Wharfedale Laser 400 speakers with ribbon tweeters and upgraded crossovers and cables

[Lawrence001]

These speakers have been a labour of love for me I have been determined to get the sound of my friend's famous studio size Leak 3090 speakers but in a domestic friendly package. I had these delivered from Bristol and upgraded the capacitors from Falcon acoustics including Solen polypropylenes on the ribbon tweeters. I also upgraded the internal cables to Qed silver plated. Also the drivers did not originally have gaskets so I used M type window insulation to tighten up the bass, which it did. Surprisingly it also improved the imaging considerably so I have probably mechanically isolated the tweeters from baffle vibration which was a bonus. I've seen 2 pairs sold in the last few years they are very rare so they are also under the radar in the audiophile world. (I bought the other pair too but they have a warped woofer.)

Being 89bdb sensitivity they are valve amp friendly. The 10" polypropylene woofers and front port give them an easy powerful bass that sounds natural and room filling with no boom or resonance even if placed near the wall. The mids are lovely and detailed due to the bextrene mid which is arguably an improvement on the famous Kef B110 from the LS3/5a as wharfedale used laser interferometry to remove the bextrene "quack" (which gives a "cuppy" sound without a very complex crossover) hence the spiral pattern of holes. The ribbon tweeters are something else and the main reason I bought and restored these. The result is smooth non fatiguing but detailed highs. The overall balance is superb especially since I upgraded them. You can't beat the natural sound of large cabinets whatever people say! I've owned and upgraded several pairs of vintage speakers including Kef and Celestion and these outclass them all.

Reason for sale, I'm hoping to get a rather expensive pair of speakers and I don't have the room sadly. I would love to keep them and I'll miss them a lot. (The stands are not included.) They are listed on ebay and gumtree at £250 but I would he happy with £200 on the forum.

Demo with tea or coffee provided in London N21 I'm near the North Circular, M25, A1 and A10. I could probably stretch to some sarnies if you've come far!

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161021/6c5e25dab653a18fbf5c367bb8d0a876.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161021/9f0f3a5d760441de5e67339e7ab7c64e.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161021/f4d230ce63c3f8a8ada19c36987a1771.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161021/cee07d4ad48ec7df591b095576b5976c.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161021/a7b20fe1dce80af363394c60e1235e15.jpg

[loosend]

Very nice!

[Lawrence001]

Thanks Dan I've had a lot of speakers over the years (maybe 30-40 pairs) up to Monitor Audio Studio 50s and Kef Reference Model 3s and in many ways these are my favourites. I just sit back and relax and listen to the music with these which I haven't done for years.

[hornucopia]

"Domestic friendly"?
In my house perhaps (like my 3090s) but.......?
If I hadn't got the Leaks.......big is better!

[Lawrence001]

It's all relative I think my wife is relieved to have one pair of speakers after living with a combination of Cambridge R50s, stacked DM2a's, Kef Ref models 1-3, Castle Howard's, NHT 2.5s, Kef Concertos, Ferrograph S1s, monitor audio studio 50s and monitor 14/14mk2's to name just a few.

The speaker purchase has fallen through so I do need to find another pair of even more friendly speakers nothing on the forums appeals right now.

[hornucopia]

18277You can have my Ocellias, but:
they cost £7250 +
they aren't any smaller!

[Lawrence001]

Thanks i'll show her the pic and she'll probably love mine!

[Lawrence001]

I'll take £150 which is less than I've spent on them.