Short answer: the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8. It ranks #23 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $6,000; the Harbeth M30.3 XD2 ranks #196, rated 2.8/5, and costs $6,290, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Harbeth M30.3 XD2: A handmade English stand mount with an 8 inch mid bass, an easy load for modest amplifiers and five real wood veneers. Watch for: No independent measurements have been published for this version, so its linearity, directivity and real bass extension are unknown.
The Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 is the better-sounding option. A big three way monitor with dual 8 inch woofers, bass deep enough to skip a subwoofer, and extremely low distortion at high volume. Watch for: A dip in the midbase around 100Hz noticeably reduces the “chestiness” of male vocals compared to the reviewer’s reference speaker.
Buy the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Harbeth M30.3 XD2 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
About the ratings: the Harbeth M30.3 XD2’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 2.4 to 3.2, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harbeth M30.3 XD2 | Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6,290 per pair | $6000 per pair |
| Ranked | #196 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #23 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (manufacturer specified) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 10.9”W x 10.8”D (460 x 277 x 275 mm) | 31.8”H x 11.4”W x 17.6”D (807.7 x 289.6 x 447 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) ferrofluid cooled tweeter, 8” (200mm) RADIAL4 mid/bass driver | Dual 8” woofers, 5” midrange, 28mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB, free space, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 150W programme | - |
| Recommended Power | 25W per channel or more (manufacturer suggested) | - |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 84.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg) each | 103.6 lbs (47 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.59 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.04 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Harbeth M30.3 XD2: manufacturer specifications and listening comparisons; no independent measurement has been published yet.
- Arendal 1528 Monitor 8: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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