Confused regarding Harbeth speakers and sensitivity

[audiofound]

Are Harbeth speakers difficult to drive, or not? For example, the Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary Model speakers are rated at 86 dB for sensitivity. However, they're also rated at 6 ohms and not the usual 8 ohms. Are they considered an inefficient speaker or difficult to drive? Is there more to it than dBs/sensitivity?

[Higgens]

I used to own the Harbeth SHL 5 35th Anniversary edition. They were paired with a Pass XA 30.8. My 30 watt Pass amp had no difficulty at all with the Harbeth’s. The speakers were a fairly easy load for my amp.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Higgens

I used to own the Harbeth SHL 5 35th Anniversary edition. They were paired with a Pass XA 30.8. My 30 watt Pass amp had no difficulty at all with the Harbeth’s. The speakers were a fairly easy load for my amp.

Yeah, they're a piece of cake to drive. I'd love to hear mine with a low-power SET or a Pass XA25.

[Tie_breaker]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Yeah, they're a piece of cake to drive. I'd love to hear mine with a low-power SET or a Pass XA25.

I currently have a Line Magnetic 845 Premium integrated SET amp. It's 2x30w and works very well with either 30.2 or SHL5 plus. Sweet sound, especially the mids. I don't feel the need to turn my volume above 11 o'clock. My music preferences are jazz, vocals, instrumental, and classical. My room size is 18x12.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Tie_breaker

I currently have a Line Magnetic 845 Premium integrated SET amp. It's 2x30w and works very well with either 30.2 or SHL5 plus. Sweet sound, especially the mids. I don't feel the need to turn my volume above 11 o'clock. My music preferences are jazz, vocals, instrumental, and classical. My room size is 18x12.

I would LOVE to have a Line Magnetic 845 for my Harbeths. Those sound wonderful.

[GeAllan70]

MC252 off the 8ohm taps into my C-7es3's.... Effortless...

[BuffaloBill]

Every 3db increase in SPL requires a doubling of power. Combine that with a mid-bass driver with a wide frequency range and that spells potential problems with modulation distortion.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

Every 3db increase in SPL requires a doubling of power. Combine that with a mid-bass driver with a wide frequency range and that spells potential problems with modulation distortion.

Respectfully, Bill, that doesn't apply with respect to Harbeths. The Radial mid-bass drivers are made from a unique material that is proprietary within the industry and has been in rigorous R&D development for over 40 years by Alan Shaw with respect to to producing superb audio characteristics with very, very low distortion (and that ameliorates this distortion mode).

So, with Harbeths, don't let "specs" mislead you. They are very easy to drive....just ask the dealers that sell them with a very wide variety of amplification compenents, from "mid-fi" to high-end.

I've seen Harbeth C7s driven beautifully with an 8-watt Viva SET as well as mid-power and high-power tube and solid-state amps. Harbeth speakers are probably the most amplifier-agnostic I can think of.

Link to a video of C7s being driven by an 8-watt SET:
https://youtu.be/MytKtPXsfLQ

I drive my 30.2s to levels that will drive folks from the room with an 70 Wpc tube amp. Absoslutely no worries. And they sound amazing and the mid-range is absolutely gorgeous.

Bottom-line: Get the amp you want, get your Harbeths, sit back and enjoy some really beautiful music.

Job done.

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Respectfully, Bill, that doesn't apply with respect to Harbeths.

You and I can respectfully agree to disagree.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

You and I can respectfully agree to disagree.

Yep, and that's fine.

Cheers.