Short answer: the Audio First Cadentia 3. It ranks #7 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $7,199. The Harbeth M30.3 XD2 ranks #196, rated 2.8/5, at $6,290, $909 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Harbeth M30.3 XD2 does well: A handmade English stand mount with an 8 inch mid bass, an easy load for modest amplifiers and five real wood veneers. The tradeoff: No independent measurements have been published for this version, so its linearity, directivity and real bass extension are unknown.
The Audio First Cadentia 3 is the better-sounding choice. A large three way bookshelf speaker with near textbook accuracy, a big enveloping soundstage, and deep, punchy bass that stays clean when loud. The tradeoff: A mild scoop through the upper midrange/lower treble slightly softens the attack of snares, hand claps, and sibilants: fixable with a single-band EQ (2.5kHz, +1dB, Q~1).
Buy the Audio First Cadentia 3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $909 you would save on the Harbeth M30.3 XD2 does not close the gap.
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 | Audio First Cadentia 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6,290 per pair | $7199 per pair |
| Ranked | #196 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #7 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (manufacturer specified) | 43Hz (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) | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) ferrofluid cooled tweeter, 8” (200mm) RADIAL4 mid/bass driver | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB, free space, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 150W programme | - |
| Recommended Power | 25W per channel or more (manufacturer suggested) | - |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg) each | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | 3-way, bass reflex |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (Cambridge) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 7.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.91 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Harbeth M30.3 XD2: manufacturer specifications and listening comparisons; no independent measurement has been published yet.
- Audio First Cadentia 3: 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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