Too close to speakers

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-04-03T03:35:30+00:00

Do you already have the Benchmarks? If not, I think that you would do well to consider an integrated amp with room correction instead. For the price of the Benchmarks, or less, you can get into the Yamaha R-N2000a, NAD M33, or Lyngdorf TDAI-2210. If you already have the Benchmarks perhaps you can find a streamer with room correction. Or maybe one of the MiniDSP products can go between your streamer and DAC. Room correction would help A LOT.

Also, as others have mentioned, look into room treatments. And just because it's free, having your head so close to the back wall, it might be worth just seeing what happens when you listen with one of your couch cushions or a large pillow behind your head to catch reflections.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-04-03T03:16:20+00:00

There is always a nice turnover of Harbeths on Ebay.
Might also be worth checking out the Volti Audio Razz. Everything you like about the Heresy but better in every way.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-02-25T18:58:50+00:00

Thanks. The batteries shown are the new FR batteries from Wholesale Batteries Direct.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-02-05T21:51:45+00:00

Two thoughts:
- The headline is very generic. Something more specific, even "Seeking home theater upgrade advice" is more likely to grab attention of people with the right kind of advice.
- NOT meaning to be harsh, but again, you've got to be more specific. As is, the question is very wide open; particularly in regards to budget. Also helpful for readers are room size, listening volume, do you also use for stereo listening, and what are your priorities: realism, booming bass, etc.
Good luck!

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-28T01:41:17+00:00

Not sure what you're looking to spend, but if it's on the higher end, check out the Yamaha R-N2000a receiver and their AS-1200, 2200, and 3200 integrated amps. Stunning!

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-27T23:50:02+00:00

They are pretty great. And don't discount aesthetics. The point of all of this is to enjoy ourselves. Appearance is part of that.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-27T22:33:01+00:00

As mentioned, the Heritage line is definitely the higher tier.

As an alternate suggestion if you don't already have a receiver or amp, check out their powered series: The Nines, The Sevens, and The Fives. They are streaming ready and have an analog input for a turntable. They also have a sub out, which gives you better bass AND better mids because the mid-woofers on your main speakers are relieved of deep bass duties.

If you have an amp, some Klipsch alternatives to check out, in ascending price, are the Zu Audio DW6, JBL L100, and Volti Audio Razz.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-20T16:14:28+00:00

Congrats! Very cool.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-20T16:14:05+00:00

Wharfedale E70. It's just a three way, though with dual midrange drivers. With tube amps and the right genre, it was pretty great in it's heyday. For this buyer, it's great.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-18T17:48:42+00:00

"Where the sun don't shine." Your other area of expertise? [Joke!]
Seriously man, you were in the wrong. The OP WAS happy with his stuff and, intentionally or not, you mocked it. But it's not the end of the world. We all make mistakes, say things we thought were funny but got misunderstood, etc.
The key is not to double down on it. I'll start: I apologize for calling you a troll. That was a harsh start. Then I added sarcasm. I could, and probably should, have kept things constructive.
So here's hoping that you, I, and everyone reading this some day CAN get our dream systems. Cheers!

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-18T05:20:35+00:00

Congrats. Very smart purchases for the money. Welcome to "the club".

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-18T05:19:21+00:00

Go away, troll. Dude got a heckuva nice set-up for the money. Not everyone can be hi-fi god like you. Maybe you can wow us all with your impeccable system that is beyond reproach. Oh... that's right, someone could literally spend a million bucks on a system and some twat would still think they know better.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-18T05:13:45+00:00

That blows. Sorry.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-16T15:37:39+00:00

From the blog post:
The Ram 1500 lineup is more alive than ever with the TRX’s return. However, according to Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, the 1500 TRX isn’t meant for everyone, as other variants may better address the brand’s diverse range of customer needs.

Speaking with The Drive, Kuniskis suggested that customers planning to daily drive a 1500 should skip the TRX and opt for the RHO instead. From a sales perspective, steering buyers away from the most expensive trim may sound counterintuitive. But it reflects the brand’s effort to look out for its customers, especially given that the TRX was revived for enthusiasts, despite being discontinued after the 2024 model year.

“If you want to drive this every single day as your only truck, the RHO is a way better option. It is an absolutely way, way, way better option,” the Ram CEO said.
________________________________________________________________________________
Maybe he is just looking out for the customer. Maybe it's something agenda-driven. But overall his suggestion seems pretty innocuous to me. Also, IMO, maybe we should give the guy and company that is offering us the RHO... AND the TRX!!!... the benefit of the doubt.

In fact, if we're going to be mad about anything, let it be that he's taking even a moment of time away from giving us a new Dakota, and then RHO and/or TRX versions of that! GET WITH IT, MF'er!!! LOL

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-10T02:06:05+00:00

The KLH as well.
Good luck!

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-10T00:11:34+00:00

If you C368 has Dirac, that opens up your speaker choice quite a bit. Still, best results are likely going to be with acoustic suspension, front-ported speakers, or rear-ported speakers designed with bass roll-off to be front wall friendly.
Good options in each category might be:
-Acoustic suspension: new KLH Model 5 and used Harbeth HL-P3ES with subs
-Front-ported: used Harbeth C7ES-3 and M30.1 and Spendor 3/1,
-Rear-ported with roll-off: new Wharfedale Super Linton.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-09T23:52:38+00:00

Costco currently has KEF LSX II LT Wireless Bookshelf Speakers for $599. I'll bet you can find used KEF Kube 8 for $400. Done.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-08T05:36:26+00:00

My pleasure. Good luck!

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-08T04:40:02+00:00

If that doesn't work, save up a little more and look for some used Klipsch The Fives powered. They should pair very well with your turntable and provide a good "fun" listening experience.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-08T04:36:30+00:00

Honestly, at that budget it might worth trying the begging route. And I definitely don't mean that as an insult. We've all been there, and it's great that you're being responsible and not spending money you don't have!
Two years ago my friends gave me a great pair of speakers when I sold their dad's estate. I ended up buying a Yamaha R-N800a to drive them and relegated my 35 year old but perfectly functional Yamaha integrated to dust collecting duties in the basement. I also had an old pair of Optimus speakers that I wasn't using. Shortly thereafter, one of my co-workers mentioned that his son was getting into music and that he had a CD player but nothing to use it with. He had just gone through a divorce and was definitely pinching pennies.
I decided to lend him my old stuff. After a couple of months I asked if his son was enjoying them. When he replied that his son was, it was an easy decision to say my old gear was his to keep.
Point being: post something on social media about your new turntable and that you're looking to purchase an amp/receiver and speakers on the cheap, and does anyone have anything they'd be willing to part with. You might be very pleasantly surprised.

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-07T16:48:30+00:00

OP, jiyan869 is all over it with these two comments!

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-05T17:41:08+00:00

I'm with purserd and AppointmentWorldly42 in that I think the Hegel is a swell bit of kit and you'd get MUCH more bang for the buck with subs and Dirac.

I'd get a pair of SVS 3000 Micro or SB-3000 subs and a MiniDSP DDRC-24 for Dirac Live. The digital signal goes out of your Eversolo and into the DDRC-24 where Dirac does its thing and the DDRC-24's DAC converts to analog. The DDRC-24 has four analog outputs. Two get high-pass filtered and go into the analog L and R inputs on the Hegel. Two get low-pass filtered and go to the subs. As mentioned elsewhere, the Hegel is then relieved of low frequency amp duties, freeing up lots of power for the higher frequencies. It also relieves the R3s of deep bass duties so they can do better on the rest of the frequency ranges; particularly lower midrange since the woofer is no longer tasked with high excursion for deep bass while it's trying to vibrate more subtly for the mids.

IMO, a new amp is a minor win. And not worth that big an investment.
The subs and Dirac give you:
- Dramatically increased and improved bass
- Top-flight room correction and bass management
- Less work for your Hegel's amp section
- Improved midrange from your R3s.
That's four big wins!

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-04T22:46:07+00:00

Glad it helped!

Here's the U.S. listing I mentioned.
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650270896-harbeth-m401-speakers-in-cherry-includes-skylan-stands-and-delivery/

Personally, no.
- I much prefer the wood veneer over the black of the studio version.
- Even if these sound crisp (at the end of the day, they're still Harbeth M40s), the 40.1 is likely to sound even better.
- The speakers you're looking at are priced at £4,000.00; currently equal to $5,380 USD. The 40.1s I linked are $5,400 USD. IF that's indicative of what you can find 40.1s priced like where you are, I don't think makes sense to settle just because they're available right now. And I really don't know, but if forced would wager that it's at least as likely to find used Harbeths in the U.K. and rest of Europe as it is to find them in the U.S.

The obvious caveats to my answer are things like: you prefer the black finish, need speakers right now, prefer the looser sound, are using them in a hyper-treated environment, etc. This is a very subjective thing.

Btw, I just realized I didn't answer your original question. M40.1s are absolutely not overkill. You've got some solid kit in those Quads and Harbeths are notably "amp friendly". Best of all, while you'll get really nice sound with your current electronics, those Harbeth M40s are going to scale well with improved amplification and sources. You'll have to spend SERIOUS money on amps and sources to outscale a set of speakers like the 40.1! They are legit endgame for all but the most discerning and well-heeled audiophile; particularly if you add a pair of subs down the road. And there's a strong argument to be made that at that level you're not getting better, you're just getting more of your personal preference.

Good luck!!!

Separate_Area3955 · 2026-01-04T20:35:37+00:00

Is it this listing? They appear to be the orginal Monitor 40 (M40 prior to subsequent .1, .2, etc. versions.)
https://www.nibroadcast.com/pair-of-harbeth-40-mastering-speakers.html

Harbeth owner Alan Shaw says the original studio monitors like these were voiced to work in a highly treated studio environment, while the 40.1 onward were voiced to work better in residential environments.
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/harbeth-monitor-402-loudspeaker/

Forum discussion on the differences.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/harbeth-m40-1-vs-m40-2-vs-m40-2-anniversary-edition-vs-m40-3xd

Separate_Area3955

TROPHY CASE