LS3/5a
On Feb 15, 12:33�pm, Fran�ois Yves Le Gal wrote:
On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:05:51 -0800 (PST), wrote:
Any other LS3/5a fans here? �Critics?
The current Stirling version has very little in common with vintage LS3/5a's
when it comes to dynamic behavior. They may measure the same and be built to
Auntie's specs but they sound very differently. Not a bad speaker, far from
it,, but as far to the real thing than, say, a Fender '57 Strat vintage
reissue can be to a real '57.
I've used a lot of LS3/5a as near field monitors for the last 30 years or
so. They have two outstanding attributes : the midrange is right - something
very few speakers can attain - and imaging can be outstanding - as with most
small/narrow box monitors.
On the minus side they've got too many defects to bother listing them. Power
handling is very poor, bass is flabby at best (even with their dedicated AB1
bass extender - a bandpass B110 moving less air than a farting gnat), detail
level is below other vintage monitors (Altec/JBL/Tannoy/Cabasse/...,), etc..
But the wonderful mids are quite unbeatable, that's why I still use a pair
of late '90 Stirling LS + AB (manufactured using Swisstone-sourced
components for the Beeb before Stirling had an official license, and hence
branded Rogers - just a little lie) in my office, driven by a Rogers E40a
(an Audio Note PPP 6L6 amp) and various sources, mainly a DAW playing
masters.
I've tried to change this setup a number of times, going modern with active
NFM's fitted with digital inputs, eq., filtering, you name it - last rig was
based on Genelec AIR 6's. Most were really good but none came close to the
Rogers.
So the jury is still out...
Have you tried them in nearfield listening? I'm finding that is their
true strength.
Boon
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