Mark Kinsman wrote:
Coincidentally, I revived my HiFi interest when Covid hit and have been enjoying it ever since. As part of that two-channel system, I purchased a pair of the Falcon Acoustics LS3/5a Silver Badge Edition (BBC Licensed). Falcon was started by Malcom Jones, who, while working at KEF, designed the drivers that were used in the original BBC LS3/5a. The Falcon drivers are exactly as Malcom designed back at KEF. Very highly recommended. When I got back into this hobby, I purchased the Sound Artist Chinese homage version of the LS3/5a—surprisingly good for much less money. While not exactly an LS3/5a, they are more alike than not, with a great midrange. They are part of a bedroom system. While I now have three sets of speakers I rotate listening to, the Falcon Acoustic LS3/5a’s are magical and my forever speakers. The others may go, but these are here to stay.
Someone made a cryptic comment about Steve Huff, which made me go check if Steve had ever written about the LS3/5a speakers. (I seldom read other photo bloggers. Whenever someone tells me that another blogger has written a response to something I said, for instance, I don't go read it. Other people's opinions of me are none of my business.) Anyway, he wrote about them on July 11th, 2020 (down near the end of the article). This is a brief selection from what he had to say (I usually change the formatting and punctuation of quotations to accord to TOP's style sheet, but Steve's are distinctive and I have left them alone):
These tiny speakers are gorgeous in build, and have a unique sound that takes you back a ways but at the same time they do things I have not heard many modern day speakers do. They also lack in bass, so they are really only good for a small room and near field listening. In this kind of environment these are magic as once you start listening you do not even realize you are missing out on anything, as the speaker is just so natural and sweet and expansive in sound with a sweet fullness that makes you think what you are hearing is complete. [...] Everything is just…beautiful…with the right music. They really bring some recordings to life in a way I have never heard before. These made me realize what a true holographic soundstage should sound like. [...] …Vocals on these are magic. One of the best midrange performances I have heard, regardless of cost. [...] I warn you, they are addicting.
Hot tip
I'm afraid I triggered my own obsessiveness again with that post the other day (note to self: never write about hi-fi ever again). If you want to try the little Falcon LS3/5a speakers, a little tip: unused factory seconds (the box might be the only thing that's hurt) of the Falcon version of the LS3/3a are currently on closeout with MoFi badging for only $1,650. That's well below the price of most of the other UK-made variants. For easier-on-your-wallet experimentation, try the Chinese knockoffs Mark mentioned*.
These speakers have been out of my price range my whole life, one way or another, even though I've owned or had a pair about five times for brief periods of up to a couple of months (one time I bought a pair on credit and had them repossessed, the only time in my life such a thing ever happened). Same story now. Some things never change. Please buy those bargain Falcon/MoFi LS3/5a speakers all up, please, so they won't torture me any more!**
Mike
*But remember: small room, careful setup, small acoustic ensembles or vocalists. There's a useful PDF about room setup at the Nordost site, but you have to give them your contact details to unlock it. Oh, and you need an amp with some grunt.
**I wasted my life. I'm not kidding. I should have done something that simply earned money effectively, and then pursued my interests as hobbies on the side. Too soon alt, too late schmardt.
Original contents copyright 2023 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)
Featured Comments from:
Jeff: "Some of the best advice I got early on in my business career, which was unrelated to photography, came from a photo dealer from whom I was buying prints for my eventual collection. A camera store owner, near retirement, had approached me about buying his business. And I envied the photo dealer’s life, at least as I naively imagined it at the time. Anyway, she emphatically told me to stick with my business career, make a lot of money, and indulge my other interests (including, at the time, hi-fi) as hobbies. Glad I listened."
“ I should have done something that simply earned money effectively, and then pursued my interests as hobbies on the side.”
I should have met you many decades ago to give you your advice earlier.
I wanted to make a living as a photographer, the pay was too unreliable. I sold beer instead. I pursued photography on the side.
Posted by: Jack Mac | Thursday, 10 August 2023 at 12:58 PM
For anyone looking for decent/clean amps:
1-Little power-Fosi Audio V3 (with 48V PS: 141W at 4R, 89W at 8R)- $110
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fosi-audio-v3-amplifier-review.45757/
2-More power-Buckeye 3 Channel Purifi Amplifier (265W at 4R, 172W at 8R)- $1600
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/buckeye-3-channel-purifi-amplifier-review-2nd.43834/
Posted by: Dori | Thursday, 10 August 2023 at 04:38 PM
Not long ago I invested in major upgrades to my system, from sources through DAC, amplification, cables and speakers. Without going into to all the detail, and since this post is about speakers, I chose the Triangle 40th Anniversary Comète. These speakers are so good, especially for the price and are more “full range” than the LS3/5As. While some might prefer the LS3/5As (which of course is perfectly fine) since the two speakers are simply different, the Triangles are worth considering for someone building a modest (by audiophile standards) system in a small to medium size room.
Posted by: Earl Dunbar | Thursday, 10 August 2023 at 07:21 PM
There is something about photo GAS and high-end hi-fi that seems inextricably linked, at least for those of us of a certain age. Of course there are significant differences - one being a creative endeavor and the other being a means to experience others creative endeavors, but the willingness to devote endless amounts of time and, sometimes ungodly amounts of money, to wring out the last degree of perfection defies, for many, rationale thought.
Of course, your post stirred up my long ago stereo system that was as far as I was willing to take it: Magnepan 20 speakers, Spectral preamp, VPI turntable, and Classe 400 watt amp (the Maggies were terribly inefficient and needed gobs of power) along with sound traps, etc. When people came to my home and asked about the crazy speakers, I'd sit them down in the sweet spot in a darkened room, and put on a well recorded album with a small group whether jazz, classical or vocal (I.e. Seal's Kiss From a Rose or If I Could). They'd be shocked by the sense that the performers were right there.
Alas, when I moved 5 years ago I brought that with me - now maybe 30 years old and due to your article I have a desire to put it all back together. But I long ago realized that I was chasing the elusive goal of audio perfection and became truly happy with what I had, admittedly already over the top.
Posted by: J D Ramsey | Friday, 11 August 2023 at 01:07 AM
Many years ago, I read a number of reviews of the recently introduced Impulse H2 horn loaded speakers. So I got onto them to find out where I could hear them for myself.
They directed me to a chap (Jimmy Hughes), who was at the time a reviewer for a popular hi-fi magazine. It turned out that he lived within spitting distance of the Barbican arts venue. There are a number of arenas there, all of which are first class and very well designed, so there is plenty of choice.
It was a nice evening, and the speakers sounded good and not too hideous to look at (wife approval), and I thought that I might save my pennies and buy a pair. In short, a good evening, well spent.
Anyway, just as I was leaving, I told him that he was so lucky to live within five minute's walking distance of such a great complex, and I said that he must spend a lot of evenings listening to the real thing. His reply was...
"...Actually, I rarely go there, the acoustics are not to my liking"
After which regardless of my opinion of what I had heard from those Impulse speakers, with my own lugholes. There was no way that I was ever going to buy them, and I didn't.
Funnily enough, and before I read this column today, I had been thinking of scanning the various outlets to see whether any can be picked up for not much cash, as since retiring, I don't have many spondoolicks, and a change is as good as a rest, if they were cheap enough, I could put them in another room.
Finally, he was also the guy that thought that CD's were no good until a portion of the edge had been attacked with with a permanent marker pen... it took me ages to get those marks off. He was also the guy, who told me that speaker cable was of no consequence and neither were spikes. He used cheap bell wire and the speakers had casters.
Although I don't go mad with speaker cables regarding biwiring and all that stuff... I do find that it is necessary to use chunky stuff from QED or Linn/Naim, not to wire them out of phase, and to follow the manufacturers recommendation regarding positioning.
Needless to say, I no longer read those magazines, nor do I take web reviews that seriously. In truth one can get used to the sound from any set up, and be happy, until someone starts to badger you with their "you must get this/these" shenanigans, and doubt starts to creep in.
I live in Beckenham on the outskirts of London, and the parish church has taken to hosting some pretty good live acts.
Like Mr. Hughes, I can walk to them, so recently, I have seen Manfred Mann, Tom Paxton and The Tallis Scholars. Varied stuff, and all good enough to excuse the seriously painful (on the cheeks) pews.
Posted by: Stephen Jenner | Friday, 11 August 2023 at 04:12 AM
I've always favoured the improbably huge "Dominator" speaker cases in "Ruthless People." Go big or go home!
Posted by: David Smith | Sunday, 13 August 2023 at 09:48 AM
Several British companies make close variations of the BBC sealed-box monitors. I got the Spendor A1's for their modern components, careful crossover, and adherence to the basic BBC concept.
They perform fine in a typical modest living room at any reasonable volume. Huff's warning is rather overdone.
Posted by: Charlie | Sunday, 13 August 2023 at 01:15 PM