Funny, just came across reference that Peter Qvortrup, owner of Audio Note, doesn't even LIKE the LS 3/5a. Yet so many fans of their speakers, are fans of the LS 3/5a and nearly every maker of small speakers goes to great lengths to somehow tie them to the venerable BBC small location monitors, even when the comparison is as ridiculous as Kef somehow claiming lineage to them with their LS-50.
I love the drama of audio. Such passions about things that most people don't even think about as anything much beyond an appliance.
Generally I think, like the LM speaker dealer in Hong Kong, that an 8 inch driver couples to the room the best. Which is why LM sells 8 inch single drivers and IMO the best single drivers from Teresonic are also 8 inch drivers.
I can't speak for Peter - though If you would like I can ask him some questions as I will be moderating a panel discussion with Peter at the July California Audio Show.
AN speakers are designed more for far and midfield listening - Rogers is typically for nearfield monitoring. AN speakers are actually US based speakers (Snell) so unlike British speakers companies like KEF, Spendor, Harbeth, ProAc, Castle etc that are all trying to emulate the BBC sound - AN speakers are not. So it stands to reason that you might like one or the other. Personally I have liked the BBC speaker sound as well and would be quite happy with a number of the speakers of the BBC approach.
The new Rogers I15 ohm speaker in beautiful Russian Birch walnut I heard yesterday was superb. And apparently Peter is working on a dedicated LS-3/5a amplifier for the Rogers speakers. An exact amplifier mirror image amplifier for the LS-3/5a characteristics. And since Andy Whittle works for both companies this should be an intriguing pairing.
Still - I personally prefer more bass and impact and a larger presentation - Rogers is working on the LS 5/9 currently. For me this will probably be more to my taste.
Lastly it should be noted that Peter is a pretty straight up guy. Few manufacturers will admit that there is better stuff than what they make. But Peter acknowledges that while he likes some things more than his own products that they are not commercially viable. Like the Snell Type A - the company can't get the drivers made and the cost to produce that speaker is so prohibitive that they can't make money on them - ditto for the Klangfilm.
Peter isn't a big fan of the 300B SET amplifier. He told me that the best SET tubes are 211, 45, 2a3 and a distant fourth - the 300B.
And yet he sells more 300B SET amps than the others! He recognizes that people have their preferences.
Yesterday I auditioned the AN Jinro $27,000 211 amplifier being run from an M6 Signature two box preamp ($40,000) and compared directly against the Empress Silver Monoblocks ($10,000) and I preferred the 2a3 Empress - regardless of price I just liked the sound better.
I would like to get a pair of the Rogers in - I think I like it more than my AX Two. Something I could not say about the P3ESR or the Audio Space LS-3/5a or the original Rogers. My worry is how much will the new Rogers be? I know it's more expensive than the Falcon.