Harbeth Owners - I Need Some Help

Dan, I think much of what you say is true--and I will take it as a warning. When folks refer to any component as a good "reviewers tool" it raises in my mind the "great divide" that seems to exist within the community--between those that are into music and those that are into gear. The folks into music see the gear as a means to an ends. For folks into gear the equipment is an ends in itself. What you point up is the degree to which both reside within all of us. Though I consider myself one of the former, I will freely admit that at times a certain obsession with the gear itself begins to crowd out the music lover in me. I try to protect against this because, for the most part, I perceive those who are into the gear as perpetually unsatisfied, in debt and in conflict with their wives (if they have one). As I move forward in my pursuit of speakers to replace the Harbeth's I'm gonna try real hard to find something that retains their musicality but adds deeper bass and better looks. I may never get there but one lives in hope.

I'm rooting for you!

When my wife first saw the C7s she said, "oh my God, they're beautiful!" This is with the grills removed which is how I'm listening.

I'm using Monitor 30's with 24" sand-filled Skylan stands. Absolutely perfect. The consensus -- and this is coming from the designer -- is that an inert stand is best.

Noel recommends topping off two diagonally-oppossed posts and 5-6" in the other two. I followed his advice and haven't experimented again; it all sounds very right.

After speaking at length with Noel at Skylan Manufacturing I ordered a pair of 21" four post stands (my sofa is a bit higher than average but, again, I don't hear a difference with 1-2" height changes) and have found them superb. I had them put together in 10 minutes and used 'em without sand for a couple weeks. Filled with play sand they grip the floor better and the music sounds more solid and real, and they look quite nice - a little more of a 'finished' look than the Sound Anchors and a lot less expensive.

With the Skylans I now have the grills in place and like the look much better than naked. Kind of dressy and classy looking.

Noel also followed up after the sale with a phone call to make sure I had no problems with set up, etc. Skylan is another quality high end company that seems to be in it for the passion. I've had really good luck throughout the years being fortunate to deal with companies like Noel's, conrad-johnson, ModWright, Cary, Joule Electra, Merlin (even though I sold those speakers), Perp Tech, etc.