spica and ls3/5a's

213cobra, with all due respect, while there are exceptions, I think that your view of impedance loads and solid state amps is just the opposite of common wisdom.

No.

I have owned spica angelus and tried Ls3/5s for an extended weekend demo and the imaging of the ls3/5 is nowhere near that of the spicas.

I couldn't believe it at first given that the ls3/5s are considerably more expensive, but after 2-3 days when the spicas were replaced the pinpoint imaging (totally absent on the ls3/5s) returned.

I eventually changed my spica angelus to Green Mountain Audio Europas because the spicas were too difficult to move. The Europas are slightly more forward than the spicas but better in all respects, including imaging.

Comparing Green Mountain Europas and LS3/5s it's not even close. The LS3/5 is a nice speaker ... unoffensive, but it is an ancient design. The only way in which the LS3/5 could be preferred is that it is less revealing of upstream equipment, and produces more of a "romantic" sound than the Europas.

Unsound,

With respect to sound of solid state amps and speaker impedance, I am reporting results, not "common wisdom." Common wisdom tells us a lot of things that just aren't true. Some speaker designers are formulating to 6 ohm nominal loads because "most solid state power amplifiers are designed to that optimum." But I've yet to hear a solid state amp that sounds better at 4 or 6 ohms than it does at 12 or 16.

Anyway, I don't care about common wisdom. I'm interested in the resulting sound. The poorer top end quality of the Spica TC50 compared to an LS3/5a on most solid state amps is consistent with the deleterious effects qualitatively that can be heard when, for instance, a double set of 8 ohm speakers are wired in parallel and series for comparison.

Irrespective of the Spica's strengths, it sounds tonally incorrect to me compared to the LS3/5a, and quite apart from that I think its qualitative character -- even if the design decisions driving tonality were left intact -- would prove improved on most amplifiers if its impedance were 8, 12, or 16 ohms. "Most amplifiers," of course, implying solid state by virtue of their incidence in the amp population. In 30 years I have never heard a solid state amp sound its best into 4 ohms or less, though I certainly assume there must be exceptions.

Phil

Phil,
The LS3/5 might beat the Spica on tonal accuracy ... I'll admit that. But the margin of victory would be quite small IMO.

On the other hand when it comes to imaging and casting a wide deep soundstage there is no competition. The LS3/5 is not even close to the Spica. It is this that makes the Spica such a legendary speaker.

As to the issue of impedance I would think it would depend on the amplifier, its rail voltages and its ability to deliver current and double its power into 4ohms. Some amps can't deliver current (older Quads) and sound much better into high impedances. Others (Cyrus, Densen to name a couple) deliver current in spades and seem much less fussy about impedance.

If you like the Spica design, then you should find a pair of their Angelus model. Betters the TC50 in every area. The British model is a great compact monitor and definitely delivers the midrange, but the bass is problematic. Overall, the 3/5a is an acquired taste.