Pinoy LS3/5A Gallery

Postby mozilla » Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:35 am

"White Belly" was a term coined by the Asian LS3/5A affictionados. It was not an official term by any means. These appeared in LATE 80's 15ohm units.

Those Kef drivers that did not pass BBC specs were "repaired" by Kef using this white adhesive binding the cone and the dust cap. KEF added an amount of this glue to the dust cap area
during the last years of production of the 8 ohm unit, probably to stabilize it and possibly also to add some mass. Once they passed certification, they were now fit to serve as LS3/5A drivers and appeared with the distinctive white ring around the cone. Some people say they should have been called "white navel" instead of "white belly" :)

As to price, apart from performance that is attributed to it by its die-hard collectors, I think the novelty and the story behind it largely drives the value as well.
Last edited by mozilla on Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby ichabod » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:53 am

Precisely my point. Collectors and some audio spin doctors will drive prices wildly. I bet after the KK shoot-out, harbeths in HK may gave gained more status/value. The same thing goes with most vintage amps at ebay. AA people talk about how good this sleeper amp is and that. Run the thread a mile long, and then people start looking for them. it's not farfetched thing to think anything can be syndicated. The law of supply and demand begins to work, and not good for suckers and buyers because it becomes a seller's market all together for those who may have stashed them away at flea market junk bargain prices.

There are a lot of myths spinned on the LS. Even Alan Shaw has this to say and I quote:

"Editor.

I appreciate the work John Atkinson has expended on the Harbeth LS3/5a and HL P3 loudspeaker reviews.

The myth quoted --that the BBC needed a small monitor for OB use -- is in fact a fairy tale. What actually happened was that the BBC was building 1/10- scale models of proposed studios. The idea is that if the model is 1/10-scale and the frequency of sound played in the model is myultiplied by 10, then a probe microphone can explore the resonances and standing waves very easily (and cheaply!). A small box about 1/10 the size of a normal BBC monitor was developed with KEFB110 and T27. At that stage, the quality of sound was not even considered -- any transducer that offered an equivalent bandwidth would have sufficed.

One lunch time (and the story goes), an engineer wanted to listen to the news, and out of curiosity he hooked up the miniature transducer to a nearby receiver. To his amazement, the sound quality showed remarkable promise and set in motion development of the LS 3/5 (never put into production), and then the LS3/5a."

Well Grant I'd prefer calling it "white navel" instead of "white belly." It's sexier! Hush! The wifey might get jealous over this mistress!
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Postby mozilla » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:18 pm

FLD's LS3/5A Setup

Shown in pic:
LS3/5A: Stirling Broadcast Refernce Edition - Screw-back type
Stands: FD II

Power Amp: Rivo'd ST70
Preamp: Foreplay
Source: Audio Note cdt-2 with Audio Note dac 3.1x
Cables: TG Audio, silver audio, Analysis plus & Audio
Note.

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Postby ichabod » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:43 pm

Coffee is free when you listen to the stirlings. See those cups! When do we listen again?
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Postby mozilla » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:55 pm

Yeah the left over caffein dampens the vibrations of the cups
when used as cable elevators.. :lol:

Here's another pic of FLD's setup with Ichabod, Moz & FLD.

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Postby ichabod » Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:36 pm

Mitch said he passed some photos to you for posting here. Has it come? Maybe I haven't seen it.

That would be something interesting since HK is the crown mecca of the LS. Can't forget seeing the pictures of J. Keung's LS parading up the wall. A kind of fetishism one might say. I would have done the same if I were there. Does he ever sell any?

Maybe some here who are looking can ask these people to find some good pair if they only try. You can always bargain the chinese way for its price if Rene has not any.
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Postby mozilla » Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:48 pm

I havn't received Mitch's pics yet & it's an unspoken rule never to ask John if he is selling his units coz he won't.
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Postby hypertriode » Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:53 pm

mine's a hongkong special edition bird's-eye finish 15-ohmer and if this will qualify: a pair of Jim Rogers JR-149.
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Postby mozilla » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:45 pm

Here's Rene's Rogers HK Limited Ed. Bird's Eye 15 ohmer

Brand: Rogers
Impedance: 15 ohms
Veneer: Lacquered Bird's Eye Maple

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Postby ichabod » Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:53 am

If I'm not mistaken these are the lacquered version.

It's been commented on that the heavier cabinets of the limited editions due to its thick finish makes the LS sound better. Other factors are a "lossier" back (flexing back) in the screwed version like the stirlings which they say was part of the original BBC design philosophy of the speaker. The BBC 01-02 which were not included in the KK shootout I believe had heavier cabinets, screwed-in backs, and were of course within specs.

Remember the rogers that scored well was I recall was a lacquered pair.
So there's some amount of truth to this than just looks.
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Postby zetroce » Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:37 am

Brand: Rogers
Impedance: 11 ohms
Serial Number: 38814 A/B
Finish: Walnut


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Cheers! 8)
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Postby mozilla » Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:06 pm

Good show. The LS3/5A guys are coming out w/ them pix. Thanks for adding yours Dong.

Yes James, Rene's are Laquered. I think the Bird's Eye Maple finish were also made on a Limited run for the Asian market as well. Take a closeup of yours bai para mapost ko how kinis it is
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Postby rsm2a3 » Sat Jan 29, 2005 2:32 pm

mozilla wrote:RSM2A3, What are the other LS's I see at the back?


KEF signature(S#2880 R/L) and Spendor (S#10686/7)

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Postby ichabod » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:13 pm

I will. Just hooked it up now for a listen, and then I take a couple of shots.
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Postby mozilla » Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:43 pm

VD's Immaculate Rogers Rosewood LS3/5A with matching AB-1

Now playing wonderful music with his souped up Quad II's.

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Postby mozilla » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:44 pm

Ichabod's Spendor Limited Edition LS3/5A

Brand: Spendor Limited Edition LS3/5A
Impedance: 11 ohms
Finish: Rosewood
Serial No: 24/25
Date: 1997

Remarks: Only 50 pairs were manufactured. Cardas binding posts & internal wiring for better resolution & detail.


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Postby zetroce » Mon Jan 31, 2005 6:49 pm

mozilla wrote:VD's Immaculate Rogers Rosewood LS3/5A with matching AB-1

Now playing wonderful music with his souped up Quad II's.

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Got a chance to listen to this setup yesterday! If i can only get a chance to own both the amp and the speakers, then that would be Audio Nirvana for me. :)

Cheers! 8)
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Postby mozilla » Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:14 pm

Dong,

Heard you guys were there. Too bad I was at the site the whole day kaya I couldn't join in.
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Postby mozilla » Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:11 pm

Here's Mr. Plumber's Spendor LS3/5A Collection


LS 3/5A SNs left to right. SN007857, SN19643 (w/ Cardas Connectors), SN014246.

Matt, pls tell us how you started on your collection.

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Postby ichabod » Wed Feb 02, 2005 1:26 pm

Wow! What is it in HK that makes one collect lotsa LS 3/5a? Truly a Plumber's Delight! Translated in pinoy, I don't know. Maybe "tuberong masaya" because the LS sound makes one smile when driven with tubes. Didn't know you had so many there Matt. ;-)

Can't go wrong with those five times over bai!
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