Harbeth now with active version

[Redwine]

Understand that Harbeth UK now has announced and demo their new serie with active amplification at the Bristol hifi show recently.

Anyone with more info and knowledge of type of amplification used?

 

[highender]

Understand that Harbeth UK now has announced and demo their new serie with active amplification at the Bristol hifi show recently.

Anyone with more info and knowledge of type of amplification used?

According to this show report:

The Bristol HiFi Show 2024 Report | Hifi Pig

The Bristol HiFi Show 2024 Report - Read the Team HiFi PiG report from The Bristol HiFi Show 2024

www.hifipig.com

"They had 4 Quad valve monoblocs for the midrange and treble along with 2 Hypex Class-D amplifiers for the bass, and then demonstrated how you can tie these amps together using DSP (as a form of external crossover) to get a very pure listening experience."

 

[ahofer]

The Quads are one of several options. There's one that's all Hypex, I think. But I heard we are talking $50k, which seems like begging for a 83X1 comparison.

On the other hand, to the broader audiophile community, this is brilliant. They've taken the active monitor model, and broken out the amps and crossover to maximize bespoke fiddling potential, and tripled the margin. It's a relatively practical product dressed up in audiophoolery. Alan you sly devil you.

 

[Ron Texas]

This idea isn't new. The JBL M2 has had external amps and crossovers forever. Anyone can bypass or remove the passive crossover and substitute an off the shelf DSP and amplifiers.

 

[Rhamnetin]

The Quads are one of several options. There's one that's all Hypex, I think. But I heard we are talking $50k, which seems like begging for a 83X1 comparison.

On the other hand, to the broader audiophile community, this is brilliant. They've taken the active monitor model, and broken out the amps and crossover to maximize bespoke fiddling potential, and tripled the margin. It's a relatively practical product dressed up in audiophoolery. Alan you sly devil you.

I like the idea of moving the bulk of the electronics out of big 3-4 way speakers and instead using Hypex/Purifi amplifiers. I wouldn't want to fiddle with the electronics though (i.e. you can't on the ATC speakers that do this), but it's logistically preferable to me if the combined speaker+electronics were to be beyond a certain weight, and such external electronics could integrate R2R volume control which is preferable to me.

But I agree with you entirely. I am surprised a brand like Harbeth would even consider using a brand like Hypex for the amplifiers, and at $50k this is firmly in audiophool territory either way. If I had that money, I'd still rather spend 1/5 that on Genelec 8361A's.

 

[Robovox]

Sounded absolutely superb - best I heard in the show. I understand that Harbeth will sell you the DSP box and the speakers and you bring your own amplifiers if you prefer that to the suggested Quad / Hypex combination. There will be some mechanism for adjusting the DSP for the gain of your chosen amps.

 

[CapMan]

Ouch !

 

[Purité Audio]

Those Harbeth three ways are £46k?
Wow.
Keith

 

[highender]

Looking at the photo from the show I guess the Hypex DSP unit comes from Nord Acoustics, similar like Sun Audio does.

 

[teched58]

The "Harbeth New Listening Experience"? Harbeth with active amplification?

In the old days, we called this a stereo.

If they put it in an enclosure, they can call it a console.

 

[ldarieut]

This is more or less my diy setup: 6 hypex amplifiers, a pair of three ways speakers with a minidsp flex 8 and Dirac. Even factoring the hours I spent, I am far from £50k. And my speakers are way bigger

 

[Willem]

They will demo a smaller two way speaker at the Munich high end show. Amplification is built in. The market for this version is the professional one, but they may do a veneered one with consumer type connections in the future.

 

[DSJR]

Willem beat me to it -

I think I'm allowed to add that the first release will be the NLE 1 small monitor, to be exhibited at the German audio show. Built-in Class D amps, dsp which they're making a huge thing of (all but unknown and feared I reckon, away from audiophile mentalities away from this and other more educated sites) and seemingly basic facilities as broadcasters want along with a commercial advantage external power brick (maybe it saves money on international certification?). How this no doubt expensive monitor will compare with a HK80 or whatever which sells for £850pr on Thomann I have no idea, but the midrange will certainly be to die for in active form as it's a speciality for this brand, even in the complex-crossover passive versions which terrified Danny I remember )

 

[MacClintock]

Before I discovered ASR, I read some raving reviews about Harbeth speakers. I still like the design and the history, but assume that all measure mediocre at best, so I said goodbye to my pipe dream. Yet I would like to see the Super LH5 Plus XD being measured by Amir.

 

[ldarieut]

I don't know "audiophile" but once you have active speakers with DSP, from a reputable brand like genelec, or these Harbeth, the only thing preventing you from enjoying your music is the shit recording that suddenly becomes so glaringly audible.
Active DSP is the way to go.

 

[Willem]

What was measured by ASR was a pretty old model. Mesurements of modern models by other media show a very flat response, at least straight ahead. The designer does not like waveguides. I once saw an interview with him to explain why, but I have unfortunately not been able to find it back.

 

[CapMan]

Willem beat me to it -

I think I'm allowed to add that the first release will be the NLE 1 small monitor, to be exhibited at the German audio show. Built-in Class D amps, dsp which they're making a huge thing of (all but unknown and feared I reckon, away from audiophile mentalities away from this and other more educated sites) and seemingly basic facilities as broadcasters want along with a commercial advantage external power brick (maybe it saves money on international certification?). How this no doubt expensive monitor will compare with a HK80 or whatever which sells for £850pr on Thomann I have no idea, but the midrange will certainly be to die for in active form as it's a speciality for this brand, even in the complex-crossover passive versions which terrified Danny I remember )

When a Neumann KH120 can be had for £700 a piece with DSP, access to their proprietary room correction system, matching subs etc it will be a tough gig I think…. Even at 1/10 the price of the bigger model .

Much kudos to Harbeth for embracing active and DSP to get the very best outcome they can. I guess we will wait on pricing …

 

[Purité Audio]

Will Harbeth owners accept active operation and DSP which we all know is the devil’s handmaiden.
Keith

 

[Ron Texas]

It looks a lot like a Neumann 420 at 5 times the price.

 

[Willem]

Not all Harbeth users are pipe and slippers romantics. I am certainly not. Anyway, these new models are first and foremost targeted at the professional market.