Graham Audio: the return of BBC
first part, by Domenico Pizzamiglio
BBC LS5/9
BBC is the acronym of the British Broadcasting Company and it is a synonym of quality both for design and performance.
The Licensed BBC projects are well known, starting from the mythic LS 3/5a that have been produced in the course of the years by many brands such as Goodmans, Spendor, Rogers, KEF and more up to the LS 5/9 that is a monitor for medium size rooms and the LS 5/8 fit for big rooms. I have reviewed the first and Angelo Jasparro the latter.
The story of these products can be found online with all the technical details, therefore I will not repeat it here. These products were a rarity on the market, the models that we have reviewed are available again thanks to Graham Audio Ltd, based in England, that has found new drivers that can substitute the old ones that are not in production anymore. They respect the BBC standards and in fact the acronym BBC is on the packaging and on the loudspeaker.
The Licensed BBC projects are well known, starting from the mythic LS 3/5a that have been produced in the course of the years by many brands such as Goodmans, Spendor, Rogers, KEF and more up to the LS 5/9 that is a monitor for medium size rooms and the LS 5/8 fit for big rooms. I have reviewed the first and Angelo Jasparro the latter.
The story of these products can be found online with all the technical details, therefore I will not repeat it here. These products were a rarity on the market, the models that we have reviewed are available again thanks to Graham Audio Ltd, based in England, that has found new drivers that can substitute the old ones that are not in production anymore. They respect the BBC standards and in fact the acronym BBC is on the packaging and on the loudspeaker.
The drivers used in the LS 5/9 are a Son Audax HD 13D34H tweeter and a 20 cm Diaphnatone Polypropylene Woofer.
The price, despite the Euro and all the years passed, is not so high, 5.000,00 Euros the pair of LS 5/9 loudspeakers and 10.000,00 euros for the LS 5/8.
It’s a fair price for the first one while for the latter, according also to our listening experience the price seems even cheap.
The description of the LS 5/9 is simple as the loudspeakers have a simple look. The wooden box is hand polished - a wonderful smell of wax comes from the cabinets as soon as you take them out of their beautiful box - and are two ways speakers. Its measures: 28 cm x 27,5 cm x 46 cm. They weigh 14 kilos each. The frequency response goes from 50 to 16.000 Hz in +/-3 dB, their sensitivity is 87 dB and the maximum achievable pressure level is more than 100 dB, listening at a distance of 2 mt.
I have used 60 cm stands for these loudspeakers but, depending on the room you might use smaller stands for them. I have connected them to the following system:
Bauer Audio DPS 2 turntable, Moerch DP6 tonearm, Lyra Kleos and Denon SL cartridges, American Hybrid Technology -P phono preamplifier, Lavardin C62 preamplifier, Bryston 2B-LB power amplifier, Davis Acoustics Monitor 1 loudspeakers.
The price, despite the Euro and all the years passed, is not so high, 5.000,00 Euros the pair of LS 5/9 loudspeakers and 10.000,00 euros for the LS 5/8.
It’s a fair price for the first one while for the latter, according also to our listening experience the price seems even cheap.
The description of the LS 5/9 is simple as the loudspeakers have a simple look. The wooden box is hand polished - a wonderful smell of wax comes from the cabinets as soon as you take them out of their beautiful box - and are two ways speakers. Its measures: 28 cm x 27,5 cm x 46 cm. They weigh 14 kilos each. The frequency response goes from 50 to 16.000 Hz in +/-3 dB, their sensitivity is 87 dB and the maximum achievable pressure level is more than 100 dB, listening at a distance of 2 mt.
I have used 60 cm stands for these loudspeakers but, depending on the room you might use smaller stands for them. I have connected them to the following system:
Bauer Audio DPS 2 turntable, Moerch DP6 tonearm, Lyra Kleos and Denon SL cartridges, American Hybrid Technology -P phono preamplifier, Lavardin C62 preamplifier, Bryston 2B-LB power amplifier, Davis Acoustics Monitor 1 loudspeakers.
For the burn in I have used the 70 cm GM Audio stands, as you can see in the picture on Audio-activity Facebook page. For the 5/9 it’s too much but the stand, due to its weight, controlled very well the low frequencies and let the mid-high range free to float.
The sound of the voices and of the orchestra has been perfect from the first listening. The timpanis were a bit rearward but remember that the woofer had been working for only 5 minutes; in fact the situation changed after a few days and with shorter and lighter stands. The following listenings were different, a warmer mid-low range that enhanced the voices and the instruments, while the timbre remained very correct.
In the past I owned the Rogers LS 5/9 driven by a Burmester 897 and 878 pre and power amplifier and I remember a less vivid and sharp high range but maybe the difference lies in the amplification. The one we are using now sounds more open if compared to the Burmester of the 80’s. Here we have no trace of a colored sound, not even in the mid-low range. The deep low range is not present, of course, but listening to the organ pipe remains a pleasure even if the lowest pedal keys are missing, compared with the Monitor 1 speakers.
All those that are attracted by this speakers knows that the bass drum will not sound at its best, but if you’ll listen to a well recorded piano you will not miss too much the missing first octave, because it’s well balanced by all the rest. The timbre is correct, the 5/9 plays dynamics correctly and also the soundstage that these 5/9 create is fine, depending on what is present in the recording.
The sound of the voices and of the orchestra has been perfect from the first listening. The timpanis were a bit rearward but remember that the woofer had been working for only 5 minutes; in fact the situation changed after a few days and with shorter and lighter stands. The following listenings were different, a warmer mid-low range that enhanced the voices and the instruments, while the timbre remained very correct.
In the past I owned the Rogers LS 5/9 driven by a Burmester 897 and 878 pre and power amplifier and I remember a less vivid and sharp high range but maybe the difference lies in the amplification. The one we are using now sounds more open if compared to the Burmester of the 80’s. Here we have no trace of a colored sound, not even in the mid-low range. The deep low range is not present, of course, but listening to the organ pipe remains a pleasure even if the lowest pedal keys are missing, compared with the Monitor 1 speakers.
All those that are attracted by this speakers knows that the bass drum will not sound at its best, but if you’ll listen to a well recorded piano you will not miss too much the missing first octave, because it’s well balanced by all the rest. The timbre is correct, the 5/9 plays dynamics correctly and also the soundstage that these 5/9 create is fine, depending on what is present in the recording.
I spoke about the piano because it is a very complex - but also familiar - instrument and it’s really hard to reproduce it correctly. Listening to some piano and orchestra concerts - Mozart, the Lodron with Solti, Baremboim and Shiff for example - that pure timbre is enchanting and you almost see the instruments in the distance.
The result is very natural with the lute music by Bach played by Hopkinson Smith on Astrée vinyl. The noise of the quick fingers on the keyboard are fascinating and well integrated and the sound results really natural.
The 5/9 are not loudspeakers for the AC/DC, they do a good job anyway but but that music needs the 5/8.
The 5/9 are real monitor loudspeakers and have no mercy with the mediocre recordings. Listening to “Alice non lo sa” by Francesco De Gregori, you have a low range out of control and also the high range is too powerful. The voice of the singer is biting and not pleasant with a good deal of dynamic compression.
Sometimes it seems to listen to electrostatic loudspeakers but with a more extended and never annoying top range.
The problem with the short lower range remains, but those that choose this device must know that the famous F16 planes recording by Telarc is not fit for it.
I want to underline the fact that they play well also at a moderate volume, they just need a little power and the sound you’ll obtain is really good.
As mentioned before, the price is 5.000,00 Euros for the pair, with the same fonishing of the ones I had. It is a right price, in line with the price of the competitors. The amplifier to make them play right must be of an excellent quality.
The years go by but these projects are evergreen. There is quality, and this is a fact. I am really happy that the LS 5/9 are back on the world market.
**********************************************
Just a few lines on the LS5/8 that I listened to at Angelo’s place. I was really surprised by the timbre correctness of these monitors. The LS 5/8 reproduce very well every sound of every instrument. The dynamics is good and also their ability to manage the power. What the listener gets is the sound of a real instrument. There is no colouring of the sound - the famous British sound is missing here - we have smoothness, and the temptation to turn up the volume is strong, with the result to obtain results that seem incredible, given the woofer and cabinet dimensions.
It may be the voices, or Pogorelic with his piano, The Sacre du Printemps or Ella & Louis, everything is clear, real and credible. As I wrote above the price for each couple of loudspeakers is absolutely justified by their performances. The 5/8 have a bottom range that is very good and that goes down really well. The instruments have, also with these loudspeakers, the right presence and the hits on the bass drum of The Sacre ( Dorati, Decca) are violent and once again natural.
But I let Angelo speak thoroughly about it.
Just one last consideration. When Angelo made his report from the Munich Hi-End last year, he published some pictures on his website. I saw the pictures of the 5/8 and I immediately asked him if they were the originals or a copy. I was anxious to know what he thought about it because I had still in mind the first listening of those 5/8 Rogers. Despite the many years passed I still had in mind that wonderful sound that came from those two anonymous loudspeakers with handles. Their sound was way over the sound of many of the competitors that were present in the shop. Well, I am glad I insisted to review them because the wonder of that first listening was fully reconfirmed after all those years.
Domenico Pizzamiglio
Manufacturer: Graham Audio
GO TO THE SECOND PART: BBC LS5/8
Translation: Francesca Rubino
The result is very natural with the lute music by Bach played by Hopkinson Smith on Astrée vinyl. The noise of the quick fingers on the keyboard are fascinating and well integrated and the sound results really natural.
The 5/9 are not loudspeakers for the AC/DC, they do a good job anyway but but that music needs the 5/8.
The 5/9 are real monitor loudspeakers and have no mercy with the mediocre recordings. Listening to “Alice non lo sa” by Francesco De Gregori, you have a low range out of control and also the high range is too powerful. The voice of the singer is biting and not pleasant with a good deal of dynamic compression.
Sometimes it seems to listen to electrostatic loudspeakers but with a more extended and never annoying top range.
The problem with the short lower range remains, but those that choose this device must know that the famous F16 planes recording by Telarc is not fit for it.
I want to underline the fact that they play well also at a moderate volume, they just need a little power and the sound you’ll obtain is really good.
As mentioned before, the price is 5.000,00 Euros for the pair, with the same fonishing of the ones I had. It is a right price, in line with the price of the competitors. The amplifier to make them play right must be of an excellent quality.
The years go by but these projects are evergreen. There is quality, and this is a fact. I am really happy that the LS 5/9 are back on the world market.
**********************************************
Just a few lines on the LS5/8 that I listened to at Angelo’s place. I was really surprised by the timbre correctness of these monitors. The LS 5/8 reproduce very well every sound of every instrument. The dynamics is good and also their ability to manage the power. What the listener gets is the sound of a real instrument. There is no colouring of the sound - the famous British sound is missing here - we have smoothness, and the temptation to turn up the volume is strong, with the result to obtain results that seem incredible, given the woofer and cabinet dimensions.
It may be the voices, or Pogorelic with his piano, The Sacre du Printemps or Ella & Louis, everything is clear, real and credible. As I wrote above the price for each couple of loudspeakers is absolutely justified by their performances. The 5/8 have a bottom range that is very good and that goes down really well. The instruments have, also with these loudspeakers, the right presence and the hits on the bass drum of The Sacre ( Dorati, Decca) are violent and once again natural.
But I let Angelo speak thoroughly about it.
Just one last consideration. When Angelo made his report from the Munich Hi-End last year, he published some pictures on his website. I saw the pictures of the 5/8 and I immediately asked him if they were the originals or a copy. I was anxious to know what he thought about it because I had still in mind the first listening of those 5/8 Rogers. Despite the many years passed I still had in mind that wonderful sound that came from those two anonymous loudspeakers with handles. Their sound was way over the sound of many of the competitors that were present in the shop. Well, I am glad I insisted to review them because the wonder of that first listening was fully reconfirmed after all those years.
Domenico Pizzamiglio
Manufacturer: Graham Audio
GO TO THE SECOND PART: BBC LS5/8
Translation: Francesca Rubino
