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Post by Moz on Nov 12, 2007 8:29:32 GMT 7
Many of us love our LS3/5A and have paired it with different amps. In my case, my present mainstays are the Quad II amp and the Fisher Sa-16 The Quad II give me a very easy, musical and romantic sound which I like when I just want to relax and not be anal about audio. In contrast, the Fisher Sa-16 has more drive, dynamics and a more organic sound to it. Despite the seeming change in character, the LS3/5A reatins it's magic especially in the to-die-for mids. Post your amps and sound impressions here. Thanks!
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dd845
New Member
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Post by dd845 on Nov 12, 2007 9:02:59 GMT 7
To my limited experience, I found all tube amplifers are good for LS 3/5A, and found that Leak tube amplifiers are better in performance, and also found the Leak TL12.1 and TL50 plus are the best amongst Leak Gears.. ;D
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Post by Moz on Nov 12, 2007 20:15:48 GMT 7
I agree. In my experience, the LS3/5A sounds better with tube amps. As I recall, the TL12.1 gave a refined presentation with a clear, sweet tonality especially in the mids. It sounded very good with the Spendor 15ohms.
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Post by guest james on Nov 14, 2007 15:04:50 GMT 7
What a fantastic collection of Leak amplifiers! I bet only in Hongkong! This must be one of the best things about HK as a former British colony. One can have all the leaks, Quads, Radfords, Pye's, Spendor, Harbeth, and all of what "Hifi Choice" magazine among others talk about.
On this side of the pond, we were once held by the U.S., so we got a fair share of U.S. made audios. And there's a lot of truth on the fact that the LS sounds best with tubes.
I drive mine with a Stromberg Carlson 220, an integrated 6V6 amp, and sometimes alternate it with a more powerful amp from Fisher, model X100B. This amp uses 7868 tubes producing 24 watts of power per side. Because the Stromberg is tube rectified with GZ34, it sounds romantically persuasive over the more expressive Fisher amp.
I'm always open to any "new" sound or tone in an amp that I'm right now slowly studying the tonal character of an ampex power amp using 6973 tubes. This tube was famous with Seeburg jukeboxes I'm told. This Ampex console amp (like the Pilot SA 232) is well built with unusually large Triad mains and output transformers. The amp sounds beguilingly open, big, with a treble extension that I think slightly betters most vintage amps.
I'd be happy to hear from anyone who has personally heard this amp and whatever impressions you may have of it. I believe all of us are also here to explore anew some other "old audio gear" in so far as it relates to the improvement of the music we love to listen to. Music comes first always!
Fire way!
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Post by shushu on Nov 14, 2007 22:44:05 GMT 7
I am driving them (3 pairs) with a relatively unexpensive integrated ss amp Rega Elicit (1995, mosfet, double mono). Very fine, very accurate and powerful. Seems I do not need more.
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Post by stasis on Nov 15, 2007 5:53:09 GMT 7
I have Rogers 11 ohms, and drive them with a ARC SP6C + CJ MV50 or Threshold Stasis 2 amp. both sound great, but in different ways... The Threshold is more linear and smooth, but the MV50 is so warm and nice...
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Post by Moz on Nov 15, 2007 6:15:22 GMT 7
Hello Sushu & Stasis. Thank you from dropping by all the way from Europe! and welcome to our forums. I have not heard the LS through Regas but we tried Stirlings with a variety of amps - both tube and ss like blue circles and lavardins. Given the right synergy they sound as you describe - powerful with a good grip on pace & rhythm. I have heard Rogers and Stirling LS3/5As driven by ARCs & CJs and the sound wonderful. I've just updated CIA's photos in the gallery to show his ARC VS155. Please post your photos if you have some.
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odaey
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by odaey on Nov 15, 2007 8:26:14 GMT 7
The ARC electronics and Ls3/5a tandem seems to be not so exploited as compared with other vintage amps. I used to drive my Ls3/5a+AB1 with ARC Ls2 -ph1 and a D-70 amp and never complained about dynamics lacking on the Ls.
A few months ago, a group a seasoned audiophile veterans witnessed the combination of ARC reference preamp and VTM 200 monoblocks with Ls3/5a+AB-1. The speakers i believe were acquired by lito gelano from the estate of the late mang johnny Cruz. They said the sound produced was unbelievable and took the ls to another level.
It may seem like an unholy combination but no problem if you have the cash. My opinion is some of us who don't have the funds to finance these type of electronics don't need to spend much to get the Ls3/5a singing.
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james
New Member
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Post by james on Nov 15, 2007 9:37:49 GMT 7
Wow! It would be an interesting listen to that said combo. Is the set-up Lito's? Maybe Moz can invite Lito to join this forum since I know his got lots of vintage stuff to offer too to help other members looking for vintage stuff and the likes -- even an LS3/5A?
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Post by Moz on Nov 15, 2007 11:10:25 GMT 7
I just posted Odaey's lineup in the gallery. He knows what he's talking about for sure!
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dd845
New Member
Posts: 29
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Post by dd845 on Nov 15, 2007 19:44:14 GMT 7
The Quad II give me a very easy, musical and romantic sound which I like when I just want to relax and not be anal about audio. ______________________________________________________ Agreed! But if you coupling with Quad 22 preamp which MUST in perfect working condition, it will be another world of performance, trust me.. ;D ;D
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dd845
New Member
Posts: 29
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Post by dd845 on Nov 15, 2007 19:53:30 GMT 7
Other than Leak, Quad 22 + Quad II also my favorite ;D
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Post by stasis on Nov 15, 2007 20:01:10 GMT 7
Hi, here is a view of my system:
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Post by mossback on Nov 15, 2007 20:51:18 GMT 7
Lately I’ve been using a rebuilt Bogen DB212 integrated amp (6V6GT). I find this simple inexpensive system easy to listen to. For more serious listening an Eico HF60 (JJ KT77) or Lafayette LA75 (KT88) get the music moving. After hearing the LS from James and Leak via LS gear from our Hong Kong friends it became clear to me the little LS3/5A are something special. ;D
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Post by shushu on Nov 15, 2007 21:35:01 GMT 7
My opinion is some of us who don't have the funds to finance these type of electronics don't need to spend much to get the Ls3/5a singing. My own philosophy (thought) about the ls3/5a is that it reproduces so well the signal generated by the source and amplifier (but with some unbalance in amplitud/frequency response) that of course some efforts have to be done by selecting "good ones". A small lack of musical harmonics in the signal tranmitted from the source or amp are immediately heard with a ls3/5a when compared to richer sources. But I agree it is not necessary to spend enormous amounts of money to get good electronics. I would add that imo, ls3/5a is very useful to the people who really wish to get a very harmonically detailed sound.
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