Transistor amp. for Harbeth P3ESR

**Ian** · 03-09-2011, 04:52 PM

This is just distraction and fun really. Tried a Quad 306 with the Harbs. recently and loved the results. I've just sold it with a view to getting a Quad 99 power which I've owned before and loved. Before I do any recommendations for alternatives ?

My budget is around £350. I'm also considering a 606. It'll be used with an EE BBA.

And I will accept statements starting "A bit over your budget but........." because this is, after all, the 'wam

**turning japanese** · 03-09-2011, 08:05 PM

a bit over your budget but accuphase work well with harbs - hard to get near your budget with even the older stuff though so not helpful really

**macvisual** · 03-09-2011, 08:21 PM

If the Quad 306 matched with your Harbs speakers produced 'lovely results', why did you sell it etc..?

**Bourney** · 03-09-2011, 08:23 PM

Did you try a Sugden with these Ian? I myself think the A21a and the harbs I owned were about as good sound as I have owned. The top end was sublime ( thro my SHL5s). I haven't regretted selling much of the kit I have owned but that combo is one I would happily go back to and not take for granted how good it was. A bit special I thought.I imagine a marantz pm4 may also give good results.

**Ian** · 03-09-2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by macvisual

If the Quad 306 matched with your Harbs speakers produced 'lovely results', why did you sell it etc..?

Because I always want more

**Ian** · 03-09-2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Bourney

Did you try a Sugden with these Ian? I myself think the A21a and the harbs I owned were about as good sound as I have owned. The top end was sublime ( thro my SHL5s). I haven't regretted selling much of the kit I have owned but that combo is one I would happily go back to and not take for granted how good it was. A bit special I thought.I imagine a marantz pm4 may also give good results.

Sugden is on the list too, Cheers.

**macvisual** · 03-09-2011, 09:50 PM

Have you seen the mint Quad 909 (silver) power amp that Central Audio are selling for £495 in the dealer classifieds..?

**montesquieu** · 03-09-2011, 10:31 PM

Why transistors when you can get a nice beefy valve amp in the classifieds (cough) that'll be a perfect match ....

**Pierre The Bear** · 04-09-2011, 01:37 AM

If you have cash to spend then look elsewhere.
However the most fun I ever had and still do from time to time is hooking up a vintage Creek amp or two.They always knock your socks off and I love them.
Was that your intention Mike?

**AmDismal** · 04-09-2011, 05:32 AM

Leftfield? Try a Naim amp. I bought a pair of HLP3ES2s a few years ago, and the guy was running them from a Naim amp and it sounded really good, I've always thought that the Harbeths need something to liven them up. I never got them sounding as good as that with the tubes I used, they always just sent me to sleep.

**SSM** · 04-09-2011, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by Ian

Because I always want more

"Gimme more, gimme more... Gimme gimme..."
Will you go crazy and shave your head if you can't find the right amp?

Another vote for a Sugden-P3ESR pairing. It sounded real nice to my ears. A21a is good, but the lovely Mystro could help the P3ESR deliver more punch.

SS

**SSM** · 04-09-2011, 05:42 AM

Naim XS and the P3ESR playing Diana Krall...

^ it sounds real quality even when played through YouTube via my USB dac

That guy has other music clips through the same combo including Snorah and Dire Straits!

SS

**Ian** · 04-09-2011, 06:50 AM

Have you seen the mint Quad 909 (silver) power amp that Central Audio are selling for £495 in the dealer classifieds..?
I have Pete, and that's on the list too, which is getting long !

Why transistors when you can get a nice beefy valve amp in the classifieds (cough) that'll be a perfect match ....
Shameless Tom, shameless

Leftfield? Try a Naim amp.
Truth is Adam I've had a hankering to try Naim in the past. On list !

Will you go crazy and shave your head if you can't find the right amp?
Those who have seen my haor know it's very important to me SSM ! Can't rule out craziness though. And I wasn't thinking of that many boxes !

Cheers all.

**JADISMAN** · 04-09-2011, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by Ian

Sugden is on the list too, Cheers.

Ian, you were selling a Sugden A21SE back in March.......I remember being sorely tempted at the time! Perhaps you need to slow down a bit!

**Ian** · 04-09-2011, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by JADISMAN

Ian, you were selling a Sugden A21SE back in March.......I remember being sorely tempted at the time! Perhaps you need to slow down a bit!

Nah, as long as I'm breaking even or near to I'm happy mucking about. If I stopped a*****g around with amps. I might end up having to watch telly and we don't want that !

**Phillybuster** · 04-09-2011, 08:34 AM

I think you'd need an amp with considerably more welly to get the best out of the Harbeths. Just had a demo of some with my Naim Nait 5i which was OK, but upping the ante to a Supernait vastly improved the sound. Also threw a Hegel H100 into the mix, which was about the best of the bunch.

**dzeikei** · 04-09-2011, 09:23 AM

Naim or Exposure amps will give you good boogie factor wirt Harbeth.

**AlanB** · 04-09-2011, 09:35 AM

I'm very much the odd one out with regard to Sugden/Harbeth.
I tried Sugden with my 7's and hated it. The top end certainly wasn't "sublime" to my ears. Valve like? Not in my world.

The Audio Analogue Maestro was very good but, for me, valves, and especially Primaluna IS a sublime match.
Funnily enough the new Eastern Electric M88 which sounds superb in Wammer Lee Henley's system (Yara's) didn't do it for me with the Harbeth's.
Possibly one gets used to a particular 'sound'.

**Bourney** · 04-09-2011, 09:53 AM

I know Alan Shaw bangs on about any competent amp will do and differences are 0.1 per cent but my experience with Harbs is that they are very amp fussy or maybe I should say they show differences in amps very clearly and thus personal experiences differ greatly. I have probably heard at least ten or twelve amps through various harbs and the Sugden was the best for "my" ears. Slightly trimmed in the bass but only noticeable in a direct comparison.I may sell up and go back to Suggie/ Harb combo, although to get me going i quite fancy the Exposure xx in the classifieds and then looking out for some SHL5s.

**Ian** · 04-09-2011, 09:57 AM

I know Alan Shaw bangs on about any competent amp will do and differences are 0.1 per cent but my experience with Harbs is that they are very amp fussy or maybe I should say they show differences in amps very clearly and thus personal experiences differ greatly

I wholeheartedly agree with you on this Steve, certainly in the showing differences bit. I've found my dream speaker, I can mess about for ever !

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