LS3/5A & Pass Labs

The used shop in question has several (4-6) pairs of LS3/5A and the prices vary as stated above. Is there something that I should look for when buying these speakers. I am in Hong Kong, and the shop in question is not the type to give a refund after you part with your money. I think they will hook it up to a system to show that sound comes out and that's it. Some of the speakers have newer looking mid-drivers, and some of them...well...just look a little older with the grills off. Just wondering if you have an opinion on this cuz you guys seem to be LS3/5a vets.

Could you please tell me what my amp will do if asked for 15 ohms as opposed to 8 ohms? Be louder or quieter.

Previous speakers I have owned with this combo were the proac 2.5 and the JM mini utopias. I liked the smoother vocals and deeper soundstaging of the proacs and the way the cymbals sounded with the JMs. How will the Spendors compare in soundstaging, smoothness in vocals, and cymbal sparkle? I am assuming that the Spendors will reach the same volume of the as the proacs. Please tell me if this is not right.

Thanks

I finally got the 50lb Foundation Designer II 24" speaker stands yesterday. I was listening until 2am last night. I have tried three main speker positions.

1. 4'from back wall/toed in/1'from side walls
2. 1'from back wall/toed in/1'from side walls
3. 4'from back wall/no toe in/3' from side walls

Option three sounds the best by farrrrr. The stands that I got come with pretty serious spikes and because I have hardwood floors, I have not put them in yet. I think I am going to drill some dents into some coins so that I can put them under the spikes.

The performance so far: The vocals are the syrup on my pancakes. I know that there is no perfect speaker, but man does this combo fill you up if you are hungry for great vocals.

I really want to get a Rel Strata III to pick up where the bass leaves off on this system. I know that there are entire bass lines that I am missing.

Things are good though, and they are getting better and better.

Allen

Thanks everyone.

I have looked at the www.ls35a.com site...good stuff.

On one hand, the site makes me think that the LS3/5A is perfect for me because I want really great soundstaging and liquid vocals.

On the other hand, it did say that the 15ohm version would work with a 25watt amp but the 11ohm version might not be the perfect match. I have a 30 watt amp. Might this be cutting it a little close?

Last concern. I must admit, I am a bit of a bass hound. The people that I have talked to on and off in HK say that getting a sub to integrate well with main speakers is almost impossible. Their view is that a sub is only to be used with home theater. My goal with a sub is to get good spacial cues with *delicate* music, and...well...to rock out when rock is present. I don't want the bass to take over, just to compliment and support.

My room is quite small, so I think that I may just be happy with the LS3/5as and the bass they produce in a small room.

I really want to get in touch with the people from Hong Kong/the Yahoo Group mailing list (membership of 1157). How exactly do I do that?

Thanks a lot.

Quadophile and all,

I guess that means that I can expect to get about 93db from this set up.

I signed up for yahoo, so I'll see you over there soon.

I guess the reason that I am interested in the LS3/5a at all is because I was out looking at tube gear and I hear this amazing sound in a room that must have been at least 15x20. Obviously, it was a showroom and there were speakers everywhere. The soundstage was set very far back making it seem like the room was a whole lot bigger...what we definitely need more of here in HK. The volume wasn't very loud...just comfortable and the bass was just fine. When I looked to see which speakers were playing...I was entirely fooled. It said Harbeth on the back, and it only had a little banana terminal for the speaker wire.

You better believe that I wrote down the model number on those speakers .... I don't know the model of the amps that they were using, but they were long slender silver Audio Note mono amps. Wow what an impression...and of course they were not for sale.

After finding out that Harbeth is not the only maker of the LS3/5a, and finding a source for the speakers, I hope my Pass Aleph 3 amp can come close to doing what the Audio Notes did.

I do think I am going to research a little more before I part with my money. Plus I have to start thinking about buying stands.

One question, if I do use a sub in the future, where should I have it crossed over?

Thanks

I have since moved over to the recomended LS3/5a site...I'll let you all know what happens if I end up getting the speakers.

Over and out.

Jrd351,

What about getting a new pair from STIRLING BROADCAST?

What about chartwell?

Well,

Last night I finally got a pair of Harbeths in black. They are in great condition...much better than the stuff in the shops. The nice guy that I bought them from gave me a quick demo, and I was ready to go.

Now all I have to do is find some good stands.... It's kinda funny, but they sound fantastic just sitting on my hardwood floor.

Foundation Designer and Music Tools seem to be the only two choices in Hong Kong, and Foundation seems to be heavily favored.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'll get back to you all when I have it properly set up.

Well, I got a REL strata III sub about a week ago. I set it up exactly as the manual states, but I am still playing with the volume and crossover positions. At first I set it up where I couldn't really hear the difference with or without the sub. Then I set it up so loud that it could really rock. Now I am just toning it down a notch every other day. I usually have it crossed over just under 56hz, but I still feel as if there is unnatural aumentation sometimes, so I cross it over lower 56-38hz. I am guessing that the REL has a very slow roll off because there is so much to be heard even when you cross it off at 22 hz.

I also find the bass to be a little mushy in comparison to what proac 2.5 gave me and what ety headphones give me. I know that thoes are not exactly what some might consider reference equipment for bass, but that doesn't stop me from thinking that I occasionally have mushy bass.

I think if I get a real CD player one of these days, that might just clear itself up because the sub is probably just reacting to the signal that I am giving it.

Allen