I was literally minutes from purchasing the Special 40's...
...when Shaun on YouTube brought out the MoFi LS3/5a's, I did some research, and now I'm torn. This midrange sound is what I've been seeking ever since I heard a pair of Proac SC1's back in the day. Would I get more of that midrange magic/reality from a LS3/5a ?... and if that's the right choice, should I spend the $3000 on a Gold Badge Falcon?
Some say it's the Harbeth P3 ESR, whilst others, lifelong fans of the BBC LS3/5s never seem to mention the Harbeth's at all.
Harbeth once had a licence to build the LS3/5s themselves due to its founder Dudley Harwood being an ex BBC employee himself.
For some reason, there seems to be a resistance to arrange a shootout between all of the available variations. It should be easy enough but nothing like that has been done for a few decades now.
In any case if it was me, I'd go for one of those that had screwed-in back panels, as the originals did. I remember that was one finding back then.
You might get lucky on the used marketplace. I bought my Rogers LS3/5A's (11 ohms) from an eBay seller in Lithuania (!!!) for $960 + shipping. At that price how could I resist! They arrived safely intact!
I certainly wouldn't spend thousands for the Falcon's or other versions! Reality check: the Rogers version listed at $450/pair in 1976 - 78! I was tempted then to buy a pair!
I
certainly wouldn't spend thousands for the Falcon's or other versions!
Reality check: the Rogers version listed at $450/pair in 1976 - 78! I
was tempted then to buy a pair!
Reality check: $450 in 1976 is the equivalent of more than $2100 in 2020.
Harbeth P3ESR are 6 ohm speakers while the Falcons and Rogers are 15 ohm. These are made for totally different amplification. The Falcons and Rogers will sound fantastic through a Leben CS-300 for example while the Harbeths - ummmm not so much.
@hailtothevictorz While you are waiting for Captain Khaki to get get the boot from The Big House, also wait for a forthcoming video from Shaun where he is putting the MoFi Falcons against the Gold Badge Falcons and the Harbeth ESR's.
Before pulling the trigger, I suggest you check the review and comparison w harbeth p3sr of sound artist ls3/5a at 600 dlrs from China at zero fidelity https://youtu.be/XMPnTmEZaZw , plus another review coming shortly that will compare them to the Rogers, I have the SA since a month and I am very happy, using them for desktop also.
Thank you Rumble, that's excellent advice of course. When I catch the audio 'bug', which I get bad from time-to-time, like the flu, I'm like an impatient kid. Nice Harbaugh reference, by-the-way. I have heard both the Proac Tablette and Harbeth P3ESR as recently as January 2019. The dealer talked me into listening to a pair of Special 40's and maybe it was just the uptick in dynamics and the extra bass, but I loved them. What I ended up buying was something I hadn't even heard, the Harbeth C7's, which quite frankly, I found a bit lifeless and not nearly as transparent as it's smaller sibling. I appreciate the responses from everyone. I'm kinda looking for something I can enjoy in the house at night while others are in bed, something that sounds fantastic at lower volumes, probably will pair with a Naim XS3 or Hegel 120. After reading Art Dudley's article from last year comparing the two Grahams and the Falcon, I may be leaning toward the LS3/5a by one or the other. I've also considered the ATC SCM11 and Kef LS50 meta. Most important thing is that magical midrange transparency, insight, layering... if it can get up and rock when called for, hey, that's a bonus.
Also, if the MoFi LS3/5a has Shaun thinking of replacing his P3ESR's, and this is a guy that never listens loud, yeah, I'm really anticipating that further review of the MoFi's. MoFi is already reporting low stock. I hope these aren't limited time offers.
Thanks for the link. The least ambitious Harbeth might well be the best loved.
I've always been wary of JA since he ended up on Peter Aczel's infamous list of audio's black hat wearers way back when.
Still it's interesting enough.
"Toward the end of the review period, I was giving the speaker a workout with some high-level rock when the soundstage lurched to the right and the balance became bright and brassy. "What the . . . ?"
Wrong music, wrong speaker?
@vitto,
Great link.
A well-balanced review and comparison of the bargain priced Sound Artist LS3/5 v Harbeth P3ESR. From a Harbeth owner no less!
This could be the stuff of nightmares for Haywards Heath based company.
Yet there is still another serious contender that needs to be considered.
What about the Harbeth P3 ESR v the KEF LS50 Metas?
Makes you wonder whether we're in a new golden age of the mini-monitor?
I’d consider trying the LSA-10 Statements available here for $2500 and offer a 30-day trial period to see if they indeed work for you in your room/system. Sold direct so you’re getting good bang for the buck considering the engineering/development and parts quality that goes into them. Read reviews for more impressions, and best of luck in your search.
what's your room size? if you have a small room, i suggest spending a third of your budget, and get a pair of proac tablette 8 reference signatures. better than the 1sc's; i've heard 'em both in my big room, (as well as tablette 2000's), and the ref 8 signatures are better, from mid-bass on up. in a smaller room, it shouldn't matter.
in my big (26x38x8.5) room, they were crossed at 60hz to vmps larger subs, and it was amazing what room filling sound i got - it remained clean even at way-loud levels. in a smaller room, subs would be optional. (for most folks, that is - even in a small room, i'd have a pair of subs; not necessarily as large as my vmps' - which you could afford, if spending ~$1k on the monitors. in fact, i'd choose subs/monitors over only monitors any day, regardless of budget and room size.)
I recently heard an original LS3/5a (15 ohm) in a direct comparison with a current ProAc Tablette. Both sounded very good. The Tablette had a more open and extended top end, and in that sense, it is more comparable to other "modern" speakers. The old Rogers BBC monitor LS3/5a (it was actually bought from a BBC auction) has a more meaty, full and dense sound. If I had to pick between them, I would go with the older model.
This past weekend, I heard the latest Harbeth P3ESR, but not in comparison with anything else. It sounded quite good too. These tiny speakers are quite amazing.
I really appreciate all the responses here. A lot of food for thought. While still ever-so-slightly leaning toward the Dynaudios, whichever I choose are going to share a room with Spatial M3 Turbos and be primarily for more late, intimate sessions. Not going to rush this. Definitely going to give the Harbeths another listen. Man, I would love to see a shootout between the P3ESR and the Falcon Gold badges. Also, whoever posted about the LSA-10 Statements, you got my attention. Wow, those look nice.
I’d go for a used pair of Graham LS5/9s. Fantastic natural sounding speaker with one of the best midranges (see the reviews) and plenty of dynamics - something you’ll never find in an LS3/5; and that ‘unnatural’ lack of dynamics is not worth the midrange, not long term anyway IMHO. I’ve owned a pair of P3ESRs and found 1) that the volume needs to be turned up quite a bit for the speaker to come alive and 2) that there is something about the limited dynamics that proved very unsatisfactory in the long run. It’s not that I crave lots of bass and dynamics, but ultimately the limitations made for a somewhat one dimensional experience, at the cost of not being a truly universal musical transducer. I now have a pair of new Graham LS6 and they are a better balance midrange and dynamics/bass.
However, I’ve already traded up to the Graham LS5/9f floorstander, which is a much more satisfying speaker, which to my ears has magical midrange to challenge any LS3/5-iteration.
The monitor LS5/9 is basically the same though and can be had for less that 3000 USD used (see HiFishark.com) - fantastic speaker! Good luck 😉
Didn’t mention I’ve also owned the Dynaudio Contour 20, which is one model up to the Special 40. Never really fell in love with that speaker, although it sounded impressive at first. Regarding the Special 40, heard that as well and I noticed an unnatural congestion in the midrange - and later found that mentioned in the Stwreophile review as well - so if natural midrange is what you’re after, be warned 👍 Also, the Dynaudio 30s are not a fast speaker, a bit slow actually, especially and that is annoying, at least to me. Heard the Graham LS5/9 be my Contour 20s and was blown away - midrange magic AND dynamics and bass - I was sold 😁
Thank you everyone. After looking over several LS3/5a type speakers and imagining them with Naim or even Croft (that was actually my biggest hurdle, I wondered what a pair of MoFi LS3/5a's would sound like with that amp)... anyway.... played it safe, bought the speaker I love that doesn't have so many caveats/weaknesses/sins of omission... would still love to spend a day with a Falcon Gold Badge or a Spendor 4/5, but I'm pretty sure I'll be happy. Again, Thanks.
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