In this review, we will be comparing C7ES-3 XD2 and SHL5plus XD2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Harbeth.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 and Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 | Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" RADIAL | 8" RADIAL |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 40-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.20kg / 29lbs | 15.80kg / 34.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 20-1/2" x 10-11/16" x 12"
520.0 x 272.0 x 305.0mm | 25" x 12-11/16" x 11-13/16"
635.0 x 322.0 x 300.0mm |
|---|
C7ES-3 XD2 and SHL5plus XD2 are members of Harbeth's XD2 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Harbeth XD2 Series
History
What size room are the Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 and Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 |
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that C7ES-3 XD2 is a 2-way design whereas the SHL5plus XD2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2Harbeth SHL5plus XD2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 |
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
C7ES-3 XD2 features a 1" Ferrofluid-cooled dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" RADIAL Woofer. On the other hand, the SHL5plus XD2 features a 1" Ferrofluid-cooled dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" RADIAL Woofer.
Frequency Response
C7ES-3 XD2 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas SHL5plus XD2 has a frequency range of 40-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the SHL5plus XD2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the C7ES-3 XD2's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
C7ES-3 XD2 and SHL5plus XD2 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
C7ES-3 XD2 and SHL5plus XD2 have the same power range of 25-150 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
C7ES-3 XD2 features Binding post type posts and SHL5plus XD2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2's and Harbeth SHL5plus XD2's external dimensions. Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 has external dimensions of 520.0 x 272.0 x 305.0mm (20-1/2 x 10-11/16 x 12inch) whereas Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 has external dimensions of 635.0 x 322.0 x 300.0mm (25 x 12-11/16 x 11-13/16inch).
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 is 50mm narrower and 115mm shorter than Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 but it is also 5mm deeper.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 is approximately 829.6cm2 / 128.6inch2 and base area of the Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 is approximately 966.0cm2 / 149.7inch2. The C7ES-3 XD2 requires 14% less surface area than the SHL5plus XD2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 weighs 13.20kg / 29lbs and the Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 weighs 15.80kg / 34.8lbs. This makes the SHL5plus XD2 20% heavier than the C7ES-3 XD2.
Here is a comparison of how C7ES-3 XD2 and SHL5plus XD2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Height |
520mm
vs
635mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
829cm2
vs
966cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5290USD
vs
7990USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 |
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 |
| Brand |
Harbeth |
Harbeth |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
40-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
RADIAL |
RADIAL |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
520.0mm (20.5") |
635.0mm (25") |
| Width |
272.0mm (10.7") |
322.0mm (12.7") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
15.80kg (34.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Harbeth's XD2 series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 digs deeper - 40Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size |
depends |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 is easier to place; Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
A |
Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 is cheaper - $5,290 against $7,990, about 34% less. |
A Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2
B Harbeth SHL5plus XD2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 34% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Harbeth SHL5plus XD2 for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.