2. speakers
  3. 190484-153821

Advice on Sterling LS3/6

I learned on a UK Spendor forum that Derek Hughes is retiring and closing down Sterling Broadcast.  They are clearing out inventory at excellent prices - mostly LS3/5a V2 and V3, but also a few other models.  I'm looking at the LS3/6. The regular price for the LS3/6 is $6000/pair  and the sale price is $3300 (plus $600 shipping to the US).

One pair of LS3/6 have been shipped to Jeff Stake, a dealer in Indiana.  I told Jeff I may be interested, but I've never heard them.  I could drive down to audition them (I live in Chicago) but I thought I'd check on Agon to see if others have experience with them.

I currently have Spendor SP3/5 R2 speakers in a small room.  The LS3/6 would go in a new listening room, 17x23 ft.  I will be using them with Bacch4Mac and a solid state amp (undecided, but probably Starcrimson monoblocks).  Qobuz is the source, over a Bluesound streamer with LPS and English 8 switch.  I'll use the Bacch's RME DAC.  I like vocals (Melody Gardot), Argentine Tango (Gotan Project), Van Morrison, Duke Ellington.  Seldom crank it up.

To my mind, the real alternative is a Harbeth 30.x or C7ES3.  At Axpona I heard a Spendor Classic series (not sure which) that I really liked but the cost is beyond my budget (over $10k).  Any comments would be welcome.

Latest review of the Stirling LS3/6 is from The Absolute Sound (where the retail price is listed as $9995):

 

treepmeyer

Showing 2 responses by chrys71

chrys71
9 posts
 

Yes, I also use the Mid Monos with the Stirling LS3/6 and they sound wonderful.

For some strange reason, however, they do not match very well with the MC275, 

With the stock Mcintosh tubes, allegedly made by J J, the sound is too bass heavy.

Or it might be my room, I do not know.

The Quicksilver are really a perfect match with the LS3/6 if one decides to go with tubes.

chrys71
9 posts
 

The Stirling LS3/6 is such an amazing speaker.


I own a pair and I recently purchased the Harbeth 40.3 XD a few months ago and let me tell you, the LS3/6 is not embarrassed by the big Harbeths. 
The Harbeths work better for me because of my large room but I did not sell the Stirling because I felt in love with their sound many years ago when I first purchased them and I am still in love with them.

Their sound is natural, their midrange is addictive, they match nicely with a variety of tube amps, they are beautifully crafted, they are transparent to the source, man, I should stop cause I can go on and on forever.

More to discover