I've been wanting a pair for a long time and have been looking at review's, one review, said, as they are not ported, where has the bass gone, etc. Has any body ported a pair of these as they are not cheap if any thing went wrong, if a hole was cut out with a hole saw, It could be glued back if it didn't work, but has anybody tried this. Paul
That's not something I'd try with a real pair of LS3/5a's. They weren't designed to have bass anyway.
jeff
jeff
Falcon Acoustics B110 replacement drivers have T/S parameters ideal for a vented cabinet, you would still look at around 10-15 litres internally.
I'd say be a pity not use its potential, power handling being obviously on the conservative side.
I'd say be a pity not use its potential, power handling being obviously on the conservative side.
Ported speakers usually have less natural sounding bass response.
Do not even think of altering any aspect of the LS3/5A speaker.
The BBC know much more about speakers than you and most others do.
If you are not happy with it, get something else.
https://www.grimmaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/RMS-white-paper-3-Bass-reflex.pdf
Do not even think of altering any aspect of the LS3/5A speaker.
The BBC know much more about speakers than you and most others do.
If you are not happy with it, get something else.
https://www.grimmaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/RMS-white-paper-3-Bass-reflex.pdf
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"they are not cheap" - the price of nostagia.... there are much better speakers around nowadays
A friend of mine has Gold Badge Falcons and they are very well made trustfully recreated very clean sounding speakers. Their upper bass bump makes them sound bigger than the cabinet size but their HF is bit too hot for modern sources in my view.
He also has the Stirling V2 BBC licenced 11Ω which is a clone with treated SEAS woofers but keeps standard response and thin wall cabinet. Maybe not a true LS3/5a but it has a more natural balance. Possibly due to its smoother Scanspeak tweeter. Not as transparent as the Falcon 15Ω GB though.
He also has the Stirling V2 BBC licenced 11Ω which is a clone with treated SEAS woofers but keeps standard response and thin wall cabinet. Maybe not a true LS3/5a but it has a more natural balance. Possibly due to its smoother Scanspeak tweeter. Not as transparent as the Falcon 15Ω GB though.
I can't imagine both with a reflex port and keeping their composure. I would suggest Jeff Bagby's Continuum kit for a modern LS3/5a tonal balance based DIY speaker instead.
Thanks for your replies, maybe I should look for something else, and value your comments regarding box size etc, size was something I had not thought of !
I have a pair of LS3/5A, original BBC design. They were never built for bass, their purpose being near field monitoring of speech in small studios and outside broadcasts. As has been said the box is too small for a port and their sound relies on the cabinet being tightly sealed. Many other speakers will give you more bass but no all the clarity of sound. Its a case of defining what you want.
Do not cut holes in genuine manufacturer's Ls3/5a speakers. You will destroy the value of them.
All there is to know about the LS3/5a's history and present. 09:40 they also tried a port during original research. Obviously they skipped that option.
No replacement for displacement. I had a set and measured them; nicely flat as I recall (I was basically verifying operation). I sold them to a fellow down under, who bought them for his father. Nostalgia I couldnt afford to keep. Hoping his Dad has been liking them for the last decade or so.
Stirling makes the AB2 bandpass bass module. Rogers has a new dual woofer active design. The AB3A.
If you are after the BBC monitor sound with good bass look at the Spendor SP1. It is part of the BBC monitor lineage and successor to the Spendor BC1. Can be had for under $600US which is usually way under price of LS3/5a speakers from that era. They are ported. I have a pair and love them. Glenn
Troels did an in depth review of the BC1. He really admired them apart from the bass, which is often felt to be a bit boomy. Box alignment is non optimal. I heard some at a hifi show yonks ago, did not like the bass. I find the Ls3 hump less of an issue. Have not heard the SP1. Perhaps they had addressed the bass issue.
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/vintageBC1.htm
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/vintageBC1.htm
I purchased a REL sub woofer for that exact purpose and never managed to integrate it with my LS3/5A.
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