Spendor 11ohm LS3/5A - The BBC Mini-Masterpiece

The LS3/5A is a small studio monitor loudspeaker originated by the BBC for use by outside broadcast vans to ensure quality of their broadcasts. The speaker concept set out transparent and natural sound as the goal, and the achievement of the result is widely acknowledged.

The BBC granted licences to a small number of British firms, which first manufactured the product in 1975. The product underwent a change in 1987 due to consistency issues in manufacturing, and again in around 2003 when original parts from KEF ran out. Upwards of 60,000 pairs of the speaker have been sold. Reviewers have recognized its enormous importance as a bookshelf design

The LS3/5A is a commercially produced loudspeaker driven by the need of the BBC to monitor and assess broadcast programme quality. It was derived from the LS3/5, which was conceived and developed by the BBC Engineering Department in the early 1970s, when it was under the stewardship of Dudley Harwood. Having found no commercially produced small loudspeaker that met the requirement for naturalness and sonic neutrality, the BBC specifically set out to design a speaker to achieve natural overall sound quality and good dynamic range for monitoring broadcasts in tightly confined spaces.

As the BBC broadcasting unit was about to order another batch of the monitor, it was found that the supplier had modified the drive units, meaning the LS3/5 design had to be fundamentally revised. The BBC's Designs Department was called upon to adapt the product in light of the supply changes.[6] Modifications were made to adapt to the new drive units and deal with the altered resonance pattern, and the LS3/5 became the LS3/5A. The BBC then licensed the product to a small number of private sector companies. Production began in 1975. In 1987, as a result of reassessment of the product due to consistency issues in the manufacture of the mid–bass driver,[6] the drivers were modified and the crossover changed. The overall impedance of the crossover fell to 11 ohms from the original 15 ohms.

The various official versions of the LS3/5A from various licensees sold in significant numbers in its life of over a quarter of a century. Sales estimates range from 60,000 to 100,000 pairs. More importantly, there are diehard fans of each licensed builder of these incredible BBC minis. We're not going to go into the entire list of licensed manufacturers but let's just say that the Spendor 11ohm BBC Licensed LS3/5a sits squarely among the most desirable of the lot. I personally played a set of these incredible speakers for two solid years and each and every time I fired them was an eye-opening experience. The imaging is second to none, NONE. The way they produce the human voice, the pillar on which the design stands, is eerily accurate. Now, they have their limitations but for uncomplicated well recorded music played through a quality source, yes, they are quite special. This particular set shows little to no signs of wear at all... the grills have never been off and thats a good thing as they are meant to be played with the grills ON. Beautiful Rosewood finish with perfect grill cloth. These being again, the highly desirable bi-wireable 11ohm version; spectacular!

Come have a listen here at the Andover shop. Demos are always encouraged.

Spendor, BBC 11ohm LS3/5A Monitors: $1,999.00 plus shipping and sales tax when applicable