harbeth's Dealer in KL, MY.
The Mo.20 had a more nasal and "flat earth" (shades of Naim?) presentation while the P3ESR managed to project a more layered soundstage. The P3ESR seemed to be able to throw a fair bit more bass than the Mon20 as well.

Needless to say, ended up bringing home a pair of the P3ESR in gorgeous rosewood finish.

Happy listening.

[Art K]

Congratulations on a purchase that you will not regret. The P3ESR is a wonderful speaker. I'm enjoying mine as I type. Cheers!

[TimVG]

You'll not regret that purchase. I'm still as impressed by my pair as on the day I bought them.

As someone who comes in contact with real performed music for the better part of the day, it's my personal opinion that you won't find another brand that will come closer to the sound of real musicians. Get a decent amplifier, source and connectors (and none of these have to be expensive), a pair of Harbeths that suit your room.. and enjoy the music. Don't look any further. That's my advice I'll gladly give to anyone.

[Spindrift]

Hello.

Recently heard both the Mon20 & the P3ESR at Harbeth's Dealer in KL, MY.
The Mo.20 had a more nasal and "flat earth" (shades of Naim?) presentation while the P3ESR managed to project a more layered soundstage. The P3ESR seemed to be able to throw a fair bit more bass than the Mon20 as well.

Needless to say, ended up bringing home a pair of the P3ESR in gorgeous rosewood finish.

Happy listening.

I concur; the ESR is a noticable evolution of the ES2 and therefore of the Monitor 20 (M20=P3ES2 with Speakon inlets).

Using Rosewood ESRs here as well; still a classy finish on any speaker.

[cornelius]

Congrats on you new P3's. I have to listen to lesser studio monitors all day *cough - Genelec - cough* the P3's are my sanctuary when I get home...

[Heretic]

Hmmm... the "Harbeth" badges on the front grilles of my P3ESR's are somewhat crooked ( as in, not quite squarely stuck onto the grilles). :P

[Spindrift]

Hmmm... the "Harbeth" badges on the front grilles of my P3ESR's are somewhat crooked ( as in, not quite squarely stuck onto the grilles). :P

These are self-adhesive badges which can droop in transport etc.

To straighten them, remove the grilles from the P3's and with the aid of a hairdrier, slightly warm up the back of the badge, through the inside of the supergrille (just for a few seconds maybe ten seconds). Then carefully rotate the badge until it seems straight/level (allow some play for the elasticity of the cloth) and finally pinch the badge to the cloth with your fingers so that the adhesive can get a good grip on it.

Hope this helps and good luck.