Полочная акустика — Harbeth NLE-3

The NLE-3 is a three-way digital loudspeaker system from Harbeth, the British company whose speakers are handcrafted in the UK. A complete NLE-3 package contains a pair of passive three-way loudspeakers, a Harbeth-designed and Harbeth-made DSP controller that also works as the preamplifier, and a six-channel class D amplifier based on Hypex Ncore modules built to Harbeth specification and carrying the Harbeth name. The system was first presented at the High End Audio Fair in Vienna in 2026. The UK list price is GBP 22,995 and the eurozone price is EUR 27,990 per pair.

Key specs that matter

Three Harbeth drive units are fitted in each cabinet. A 300 mm bass unit covers the lowest range, a 200 mm Harbeth-made midrange driver uses the RADIAL cone, and a 21 mm ferrofluid-cooled tweeter handles the top. The rated response runs from 35 Hz to 20 kHz within 3 dB in free space. Each speaker is 610 mm high, 313 mm wide and 424 mm deep and weighs 40 kg. Instead of the usual pair or two pairs of terminals, the rear panel carries six 4 mm binding posts, one pair for each driver. Walnut, Satin Black, Ivory Sand and Midnight Blue finishes are listed, though not every finish is sold in every country.

Engineering and use context

The six binding posts show how the system works. No crossover network sits inside the cabinets - the controller divides the signal digitally and each of the six Ncore channels drives a single woofer, midrange or tweeter across the two speakers. This removes passive filter parts from the path between amplifier and driver and lets the controller set filter slopes precisely. The DSP controller also provides tone control, bass management, volume and adjustable slopes, plus a stage perspective setting. The RADIAL cone used on the midrange is Harbeth's own diaphragm material, developed and produced by the company. Since the amplifier is supplied with the speakers, the owner does not have to choose a power amplifier for them.

Pairing

The system needs only a front-end source, since the controller handles level and the amplifier is included. A network streamer, a CD transport or a digital source feeds the controller, and an analogue source such as a turntable requires an external phono stage ahead of it. Speaker cables run from the six-channel amplifier to the six terminals on each pair, so three runs of cable per speaker are needed.

Alternatives

The Harbeth NLE-1 is the smaller self-powered model in the same NLE family, with a 110 mm RADIAL mid and bass unit, a 19 mm tweeter and two 50 W class D amplifiers built into each cabinet.