Mission 778X with Harbeth P3ESR

[Babyboomerxyz]

Hi ,
Checking if anyone in this forum has paired the Mission 778X integrated amplifier with a Harbeth P3ESR. If yes, can you share your experience please. I have heard the Missions 778X at the shop with Quad speakers (cannot remember the model) and find the sound pretty good to me. I cannot find many reviews for this amplifier except for What HiFi and The British Audiophile . I have the Harbeth speakers and am wondering if they are a good match before I purchase it. The shops that sells the Mission amp do not sell Harbeth.

 

[Gray]

Hi ,
Checking if anyone in this forum has paired the Mission 778X integrated amplifier with a Harbeth P3ESR.

I very much doubt it.
For another review, have a look at AV Forums, where Ed Selley reviewed the amp 11 months ago.
But, regardless of what anyone else thinks, a home loan of the amp would be your best option.

 

[daytona600]

Harbeths are £2650 new , add cables & stands circa £3k+
Amp pairing should ideally be of the same Value
As these are essentially BBC LS3/5a
£1500 Musical Fidelity A1 as a min or Sugden or LFD
Always test amp/speakers as a system of go active and no guess work

or £3k for NLE-1 Active Loudspeaker + add your source

NLE-1

The NLE-1 loudspeaker combines the full latent performance potential of our RADIAL cone technology with DSP.

harbeth.co.uk

 

[nopiano]

Harbeths are £2650 new , add cables & stands circa £3k+
Amp pairing should ideally be of the same Value
As these are essentially BBC LS3/5a
£1500 Musical Fidelity A1 as a min or Sugden or LFD
Always test amp/speakers as a system of go active and no guess work

or £3k for NLE-1 Active Loudspeaker + add your source

NLE-1

The NLE-1 loudspeaker combines the full latent performance potential of our RADIAL cone technology with DSP.

harbeth.co.uk

True, although the non XD or XD2 P3s were more like £1,200 to £1,500 a pair, until Harbeth set their ambitions higher.

If the OP has the originals, the Mission might well be a good match. With the XD models I’d be more inclined to go with your Sugden/MF suggestions.

 

[matthewpianist]

Beware how much space the MF amp requires for ventilation. I was interested in a nearly-new one, but I checked the manual PDF and it gets so hot that it needs 25cm clear space above it, and 50cm behind. That ruled it out for me, beause my cabinet wouldn't offer that space, and I wasn't going to replace furniture again.

I would be tempted to look at the MF M2si in your position. It's a lot of amp for the money.

 

[Gray]

True, although the non XD or XD2 P3s were more like £1,200 to £1,500 a pair, until Harbeth set their ambitions higher.

Indeed, it could easily be argued that the speakers are overpriced* - and maybe even that the amp is underpriced (says he, as if £549 is nothing).

Either way, I wouldn't place such rigid considerations on price.

*Though I found that they sounded great (with 50 odd watts of Cyrus).

 

[Gray]

I would be tempted to look at the MF M2si in your position. It's a lot of amp for the money.

It does appear to be.
And you can currently get the M6i for £1500....check the power spec on that.

 

[RoA]

There are always combinations/examples of pairings that shouldn’t work but somehow do. Could it be better? Sure, there is always something better.

Robinson tried several expensive amplifiers with an expensive floorstander but concluded that a humble $800 one was one of the better pairings. I’ve used some cheaper ones with my Sterling Special Editions and it sounded good. Then there are folks that use certain vintage products with vadtly more expensive stuff.

I am not advocating to cheap out but I’ll go with the advise given earlier suggesting trying the amplifiers of your choice. You may (or may not) find you can save yourself money.