BBC LS3/5a Monitor Speakers - Is it all it's cracked up to be

[@Scottlp2]

One of my first speakers Chartwell LS3/5A around 1980. Great for then.

[@jaapvander3787]

these speakers are super good at making the human voice heard. very smart.

[@eyesee55]

Hey Adrian and team, I have my Rogers LS3-5A speakers (Ring Audio 1982) up here at the lake (with the LSB-1 driving the bass) and a vintage Aurex pre/power amp setup , I also tried my Hanson Monitors but they just didn't fit in the room. They still sound amazing after 42years and in the small living room with a stone fireplace behind. Cheers, I think of Derek daily.

[@bradjohnson169]

Agreed these are awesome speakers. I build my 5a's from a kit and plans from Ring back in the '80s. Baltic birch cabinets, Ductseal putty and wool dampening, falcon crossover silver wire, etc etc. At the time Ring told me they sounded better than the Rodgers version in the store and better than any other kit build they heard. Thanks for the video guys. I will never part with these gems.

[@my2cents395]

Audio education, greatly appreciated.

[@stephenyoud6125]

Then theres the Linn Kan which was developed by Linn after BBC licencee Chartwell went Bankrupt and their cabinet maker was left with a load of unsold LS3/5a cabinets which Linn bought up and develop into the Kan. Keeping the Kef B110 woofer but replacing the Kef T27 tweeter with I believe a Scanspeak D2008 and later a Hiquphon unit (equiv to the current OW-1). or was it the other way round. Subsequent to the Kan, the Tukan was developed during the time Australian Rod Crawford (now with Legend Acoustics in Australia) was lead Speaker designer and was also responsible for the Kaber LS500 and Keltik.

[@questioneverything1123]

I (still) own a pair of *11 Ohm Rogers LS3/5a,* bought in 1989, replacing my original Gold Badged 15 ohm versions... I used alternately / alongside Quad ESL57. I ~ 'replaced' both Ls3/5a and 57s, in daily use with Silverline SR17/SR17s, a whole longer story. I used LS3/5a nearly entirely with OTL tube amps, Atma-Sphere amps (early 90s, Futterman OTL3s, honorable mentions to Marantz 8B) I have on occasions, thought about selling mine, only to pull them out and listen... *and they ARE everything they are cracked up to be...* The only thing that I had to 'do', only fundamental limitation... was watch my volume control, the peaks... not to drive them too hard. I have always 'babied' mine, kept them out of sunlight/UV light and stored in boxes when not in use. They continue to amaze me...

[@Fond0fBlondes]

Would you ever consider the Quad S2 or Z2 over the Rogers?

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

‘Are they all they’re cracked up to be’? The answer is… YES!!! Falcon Gold Badge is the best iteration I’ve heard to date.

[@bluefloyd6058]

Why not the KEF101?

[@ampheat]

A great alternative to the venerated Rogers LS3/5a are the ROGERS Studio 3. I just bought a pair. They were made in the UK in 1993. I am truly impressed. Great life-like sound also with either SS & Tube amps. Get a pair if you can before they start getting more expensive. The bass is impressive for the size. I have owned various B&Ws, Monitor Audios UK made, and now own ProAc D18 and can say that these Rogers are no slouch!

[@bigjay1970]

Great videos Adrian! Different slant to Jay's channel which is also nice!🤗😁😉

[@msbrownbeast]

Why are the Chartwell versions worth so much more than the other brands?

[@stephensmith3111]

I vaguely recall (old slushware is getting glitchy) an affectionate parody by person now unknown in either Stereophile or The Absolute Sound of the John Keats' staple of English literature classes: "Ode to an LS3/5A". One clever couplet that has stuck with me over the years goes: Beauty, too, I am a seeker. I found it in a little speaker. I have never owned a pair of LS3/5As, but always came away impressed after listening to those 'wonder puppies' at a friendly neighborhood brick-and-mortar stereo specialist dealer of both the high end and quality kit affordable by mere mortals. Ahhh, the halcyon days of youth. A question, have you tried stacking them into Double LS3/5As? Tim de Paravicini of EAR Yoshino had demonstrated them at a recent Tokyo audio show, placing them on stands vertically tweeter to tweeter in sort of a D'Appolito array. Kind of like the fabled Double Advents. Ken Kessler has enthused about this set-up in Hi-Fi News & Record Review. Although the article is about reel-to-reel tape, there is a picture of them on p. 33 of the Dec. 2019 issue of the magazine. Concluding with a quote from Professor J. R. R. Tolkien, "The old that is strong does not whither."

[@stephensmith3111]

@Tom Leander Indeed, you are correct. Well, no one (that I know of) ever accused geologists (and especially retired ones, see above: old slushware is getting glitchy) of being great at spelling. Apologies to those concerned by such things.

[@arnolfini1434]

A must is the grille, a LS35A without grille is NOT is not to spec.

[@tedsparks3964]

I think the only real LS3/5a made today is from Falcon Acoustics

[@kabes-us]

Any plans to carry or review Harbeth speakers? 40.3/40.2 etc. Interested hearing your thoughts on the brand.

[@dougbulldog9947]

hanks for sharing your knowledge. I have recently inherited a pair of Audio master LS 3/8A 8ohm 150W speakers made in UK do you know anything about these? I cant find anything on them

[@Cartier_specialist]

I want to experience the LS 3/5A but they're so expensive. I wish I could find a pair at a thrift store or a garage sale for a reasonable price. I'm thinking of having a friend of mine build me a pair of clones. I'm sure he's capable.

[@edwardbalboa5528]

They're rubbish

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

Get monitor audio studio 2 ot 2 se version. Far better.

[@brandonburr4900]

I feel like you guys should have mentioned prices for the current model ls3/5a? Or perhaps what some of the used pairs from different manufactures go for these days? I see also Chinese copies of them as well. Guessing they are nowhere near the original specs ones. Not surprised as the Chinese will copy any well known design. Thanks!

[@brandonburr4900]

@@adrianlow2114 ok. Thanks for the reply. With as many pair out there and as many companies that have made them how much would a good older set be? Thanks!

[@joybrucebruce3377]

I never heard og Audiospace and they don't and have never had LS3/5A license.

[@joybrucebruce3377]

@@adrianlow2114 no they are not.

[@joybrucebruce3377]

Go to ls35a.com go to inspired designs. You will see audiospace listed amongst various clones.

[@joybrucebruce3377]

@Matthew Taylor its not patemted. It's a license. Trademark law is not patent law.

[@wilfredmay5231]

What is wrong with the guy on the left's legs, swinging to and fro.

[@AndyBHome]

I'm sure it's been done somewhere, but I'd be very interested in this channel's comparison of the LS3/5a and KEF LS50.

[@hushpuppykl]

Andy B ... I use the Harbeth P3ESR and also own the LS50. If I were to compare both, the LS50 is not as refined. LS50 - mids are not as good as the P3ESR (very slightly forward), highs extended but not sufficiently refined, very good bass. IME the LS50 is good for casual listening and HT use. P3ESR - superb bass, good sound stage, no extended highs, decent bass. Great pair of speakers for easy listening music, vocals and instruments. Will struggle when music gets too busy.

[@AndyBHome]

@@hushpuppykl thank you for the comparison! I hadn't even thought of the Harbeth P3ESR as another variant of the design. I've heard Rogers and Falcon versions, but I haven't heard any Harbeths at all in over 20 years, and I don't think I've ever heard the P3ESR.

[@hushpuppykl]

Andy B ... the Harbeth P3ESR is still one of the best value for money LS 3/5A. The Rogers ain’t cheap. The Harbeth P3ESR is rated at 6ohms. I sold my first unit then bought back another. It’s a keeper. Not an amazing set of speaker but definitely a good speaker.

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

@@hushpuppykl Since when is the P3 an LS 3/5A?

[@hushpuppykl]

Wimbo 9 ... direct descendant 😬. By the way, I’m curious why would the P3ESR not be deemed as an LS3/5a? Not under license and/or not a full fledged LS 3/5a design?

[@512bb]

This should make you laugh, I had my LS3/5a's being driven with Mark Levinson ML20 class A monobloc's, talk about overkill, best I ever heard them sound & I'm a tube lover to boot.

[@jozefserf2024]

It should be good, shouldn't it? Intelligently designed with good cabinets and carefully mounted and matched drive units.

[@user-xg6zz8qs3q]

Sure! But that's nothing special.

[@ThinkingBetter]

It needs a subwoofer.

[@ThinkingBetter]

@Consuelo Patagonia It also depends on what music you listen to. Music that has a lot going on under 60Hz will need a subwoofer if you play loud.

[@kumargeorge4977]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kosiekoos9408]

These speakers are as exciting to real men as a daughters doll house😂 and its the same size😊. Just joking😂 Anything for quality sound.

[@copperheadviper7904]

Stop opening and closing the stupid cup lid while Adrian's talking .. it come thru the mic very well and distracting . Just have a open glass of water for crap sake.

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

Diddums.

[@jompfish]

Please do everyone a favour , finish the farking drink before u start the camera rolling “

[@RennieAsh]

lol I now spent the video watching this guy drink instead of listening ;-)

[@エルトンジョン]

YES❗️NYLON-PANTY

[@gregorytrane7828]

I have the Roger's BBC LS 3 5A and will never part with them.

[@porfiriooptaziano3617]

I too ! But what ampli you use ? Valves ?

[@nasskhan4543]

For the money in 2019. Seriously overrated. For the record I bought a pair on 1990 Spendor ls3/5a £330 which was much better priced. Great sound but no low bass . Very small rooms only. Right now I am listening to Mordant Short Pageant Series 2 . They sound great.

[@jeffsloane8628]

Put some lube on that coffee lid man! I'm listening through my LS35As and it sounds like that squeaky lid flap is in my room. ;-)

[@mariocomeq1961]

Interesting: you are tallking about sound, and your sound is not good.

[@eddiebaby22]

They're amazing but overpriced

[@1byte4]

The Mistral LS3/5a only $700 USD?

[@TheRealWindlePoons]

If you don't have the budget, buy the Chinese version. Apparently nearly as good. It is often hard to justify the perceived value of any small HiFi component. When I first saw a Lowther drive unit, a single driver was the same price as a complete 3-way kit which built into a pair of floor-standing speakers. Today I own a pair of Lowther horns and have to say they are worth every penny. Adjust your mind set. You are not buying a small piece of kit: you are buying a musical experience. Enjoy the music.

[@RennieAsh]

If there’s one speaker that rivals Bose for over priced speakers, it’s the LS3/5a lol It has a sound some people like. Just like Bose.

[@dmptcb]

Bose 901 will fill any size room and your LS3/5a will not and the Bose 901 will have a wider sound stage then most speakers so u are wrong

[@sarahX..]

What a stupid comparison lol. Bose 901 is for big drunken party. LS3/5 is near-field intimate and personal. Worlds apart.

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

You have a terrible sonic palate if you even mention those two speakers in the same sentence.

[@edwardbalboa5528]

It's rubbish.... Unless you love tiny speakers