|
Post by Moz on Nov 17, 2007 14:11:21 GMT 7
The AB1 was designed by Andy Whittle when he was Technical Director at Rogers to extend bass reproduction of the LS3/5A while allowing the speaker to retain it's strengths in the frequency range it worked well with. The Rogers site describes the AB-1 as: This is a subwoofer system designed for use with the BBC LS 3/5a in either the 15 ohm or 12 ohm standard or bi-wire versions. The system increases low frequency performance, sensitivity and reduces overall impedance by presenting an easier load for the amplifier. Immediately after its launch, the AB-1 was awarded the prestigious '95 Las Vegas WCES Audio Exhibition Innovations Award. It is a cause for celebration!Does the AB-1 indeed improve the sound of the LS3/5A or does it take away some of the magic? What is your take?
|
|
|
Post by splendor on Nov 17, 2007 15:23:07 GMT 7
When to use it and not to?
In a largesh living room like Oscar's (ohs) there's that apparent need to do so. In a small room like mine, to use it would be inviting "tsunami" to the perfect balance the LS is already in.
Quite frankly, I can live without AB-1s. I like to retain the purity of a coherent sound that is already in the LS3/5A. Away from all walls, the speaker is balanced enough from head to foot.
I'm reminded from what Gordon Holt said in his series of reviews on the LS. And I'm merely paraphrasing here since I don't have the copies before me at the moment. He said something like the LS3/5a can go down up to 50hz. because it measures flat up to there. Rolling off comes after it hits 50. If you place the LS3/5A close to walls you'll know what he means!
Though in a properly set-up room like ohs' there's that need to augment the sound. But then again that would be LS + subs, and I don't want to miss out the midband clarity for a little more bass that can somehow be detected by the ears. Of course, there's always an exception and I'm thinking about what you saw at Jo Ki's set-up when you went there. I believe there were 2 rels plus AB 1s. That they were laboriously experimented on with lotsa passion for the perfection he always tries to achieve is without question.
|
|
joki
New Member
Posts: 15
|
Post by joki on Dec 28, 2007 21:12:44 GMT 7
Splendor, AB-1 is not the faint hearted LS3/5A enthusiasts, this is my advise to those who wish to embark on this. I have heard more disappointing LS3/5A system with AB-1 than those with just lone pair of LS3/5A. It is not as cimple as plonking in a pair of AB-1 and followed what I recommended at 150mm behind the LS. At least 2 fundamentals would be wrong if such is the case.
1. With any lone pair of LS, the owner would have assembled a system which has unknowing boost the bass extension as such would always be more desirable than lesser bass ones, if adding AB-1 into such a system, it would surely make it too bassy to start with.
2. With a good placement of LS already working a given room, adding AB-1 at 150mm behind it would be asking for trouble. If LS best position, which is dislodged from front wall reinforcement, AB-1 would be best at least further away from front wall due to lower band width than the LS. Common attempts have been to just place AB-1 behind it which of course failed immediately as AB-1 is coupled with front wall reinforcement.
If anyone is interested to tackle AB-1, one must be prepared to stripe down his/her entire system and start afresh, how many are you prepared to do that? AB-1 or not AB-1 depends on one's listening requirement. I need AB-1, and this is not all, I need subwoofer also as I listened to Proprius church organ, I also listened to big orchestra, I love double bass, I love drums. I love more vocal and I love also the violins, the chamber music, jazz, rock, country rock, folks, traditional except house and techno.
|
|
odaey
Junior Member
Posts: 62
|
Post by odaey on Dec 29, 2007 16:51:31 GMT 7
I consider myself quite lucky in that i feel i have a speaker friendly room. I get to position the Ab-1 either as intended with the Ls on top or with ab-1 behind ( JOKI method). They stand 5 1/2 feet from the front wall and 4 ft from sidewalls. My room has no specific sound treaments but i do have a lot of equipments and furnishings in the room. Though it is quite embarrassing but they seem to sound better with all those gears around them acting as diffusers. It could also be that i'm quite an easy chap to satisfy.
As to the sound of the ab-1's, they give added depth aside from ease of presentation at higher listening levels. Choice whether it's standard mounting or JOKI method depends on my mood and tonal balance of recorded music. Either way to me, the ab-1's sound better given a little more height. I use a decendant of the BBC ls3/6 and some floorstander speakers to compare bass integration of the Ls3/5a+ab-1
previously i've tried coupling them using the original spikes pointing up as recommended by Andy Whittle but it broke my heart to pierce the undersides of the Ls plus it was a recipe for tradegy. I've long sold that Ls pair after suffering several falls.
I actually have spare 1003's which i thought of using to subsitute the 1228's of the ab-1. Since i have 3 pairs of ab-1, the idea of converting a pair of ab-1 optimzed for 15 ohmers entered my mind. This was discussed briefly at the Ls yahoogrps. It would need some mods to the x-over and ports. Since i'm a lazy, confused soul in midlife crisis, i haven't found the initiative to finish this project. It's a lot more fun to listen to the music.
|
|
joki
New Member
Posts: 15
|
Post by joki on Jan 10, 2008 21:30:52 GMT 7
Hi Odaey, AB1 or not is very much depends on the music repertoire of oneself. I know for a fact that once AB-1 is well integrated, there is no way one could ever listen without. That is my take and I have seen a few here in Malaysia managed to achieve that level of integration and they are all could not uncommissioned it thereafter. Having said that, that does not meanss everyone must add AB-1 to their system, that would be wrong.
You are indeed lucky as claim by you too.
In the nutshell, once you consider adding AB-1, you must make it works with LS3/5A (not against it); and one MUST make it works in syn before one rest. There is no middle ground and no two ways about it. Its either it works and therefore AB-1 stay or else, discard it and dimantle AB-1.
Jo
|
|
|
Post by molihe on May 6, 2008 10:18:05 GMT 7
|
|
|
Post by nana on Jun 6, 2008 9:12:08 GMT 7
|
|
|
Post by nana on Jun 6, 2008 9:17:07 GMT 7
|
|
|
Post by rain1000 on Sept 1, 2008 12:29:51 GMT 7
|
|