Shush Jammy please - I don't think you've heard either and are judging them on the reputation of their 1970's quack-n-fizz ancestors (actually, the Harbeth HL1 was nothing remotely like a Spendor BC1 and we sold loads of HL1's, II's and III's because of this very fact!)
P3ESR's are a beautifully conceived and manufactured luxury item for those well heeled enough to afford them. They make small AVI's, PMC's, Neat's and Rega's sound scrappy and, well, fatiguing to listen to, let alone 'through' and, more than many others, fool you into thinking they're bigger than they are. The LS3/5A is squawky, limited level rubbish in comparison!!! THAT's how far little boxes of their type have come.
Having said the above, I've done lengthy comparisons of P3ESR's with the Wharfedale Diamond IV's and since I was able to get a pair of the latter for a tenner from our local Cash Converters, I'm laughing with absolute joy
as there isn't a huge gulf of difference in them
