Very experienced people like
@zerostargeneral and
@gian60 think the originals were among the best cones
[please excuse my bad English]
Indeed, they have a pedigree. BUT:
Does anyone have a little more experience with the Graham LS5/8 medium? (there seem to be another version
: LS5/8S)
(
@zerostargeneral?
@gian60 ?)
The design is surprising: 2 ways, 30cm woofer + tweeter. This raises questions about the medium.
First, I'd like to mention that
a Dutch reviewer compared the stand-mounted Graham LS5/9, the floorstander version LS5/9f, and the bigger stand-mounted Graham LS5/8 (all models are 2 ways).
I shortly listen to the LS5/8 at a dealer's.
(I was there to listen to an inexpensive Pre-Audio 1800NG air linear arm turntable, which I bought immediately, given its
fantastic value for money; the Graham LS5/8 were the speaker playing that day).
I was not focused on the speakers, but I was very seduced by
some of their qualities (transparency, big stage, a certain "live" character, bass of course, etc).
Though personally, I founded the medium sounded a bit lean (on a Jacques Brel vinyl, in comparison -not directly- with my Harbeth M30.2 Anniversary). The dealer agreed, and mentioned that they sounded a bit leaner in the mid than other Graham's models, while having other advantages. The dealer is also a Harbeth dealer, and loves both Graham and Harbeth, so no politics here (BTW, on his website, the dealer gave the big LS5/8 his famous home-award that he is known for; so no doubt: he loves them)
CONTEXT
I listen mainly to classical music, and I attend live concert regularly.
My tastes are: baroque, chamber, lieder, orchestral, jazz, rock.
My 2nd system is built around a pair of lovely, but limited, Harbeth M30.2 Anniversary. Note that I do
not feel very frustrated by their limit
in the low (the perceived limits of the M30.2's mainly come from the fact that my main system in town is based around Analysis ribbon panels + Aries Cerat...)
The room is a man cave (a
former stable, used as a storage-room), with
very good acoustics. It is large enough for big speakers (though I wish no big problems with the bass) such as LS5/8.
The total size is approx. 8.5m x 5.75m (27' x 19').
Brick walls. The ceiling is low (2m50?), but has interesting curved little vaults of bricks
In the winter here, curtain allows to warm only the half of the room => width-axis listening (
picture - TonTraeger stands have now replaced those on the pic).
In the summer, the curtain may be opened (offering then a splendid view on the junk/storage room behind the curtain; no picture, please do not insist ;-) => length-axis listening.
I know the Harbeth M40.2 (
not Anniversary version), and found that the expressiveness and naturalness of the medium was stunning (
even compared to the 2 ways M30.
1 at that time, same medium cone as the M40.2). This was undoubtedly due to the fact that the medium cone of the M40.2 (three ways) has no low frequency to deliver, in addition to the medium.
But as the Graham LS5/8 is a
two ways, it raises questions regarding the medium (delivered by a
30cm cone here...). Opinions over their medium are divergent.
A subwoofer in addition to my Harbeth M30.2 is not what I am looking for (bass is not
that important to me: what I enjoyed much more with the LS5/8 I shortly listened was the transparency, the more convincing feeling of attending a concert of jazz "live" music:
Miles Davis ?Live In Europe, a somewhat "bigger" sound, etc).
The
amplifier for the M30.2 is at present an old 2nd hand Marantz PM-16. Will be upgraded soon, probably.
Ideally, a pair of Harbeth M40.2 Anniversary/M40.3 would be nice in that room. But given their price, it would be overkill for a 2nd system. The Graham LS5/8 (basic, not S) cost half the price of the M40's,
but I don't want to regret the magnificent medium of the M30.2 Anniversary either (sounds a bit like "squaring the circle").
Moving the very heavy LS5/8 from the showroom
to my place for a home-trial,
is alas
not an option. And the dealer has no M40's anymore in stock. So a direct comparison is impossible.
Opinions? Experiences with the LS5/8 medium?
Thanks!