floor-stander/large stand-mounter to complement LS3/5a

[thewanderer]

Hi All,

I have Falcon acoustics LS3/5A gold badge version. I absolutely love it. My listening room is 12x18 feet, at times it does sound like small speaker and I miss the scale and presence. So I am looking for a floor stander or large stand mounter that has similar sonic signature or just a bigger version of LS3/5a's. In my country I don't have access to all british HIFI brands, but can get Spendor, Harbeth, Falcon's, Proac, KEF, ATC etc. Appreciate any advise.

TIA
Regards

 

[tackleberry]

Hi bud, What is your budget?

I’d be ATC all the way.

 

[thewanderer]

Hi bud, What is your budget?

I’d be ATC all the way.

Thanks. Which one in ATC come close? I was considering SCM20 or SCM40, but hesitant because of getting right amp would be a challenge. Of-course if budget permits best would be to go active ATC's I presume.

£3k to 5K range.

 

[Rockchild]

Thanks. Which one in ATC come close? I was considering SCM20 or SCM40, but hesitant because of getting right amp would be a challenge. Of-course if budget permits best would be to go active ATC's I presume.

£3k to 5K range.

Before anyone should advise you on speakers, it’s important to know what amplification your using currently..?

 

[Fatmarley]

Subwoofer?

 

[thewanderer]

Before anyone should advise you on speakers, it’s important to know what amplification your using currently..?

Thanks for your replay.

I have Mcintosh tube integrated MA252, which i am quite happy pairing it with Falcon LS3/5a.

Willsenton R300 SET amp and DIY monoblocks that can pump 450W@4ohm

 

[thewanderer]

Subwoofer?

Thanks. I don't use and no plans to use a sub. I am little sensitive to pressure on the ear with extreme low end. Not sure if sealed enclosure would help, but certainly has some problems with front ported speakers going 30Hz.

 

[Rockchild]

Thanks for your replay.

I have Mcintosh tube integrated MA252, which i am quite happy pairing it with Falcon LS3/5a.

Willsenton R300 SET amp and DIY monoblocks that can pump 450W@4ohm

Ok, if you like the sound of the Falcons it’s unlikely you would like the ATC’s. As good as they are, they are extremely different in presentation.
It would be easy to recommend my Harbeth HL5+ but it would be the right choice for your room and giving a similar presentation to your falcons but on a larger scale but it’s important to have stands that complement them sonically.
Alternatively, if you want a more mainstream sound, Proac D20 or the new Falcon IMF 200 transmission line floorstanders.
As always, do try to listen to speakers at home before you buy or at least, have the option to return.

 

[thewanderer]

Ok, if you like the sound of the Falcons it’s unlikely you would like the ATC’s. As good as they are, they are extremely different in presentation.
It would be easy to recommend my Harbeth HL5+ but it would be the right choice for your room and giving a similar presentation to your falcons but on a larger scale but it’s important to have stands that complement them sonically.
Alternatively, if you want a more mainstream sound, Proac D20 or the new Falcon IMF 200 transmission line floorstanders.
As always, do try to listen to speakers at home before you buy or at least, have the option to return.

Thanks for the recommendation. Harbeth is way too expensive in my country.

Favouring proac D20R/D30RS at the moment.

 

[Ian]

Bigger falcons ? The IMF 100 look interesting, though I've never heard them. As do the RAM range.

 

[Rockchild]

Bigger falcons ? The IMF 100 look interesting, though I've never heard them. As do the RAM range.

The Ram range is discontinued although there maybe a few still around.

 

[Ian]

The Ram range is discontinued although there maybe a few still around.

Ok, still on the Falcon website though. And used of course. But bottom line, it's always the trickiest call recommending speakers, they are such a personal taste and arguably make the biggest sonic change.

 

[It Cost How Much!?!]

Surely used Spendor BC1 which are a bigger version?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40400301...XTwxy8piApQZZyvALBT4yKb4Kjhr|tkp:BFBMwPqph5dh

 

[ChemMan]

but can get Spendor, Harbeth, Falcon's, Proac, KEF, ATC etc. Appreciate any advise.

Except for the Falcon's I had all of those on home demo with the Spendor D7 as the experimental control speaker. I had a largish room at the time.

ProAc D30rs was slightly warm to my ears eg., the clarinet that opens Rhapsody in Blue, sounds like an oboe. Voice and strings sound liquid and superb from the ribbon tweeter.

All of the Kef speakers in your budget have the same house sound and are differentiated by scale. I own some LS50s and like them, but like you, I wanted scale and presence so I upgraded. The Reference 1 was a brilliant, neutral, all-around speaker, but the bass excited too many room modes and had to go back.

The Harbeth SHL5+ was lovely for acoustic instruments, but lacked the kind of bass response for which I was looking/listening.

The ATC SCM40 was possibly my favorite, but lost out on looks and weight. It wasn't feasible for our living situation. The actives, which I heard at the dealer, were next level.

Finally, I kept the D7 and wanted a chance to try the Spendor 1/2, but could not find one. Here's a fun little comparison review on the two. As always, take with a grain of truth. https://darko.audio/2020/01/spendor-the-classic-1-2-versus-the-d7-2/

 

[tackleberry]

The proac are a good shout. Though I’d go for active ATC 40 preferably 50👍

 

[simon g]

Whilst ATC and Proac all have fine speakers, the OP has stated that the requirement is for a larger, yet similar sound, to the Falcons. ATC are very, very different from BBC type speakers. Proacs tend to be a bit forward and again unlike the BBC type sound (in general). I'd be looking at Spendor Classic 2/3, if Graham speakers aren't available locally. By all means consider the other options but be aware that they will be nothing like what is in current use.

 

[tackleberry]

To be honest, that’s quite the contrary from my pov. He may find that the size of the sound of ATC mids would override the enjoyment of ls3.5., which I find to be a one trick pony really. ATC actives are not forward etc and shouldn’t be discouraged. The proac I’ve heard, I wouldn’t say forward either, and I have a pet hate with over pronounced speakers. I was dead set on a pair of hl5+ before I bought the ATC but didn’t like the top end!

 

[sktn77a]

Thanks. I don't use and no plans to use a sub.

Might want to consider a demo with an active sub. You don't need "Flash/Bang" sound pressures to supplement the LS3/5A lows. I've used them with a sub for 40 years and have been very happy with that combination. No other speaker has ever been able to permanently replace my LS3/5As.

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

have you heard of the trick (described, I believe, by Ken Kessler), in which he placed a second pair of LS3/5As on top of the first pair but "upside down" so that the tweeter was at the bottom and the woofer was at the top? Apparently, the result sounded "huge".

 

[thewanderer]

have you heard of the trick (described, I believe, by Ken Kessler), in which he placed a second pair of LS3/5As on top of the first pair but "upside down" so that the tweeter was at the bottom and the woofer was at the top? Apparently, the result sounded "huge".

Thanks for the suggesttion. Have not tried. Given the prices of LS3/5A that would be a costly experiment