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leave nostalgia and other irrational reasons aside, what do you think how would LS3/5A rate today against the best of small design out there on the market in a similar price range - i think if proac tablette ref 8, ATC 7 or similar.the reason why i am asking is i'm offered to buy an old audiomaster LS3/5A for OK money ($500). i honestly don't need them as i doubt there is a situation they can be of a better use than my active ATC 20s, except to make the second rig in the bedroom whose size and shape is not audio friendly at all. i know that considering the asking price there is no risk involved, but i am more curious actually if it is rather a myth than a real reason for being still in demand, especially that they are becoming less and less serviceable.
Follow Ups:
I was driving mine with Advent, Marantz, Onkyo and HK amps.With the great amps of today the same speaker must sound better,I think.Drive it with Accuphase,Primare,Ayre,Boulder et al. I think the Rogers would sound fantastic.At least Ken Kessler would think so.I am so sorry I got rid of it a few years back.
I run a pair of 15ohm Rogers with NYAL OTLs (big tubes). What you get with this excellent design is a freedom of 'boxy' coloration that many other similar sized/configured speakers simply can't match. Of course, I haven't heard everything so I can't say "nothing is better". However I can say the LS3/5a design is tried and true and it works very well within the limitations of a small two way sealed system. I would agree that to get the very best from these speakers you need a very good amplifier to drive them.
exceedingly natural mids, soundstaging a specialty-EVERY record sounded different that way. the lowest bass isnt there and wont be missed very much.i have entertained the idea of getting a pair of stirlings.
...regards...tr
i too wish i hadnt gotten rid of mine, was also running a set of satterburg subs with the apt preamp and dual apt 1 amps...glorious sound i tell ya :)
ehhh, whats up DOC?
...regards...tr
which I got for him in 88 in Cleveland. The dealer sold me the accompanying LSB-1. I discussed briefly with my friend Bart Yee (Yahoo LS35a group administrator) and fellow doc and So CA Inland Empire resident, and he isn't sure that this bass extender (a weak sub) has B200's, like Robby's Calindas and the others. There are some pics on that site, but not much data.The sub is weakish, but even with 80's SS gear, the speakers sound good. If I ever get around to having them fix up my C20 and MC30's, the ideal amps for them, then I can get a good sub and you can visit me, Tom.
;^)
...regards...tr
Hukk
That's kind of like declaring, that after extensive study, you've just discovered water is wet at room temperature.Yes, they are lacking in deep bass, but they were designed as a near-field monitor for mobile recording situations, hence their legendary reputation for a superb midrange and outstanding vocal reproduction. Another news flash is they also don't play very loud.
There are many speakers not lacking in bass that don't possess the midrange quality of an LS3/5a.
Like any piece of well-loved classic audio gear, they do some things extraordinarily well and other things not as well. If you happen to be taken by the qualities where the LS3/5a excels, you'll love owning a pair. If other things impress you, you'll be better off with a different speaker. T'ain't no more complicated than that.
there are so many rabid followers of the LS3/5A, i have to believe the speakers still have many merits to their performance.I've never heard them before, but i could never part with my KEF Calinda, which also use the T27 tweeter. i LOVE that tweeter. cymbals sound incredible on them.
you also get a B200 (8" large magnet version of the B110) and a passive B139 radiator. i love them as is, but you can mod the x-over to be like the LS3/5A, if you want. in the end, maybe they will sound like a big LS3/5A?
an the Calindas are inexplicably worth nothing (about $150-$200 USD)
here's a pic:
People might find out that they do.Btw the SP1054 bass mid was used in the really big Proacs together with an ATC bass unit until ATC produced a midrange unit of sufficiently high quality that could replace it.
Also the aB tweeter section of the Calinda is just as good at contolling the rising response as that in the LS3/5a.
Deep soundstage, sweet, seductive midrange, very musical. Still among the best. Use them with a good tube amp (EL84, EL34 or even 300B SET) or a good digital amp like the Trends TA-10 (about $130). Listen to them in the nearfield. There is a reason why they have a worldwide following. They are very, very good.
The midrange/glorious, the bass/who cares, have you heard that midrange?Every tweak of VTA or adjustment upstream of the LS3/5a could be heard for better or worse.
I've got Harbeth's now and for me they are the only 'speakers I've heard (Spendor as well but to a lesser degree IMO) lately that capture that midrange and high end magic that the "little British 'speakers" have.
J.B.
or SET? not sure with the efficiency figures. it might limit even what kind of music i would be able listen.
despite their low 82.5 dB efficiency. Perhaps it is their impedance profile that makes it easy.I have two sets of LS3/5A's. A pair of 15-ohm Rogers and a pair of 11-ohm Spendors. I drive one pair in the living room with a ASL AQ-1005 DT 300B SET with about 8 wpc. The living room is 16 x 11 feet, open to a 12 x 9 foot dining room. LS3/5A's and SET amps are a magical combination, long-ago discovered by Asian audiophiles.
I drive the other pair with the Trends TA-10, a 6 wpc Tripath-chip amp, in my 11 x 14 foot bedroom. Wonderful, detailed sound.
In both cases, they can be driven to very realistic and satisfying levels, though well short of ear-bleeding. One measure is that the neighbors will complain.
Caveat: I use both systems with subwoofers driven by their own amps. In addition to providing the bottom octave subs also raise the subjective loudness level. But the LS3/5A's would be loud enough without subs.
Don't take my word for all this. Try it yourself. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Not to be rude, but what are you smoking? I tried my t-amp on a pair of LS3/5a's once, it was barely a table radio. LS3/5'a NEED POWER.-M
In fact, the label on the back of my Rogers says, "HANDLING CAPACITY: 25 WATTS SPEECH & MUSIC."I agree that the original ($30) Sonic Impact amp sounded anemic on the LS3/5A's, if that is the t-amp you tried. But the Trends TA-10, which uses the same Tripath chip as the Sonic Impact, sounds great. The Trends has a better power supply and better components.
If you've not going to put them on a multi-thousand dollar front-end, forget it. I've owned all the variants over the years (11 ohm, 15 ohm, Stirling V2) and they're nice. Yawn. The PMC DB1+ is my fav 'LS3/5a clone' and yes, I've owned most of those too. I have Magnepans now, I'm finally over my 'little British speaker' phase (which lasted about twenty years).You've got five hundred bucks for a little speaker for a bedroom, right? Get thee to Best Buy and listen to the Definitive Technology 350 bookshelf speaker. 30 day home trial. I'm listening to a pair on my computer right now - they are wonderful, particularly in a smaller room.
aren't. What amps and front end do you recommend, and what music and how loud for you to give your experienced and informed opinion?I think that LS3/5a's do sound different than modern speaker and the clones, though. How were the Stirlings vs. the older speaker? They use different drivers.
I liked the V2's a lot. They had a little more bass and dynamics...not a lot, but noticeable. But they are what, $1800 now? That is a price you pay for nostalgia (I know I did).I used Rogue tube gear on mine, a Stereo 90. They really like a BIG tube amp - KT88's, 6550's.
LS3/5A's midrange is hard to beat at low to moderate volume. They'll never rock the house.An SCM7 is one of the best all-round smallish monitor at the price, but they, like many modern speakers do not have that delicious midrange.
Like an old Linn Kan, they have followers and musically still valid for some.
If it's not going to break the bank, try living with the pair and experience what they are on about.
Thanks Kuma. This is actually an interesting answer because I think I passed through the loud(ish) listening phase and now more enjoy moderate to mid levels. In this sense they would be interesting, the only problem is that I am against having any audio (or video, doesn't matter) in my bedroom:)It's funny, I had a LS3/5A clone from the 80s HFN&RR and I listened the original ones on several occasions back in the days: I really never experienced the magic their users are raving about. I guess they were just in the wrong systems.
You really can't compare them using today's yardstick.As an ATC user, I can understand they can't impress.
But they've got certain something that still draw people in.
It is a different sort of speakers from what you use.Sort of like the Kan I I borrowed. ( they use the same drivers as my Briks )
They didn't tick too many hifi boxes, but I understood why they've earned a cult status.My friend who was listening summarised well when I removed the speakers and replaced them with more modern pair.
'Wow. The music walked out'.
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