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LS3/5A vs. LS3/5A

I have owned Spendor LS3/5A's for 20 years, and always heard that all LS3/5A's sounded pretty much the same. Yet I have also heard that the speakers have been improved somewhat over time, so my curiosity got the best of me and I purchased a 3 year old pair of the Rogers. I was quite surprised to find that, IMHO, the "old" Spendor's sound much better than the "new" Rogers. While they obviously have much in common, the difference between the two was not at all subtle. The Spendor's are more transparent, throw a larger soundstage, and do a better job resolving inner details. In short, they are better at what I have always identified as the main strengths of the LS3/5A. Any comments on this from those of you who have experience with this speaker?
readymix
belfran's avatar
belfran
22 posts
 
The best LS3/5A would have to be the KEF Limited Edition 35 Year Anniversary model in piano black lacquer finish.There are only 500 pairs made and the second price is more than the brand new price in Hong Kong.
joseph
1 posts
 
SPENDOR NO LONGER MAKES THE LS3/5A. IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE S-3/5 WHICH RETAILS FOR 900.00. I AUDITIONED THESE SPEAKERS FOR SOME TIME IN MY LISTENING ROOM BEFORE BUYING THE 1/2. THE S-3/5 REMAINS ONE OF THE BEST MINI MONITORS I'VE HEARD; VERY OPEN, DETAILED, DYNAMIC, WITH TREMENDOUS IMAGING, AND OF COURSE HIGHLY INVOLVING AS ARE ALL SPENDORS. IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE UPON YOUR CURRENT LS3/5A THIS WOULD BE IT.
merid2002d4d8
1 posts
 
Hi Fi News had a shootout and the 11ohm Harbeth LS3/5a beat all the other LS3/5a versions rather handily. They all sound good but the Harbeth's are very well-constructed little boxes!
asa
662 posts
 
The older LS3/5A's are better sounding say trusted, non-politically aligned, commercially-detached ears that know. This is something many people have talked about and agreed to over the years - most from Britain - and you have, to your credit, now discovered. I own Spendor 15 year old 11 ohm models are they are quite good,even delicious, although I think my friend's Rogers 15 ohm-er's may be better (no face-to-face A/B-ing, but my memory seems pretty good on this, but, then again, I could have been wrong...).

To keep us all buying newer gear, the mags do not discuss the used market, used equipment or the comparative sound quality of some classics versus current models, and, particularly, regarding musical involvement. That is the second lesson you can take away from this: when people say listen to what other people say but, always, in the end, listen for yourself, they are not joking. Keep your speakers and be happy that they are one of the best ever made (like the Harbeth's, Spendor back then made very inert cabinets).

If you are interested in improving your system around the Spendors, let me know; like all of the best equipment, they respond best to good gear around them. I have them in a second system of: Sony CD, Rix Rax stand, Supratek pre, AirTight ATM300 8W SE Triode amp, NBS Pro IC's, AudioNote Kondo KSL spkr wire, ElectraGllide PC. I bought the speakers used at $550 and there is over $15K of gear around them and they handle the job admirably. That should tell you something. Good luck.
joe_b
421 posts
 
Has anyone heard the new LS3/5As currently being manufactured by Stirling Broadcast in the UK?
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