Harbeth HL5 plus or Audionote AN-K

[shafesk]

Hello All!

Long time no post here. Recently gotten and Icon Audio LA4 preamp and Audiolab 8000 power amp and hate the setup to bits. I am back to using my Cayin amp and Dynaudio excite 12s. Happy with the setup but the upgrade bug bites again. Auditioned the Harbeth HL5s and the Audionote AN-Ks very recently and fell in love!

The Harbeths have the sweetest midrange of almost any speaker (having heard a $120,000 avantgardes) and has the fun factor to music, surprisingly for a speaker with a studio heritage they are not clinical and work well with any source. In fact, to demonstrate this the dealer was using a $20 dvd player and a $600 amp. I can only imagine how much better my Cayin amp will be.

On the other hand, I listened to the Audionote AN-Ks in a $20,000 setup, with all audionote components. The sound is something which can only be described to you if you have every heard audionote before. It was music, I did not care how the mid, highs and lows were.....it was just music. I know they will be picky with components atleast more than the harbeths and I would likely be sucked into buying more Audionote products as they are all sound so lovely together.

The only difference I could discern was that the Harbeths had a sweet (liquid, honey, syrupy, candiliscous even) midrange and the bass was punchier (but arguably less natural) than the audionotes. The audionotes have a very realistic midrange too but maybe 7% less delicious.

Need your thoughts, since I can't have both (but everyone should) they cost the same where I am. By the way, if you haven't gotten a chance to listen to either.....really missing out.

 

[matt49]

I haven't heard the AN-Ks, but I did have a pair of AN-Es on loan for a week. I didn't get on with them, however they were being driven by a Devialet, which certainly isn't what they're designed for. In my system, I'd go for the Harbeths. In yours, the AN-Es might work better.

Can you try them out at home? I'd have thought a home demo was essential for this decision.

Matt

 

[CnoEvil]

Welcome back, my friend

I have heard an expensive AN system, so know exactly what you mean.

FWIW. I think AN works best within a full AN system, so my hunch would be that the Harbeths would be a safer bet...but you would need a comparison in your own system to make a proper decision.

 

[Macspur]

I can only advocate Harbeth, never having heard AN and echo what you described.

Are you able to hear the SHL5+ model?

Mac

www.macsmusicblogbubble.net

 

[Rimse]

tough to beat midrange of shl5,even dynaudio c1 can't do that .Music is there and nowhere else behind curtains

 

[nopiano]

Good to see your post, shafesk. Like Cno, I've heard amazing results from an all AN system, and it was exactly as you say - just music, not hi-fi or other distractions.

Would be reluctant to try to incorporate AN speakers into a 'normal' system, but if you can audition at home you might be lucky. I'm sure Harbeths would be the safer choice if you cannot hear at home.

Best wishes.