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"The Harbeth Compact 7ES-3 is a speaker without fault. It does
everything that I could ever want a speaker in this price range to do;
play music extremely failthfully without coloration or fatigue.
Granted, you will have to spend a lot more money to get that last bit
of bass extension or concert hall dynamics, but these speakers are
faithful to the music in a way that is very rare these days. They have
certainly changed my thinking!" Jeff Dorgay, Tone Audio Magazine, June
2008
No. 1 rating in Stereo Sound, Winter 2007.
Golden Ear Award and Editor's Choice Award in The Absolute Sound, October 2007: "... the ne plus ultra of
BBC 2-way designs, with bass down to 46 Hz, an essentially perfect
midrange, and a top end that reproduces ambience fantastically. ...
With respect to accuracy, neutrality, and natural tonal balance the
(Compact 7ES-3) establishes a new benchmark for compact 2-ways".
In The Absolute Sound Review (April/May 2007) Paul Seydor says"...Indeed,
for sheer neutrality the 7ES-3 rivals the Harbeth Monitor 40, and in
the 2kHz-4kHz range even trumps by reference Quads...I cannot overstate
how fantastically these speakers reproduce ambience, whether real or
synthesized, large spaces or small...Among major changes, the 7ES-3 has
an updated tweeter, a new surround for the woofer, and a substantially
redesigned crossover at a slightly lower frequency...The 7ES-3 gets it
right - preserving the baritone but restoring what upper-range
lightness it has...I am slack-jawed that Shaw has achieved such high
resolution and tonal neutrality without the 7s sounding in the least
clinical, analytical or edgy...this speaker sets, in my experience, a
new benchmark in neutrality and natural tonal balance over its usable
range, regardless of price
The Stereo Times October 2007 review describes the Compact 7ES-3's as"accurate instrumental timbre" and "grace,
wit, fire, nuance, intelligence, and artistic sensibility of the
highest order. (It) reveals the details of the playing, the subtlest of
inflections and touch. (The speaker) allowed the ear to identify
instruments, capturing their timbre and subtle sonic signatures with an
extraordinarily natural ease ... One could easily identify the
different makes of violins from the great Cremona-based masters. The
sonic signatures of Fender, Gretsch, and Gibson electric guitars were
clearly rendered". In summary, "The
Compact 7ES-3 offers an exceptionally well-integrated blend of accurate
timbre, sophisticated rhythmic performance, highly articulate
reproduction of performance technique, and clear insight into the
artistic intent of the music ... with just about any kind of music".
The September 2007 review in HiFi News says "These
are enormously tuneful, addictive speakers which can create deep
sound-stages with pinpoint accurate tone colours. ... the timing, speed
and imaging made for instant, foot-tapping engagement."
Stereophile's Sam Tellig (review in the June 2007 issue) calls this update to the C7 "one of the finest ... most musically satisfying ... loudspeakers I've heard". "Cellos
were magnificent - ripe and woody, anything but cold or clinical.
Indeed, all instrumental timbres - woodwinds, brass, strings - sounded
convincing ... Pianos had a ripeness that was ravishing. And the
Harbeths excelled with voice ... But here's the big surprise: This
loudspeaker could rock!"
What HiFi magazine gives the Compact 7's 5 stars in their June 2007 review, noting that "this
is a gem of a design, sounding natural and unforced where most rivals
would be delivering a more forward and thinner presentation. ... A
wonderfully natural-sounding midrange: great dynamics (particularly of
the low-level variety); excellent detail resolution. ... The crowning
glory here is the midrange: fluid, big-bodied and full of finesse, it
makes voices articulate and superbly well projected without ever
becoming hard or forward ... the Harbeth’s have a sound that’s hard to
better for the money."
The HiFi World May 2007 review notes the Compact 7-ES3's "delicately balanced sound, with wonderful timbral acuity", with "Excellent body to each instrument" and "the ability to convey the emotional impact of a recording", concluding that "few – if any – at the price can touch these loudspeakers
Whatever you ask of the Compact 7ES-3,
it always delivers: perfectly. The clarity is spellbinding and brings
the 'magic carpet ride experience' to the listening room in a
medium-sized enclosure.
The world-class HL Compact 7ES-3 takes the ultra-clean
Harbeth-exclusive RADIAL2 cone technology to another performance level,
and has been hugely successful for Harbeth throughout worldwide
markets. Add to that the new 'Open Weave' tweeter, new cabinet internal
wall-damping, and lowered port tune frequency and the result is more
dynamic and greater transparency This medium-sized loudspeaker combines
natural sound with a flair for reproducing any and every type of music
from rock to opera, jazz through folk. This latest generation is the
most open and enthralling Compact ever.
The Harbeth secret for natural sound is the result of the meticulous
attention to detail. In true BBC tradition, and regardless of cost,
both the front and rear panels are removable to create a low inertia,
low energy storage and hence low coloration cabinet. Sales in Japan,
where the previous Compact was highly popular, have confirmed that this
new generation of the much loved design is a great leap forward.
Critically important but hidden is the crossover. Redesigned from the
bottom-up using new-technology software this freed-up even more time
for critical listening to music and speech and to minute adjustment of
balance and level. The result is improved integration of the drive
units across a wider horizontal and vertical arc meaning that the
Compact 7ES-3 is far less critical of stand height.
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| Transducer system |
Vented 2-way domestic monitor loudspeaker |
| Freq. response |
46Hz - 20kHz +/- 3dB free space, 1m with grille on with smooth off axis response |
| Impedance |
6ohms, easy electrical load |
| Sensivity |
86dB/1W/1m |
| Amp. suggestion |
25W + |
| Power handling |
150W programme |
| Connector |
Two 4mm gold-plated binding posts |
| Dimensions (hxwxd) |
520 x 273 x 315mm |
| Finish |
Cherry (std.), eucalyptus . Others: to order |
| Space needs |
Ideally 0.75m+ from surfaces |
| Stands |
Typically 15-21 inches |
| Weight |
13.2kg each |
| Packing |
Single speaker per carton |
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