BBC LS3/5a

[eldarvanyar]

Hi guys,

What’s the view and experience on the
LS3/5a?

Have many people used them or still use them?

There seems to be a bit of a cult following and sh prices are steep.

Should they be on my bucket list?

Is it fools gold

Thanks

[dave2010]

Hi guys,

What’s the view and experience on the
LS3/5a?

Have many people used them or still use them?

There seems to be a bit of a cult following and sh prices are steep.

Should they be on my bucket list?

Is it fools gold

ThanksSimple answer - I don't know.

However, I have heard them a few times. Once was at a show, and they were on top of much larger speakers. The sound was excellent. I thought they were additions to the speakers below them, but was then told that the lower speakers were in fact switched off.

I also heard them in a demo room - still very impressive, but when sub-woofers were added in the results were stunning.

This was all a long time ago - more than 40 years.

I really don't know how well they'd work in a domestic environment, and also if good implementations are still available, or if the second hand ones which are available would be a good thing to have.

I suppose it's still possible to make them - weren't the designs published?

[walpurgis]

I suppose it's still possible to make them - weren't the designs published?

This may be of interest.

http://www.the-ear.net/how-to/build-authentic-ls35a

https://www.falconacoustics.co.uk/bbc-ls3-5a.html

[Pharos]

They have a cult following, due largely to the great impact they had at the time of their introduction which was because they were very good at what they did, they were designed for was monitoring of speech in an OB van, which they did rather well, and were small. They raised the profile of BBC loudspeaker design further, and this took on a life of its own.

However they are of limited range at both the top and bottom ends, and have a fairly serious coloration around 1k., but because of their limited range they have a pleasing presence, which many narrow band speakers can have; even a mobile phone can produce pleasant sounds. Broad band speakers have a great challenge in producing low bass without sounding poor on voice.

They are an icon of the BBC's great days, hence the high prices IMO.

[spendorman]

This may be of interest.

http://www.the-ear.net/how-to/build-authentic-ls35a

Interesting, thank you.

Strange, the Perspex front baffle ones, obviously not to spec. but probably for display purposes.

[hifi_dave]

Back in the day, they were designed to reproduce speech in a broadcast van or very small room and they did a good job of that but for music, even back then, there were better speakers to be had. We always had a pair of Spendor LS3/5A ready for demonstration but they rarely sold.

I have heard several of the latest 'BBC inspired' LS3/5A and they have too many limitations for me.

[Made in 1968]

Cos it was never intended for full range Hi-Fi use, so technically there is no design limitations..

[VanDerGraaf]

It's a speaker that just sounds "right" to a lot of people even now.
I think the prices are silly, frankly.
Bettered by near-contemporary KEF 101, same drivers, similar compact size, less coloured, more even frequency response in the upper bass, less money to pick a pair up.

[Made in 1968]

Much much prefered the Jim Rogers '149'

[VanDerGraaf]

Much much prefered the Jim Rogers '149'

That's another classic from that time, definitely. And again much more reasonably priced.

[Martyn Miles]

Listen to the Stirling Broadcast V3 model and then decide how good ( or how not good ) the design is...

[eldarvanyar]

I have just come across Wilmslow Audio who are selling kits

https://www.wilmslowaudio.co.uk/wa-ls3-bookshelf-loudspeaker-2107-p.asp

Basic Kit includes:

Loudspeaker drive units
High-quality crossovers, custom designed for each kit and built on high-grade PCBs
Recessed terminal trays with gold-plated binding posts
Oxygen free copper cable
Damping materials including cabinet lining and internal wadding
Gaskets or sealing strips for drive units
All fixing bolts and screws
Grille Cloth (Black is supplied as standard but other colours are available on request)
Grille fixing studs
Fully detailed assembly instructions, including CAD cabinet drawings

Specifications:
Treble: Vifa D27TG-35-06
Bass-mid: Monacor SPH-135AD
Enclosure type: 2-way infinite baffle
Frequency response: 40Hz - 30000Hz
Sensitivity (2.83v/1m): 89dB
Amp requirement: 30-100w
Impedance: 8 ohm
Internal volume: 6 litres per speaker
Weight: 14Kg per pair
Dimensons (HxWxD): 300mm high x 190mm wide x 160mm deep

Could you use an alternative updated driver?

[Made in 1968]

Going by the units, they should sound better

[Martyn Miles]

I have just come across Wilmslow Audio who are selling kits

https://www.wilmslowaudio.co.uk/wa-ls3-bookshelf-loudspeaker-2107-p.asp

Basic Kit includes:

Loudspeaker drive units
High-quality crossovers, custom designed for each kit and built on high-grade PCBs
Recessed terminal trays with gold-plated binding posts
Oxygen free copper cable
Damping materials including cabinet lining and internal wadding
Gaskets or sealing strips for drive units
All fixing bolts and screws
Grille Cloth (Black is supplied as standard but other colours are available on request)
Grille fixing studs
Fully detailed assembly instructions, including CAD cabinet drawings

Specifications:
Treble: Vifa D27TG-35-06
Bass-mid: Monacor SPH-135AD
Enclosure type: 2-way infinite baffle
Frequency response: 40Hz - 30000Hz
Sensitivity (2.83v/1m): 89dB
Amp requirement: 30-100w
Impedance: 8 ohm
Internal volume: 6 litres per speaker
Weight: 14Kg per pair
Dimensons (HxWxD): 300mm high x 190mm wide x 160mm deep

Could you use an alternative updated driver?




If you’re good at DIY, then worth a go.
Made up by Wilmslow they’re quite expensive.

[Vanzapp]

I have home demo'd a pair of Falcon Acoustics recently that sounded great at the Hifi retailers. Sadly, not so good at home. I think these speakers are very amplifier dependent.

[hifi_dave]

Not really and especially not with a Luxman L505 to drive them. What you are hearing is the 'fabled' LS3/5A sound. A speakers designed to reproduce speech in a small studio or van at low levels. This they do really well but maybe this is not the way you are using them.

[fatmarley]

I have home demo'd a pair of Falcon Acoustics recently that sounded great at the Hifi retailers. Sadly, not so good at home. I think these speakers are very amplifier dependent.

Maybe try the Stirling Broadcast V3 as mentioned above? They all seem to measure slightly different and according to reports from users, they often sound different. Another popular speaker in a similar vein is the ProAc Tablette 10 signature

[graham67]

As Dave said they work well in a small space. i use some in a 2mx3m space mainly for listening to Radio 4 speech, which sounds exquisite.
They wouldn't be my first choice for a much larger space. However, used within their design limitations they can still produce magic. "In our time" on Rogers LS 3/5a becomes a near religious experience !!☺

[Pharos]

Not really and especially not with a Luxman L505 to drive them. What you are hearing is the 'fabled' LS3/5A sound. A speakers designed to reproduce speech in a small studio or van at low levels. This they do really well but maybe this is not the way you are using them.

It is also relevant IMO that a restricted bandwidth can give greater clarity; consider that the International Telephone Bandwidth is from 300Hz to 3400Hz, and just listen to the clarity of speech and even classical violin while you are waiting on the phone. Even music on a mobile has a clarity to it.

[Pharos]

As Dave said they work well in a small space. i use some in a 2mx3m space mainly for listening to Radio 4 speech, which sounds exquisite.
They wouldn't be my first choice for a much larger space. However, used within their design limitations they can still produce magic. "In our time" on Rogers LS 3/5a becomes a near religious experience !!☺

Yes, they eliminate the bloody awful speech quality of R4 FM, bass proximity effects, caused by their lack of care with mics.

[Vanzapp]

Not really and especially not with a Luxman L505 to drive them. What you are hearing is the 'fabled' LS3/5A sound. A speakers designed to reproduce speech in a small studio or van at low levels. This they do really well but maybe this is not the way you are using them.

I should have said that I didn't have the Luxman at that point. My home demo was with a Naim Supernait2.

[hifi_dave]

Still more than adequate to drive an LS3/5A.

[Ninanina]

Lee I've owned the Stirling LS3/5a's and loved them

[Made in 1968]

Lee I've owned the Stirling LS3/5a's and loved them

I don't know what units they use but if they do not use Kef units ill most probably like them..

[Ninanina]

I don't know what units they use but if they do not use Kef units ill most probably like them..

Andre the ones I owned were the standard LS3/5a's from Stirling which used the proper Kef units... I believe Stirling now have V2's which use differnt drivers so maybe you'd like those

[Made in 1968]

The Audiomasters i used to have were original 15 Ohm jobbies. I didnt like the sound of the Tweeter. However ive heard of Monocor units nowadays. They should sound fine.. I like small speakers cos i have a small room. I can just hear things clearer too.

[Ninanina]

My Stirling LS3/5a's sounded lovely to me and I didn't have any problems with the tweeters...I'd own them again if I needed small speakers

However my Maggies are sounding better than anything else I've owned so they are keepers...and I also have quite a small room but the .7's seem to like it..

[Made in 1968]

I used to have a large pair of Castles in this living room, tried allsorts but justcould not seem to hear the Bass depth i knew they could provide, yet if i went into the next room i could hear it in there. So the moral of the story is, they were too bigger speakers wasted not to mention taking room up.. Active monitors in the spare room but Vintage full range unit small bookshelves in the living room, sound luverly.. I can get everything that was not wasted with the big speakers but with more clarity..

[Ninanina]

What speakers are you now using Andre that sound so good ?

[Made in 1968]

No ones heard of them or probably don't know they existed. The are the special edition [Back then early 70's] Wharfdale 'Denton 1'. They use a single full range unit as did the 'Chevin XP2' No crossover, all that was required was new binding posts & a new piece of wire.. They have nothing what so ever in common with the 'Denton' that people know..

Not my picture but they are em. I have replaced the grill fabric with smooth modern cloth. That old hessian style cloth looked a bit rough.

https://i.imgur.com/a6jcgdi.jpg

[Ninanina]

Are they made of metal Andre?

My computer speakers look like a smaller version of those... Acoustic Energy Aego M's

[Made in 1968]

No not metal..

[Lawrence001]

No not metal..Do you find the whizzer cone shouty at times? Have avoided the Chevin for that reason.

[Made in 1968]

No, not at least with this old Sony amp,

[Pharos]

I have just come across this and thought it very encouraging, and that it would be of interest.

http://www.the-ear.net/how-to/build-authentic-ls35a

[Made in 1968]

Do you find the whizzer cone shouty at times? Have avoided the Chevin for that reason.

Thanks Lawrence you just got me thinking. I might try swapping out those units & play about a bit as these speakers are a bit loud as low volume & also a little boomy where ever you plant them..

[Lawrence001]

Thanks Lawrence you just got me thinking. I might try swapping out those units & play about a bit as these speakers are a bit loud as low volume & also a little boomy where ever you plant them..If I had them I'd look at doping the whizzer cones, varnish can help there's plenty online about it (maybe not in the context of Wharfedales though).

[spendorman]

Have you tried a little extra damping in them?

At this moment, I'm removing a little damping from my Dalines (B110 T15 and Coles 4001G), I probably slightly overdamped them.

[Made in 1968]

Yeh i have but that does not alter the loudness. I dont want to deface them so im gonna make up a thin square of MDF & mount that to the existing unit mounting holes. Fit Dayton audio ps95-8 unit in the piece see how they sound. If i can locate some in the UK..

[spendorman]

Looks like a really nice unit, amazingly cheap

https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-ps95-8-3-1-2-point-source-full-range-driver-8-ohm--295-349

[Made in 1968]

Yep & cast alloy baskets no pressed steel affairs

[AJSki2fly]

Yeh i have but that does not alter the loudness. I dont want to deface them so im gonna make up a thin square of MDF & mount that to the existing unit mounting holes. Fit Dayton audio ps95-8 unit in the piece see how they sound. If i can locate some in the UK..

Here you go. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00Q3M9852/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all