Short answer: the Harbeth M30.3 XD2, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #196 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 2.8/5) at $6,290 and is still sold new; the Harbeth Monitor 30 ranks #207 (rated 2.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 222 bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the March Audio Sointuva AWG instead, ranked #5 at $4,150.
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 catch: No independent measurements have been published for this version, so its linearity, directivity and real bass extension are unknown.
What the Harbeth Monitor 30 does well: A discontinued Harbeth stand mount with a 7.9 inch mid bass driver, reasonably easy to drive with most amplifiers. Watch for: CEA2034 spinorama shows a significant on-axis dip starting around 3kHz at the crossover point, which the reviewer sees as a flaw rather than the intentional voicing it is often described as.
Buy the Harbeth M30.3 XD2. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Harbeth Monitor 30 is no longer sold new.
Worth knowing: the Harbeth M30.3 XD2 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.4 to 3.2, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured Differences
- Efficiency: the Harbeth Monitor 30 is rated at 87 dB sensitivity against 85 dB for the Harbeth M30.3 XD2, so it plays as loud with roughly two thirds of the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harbeth M30.3 XD2 | Harbeth Monitor 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6,290 per pair | $3,200 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #196 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #207 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (manufacturer specified) | 64.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 10.9”W x 10.8”D (460 x 277 x 275 mm) | 18.1”H x 10.9”W x 10.8”D (460 x 277 x 275 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) ferrofluid cooled tweeter, 8” (200mm) RADIAL4 mid/bass driver | 7.9” bass/midrange driver, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB, free space, manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms nominal |
| Power Handling | 150W programme | - |
| Recommended Power | 25W per channel or more (manufacturer suggested) | - |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg) each | 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 46.2Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.58 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.05 (spinorama.org) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Harbeth M30.3 XD2: manufacturer specifications and listening comparisons; no independent measurement has been published yet.
- Harbeth Monitor 30: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Audio Science Review.
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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