Best Amplifier for LS3/5a
Happy New Year All! Seeking advice from LS3/5 enthusiasts! I have tried a number of these speakers (Graham, Harbeth, Falcon and KEF LS50's (if that counts)) - and to me the Falcon Gold Badge really stood out. It's been a while now since I did the comparison, so I don't remember all the details - but I felt that the Falcons were the most musical, engaging, open and did NOT have bloated bass (important for a small room)! I've held on to a pair for my bedroom system, but I don't think that my current bedroom amps (AGD Audions, which I love with my current Raidho XT-1 monitors) are the best match for them. I get a bit too much sizzle on the top and some associated sibilance.
Herb Reichert (Stereophile) seems to love these speakers, and his review notes that the Parasound A21+ was too dry with these speakers, but he really liked the Line Magnetic LM-518 IA. That's not going to work for me! In this bedroom system I keep the amp(s) under the bed and generally leave them on 24/7. If possible, I prefer a balanced design, as I want NO HUM in my bedroom and my DAC/Pre (Weiss 501) has both balanced and RCA outs.
Based on the intended setup, I think balanced solid state would make the most sense. Amp selection might be influenced by the speakers having 15 ohm input impedance.
Any suggestions? Thanks, Peter
Ran vintage LS 3/5A 15 ohm and currently run Weiss 501. I've run the Rogers LS 3/5A with Sugden A21SE to great affect. They require as you know lots of quality high current, not wattage. Class A is magical with these. Sugden is not balanced but I do not believe that would improve over unbalanced in this application. Best success. |
@celtic66 thank you for your input. I noticed that several of the Sudgen amplifiers do have balanced inputs… But seem maybe either too big for my bedroom or not powerful enough for the speakers in question. The reason I gravitate towards balanced connections is because I want absolutely no noise in the bedroom, so I figure I have a better chance of not getting hum with balanced over single ended. Any thoughts about the sapphire model, and whether 40 W of class a would be enough to run these speakers? Thanks! |
More than enough. People continually underestimate well designed Class A. My wife’s system runs Luxman 509X at 110 wpc Class A/B. Speakers are ATC 20s. Closed cabinet, difficult load. The Luxman has enough current to control everything well. I slotted my Sugden A21SE (17 years old) Class A 33 wpc and it more than held its own. In fact I might prefer it. But not by much. The LS 3/5A presents a tortuous load to mediocre designs with unstable current. The sound stage will collapse and dynamics suffer. It all seems lifeless. Best wishes solving this challenge. |
@peter_s Would you want to do that with a Class A amp? |
Hi Peter, I have set up, must be over ten LS3 5A systems. I worked in a high end store when the Rogers was released back in the late 70s. The LS3 5A is VERY inefficient, like 83 dB/watt @ 1meter. If you are not using subwoofers I would recommend a 200 watt/ch SS class A amp. HOWEVER the only way to use LS3 5As is with stereo subwoofers and a two way crossover, preferably digital. You want to cross at 100 Hz. Taking that bass away from the LS3 5As lowers distortion DRAMATICALLY and increases headroom also dramatically. You can also get away with a smaller amp, a 100 watt class A amp, tube or SS will do fine. I would use a Pass XA100.8. Another great amp would be the Parasound JC 1+ |
