HarbethP3ESR 40thAnniversary EditionA loudspeaker design that is now many decades old brought bang up to date by Alan Shaw, the owner and speaker designer at Harbeth Audio. Using his own Radial material for the main drive unit, Harbeth have taken this already excellent small loudspeaker and tweaked it to celebrate the brands 40thanniversary. From the tiny enclosures issues forth a sound that totally belies their physical stature. As an upgrade from the standard model, there are WBT binding posts, improved internal wiring and better capacitors in the crossover plus a gorgeous olive wood veneer. Paired with a reasonably muscular amplifier ( they are only rated at 83Db efficiency) they will fill a small to medium sized room with glorious sound, and will give many years of musical pleasure. The standard version of this BBC-derived loudspeaker is already excellent but with this limited edition they have taken another step forward. Outstanding.Chris Kelly Most about the P3 sound was the extraordinary imaging and the huge soundstage which they create. The old clich about the loudspeakers disappearing is actually true in this case. Whether playing a really well recorded jazz trio, solo cello, a full orchestra, electronica, blues, rock or pop or a movie shoot out, I am pretty sure that the P3s convey exactly what was captured in the studio. Voices have an amazing realism, which I suppose is the least one should expect from a design born of the BBCs desire to monitor exactly what was going on in their studios. These wonderful loudspeakers are placed on matching Hi-Fi Rack Speaker stands made out of solid oak wood to match the speakers. Not only the look very good but also enhance the sound of the speakers. Both Harbeth Hi-Fi Racks are on demo at Absolute Phase.
