The Vain Pursuit of Excellence - Discussion.

[John]

The equally unattainable Nirvana that I'm currently more interested in seeking (and has been a lifelong obsession) is more related to finding and owning recordings of great music – and in my opinion this is a far more noble quest!!

Yes agree fully I love that feeling when you discover a new album and each listen it takes you deeper and deeper into the music till almost the music becomes part of you

I also experience music to be transpersonal and the place I have felt this most is being at a great gig

[The Grand Wazoo]

Axl is in the best voice of his life, and sometimes is simply astonishing.

Does that mean he can squeak louder, or longer than before?

[Barry]

I think these latest posts by Chris, Steve and Marco, with whom I all agree, have basically answered Dave's original question.

As for me, I'm off the hear some unamplified live music, courtesy of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for tonights Proms: Haydn Symphony No.100 and Shostakovich Symphony No. 10. Yummy!

[Varun]

Hi Barry,

You would no doubt tell us if the Albert Hall experience was close to 'Nirvana'. The etymology and the Buddhist side of things and your "Avataar" perhaps may have something in common. Of course you need not say anything in case sensibilities of others are excoriated.

Anyway-another word Marco threw in "Mantra" also comes from Sanskrit. Talking of heading towards perceived perfection-Marco has headed towards 15" Winchesters in a Lockwood cabinet, while I would have been very happy with LS35As and may return to them when I downsize-that is if they still can be GOT.

[Alex_UK]

I would have been very happy with LS35As and may return to them when I downsize-that is if they still can be GOT.

Indeed they can Varun, to a degree: I won't promote any particular dealer, but this came from a dealer's site, easy enough to find with Google:

THE BBC REFERENCE MONITOR TYPE LS3/5a LOUDSPEAKER IS BACK!

The V2 LS3/5a from Stirling Broadcast is awarded Best Loudspeaker under £1000 in the Hi Fi News 2005 Awards, beating both the Sonus Faber Concertino Domus and Ruark Sabre III.

Once an LS3/5a License had been obtained from the BBC, Stirling Broadcast commissioned the manufacture of new T27 and B110 drive units from KEF and reintroduced the LS3/5a to the market, to enthusiastic reception. Shortly afterwards Stirling Broadcast began its path of innovation in the LS3/5a world by introducing higher quality crossovers, referred to as 'SuperSpec', and thin-walled, screw-back cabinets modelled after the prototype LS3/5a cabinets.

Following problems and uncertainties with the continuing supply of T27 and B110 drive units Stirling Broadcast have introduced an updated version of the LS3/5a, unofficially known as the V2. The designer, a luminary in the audio industry, has utilised specially prepared SEAS and ScanSpeak drive units with high grade crossovers that accurately mimic the response characteristics of the original versions. Stirling Broadcast has successfully managed to capture the best aspects of both versions of the LS3/5a, combining the faster and more modern sound of the 11 ohm version with the seductive vocal abilities of the 15 ohm version, and adding an improved and extended bass response and greater power handling for good measure.

Universally accepted as the reference for miniature systems, the LS3/5a grade two monitor delivers a wholly exceptional degree of tonal accuracy. Specifically designed for broadcasting environments where space is at a premium, each speaker is matched to within 1dB of a BBC standard. Within the domestic environment, the LS3/5a delivers a performance of unparalleled purity.

Complete with 5 years warranty

Expect around £870 for walnut cherry or ash finishes, £950 for "limited edition" finishes

[Marco]

Marco has headed towards 15" Winchesters in a Lockwood cabinet...

Winchesters? You've been watching too many westerns, my man!

They're 15" Tannoy Monitor Golds.

I too love LS35As, but they don't do scale! If I swapped to them from the Lockwoods, it'd be like listening to a transistor radio - albeit a very good one

Marco.

[Varun]

Well well well- Many thanks Alex,

that is truly good news and I shall bear that in mind. I suppose one could always plug in a subwoofer? If I remember correctly they had a sensitivity of 88db so will be no good for a single ended amp??

Marco- all these things like Tannoy Golds are from before my time-I mean by the time I started taking an interest it was all B&W and KEF monitors and so on. The chap I bought my EARs from in Balham was selling Decca speakers- painted white-small with horn loading. He had managed to get hold of a warehouse clear out stock from somewhere.

And the man demonstrating the ESL 63s was using a Pink Triangle mounted with a Panasonic MC cartridge.

I am reminiscing-back in my days!

[DanJennings]

Does that mean he can squeak louder, or longer than before?

longer, and higher

but seriously, he really does some amazing stuff with his voice on this record

[Ali Tait]

I would say a transmitter SE valve amp would drive them just fine.Something like an 845 or 211 would be around 20 w/p/ch,or the Chinese Audioromy I have,utilising 813's at I would guess around 30 to 35.I don't believe the claimed 45! Not sure what the impedance curve on the speakers is like,but I remember the old version came in a 15-ohm variety,which I guess would be very easy to drive,even with say a 300b SE at around 9 w/ch.It's surprising how far valve watts can go-valve amps tend to drive nasty loads better than sand amps.I guess it depends on the size of your room and how loud you like to listen.

[Varun]

Thanks Ali,

True connoisseur of valves. Just out of interest, all the single ended amps I have heard in shops or shows-appeared to have a forward sound-quite unlike the usual types (forgive me for not knowing what to call them-push-pull perhaps).

Perhaps you can enlighten me and others who might be interested. I have heard the LS3/5As fill good sized rooms-but yes they will be used in a small room-if I downsize when I retire. The lack of nth bass extension is not a worry as the brain would fill in the gaps.

I realized after bi-wiring how effective the addition of Belden as a LF conductor was-opened up another dimension in sound. I shall return to it- the subject of how far the improvement cart can be driven-even after the horse has bolted??