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

[@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.

[@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...

[@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 !

[@ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣΝΙΚΟΛΑΝΤΩΝΑΚΗΣ]

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!

[@chriswilson1853]

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

[@bernardchesneau3091]

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

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Keep dreaming!

[@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]

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.

[@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.

[@SapientPerson]

@@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw that’s no worry. Your room colours the sound more - now that’s something to get your knickers in a twist about 😂

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

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

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

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

[@SapientPerson]

Welcome to the world of hi-fi

[@Spyz4ever]

cool

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

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

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Line up and get out your credit cards! LOL!

[@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!

[@SapientPerson]

You do you

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

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

[@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

[@AbdulRohim-ye3cj]

Celestion 7mkll...?

[@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.

[@SapientPerson]

@@robertjermantowicz-uw3iwyou are answering yourself? Are you a bot or something?

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Polycarbonate caps! What a load of cr*p!

[@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+).