It's always interesting to read a 'review' or post from someone who just joined the same month as thier post or review--someone who has sold nothing on the site, and or has no history with Audiogon the site. Generally the reviews or post are raves of new 'philes' who've found something they love--generally not a complete trashing of a product which everyone, universally raves about. Also, there is the total lack of information on what equipment was used in making the evaluation. It would be really interesting to know more about our poster here--other products which they like, speakers, amps, sources, music. This, for want of another explanation looks to be a hatchet job--maybe agenda laden? Even TVAD's question about the most basic question one could ask regarding bi-wiring, wasn't answered.
I would personally like more information on the poster. Surely Audiogon would like to make sure that this is a sincere look at a serious product, by an unbiased reviewer.
This is not ego speaking--Had Jonathan Valin, Harry Pearson, et al not liked the speakers, I could simply agree to disagree--we'd know the source and they'd have credibility and or a reputation of objectivity.
Larry Staples |
It takes approximately 2 to 3 months for the caps to form and the parts to break in to the point that the speakers sound the way they can. One of the confounding issues in chosing the parts for not jut these but the LSA Amplifiers was, that after hearing them for the first time, my first comment was...."What the hell have we done? If this is it, its a gigantic mistake." The only thing I can imagine with these comments is, they are in the 'break in stage'. Let them play all day long for 30 days, while at work, at moderate volumes. This is NOT the speaker that is sold by LSA. I'm not saying this is not what you're hearing--I'm only saying that the finished product when broken in is pretty magical, even when compared in blindfold listening tests to the Sound Lab A-1's. As to why mfg's don't break them in...I suppose they're in too much of a hurry to get they're money back. Of course, being an audiophile for 30 years, I could also ask, why didn't I ever wait to evaluate???I have more time to do it than the factory. Best, Larry |
Carl, Thank you for the additional information. My only guess is that, seconding Artmaltman, the speakers are in the 'break in' stage. One reason I mention this, is that during my development of them, I compared the standard version of the LSA1 to the B&W 805, which you mention that you're familiar with. The comparison was very favorable to the LSA1 which retailed for about 40% of the price of the B&W. I suppose everyone asks the question, 'Can I do it better', so after these mutiple comparisons (not only the B&W but obviously several other competitors. Then came the LSA Signature, and the Statement which offer much higher level crossovers which, for whatever reasons require serious break in time. Only playing them, putting a signal through them will level them out. Now, are they perfect, no. If the average person who thinks he or she understands a frequency response saw the raw data, without the industry 1/3 ocatave averaging, they'd be appalled. But the number of flaws and the severity and significance of each makes me realize that 'break in' is the only issue--other than potential catastrophic internal damage to components which may have occurred during shipping. Can you tell me where you purchased these LSA1 Statements? If you'll post the information on line, I'll see to it that they send you a replacement pair which are sufficiently broken in--since the flaws in evidence here are not part of the original expectation of this product. Best,
Larry Staples |
"Can you tell me where you purchased these LSA1 Statements? If you'll post the information on line, I'll see to it that they send you a replacement pair which are sufficiently broken in--since the flaws in evidence here are not part of the original expectation of this product."
I am offering again today, to check the speakers and or replace them. Just, tell me your dealer's name and we'll move forward with this, so that you have the product you deserve--and the product I know that it really is.
Best,
Larry Staples |
"He's fine with it. He doesn't like my favorite cabernet, and I don't hold that against him either! :)"
The only difference here being, that you didn't invest $12,900. in the cabernet, then have him coming into your house as a guest, and write an article about how lousey the cabernet was.
Not quite the same circumstance...
I'd like to hear his evaluation of HIS LSA1's
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To address one final point of this 'review, submitted by someone who joined this site the day the review was written, always a red flag. The speakers LSA1 are indeed made in China, that should not be a shock--after all many products because of inexpensive labor prices are. However, the statement that this 'same speaker is sold under other names is an absolute 'fabrication'. This speaker shape crossover points were selected by me solely. After several 'attempts' I ended with this design. Now, someone can always plagiarize the design, (the Hales and THIEL shape), which came first, THIEL, as everyone knows. But to be fair, good ideas are always copied, as that is the most sincere form of flattery. As to the crossovers--when the units arrive in the US., John Tucker and his staff gut the speakers crossover and wiring, replace the crossovers components (caps, resistors, air coil inductor as well as internal wiring), they then replace them with comparativley ridiculously priced substitutes. The cabinets internal damping, an inexpensive synthetic is replaced with real wool. Finally, the new ribbon tweeter is installed. I welcome anyone to listen to this speaker and compare it to others costing anywhere 'near' the price--heck, double the price in many instances. It stands alone in value for dollar. In the final analysis, what matters is, 'Does it sound something like real music?' You decide. Thanks for reading.
Larry Staples LSA Group Founder |
That's a really great question Roxy54. While everything in audio is fair game in terms of design and copying of designs unless one spends a fortune to patent their work we tried to make it more difficult to do so. If we were to give Carte Blanche by sending the parts list and such to the manufacturers, there could/would possibly be a 'knock off' almost instantly. True enough anyone can disassemble then reverse engineer--we just didn't want our precise voicing and parts choices out there for the whole world to copy. Eventually, everything worthwhile 'is' copied. This just seems like a better way to protect the product until market share makes us the generic for our particular sound. The same is true of the Statement amps. John Tucker's 'active tube loads' and work in the pre section of the integrated, would be 'instantly' copied with others again reverse engineering. That's the nature of competition.
This is a great question. I hope this clarifies my position on the 'why'.
Best,
Larry R. Staples LSA Founder |
Paulsax,
Thanks for your well thought out comments on my response to the 'review' submitted on the LSA1 Statements. When I answer a normal review, I'm always careful to remember that everyone hears differently, and more important, many people like different aspects of a speakers offering which is why there are literally hundreds of variations of virtually all products in the marketplace today. The only reason that I took such exception to the review was, that it seemed to have a deeply negative tone to virtually all aspects of the product--and while its possible that someone might dislike a given product overall, its unlikely that most people would literally dislike ALL aspects of a product. For example--while I like Krell products don't like the upper midrange and higher frequencies, which, to me, sound a bit hashy. Having said that, I could make that point without completely trashing the Krell. How? Because that is one part of the overall sound, and while it's not my favorite, that one aspect of its sound is not the 'whole of the products' presentation. Krells are remarkably well built, beautifully designed, very stable, powerful, with good bass and great controlof virtually any load presented to them. Put another way, MOST products offer good sound these days, but very few offer precisely what I personally may be looking for in MOST or VIRTUALLY all aspects of their offering. So, for someone to review a product, who just joined that day, and to completely dismiss the product in every way, just did not seem likely to me. If the reviewer had said, "I don't like the bass, because the 'XYZ speaker' for the same price has better bass, or the 'ABC speaker' for the same approximate price has better treble resolution.
It's just hard to imagine a speaker being completely disliked in every aspect of its performance--unless, and this was my main point, if they're that bad, something must have happened to damage them in shipping--they must have been damaged to sound that bad in virtually every regard. Refuting or disagreeing with 'opinions' is tricky under the best of circumstances, as a reviewer is offering'opinions', we all have vastly different perspectives as well as differing tastes. If any of the complaints were universally made, I'd simply say, 'Gee I designed a really bad speaker.' However, since most people have (not all) fallen in love with the Statements I could only assume that they were damaged. I hope this clarifies my rebuttal to the review. If you'd like to chat, or have any questions write me, I'd love to have the opportunity to discuss this if you wish. My personal email is, lrsky@insightbb.com.
Best to all,
Larry R. Staples LSA Group Founder/Designer |
My last communication regarding this review was 4-23-10. At the time of the review some folks thought I overreacted to the reviewer. The points I made were that, he joined the same day, (maybe week) that the review was posted and that he disliked everything about the LSA 1 Statement, an unlikely event in that, while we all have preferences/likes/dislikes, it would be rare to dislike literally everything about a given speaker/amp and so on.
It's important to note that Peristalsis, the reviewer posted a total of 6 comments after reviewing, was on the site for a total of 16 days. It's now, sadly apparent to any thinking person that what I suspected to be the case, turns out to be so...this was a put up job, intended to trash the LSA1 Statement, which has gotten universally rave comments other than this one abberant review.
I say this, knowing that some will again claim that 'he has a right to his opinion', etc. However when we look at this in a more global sense, this wasn't an opinion, but an attempt to smear--evidenced by his having joined for two weeks, writing a lengthy review, then disappearing so IMHO, one would have to be foolish to conclude otherwise.
I ask myself, who, what, when, where, why and how, the questions for all good mysteries--and suggest that Audiogon should be wary of brand new members offering up reviews which are incredibly negative in their tenor.
Good listening to all,
Larry |