Review! Sound Artist 'LS3/5a' Bookshelf Speakers.

[@ZeroFidelity]

So I'll keep this short and sweet: I've noticed a growing trend of people *ripping* on products made in China and the US. I'm going to be unmistakably clear about this: Those sentiments will not be tolerated here. This is a channel about Hi-Fi. What it's not, is your own personal political / socioeconomic platform. If you don't like Chinese / US products, that's perfectly fine with me. All that I ask is to keep it to yourself.

[@roquesoprano913]

⭐

[@ZeroFidelity]

Not sure what you're apologizing for man. It's all good.

[@hushpuppykl]

Fat Rat ... you need a post tracking app to assist you. I’m sure China has one. 😂🤣

[@cosmonaut9942]

@@ZeroFidelity these same types were doing the same thing with Japan decades ago. Jingoism, pure and simple. I'm glad you won't tolerate it.

[@mikrophonie5633]

Wow, you really told everybody! Maybe you should just do what Darko does and delete any comments that aren't full of hyperbolic praise, or any comments that express differing opinions. At least Guttenberg realizes people have differing opinions, and is fine with people expressing them as long as expressed civilly. Putting a disclaimer on a video for a chi-fi product, stating no comments about its country of origin will be tolerated, strikes me as the type of move the Chinese Communist Party would make.

[@net_news]

Reviews like this one is what makes you the best audio reviewer in the world. Another gem you discovered for our benefit. Amazing work Sean. THANKS!

[@r423fplip]

They are rubbish speakers, measurements are terrible. You would have to be nuts to buy them.

[@zenboy2000]

​@@r423fplip Amir from Audio Science Review?

[@briancoffelt1131]

Finally received mine today. My ears are in heaven.....

[@NickP333]

Thanks, Sean. That was truly a great and detailed review. Your efforts are much appreciated.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks!

[@warrenkeppler9217]

Thanks, Sean. I've got a pair of the KEF Reference 101s, T-27 and B 139 mid woofer and a very tight spec'ed crossover. LOVE IT especially with the original Naim Nait. I use them in my small bedroom and they sound great in there.

[@EclecticApotheosis]

I imported a pair of Rogers LS3/5a for a friend back in the 70's. It makes me wonder how these speakers would compare to those vintage Rogers. (Which I believe the original owner still has.)

[@Scottlp2]

I had chartwell LS3/5a back then. Amazing how many other speakers I've had since then.

[@davidchan9375]

Thanks Sean for your recommendation. Not much money going around when retired so I opted for the pair. They are amazing speakers for the price. They have that distinctive BBC sound signature like my nearly 40 year old Rogers Studio 1!

[@christakimoto8425]

Based on the strength of this review and a few others I bit the bullet and got the Sound Artist LS3/5a. I have been wanting to experience this class of speaker for a couple of decades but couldn't see spending thousands of dollars for a speaker I never heard. But $600 is a different story so they arrived today and I've quite impressed. It took about 3 weeks to arrive in N. California but it arrived in perfect condition. I was looking for a near field speaker for my desktop set up and these are perfect. Thanks for a great review and great audiophile channel! Next I need to get a reasonable tube amp!!

[@MichaelLivingston-me]

Seems like you have found a gem for reasonable price. Thanks for the review.

[@lotoboy9962]

Been listened for a week now. Superb. Perfect for my near field/desktop system. Thanks, man. Eva Cassidy has never sounded better. Can't wait till my 300b tube amp comes in.

[@jaykosek]

Hi Sean, Love your videos. You get to the point and speak in very direct terms. In any case, I bought a pair of these based partially on your review. They are simply wonderful little speakers. I'm pairing them with a Rel subwoofer and it's beautiful. One other point to note about China Hifi - they are wonderful. I ordered these speakers on a Monday night. I didn't even know they had shipped and they were delivered to my door on Wednesday! Two days later!!! I live in Arizona.....How is that even possible? I was blown away by the speed and customer service. Packaging is great as well.

[@carlitomelon4610]

Excellent review Sean! You are setting the standard for equipment reviewers, thank you. If I wanted a pair of ls3/5a clones for my original Rogers LSB1 passive STEREO Subwoofer I'd get these. For now it's sitting idle with inputs shorted under my TV:-/ (I used it with Proac Tablettes). Very much enjoying KEF LS50 / REL subs currently:-) Thanks again!

[@Xx-xd3zo]

Man, your honesty... The best. Another great one. And thanks for bringing this speaker out!

[@ZeroFidelity]

You guys went ham on those Sound Artists! Since the response was strong, I want to re-enforce some key points that I mentioned in the review. Points that may have been lost in the hype: 1). As I more or less said in the review, the Sound Artists are the best sounding Chinese homage/clone/copy/ of an LS3/5a that I've heard so far. All the same, keep your expectations realistic. You're not getting a Harbeth, Falcon, Graham, Rogers, or Stirling for $600. What you're getting is a great sounding small speaker that, in my opinion, captures a lot of what makes the LS3/5a so appealing. It's your chance to get a strong taste of that sound for well under $1000. In a way that's well beyond the Mistrals that I reviewed a couple years ago. Now.. How YOU feel they compare to the aforementioned stalwarts of this product-type will be a personal reaction that I cannot predict. 2). Expect build quality thats in-line with a set of $600 speakers from China. It's not bad. It's not great. It won't be falling apart by any means, but do not be surprised if there are workmanship imperfections. You're not buying this for the craftsmanship and top-notch crossover parts. You're buying it for the sound. 3). I've already seen people who plan on pairing these up to gear like: Ps Audio, Yamaha's 1xxxx series, XTZ, Emotiva, etc.. While I cannot tell you exactly how that will go, I will re-enforce what I said in my review. In my experience, these speakers lose their mojo on dry or thin sounding gear. Tubes or something that's a bit warm in nature works best. Neutral works OK as well. So, now that the expectations have been even more-clearly set, those of you who placed an order should be ready to rock n' roll! While there will inevitably be some people who won't like them, or are buying them just to validate a bias against Chinese speakers like this, I think most of you are going to have a great time with em'. Truly a great solution for small rooms and desktop rigs!

[@mikeyang6840]

I finally got a pair. It is a completely sealed box. It reminds me the AR (Acoustic Research) speaker that I had owned in 1970's. The speaker with acoustic suspension is essentially died. After auditioned extensively with the speaker on 30" stand in a very large space with high ceiling, I have to say that I am impressed. However, I don't have an impression with many widely touted adjustive expressions attached to the LS3/5A spec. Instead, I hear familiar sounds compare with many other speakers that I have accumulated over the years (some 20 pairs of different designs). You can hear decent amount of bass that blended very well with the excellent mid and high. The Sound Artist version is technically not a clone. Rather, it is a speaker designed with the BBS spec (licensed or not). I suspect many UK versions are also made in China. It is a good deal (at $600) to just to experience the much admired spec. Would I spend more than $2000 to buy other brands. I think NOT!

[@josexavierjr.5633]

Good review, Sean. They are some good looking speakers for the money, and I'm sure sound good as well. To me, it doesn't matter where a product is made, as long as quality control is in place; a good company should be able to manage this, since the results will speak for themselves. Peace!!

[@mr.george7687]

Excellent review Sean! Have never heard LS3/5a's. The review is tempting.

[@miguelt.7997]

Just purchased a pair of these after watching your video. Man, these puppies sound amazing! they sound at least twice a speaker their price! Using them mostly as near field, loving them, thanks for the video!

[@SeanSisco]

Super pumped that you finally posted this review...now to wait for them to restock them :)

[@mtsm1085]

I purchased a Mistral LS 3/5a three years ago based on your strong review which was very similar to this one. At that time it was selling for $750. Paired it with a Vista Audio Spark and a PS Audio Sprout 100 on my desktop. I have been very pleased with the combination.

[@ZeroFidelity]

That's a great lil desktop setup. Glad you're still happy with it!

[@djsaintb]

Thanks! @ZeroFidelity, you hinted a nearfield/desktop shootout may be coming.... maybe... soonish?

[@dzungle2547]

Tks for reviews, I had experienced with another version of LS 3/5, Advanced Acoustics Audio lab, made in Taiwan, good sound at it price.

[@sumahama1981]

Will I be okay running these with my REGA io? [30W 8ohm] 😎🎧

[@temp7774]

3 units were remaining when I started watching this video - sold out at the end! "The Sean Effect!!!"

[@141824]

The money was well spent by those Chinese marketing guys at china hifi...

[@temp7774]

@bert smith I am pretty sure that guy in Serbia is in backorders for a months even without this latest Spark || reference

[@temp7774]

@bert smith I am fighting the same inner-demons!

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@141824 - Money well spent? Wait, wheres the money and why is somebody else getting it?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Bert and Temp - If you enjoy what ya have. Listen to it and enjoy for awhile. Hi-Fi will always be here when you're ready for it. :)

[@mrfarnz]

Thanks for the very well done overview. I have had a pair of Harbeth LS3/5a in my B-Team system for many years. Not having the physical room to set up my Quad ESL (57) I found that the midrange magic of the Harbeth which was hooked up to a Musical Fidelity A1 20wpc Class A integrated which was a very good match. In that room I am only about 5 feet back from the speakers and the room is fairly small. Amazed a lot of friends who had never heard a pair. I got mine in a trade in with one of my audio customers back in the early 90's. I wish more people had had a chance to hear these when they were in full production by Rogers and the other major brands who marketed their versions. Best regards, Joe E.

[@mrfarnz]

oops, Joe G.

[@zackpetrovic3029]

$600 WOW I was looking at a kit from Falcon but you are still looking at double the price

[@geoffc15]

Sean, have you listened to vintage ADS speakers like the L710? I haven’t tried a speaker that does vocals better for anything close to the price, all without sounding boxy.

[@The_Story_Channel]

I just sold a pair of L710s, they are great sounding speakers and you can buy a pair for a song, that is if someone decides to let a pair go.

[@Mike82ARP]

I had a pair of the Braun L710 back in the 70s. They were great. Better balanced than the slightly larger L810. I wish I never sold them.

[@mrfarnz]

Geoff, thanks for bringing up the L710, I remember very much liking them back then, I was an ADS dealer so did sell more than a few. Joe G.

[@jp8710]

I have owned Rogers LS3/5a for 30 years... currently running an AVI Anniversary Amp and Auralic Altair G1 with Russ Andrews Power Leads, KCAG interconnects and 8tc speaker cable... the vocals are stunning, and in a small room, the low end is compromised however, so I accompany the setup with a REL subwoofer... and it is a game changer! All bases covered...

[@rotaks1]

Fantastic review and thanks for bringing up these great products to everyone's attention. I have never owned a pair of LS3/5a's. This seems to be a perfect opportunity for me to get a taste of the sound of this family of speakers. Your review has resulted in the product becoming unavailable! I will be watching the website for the product to become available.

[@vintagestereo]

as always , a honest review, one of the few honest reviewers

[@claudionesdebologna2533]

most importantly, how is the crossover on these????? cheers

[@crooner2007]

Apparently quite crappy. Someone posted pics of it on the Steve Hoffman forums. Lots of electrolytics. The original uses all films. The drivers are generic drivers also. Glad I didn't purchase them!

[@Smokej620]

Great review and comparison! I would have really liked if you were able to take the drivers out and also show the crossover to see the quality to judge the value of the speakers for longer term ownership especially since this a newer brand.

[@thomasandersen1784]

To avoid crazy cost prices for us (consumers), i think it's a very good and sharp idea to purchase directly from the company, like the ones of Buchard Speakers. Of course there can be some concerns about that, but if the gear is not all that high priced, i think it's worth to give it a chance, after reading some reviews from reviewers you trust (like you Sean). Cheers from Denmark

[@cybergod77]

Can't afford a Falcon so I'd get this. Thks for the review!

[@varunu4176]

How does the iFi LS3.5 compare to these?

[@rhwinner]

'I don't mind saying the best solution (for near field listening environment) under $1K.' Wow, that's an incredible recommendation, Sean, for such a new and largely unknown company!

[@fredcostas1945]

I recently recommenced this speaker to some friends who are retired and have a limit budget, based on your reviews. Many thanks!!

[@fredcostas1945]

The Mistrals

[@2HatHudders]

Just ordered the sound artists, to go with the Vista Audio spark and a Aiyma tube based dac which (I've had for a while now) - Desktop system finally complete!

[@chrispicquet733]

I have a pair of LS3/5a's and won't part with them.it's good to know that there are some inexpensive copy's that sound great out there.i also have a pair of Kef C25's that I got at a garage sale that I was going to sell for cheap until I paired them up with a Chinese ml2 class A clone amp."Oh My God!!!"(same 3/4in dome as Harbeths and the legendary B 160 cast frame woofer) I never gave them a chance before.smooth highs,huge soundstage,incredible mid-range,and deep controlled bass.find a pair,and buy them!!! most high end British monitors have Kef drivers anyway!

[@netnakul]

Love reviews on crazy price/performance ratio products. Consider more Chinese brand review please? (Toulihao, CAV, Hivi, Aurum, etc)

[@1moderntalking1]

What about Tone Winner amps?!

[@DougMen1]

You had me at Jimi, lol. I'm a guitar player, so I have an obvious preference for speakers that make electric guitars sound magical

[@stepheneckles2345]

I was going to ask if the price was 600 with shipping (which it sounds like it is) however I was thinking of buying a tube amp from china and with the shipping the online prices were almost the same so I didn't buy it (at least not yet) :)

[@mrm1712]

can i use any subwoofer with these speakers? sorry i'm new to audio

[@leeandrewclarke]

I used to sell the LS speakers in London in the 90s and I'd second the assertion that wall reinforcement helps the low end. I don't know how closely these Chinese rip offs compare to the BBC originals but, if they do, I'd recommend a tube amp or a warmish Class A. In America, I'd recommend Monarchy's 25W class A amps. In the U.K.or Europe, Sugden A21SE or a Ayon Scorpio. Best amp I heard with these was the old Musical Fidelity A1000. The LS3/5a, properly driven is musical and delivers jaw-dropping imagery. It keeps improving as you improve the amp that drives it. If these Chinese speakers deliver the authentic BBC sound at $600, they sound like a great deal, especially if you are listening in the near field.

[@peacearchwa5103]

Sean: In an earlier comment reply, you stated "In my experience, these speakers lose their mojo on dry or thin sounding gear. Tubes or something that's a bit warm in nature works best. Neutral works OK as well." So, I have two lovely vintage 1970s stereo receivers which I'd like to use: a Sansui 881 and a Marantz 2230. These are highly regarded SS units. Any idea if my recently-refurbished Sansui, or my Marantz, would be well suited for driving these LS3/5A clones until I get a bit more funds to buy higher-end tube amplification?

[@HHTTRRNN]

I owned a pair of Rogers LS3/5a speakers in the early 1980's. Their performance was unique but I foolishly sold them for reasons I won't get into. Based upon your review, I picked up a used pair of the Sound Artist. I will not be selling them! They easily remind me of the Rogers. Perhaps a tad more to my liking. What they do is get out of the way of the music. Most speakers produce an underlying drone which is supposed to be caused by the cabinet ringing. This sound leaves a sonic fingerprint on everything you play. After awhile it gets old and fatiguing. Sound Artist did not follow the BBC recipe exactly, however they did so enough to have a winner. Thanks for the review and the good intel.

[@reinhartfrais8549]

Hi Thank you for your clear revews!!! Whats the sound difference of the soundartist 3/5a and the dynaudio evoke 10 ?? I listen to chambermusic ,piano vocal jazz what schould i get ? Thank you Reinhart

[@James7995]

There is something I’ve always found charming about the classic LS 3/5a baffle that is complete mess of foam and exposed tweeter leads.

[@beagle7622]

I have a set of LS3/LS5 clones, a set of Martin Logan ESL's and a set of Sonab OD11's. I bought them all new for myself and relatives. Tjey are all amazing speakers. The LS3/5'swith restored Kef drivers are just amazing for small rooms.

[@twenty4seven368]

I finally decided to bite the bullet and bought a new pair - no one was selling a used pair! My first listening session was unimpressive but after 2 weeks these sound excellent. I really enjoy them for vocals and instruments. I no longer listen to my Totem Hawks.

[@khoi83]

Totem speakers are in general midrange focussed. I like them but the sound can be ,,boring,, for many. Cheers.

[@damianzaninovich4900]

I would love to hear those one day, John Atkinson liked them enough(originals)to hold onto a pair and uses them to check his sensitivity measurements. I’m trying to buy a pair of Cizek 1’s from the same era. A 10” 2 way ac suspension design you set up like a Klipsch Heresy. Roy Cizek was a blind golden eared audiophile who worked for AR and others. These speakers had a Q control, either .6 or 1 (.6 was much better) and a flat impedance curve of 4 ohms except for the woofer resonance. They are the reason why I’ve always had a preference for a closed box. I bought Polk 10’s at the time instead but thought the Cizeks bass and treble were much cleaner. My friends had them with Onkyo 50 watt integrateds. They made the best amps for their price point at that time. The Polks had a much more holographic midrange though. California Audio Systems in Visalia only carried Polks, Cizeks and Vandersteens which are made only a few miles away. The pair of $150 Cizek 1’s I’m trying to buy out of Canada look perfect. Will they live up to my memories of them? I’m pretty sure the bass will at least. Something to play with.

[@chamillo]

Does anybody know what the crossovers look like on these speakers? Just wondering.

[@crooner2007]

Yeah I wonder about that too . No pictures online. Imagine getting them and there is only one capacitor in there! The placebo effect...

[@chamillo]

@@crooner2007 I know. I end up ordering them, I don't think I'll be picking inside, at the end of the day if they sound great, That's all I care for.

[@crooner2007]

@@chamillo I'm about to bite the bullet too. The reason is that my Chartwells are not getting any younger and I don't want to play them too loud as the parts are pretty much irreplaceable in them. The sound artists would allow me to crank up the system, guilt free. Pretty much!

[@chamillo]

@@crooner2007 that's right, you get to have fun with no worries. If you end up getting them, let us know how they compare

[@boriss.861]

Guys I have the ORIGINAL Rogers LS3 5A serial numbers 009 and 010 now that's a bench mark the crossovers have not been touched either.

[@a88888888a]

If i have room correction dsp, should I try to replicate the BBC frequency response or should I still aim for a flat response? For the ls3 5a?

[@spigdon]

Great review Sean! In regards to near field listening with these, what is the closest you could position them apart L to R?

[@marcbrummel8566]

I am in love with the imperfect. Sitting here on my sofa at night, the Soundartist are connected with the popular willsenton R8 tube amp (EL34 stock tubes) and i am in love (especially my ear infection went better 😀) Maybe this 1500 US Doller is not perfect in some ways, but its so damned good, i could say "this is the end of my journey into hifi". Why this is good enough at maybe 60% of what is possible!? Well, its all about music. Hifi is like Heroin. After you had your first kick, all your adicction is to bring back this moment by spending more and more money in more and more stuff. If a fiend who loves music would ask me about a good system to start with, i would recommend him exactly this combi. Its so much fun to listen. And if you dont compare you will never find out the weak sides of it. It looks good (hey mid century is the living room style in 2020🤪) and sounds great. Thank you for your review. Now i have to look for a place i can place my beloved Harbeth 😁 i like to keep them ...dont know why but ...you know.

[@wern0105ify]

I am literally looking at the same combo when I read your review. Glad to hear you love it.

[@marcbrummel8566]

@@wern0105ify Hi F&F. Hope it was not me who broke finally your bank!?🤓 😁 I am sorry but i still love it, my "emotion machine". Meanwhile i also bought an Amari Turntable and its also great. Do you regret it?

[@dimachesebastian6407]

Exactly at this combo i was thinking. are u living in uk? im curious to have a listen before purchase and im willing to pay for 10 minutes of audition.

[@marcbrummel8566]

@@dimachesebastian6407 Hi. My "review" is a bit older now. I bought the Original together with a fat tube SET amp. The Willsenton is also sold. Lets say, its a so much better combination than a Yamaha with some B&Ws 😁 BUT. Willsenton R8 is no endgame amp (R800 is maybe) and you get the Falcon Gold badge for 2100 . I think you can get better Loudspeakers for 500 GBP. Also think about a small line magnetic. Same price or even cheaper. Don't misunderstand, both items are good, but not that perfect like the crowed shouts.

[@beesdreams9]

Just got my pair from China Hifi Audio. Arrived in perfect condition VERY well packaged, protected and boxed. After peeling off those ridiculous little name stickers, both my Lady and I find them actually nice looking, in that very understated disappearing sort of way. Waiting for my amp to arrive and will post more then.

[@bobjohnson001]

Hi Sean.... how would you compare the Sound Artist with the Triangle BR 03 .... ?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Totally different. BRO 3 is a bigger speaker that lays down a bigger sense of scale, stronger bass, is easier to drive, showcases better imaging, and has a forward sound in the mids. It's a real good "every man" speaker. Perhaps among the best bookies in their class. The Sound Artists are for a different person. They are all about great tone, natural resolution, and perform better in nearfield environments. They do a better job of showcasing what's really happening with the recording and will deliver a higher-end sound, at the expense of flexibility and scale. What you want will boil strictly down to taste.

[@bobjohnson001]

@@ZeroFidelity Thanks, Sean.

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

I am wondering how do they compare to Energy RC-10 or JBL HT5 (two small speakers I am familiar with).

[@gsherlock]

Whilst I appreciate the Harbeth's qualities (I've owned a few pairs) the same things about their performance drove me nuts with the pairs I owned. Namely considerable dynamic compression and their small sound staging, other mini monitors disguise their small size better. For $600 the Sound Artist is a crazy amount for a BBC inspired replica, can't wait to try them.

[@antonstepanov488]

Maybe I missed something, but which speakers are better for a 2-channel system - Triangle BRO 3 or these ones? I’m asking as here in Ukraine we don’t have either one of them, so I should make a blind order. And having Klipsch rp51m I want to also buy something more clean and relaxed-sounding, with wider sound stage and so on.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Scroll down. I answered the same question in a fair amount of detail. For most people, I think the BRO3 will be the better option. But for people like me, (who listens at modest volumes and is big on tone), the Sound Artists are the way to go.

[@antonstepanov488]

Zero Fidelity thank you very much

[@michaelgarnett832]

Did you use stands and did you place them on something to either couple or decouple also how close did you place to the front wall ? (When they weren’t on your desk) And how far away from the speakers were you sitting ? What did you drive with ? And how high is the impedance ?

[@寒山居士]

just as an observation from an outside observer who is neither a diehard audiophile nor dye in the wool horologists, my read on the ls3/5a speakers plays the same role in the sound world as the ubiquitous rolex 1016 explorer plays in the time world. (ps: lusting for a ls3/5a since the 70s)

[@andydziegiel8974]

How would these compare to an old set of Castle bookshelf speakers? I am genuinely interested for a small room. Sat 5 feet away, speaker's on stands next to a wall. Currently with a Unison Research S6 valve/tube amp and Chord Dac. Would they be worth buying?

[@juliangst]

Damn, Sound Artist really puts out some great value products. I'd love to see a review of their $300 tube pre amp or their higher end JBL inspired horn speakers

[@pennfootball71]

Try Pro-AC Tablette 10's They are under 2k and EPIC

[@ZeroFidelity]

Yep. Great speakers. Betcha if I reviewed em', people with absolutely no experience will trade their anti-Asian sentiment to "Oh looky and overpiced 2-way with cheap drivers"! Which is exactly why I should investigate bringing in a set of Pro-Ac's. :D

[@hushpuppykl]

Zero Fidelity ... go for it! The T10s are great speakers. Wanna hear your opinion about them. Add something like say a REL T5i or T7i and it will be a nice little system.

[@pennfootball71]

@@ZeroFidelity Do it! the Sound organization is the distributor in the USA for Pro-AC. Great bookshelf!

[@mikecees2230]

@@ZeroFidelity Reviewing any Proac bookshelf (Response DB1, DB3, Tablette) and comparing it to P3ESR would be interesting. Hey why not have a British bookshelf extravaganza with LS50s and some Falcons (LS3/5a, Ram Studio 10, 20).

[@fernandocoutinho6661]

The ProAc Tablette 10 were a game changer for me...I find them to have all the advantages of the Ls3/5a but without the need of the bass bump because they can deep :-) and can go louder then the originals too...way louder! they sound good anywhere and they sing with a hand of watts...what else can I say?

[@mnmlist1454]

Tqvm for the review, Sean. Hope you can review it paired with the Sound Artist SA200IA which was reviewed by Jay recently. Cheers.

[@marcbrummel8566]

I get the soundartist a few days ago. So far so nice. Unfortunately there are problems NBTS has not mentioned. The DAC is sch..,.it ...the remote reacts only from a Meter (3feet) to then the Volume "steps" up so slow ...never seen. Ok it cost only 340 Euro ...if customs does not see ...but in this case i would buy local. BTW ...200W class A/B at 8Ohm ..never ...more 80 !? But thats ok for most speakers.

[@mnmlist1454]

@@marcbrummel8566 thanks for the info

[@kuisin88]

Sean, would this work with SE tube amp? Like 6.5 watts? Darn it... Just placed an order ,😅

[@kuisin88]

Finally received the speakers after a long held up at Fedex. Really glad that I purchased a pair. Works great on my desktop paired with the MP-301 MK3.

[@dunkelheit843]

First seeing Steve Guttenbergs review of in his oppinion a really nice and good for the price 300B amplifier and now your review of this speaker, both from china hifi, I got really interested in trying out such a combination. The amplifier in question is 2x7.6W, do you think that would be too little for a desktop setup? I noticed they do offer more powerfull 300B amps, but I would have no idea what to get in that case. Thanks for a nice and honest review.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I'm sure the sound would be good, but I have no idea how well they'd pair together in terms of power. I'd also be wary of the 300B tube life for a desktop environment. Assuming you'll be leaving the amp on for hours at a time. Sadly, all I can do is support what's said in this video: Vista Audio Spark II baby!

[@gaborozorai3714]

I suggest you'd be better off with one of the many Chinese offerings with EL34's in a push-pull configuration. That would give you 25-30 watts and save you some money too, depending on what model you choose.

[@dunkelheit843]

@@gaborozorai3714 Thanks for the suggiestion, do you have any brand or model you'd recommend to check out?

[@gaborozorai3714]

dunkelheit843 Just staying within the Boyuu range there is the MT-34, 18 watts in triode or 35 watts in ultralinear mode (switchable). Or you could even stretch to the MT-88 with KT88 tubes, 35-60 watts. I don't personally know these, but I do have their A-30 with 2a3 tubes which is excellent. As the A-10 and A-50 have also been very positively reviewed, it seems to be a reliably high value brand.

[@gaborozorai3714]

dunkelheit843 Of course there are also some better established brands with longer Western distribution histories. These are also more expensive due to that history. MingDa, Cayin, Yaqin all sell models you would probably be very happy with.

[@joepokro4824]

What about pairing with Marantz? Can’t help seeing these with the HD-Amp1 for a desktop solution. Visually impressive but I’m sure the spark 2 combo would be tough to beat.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Should work fine. Cannot completely co-sign on it though. :) I agree that it would look good.

[@rattakarnthepphibarn703]

Hi Sean. What about comparing this speaker with your earlier review on the Mistral LS3/5a, is the sound close to each other?

[@thunderbird66613]

I'm surprised you took a chance on a chinese replica. I do wonder how the longevity of this speaker would be. Great review Sean. Thank you

[@edwardbalboa5528]

Even cheap speakers can last decades

[@hshirbiny]

Hi Sean, Any impressions to share regarding how the Dynaudio evoke you previously reviewed compares to the P3? Which Harbeth model would you consider the most lively / entertaining with lively music?

[@phoenix11994466]

*_It's amazing how so few people, after all these years, don't know the secret as to why the BBC LS3/5a sound so natural to the human ear... The secret was exposed in an obscure HiFi magazine interview in the early 1970s when Philip Swift (the original designer) gave a subtle clue when he spoke about the 'BBC Dip'... The human ear has a diaphragm, (ear-drum) much like a microphone, but unlike a microphone, it is not linear... Our ears have a pronounced hump in its sensitivity in the so-called midrange region, approx (300Hz - 4Khz) meaning, that a measured flat response from a loudspeaker is going to sound unbalanced to the human ear (too much midrange) - It sounds counter-intuitive I know, and that's why so many speaker designers are confused... Want Proof? Go and check a range of quality headphones that come with an authentic 'response curve' - You will find the most natural-sounding headphones will have a sweeping DIP in the midrange, That's right folks... The 'BBC Dip'._* 👀🎵👂🤓

[@edwardbalboa5528]

Use a Beringer DEQ2496 ,. And you can copy this DIP onto your existing speakers

[@phoenix11994466]

@@edwardbalboa5528 *_Wow! a Beringer, does is fire 38's or 9mm... I hope it's registered._* 😵🙉😎

[@phoenix11994466]

@@edwardbalboa5528 *_Please excuse my previous corny jokes... But on a more serious note; the more electronic components you have in the signal path, the more the sound becomes compressed, and unnatural sounding... Basically, too much messing with the EQ in a digital processor introduces destructive anomalies, such as phase-shift which kills the sound-stage and depth, and destroys what can be a glorious experience if you take the time on speaker selection, and have a well designed passive crossover... Happy Listening._* 😎👂🖐

[@omugarcina7392]

Great review, I would be interested how they compare with elac debut b6.2 , as I have a pair of these . I have the elacs connected to a home made EL84 based SET amplifier it’s around 4W rms per channel . I would like to try the sound artists based on your comments , but there are a couple of things that worry me . Firstly in building the amp I installed output transformers with 6 ohm secondaries to better match the elacs . I am worried that with 11ohms my output power might drop off , also the sensitivity advertised for the sound artists is less . Second concern is the bass response , which I like in the elacs , and would not like to have less with the ls3. Much appreciate your insight .

[@TD402dd]

One last comment is you lack of understanding what the original LS3/5A was used for. They monitored the BBC productions for television. They were never made for home user.

[@sheepbaba]

Nice review. I almost bought some Harbeth in a pro grey paint finish second hand for about £500. I listened to them and thought they were too boxy. I didn't realise they were desktop and would probably voice OK close up. There's loads of boxy sounding Brit speakers. I ended up with some German Canton Ergo 900 which had no boxiness to the mids. They did sound a little hollow though and they moved to the Philippines for a new life.

[@hi-fihaven2257]

Hi Sean! Is it just me, or are there a bunch of Great bargains out in audio land right now. These little guys seem to follow that trend. Nice looking cabinet finish. I also like that grill material. Looks like great build quality. I don't have any experience with LS3/5a's, thanks for going in to detail during the review. Great for desk top application for me. Gad that you threw all kinds of music at them, that describes my music listening habits to a "T". I have a Dayens Menuetto that would love to be hooked into these! Awesome to hear about the mid range. Great detailed review man, Thank You! Have a great day man! P.S. You may be hearing from my wife if I buy another pair of speakers! LOL

[@dougg1075]

Got these in Sean and wanted to say THANK YOU! It’s pretty bad ass for 600 bucks delivered.

[@Unker_Spunkanathan]

Just realised you ever did a review on the mistral ls3/5a. Guess you don't have those speakers anymore. But do you think the soundartist is the same thing but wearing a different badge?

[@arthurwatts1680]

NBT has also been raving about their gear (amps as well as speakers) and I just cant see how they are making any money based on the MSRP they have on a lot of their gear atm. I can only assume that they are trying to gain a foothold in a crowded market - Line-Magnetic and others went down that road initially and now have 'flagship' gear with prices comparable to the older brands out of China.

[@LuxAudio389]

Off topic: What does the expression "cut your teeth" mean in regards to a Rotel amp on the chat session 8/6? Tx

[@stanrogers5613]

It's not in relation to anything in particular. "Cutting your teeth" is an introduction, a first step, a good starting place. It's a very common idiomatic phrase in English. (It refers to teething in infants if you want to trace the etymology and take things far too literally.)

[@libertyhound1247]

These speakers are apparently going like hot cakes.. I asked for an update on my order, they said they are waiting on the next batch of 50 because they sold out of the 50 pairs they had. Guess I have to wait a few more weeks to get mine..

[@Cartier_specialist]

So how do they sound versus the Miller & Kreisel S-3B ?

[@torarnekvaly431]

Great review! How would you compare the Sound Artist to the P3 40th version? Do they have some of the liveliness/revealing character of the 40th?

[@quinonezes86]

Hey Sean how do they compatriot the Mistral version? Would you say the Sound Artists are better? I tried to purchase the Mistrals but the Price has almost doubled.

[@petermartin6919]

Great review, any chance of a review of the Spendor A1 speakers?, I don't think there's been any you tube reviews on these speakers.

[@sudipdutt9699]

Looking at a below $1000 amplification, how would a schiit heresy + aegir sound in a basic single source application? Thnx.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I'd imagine it will be alright. I have no experience with those specific Schitt products so it's difficult for me to say.

[@dougg1075]

I have a vintage el 84 based integrated amp I’m thinking about pairing with these.

[@vittoriomartinidonati]

hello Sean and thanks for this great review, I am about to buy the LS3/5A for my desktop to go with a Yamaha R-N803D that I have already, please advise if you have any thoughts about the pairing, thanks

[@deputy3690]

ZF, how would you compare these to the PSB Alpha5? Right now, I have the PSB`s with the Cambridge AXR 100 and a REL T/5i and it really sounds impressive. I am not looking to upgrade, I am just looking for your opinion.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Been over a year, so I cant really say for sure. I don't remember getting this kind of sound out of the PSB's in terms of tonal accuracy and resolution, but that doesn't make the 5's any less good for what they are.

[@boriss.861]

Great VLOG Have you tried the NEAT petite or some of the ATC's although they can need driving?

[@Scottlp2]

PS audio sprout? Thanks for the review.

[@ERRORFACE1]

I'm using the p3 hl paired a modded cam shell mira amp and an old meridian dac as desktop set up and secretly i love it more then my main set up in the living room :)

[@mrtim6479]

Where can you guy these things? That China Hifi website does not work. Been trying for weeks.

[@c_o_l_m]

aliexpress

[@mauricioassis4500]

Sean, do you believe they’d pair well with a Yamaha As1200? Thank you, and keep up the amazing reviews coming 🙏

[@davko1731]

Hiya, thanks for a good review. Just a question. Aren't these speakers the same as Mistral speakers you reviewed about 2 years ago? I find that there is many names for this very same Rogers clones: Mitral, Falcon, Muzishare, Sound Artist. Maybe more? :)

[@ZeroFidelity]

The Mistrals are totally different, with the speakers under review being notably superior in terms of performance. But yeah, there's no shortage of em' out there from both licensed and unlicensed companies.

[@johnlg2209]

Can I use these with my Denon pma 2500ne or is it to.much power? I dont want to buy an other amplifier but I am very interested to try this type of sound.

[@ZeroFidelity]

So long as you don't expect this insanely small monitor to play at super loud volumes, the Denon will be just fine.

[@thomasandersen1784]

Hi Sean. You seems like such a likable guy. Keep up the good work and thx (once again) for putting up with us crazy Audiophiles ;-) Cheers from Denmark (btw, there is a brand new floor stander on it's way from Buchard :-) - any thoughts of a review in the near future?)

[@dougg1075]

Where can I get those speaker stands