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Harbeth P3ESR XD2

Loudspeakers

Relative price

typical

Among the 26 loudspeakerss in the catalogue, this one is typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

BBC LS3/5a-tradition design from Harbeth (West Sussex). RADIAL4 cone is Harbeth's proprietary polymer technology; XD2 update refined the crossover for cleaner phase response.

Easy to drive (6Ω, 83dB) and tolerant of placement (1ft from rear wall). Particular excellence with vocal, jazz, classical, and acoustic material.

Competition record

Assessed against 9 rivals across the sixty systems: 9 head-to-heads won, 40 lost.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • timing and drive ×22
  • low-level clarity ×11
  • bass control ×2

Who it comes up against

Emmae Reginae (custom)

23 lost· 3 won · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path, Twin Arms, Vocals-First

Against the Characterful brief, the Emmae Reginae (custom) keeps the slot decisively.

With the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) gives up timing and drive under the Characterful weighting.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

overloads graduallyZaph|Audio ZRT project measurements (driver-level)

Neat Iota 2

6 lost· 1 won · Artisan, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path, Vocals-First

Against the Characterful brief, the Neat Iota 2 keeps the slot clearly.

With the NVA S80 Stereo, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the NVA S80 Stereo gives up timing and drive under the Characterful weighting.

ProAc Tablette 10 Signature

6 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Twin Arms

Against the Intimate brief, the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature keeps the slot decisively.

With the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) gives up low-level clarity under the Intimate weighting.

Epos ES-7N

2 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Epos ES-7N keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audiolab 9000P, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

NVA Cube 3

2 lost · Cavity-Native, Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the NVA Cube 3 keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Neat Petite Classic

1 lost · Characterful

Against the Characterful brief, the Neat Petite Classic keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audiolab 9000P, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audiolab 9000P gives up timing and drive under the Characterful weighting.

Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge

0 lost· 3 won · BBC Sound, Vocals-First

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 takes the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the stronger loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Rogers LS3/5a Classic SE

0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 takes the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the stronger loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Falcon Q7 Complete@Home

0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 takes the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 is the stronger loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Systems it is part of

What the reviewers said

miraculous midrange, sounds like live OHHIFI review (Nov 2025) + industry consensus· Tonal body
outstandingly clean in that region Stereophile Gramophone Dreams #86 (Herb Reichert)· Presence & articulation
pristine clarity that exposed high-tactility sound House of Stereo product page (citing Stereophile)· Harmonic texture
3D holographic sound has to be experienced The Music Room review (Nov 2021)· Spatial naturalness
timbrally accurate bass from RADIAL2/4 driver Harbeth + Stereophile coverage· Bass control
miniature box speaker, sit very close Stereophile (HR Gramophone Dreams #86)· Physical impact
endlessly fascinating spectacle Stereophile (HR) + The Music Room· Micro-dynamic resolution
easy load even for low-powered amplifiers Harbeth product positioning· Tonal body

How it scores

Voice

  • Tonal body 81 from listening evidence
  • Presence & articulation 82 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 82 from listening evidence
  • Spatial naturalness 78 from listening evidence

Bass

  • Bass control 74 from listening evidence
  • Physical impact 66 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Micro-dynamic resolution 78 from listening evidence

Specifications

speaker typestandmount
enclosure typesealed
way count2
drivers110mm Harbeth RADIAL4 bass/mid + 19mm ferrofluid-cooled dome tweeter
sensitivity db83.0
nominal impedance ohm6.0
minimum impedance ohm5.7
recommended amp w15/50
frequency response hz75/20000
dimensions mm191/307/186
weight kg6.1
finishesCherry, Eucalyptus, Olive, Tamo Ash, Walnut, Rosewood, Black Ash
stand requiredTrue
notes