BBC LS3/5a

[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-l...ker-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-l...ker-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.