NVA LS5

[Haselsh1]

OK, so, two weeks ago I installed a Samson Servo 600 studio monitoring amplifier into my system to replace my old Rotel’s. At the same time, I connected up some cheap and cheerful Maplin copper braided loudspeaker cable as a biwired, stereo pair. Today, just out of curiosity, I reconnected up my more usual NVA LS5 loudspeaker cables in single wire mode. The difference was staggering.

The first and most obvious difference was that the whole sound was louder. The next huge difference was the stereo imaging which was now coming from 90 degrees left and right to my sitting position. The treble is now extremely incisive with masses of detail and I am a very happy old Hector.

Demo CD was the Chemical Brothers ‘Born in the Echoes’

Not much of a review but then not a great deal to add.

[The Black Adder]

It's good cable is LS5. Have you tried Van Damme? - I was astonished with that stuff.

You have superb taste in music, Born in Echo's is a magnificent album... I love The Chemical Brothers, big followers of them since Dig your own Hole. Have you heard 'Hannah' soundtrack? That's really good... I really like 'Further' too!

[Haselsh1]

It's good cable is LS5. Have you tried Van Damme? - I was astonished with that stuff.

You have superb taste in music, Born in Echo's is a magnificent album... I love The Chemical Brothers, big followers of them since Dig your own Hole. Have you heard 'Hannah' soundtrack? That's really good... I really like 'Further' too!

Josie, no, I haven't heard said music by them. I have a lot of their early stuff on vinyl but to be honest I would like to replace it all with CD. I bought 'Born In The Echoes' on vinyl and then bought it again on CD as the vinyl is way to polite for my liking. With that in mind, I can't wait to have a listen to 'Block Rockin Beats' through the Samson. Their music is just so bloody awesome. I love the way it permanently picks a fight with your Hi-Fi every time you play it.

[DSJR]

I bought my loan set of LS5 because it was so good! It's a pity I can't use it in the main system cause it's two thickish conductors, it's black and it wouldn't go under the carpet and I don't wish to start carving up underlay right now..

[Haselsh1]

By the way, I am still absolutely staggered by the increase in the wideness of the stereo image which really does show off how good this Samson amplifier actually is. OK so the sound is not as 'Hi-Fi' as it was with my Rotels but one thing I do not want with electronica is politeness. I have this issue with vinyl versus CD. My vinyl setup is just way too polite.

[Haselsh1]

I bought my loan set of LS5 because it was so good! It's a pity I can't use it in the main system cause it's two thickish conductors, it's black and it wouldn't go under the carpet and I don't wish to start carving up underlay right now..

Yes David, damn fine stuff but certainly would not go under a carpet.

[The Black Adder]

Josie, no, I haven't heard said music by them. I have a lot of their early stuff on vinyl but to be honest I would like to replace it all with CD. I bought 'Born In The Echoes' on vinyl and then bought it again on CD as the vinyl is way to polite for my liking. With that in mind, I can't wait to have a listen to 'Block Rockin Beats' through the Samson. Their music is just so bloody awesome. I love the way it permanently picks a fight with your Hi-Fi every time you play it.

LOL... that's ace!. Never heard of it that way... and your right, it does.

[RichB]

I love LS5 with my Rega RS5 speakers. Mine is made up for biwire with a single load at the amplifier end but split into fat and thin legs for my LF/HF at the speaker end.

It is horrible to hide and route discretly though. This compromise to tidiness is worth it for all the lovely bass it gets out of my speakers. There was just more of compared to single wire with the Rega jumper plates. I know DSJR isn't a fan of these speakers but those who have heard my system have commented on how well balanced they sound, the tweeter can be a bit exuberant and LS5 seems to add a bit more control to things overall.

In summary, great cable. Ugly as sin, but worth it the visual compromise to me. It's a keeper.

[RichB]

It's good cable is LS5. Have you tried Van Damme? - I was astonished with that stuff.

You have superb taste in music, Born in Echo's is a magnificent album... I love The Chemical Brothers, big followers of them since Dig your own Hole. Have you heard 'Hannah' soundtrack? That's really good... I really like 'Further' too!

Oh yes. The Hannah soundtrack sounds wonderful. A great test for any system.

[Macca]

Rich - when you demmed your all Rega system at NEBO (5?) were you using the LS5 then?

[RichB]

Rich - when you demmed your all Rega system at NEBO (5?) were you using the LS5 then?

No Macca. I was using single wired Rega Quattro with the jumper plates in at NEBO 5.

Adding the LS5 was a major improvement on that.

[Macca]

Ah okay. Just wondered.

I used some LS5 on the KEF Calindas I have. I'd previously sidelined them as I thought the bass was a bit weak and floppy. With the LS5 the bass was a lot tighter and actually energising the room. I'm not really sure how a speaker cable can make that difference, but it did. I shouldn't have sent it back, on reflection.

[RichB]

Ah okay. Just wondered.

I used some LS5 on the KEF Calindas I have. I'd previously sidelined them as I thought the bass was a bit weak and floppy. With the LS5 the bass was a lot tighter and actually energising the room. I'm not really sure how a speaker cable can make that difference, but it did. I shouldn't have sent it back, on reflection.

That's a pretty good description of what they do wrt to the bass. More energy somehow.

[Macca]

Yes, before I tried it for myself I was highly skeptical of the various reports about the bass performance. I mean it's a length of wire, isn't it? Have to admit I was taken aback when I tried it with those KEFS. Not so good a match with my Akais, though, which is why I didn't keep it.

[southall-1998]

Been using LS3's for nearly 2 years now. Good cables that can sound very musical in the right system/room etc.

S.