Spendor LS3/5A

[zim bida]

Well, I'm primarily a midrange guy, so I thought these *might* work, and I just wanted to live with a pair to see what the fuss was about. These popped up locally at a price that was doable, so I thought I'd try.

They may not end up supplanting the big tannoys, but it would make a lot more sense if they did, from a room standpoint

 

[Deli]

I was nutty over a set of Rogers 149s off an 807 SET in a small setting. Some of the best sound I heard for things like a dining room, small bedroom, work desk/office. Blissful.

I understand they would have a hard time satisfying me in my main system with the type of music I listen to there- but the other scenarios I would be quite enchanted.

EDIT- Has anyone ever tried the dedicated and designed-for bass modules that I’ve seen, I think, from outfits like Falcon and possibly others? Stands, with bass drivers.

 

[airdronian]

Rogers does active ones now:

Rogers AB3A Active Subwoofer System — Rogers

www.rogers-hifi.uk

 

[JohnVF]

Rogers does active ones now:

Rogers AB3A Active Subwoofer System — Rogers

www.rogers-hifi.uk

Interesting how the woofers face backwards.

 

[prime minister]

Well, I'm primarily a midrange guy, so I thought these *might* work, and I just wanted to live with a pair to see what the fuss was about. These popped up locally at a price that was doable, so I thought I'd try.

They may not end up supplanting the big tannoys, but it would make a lot more sense if they did, from a room standpoint

Definitely. Give them a go. Trying new gear is one of the fun things about the audio hobby.

I would also recommend giving the little Harbeths a try. Sorry. Can't remember the number. You will get all kinds of midrange magic, but a more balanced presentation

 

[prime minister]

These little guys. P3ESR XD, in the latest form. Not sure what the XD adds. Other then two more letters. Xtra Dessert?

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Yeah, but then what do I do with these big heavy boxes I have that no one else really wants? ;-)

But some of us do like bass….

@prime minister @Pboser - Yup. That's why I have big, truly full range speakers set up for my listening pleasure.

As @JohnVF states (below): "If bass is your thing then don't try to make something not made for bass, try to make bass."

I'm with @TubeHiFiNut on this one. If bass is your thing then don't try to make something not made for bass, try to make bass. My ESL-63s fell on their face anytime I tried to make them into something they weren't. That's why God made other speakers, many with bass

I don't quite get the LS 3/5a thing but I totally get the notion of things performing best when they're asked to do what they were designed for and not asked to be something they were never intended to be. I guess with that you should listen to your LS-3/5as in a mobile mixing van outside a live news broadcast but... anyway....

I understand and acknowledge that the Quad ESL57 and the Rogers LS3/5a will not satisfy music lovers who are looking for full bass extension.

After lots of failed experimentation, I finally got the point and stopped trying to get these two lovely speakers to be what they are not.

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. Likely because I didn’t make it clear.

I can’t imagine listening at length to a speaker that doesn’t do really any bass, and what it does do, it cheats on horribly. I would love using them as mobile monitors for my recording work, if I ever decide to do any, but they just give away so much musical information, that I’ve never been able to think of them for my own system. Plus, they force me to pick music that suits them.

That all being said, they do wonderful things in the midrange.

We all have unique perception and individual biases. That's why there are so many different speakers our there.

 

[prime minister]

@prime minister @Pboser - Yup. That's why I have big, truly full range speakers set up for my listening pleasure.

As @JohnVF states (below): "If bass is your thing then don't try to make something not made for bass, try to make bass."

I understand and acknowledge that the Quad ESL57 and the Rogers LS3/5a will not satisfy music lovers who are looking for full bass extension.

After lots of failed experimentation, I finally got the point and stopped trying to get these two lovely speakers to be what they are not.

We all have unique perception and individual biases. That's why there are so many different speakers our there.

To me, the LS3/5a's are small speakers that have a built in, undefeatable, tone control. Which is fine if that's what you want, but I don't want a speaker that changes the sound THAT much.

My other issue with any of the earlier versions is the antique drivers. Driver technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the intervening decades, and I prefer drivers that get themselves out of the way as much as possible.

But that's just my reasoning.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

To me, the LS3/5a's are small speakers that have a built in, undefeatable, tone control. Which is fine if that's what you want, but I don't want a speaker that changes the sound THAT much.

My other issue with any of the earlier versions is the antique drivers. Driver technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the intervening decades, and I prefer drivers that get themselves out of the way as much as possible.

But that's just my reasoning.

Music is a sensory delight.

We all have experiences and biases that drive our choices in audio. We can only hear with our own, unique ear-brain receptor.

YMMV.

 

[prime minister]

Music is a sensory delight.

We all have experiences and biases that drive our choices in audio. We can only hear with our own, unique ear-brain receptor.

YMMV.

I get it. You’re biased towards a certain speaker sound, and I’m biased towards music.

Glad we sorted that out.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

I get it. You’re biased towards a certain speaker sound, and I’m biased towards music.

Glad we sorted that out.

From my perspective, I am the one biased toward music - beautiful, emotional music.

Glad I was able to enlighten you.

 

[prime minister]

From my perspective, I am the one biased toward music - beautiful, emotional music.

Glad I was able to enlighten you.

Why did this come to mind when I read this, Anakin.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Why did this come to mind when I read this, Anakin.

Yoda forgives you. 🤣

 

[Audionut]

The Rogers and later iterations of the ls3/5a are a fine tuned speaker. Not sure that its been posted, but the amount of R&D that went into creating the original is astounding. They were fine tuned down to the screw used to fasten the driver to the cabinet. And this effort shines through when you listen to a set (Near field in a smaller room). They are not Altec, Harbeths or modern active speakers, but then again they don’t try to be that either. What they are is a foot tapping and smile generating machine wrapped up in small boxes, and what’s not to love about that?

 

[Frank A]

I have owned my Chartwell LS3/5a since I bought them new in 77 or 78. The white bellies are a dead give away for the 15 ohm versions and they will do well in your bedroom. They dont like high volumes and will bottom out. I also have the Satterbergs teamed up with the chartwells. I currently pulled the xover out bc a coiul became unglued, fell, unreeled and snapped. One nasty xover for sure as dale satterberg used what looks like liquid nails all over it. A truly beautiful and musical speaker.

 

[Frank A]

BBC white paper on the LS3/5a design...