Prefer? Neither! Horses for different courses, AFAIC.

I play the HD more than the Lowden, because I bought it to use in the band and at sessions, and it fits those scenarios very well indeed. It's a very 'smooth' sound compared with the Lowden, which is louder and more 'woody' - suited to finger-picking. Having said that, I do also finger-pick the HD, and of course the OM (which is a more 'focussed' version of the HD's 'Martin' tone).

All great guitars - as is Pulseroom's HD-35 which he started this thread in the hope of selling, before we hi-jacked it!

Sorry Ian! See you in October, hopefully!