RMAF 2018 - The BBC LS3/5A 1968-2018: The Icon Live

FOR BETTER VIEWING OF PRESENTATION WATCH IT HERE - • RMAF 2018 - The BBC LS...
Speaker: Jerry Bloomfield, Falcon Acoustics - Oxford, England
The BBC LS3/5a is one of the most iconic loudspeaker designs ever created. It is still being produced in 2018, 50 years after the original design work was undertaken by the Research and Development Department of the British Broadcasting Corporation ( the BBC).
This seminar will trace the story and the design behind the LS3/5a, starting with the development of the drive units by Malcolm Jones of KEF (the founder of Falcon Acoustics) in 1964. It will examine how the BBC Specification and design brief for this small speaker evolved over time, and the re-design in 1974 which resulted in the Classic LS3/5a which was then produced commercially in large numbers.
We will be looking at the various subsequent versions of the LS3/5a made over the production period and detailing the technical changes that occurred. We will also be showing the complexity of parts and engineering skills needed to produce a genuine authentic hand built BBC LS3/5a. We will also touch briefly on the various clones, facsimiles and fakes that have appeared over the years.
Falcon Acoustics and Malcolm Jones have been involved with the LS3/5a since the design was first conceived, and for this RMAF seminar we have uniquely bought over from England a full range of working examples and archive parts from the whole period of development and production. These range from the LS3/5 (1969/70), BBC R&D Reference versions, production versions from the 1970’s and 1980’s, right through to the Falcon Acoustics Classic 15 ohm LS3/5a in current production and the Falcon Acoustics Active LS3/5a currently in development.
All these versions will be demonstrated as the seminar progresses, and for the first time it will be possible to hear and compare versions from 1970 right through to 2018.
THE RMAF 2018 Seminars are sponsored by EnjoyTheMusic.com

[@Radfordperson]

Love it, thanks for posting. The best bit is where Falcon gets the BBC licence and Malcolm is pleased. A long wait, but worth it. Malcolm designed me a crossover way back in the early 70's, for EMI 14A770c, KEF B110, Celestion HF1300 and Coles 4001G. Speakers are excellent, I still have them.

[@eddiebaby22]

Excellent talk thank you for capturing and sharing.

[@georgelien]

Thank you, thank you for posting these videos so quickly this year. I visited RMAF in 2015 from Taiwan because I discovered the trade show some time before. Would visit the show every year if I could. Thank you for this video !

[@Albdentist]

Just amazing! ..and I can go out and purchase a brand new classic ..now ! Falcon Acoustics!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

There are far better sounding speakers for $3K+ from Revel and others!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

The KEF LS50 is far better for less money!

[@zeroice00]

Excellent video. Fascinating :) More like this please. showing the history of a particular loudspeaker with the how and why it got developed over time...

[@user-ql7kp8vk2p]

Well done!

[@Mrch33ky]

Yay! More Hi-Fi Histories please!

[@questioneverything1123]

RMAF, thank you for posting this fascinating presentation! As a LS3/5a owner since 1983... I know this speaker very well, yet learned a great deal about them in the short hour long video. I have to go back a re-listen to a few key points, to be more clear with the take-away. I am more impressed / interested in the Falcon brand than ever before, having heard it straight from the horses mouth... I bought my newer 11 ohm pair in 1989 directly from the state-side Rogers importer, I thought that I saw the comparison shown, reflect that Rogers (did not make) the 11 ohm model... I am re-playing the video to clarify my understanding... I want to go pull mine out and have a listen... I am glad, I never sold mine on a whim... I actually preferred my 11 ohm versions over my "older" Gold Badged 15 ohm speakers.

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Go to Audio Science Review and read Amir's test of the LS3/5A. Measurements don't lie! It has a broad dip between 200hz and 400hz. At its original 1976 price of $430 it is acceptable but hardly can be called a monitor speaker. At today's prices of $3K+ it is rip off!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

I too have a pair of the 11 ohm version that I bought six years ago from an eBay seller in Lithuania for $960 shipping included. This was before I read Amir's test. Today I would not waste my money on such an imperfect speaker!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

The grill cloth has very little effect upon the sound of the LS3/5A. It can't fix that major flaw - the 200hz to 400hz dip.

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Falcon if you read this fix that 200hz to 400hz dip!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Tuning a stand to the LS3/5A. LOL!

[@Radfordperson]

Not sure about the green Bextrene thing, My friend bought two pairs of Chartwell LS3/5a new in 1976, both pairs had dark green B110 cones. I bought one pair from him in 1987 for £90. probably a fair price for both parties then.

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Line up and get out your credit cards! LOL!

[@chriswilson1853]

32:23 I have a pair of Rogers 11 Ohm ones. I don't believe they are fake.

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Take a close look at that frequency response graph. It shows the broad 200hz to 400hz dip. This is a severe coloration that shouldn't be tolerated in a speaker costing multi-thousands!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

At least it plays music! Unlike those audiophile power cords which have zero effect upon the sound.

[@Spyz4ever]

cool

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Not cool when the gullible waste thousands on an inaccurate speaker that is touted as a BBC monitor.

[@bluglouk]

He keeps referring to it as a "lossy cabinet"? It was designed to leak? How was this repeatable?

[@DucksDeLucks]

The original had an expensive multi-ply cabinet, tight as a drum. The remakes omit this.

[@mikemcguinness1304]

Yes it was, I was specifically a midband voice speaker. The bass would get I the way of the midrange. Every time you listen to the BBC, your listening to the most heavyly researched, finest voice monitors ever

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Thin wall plywood cabinet has resonances that color the sound.

[@bernardchesneau3091]

The ultimate sounding pair is one with a gold and the other with a silver badge

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Keep dreaming!

[@AbdulRohim-ye3cj]

Celestion 7mkll...?

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Go to Audio Science Review to read Amir's test of the LS3/5A. Measurements don't lie! The LS3/5A is a dog of a speaker! It is not in the least deserving of being called or used as a monitor. It has a broad dip between 200hz to 400hz and poor off-axis response! In 1977 when I first listened to it the price was $430. That new pairs are selling for $3K+ is ridiculous! It ain't worth that much! Another example of the insanity of audiophiles, like 8 watt SET amps and $5K+ phono cartridges.

[@andrewpeacock7584]

Test measurements do not represent sounds waves what individual ears enjoy ..If every hi-fi manufacturer's made flat response products what a boring world music (enjoyment) would be. Measurements can also be used to create what ever you want them to from different references and who tests the test equipment ? 😂 Amir has his own axes to grind . I would rather listen to a product and like it than buy something just on test results. We are humans not robots

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Polycarbonate caps! What a load of cr*p!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

The LS3/5A does not deserve a cult following. It is an old very flawed design beaten by present day speakers that cost way less!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

I too got sucked in by the cult thing and bought a used pair six years ago before ASR existed. If I had seen the ASR report I would not have spent the $960.

[@jahmark9336]

I don't understand how he could be so sycophantic about our propaganda service Ask him about Jimmy Saville

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

This guy from Falcon is a gullible fool shilling for a dog of a speaker that costs thousands ($3K+).