The retro-revival trend is going strong, and Musical Fidelity is here to showcase its latest addition to the series. It has announced two brand-new speakers that come with the classic BBC design.
As part of the new speakers, the first speaker on the highlight is the LS3/5A. It is a two-way stand-mount speaker that is built according to the BBC R&D design. And to give you a reference, that R&D originates from 1976.
The second speaker that Musical Fidelity has announced is the LS5/9 loudspeaker. As the number states, it is comparatively weightier than the LS3/5A. But it still sticks with the retro theme, bringing back a design from 1983.
Regarding specifics, the LS3/5A is a closed-box speaker that utilizes a 19mm tweeter dome. It has an 11cm woofer, supposedly offering a frequency response range of 80Hz to 20 KHz.
The LS5/9, on the other hand, has a 34mm tweeter and a 21cm mid/bass cone. It boasts a frequency response range of 50 Hz to 20 KHz.
And due to coming with such large components, it is much weightier than the LS3/5A. In comparison, the LS3/5A is 4.9 kg, while the LS5/9 is at 12 kg.
There’s no difference in the build quality, however. Both the LS3/5A and LS5/9 come with birch plywood construction.
But there’s a difference in terms of the finish. The LS3/5A has a Palisander veneer finish, while the LS5/9 boasts a cherry veneer finish.
That said, there’s a difference in terms of the intended functions. After all, they are based on different retro speakers.
The original model for the smaller speaker was initially intended for space-restricted areas. For example, the TV mobile control rooms. But it later became popular among music studios and audiophiles.
On the other hand, the LS5/9 is based on the original BBC R&D design. The original speaker was intended to be a versatile speaker that could “fulfil the complete range of music genres from classical to pop music.”
At least, that’s what Musical Fidelity has to say. The company will showcase both speakers at the High End Munich Show 2023 this week.
And if you are there, you should check them out. Also, there’s supposed to be a third model unveiling at the show.
According to Musical Fidelity, that will “draw inspiration from the past and is fully prepped for today’s audio consumer… a high-voltage device that is the perfect partner for… a pair of Musical Fidelity LS3/5A”.
That would be another good reason why you need to experience the unveiling live at the High End Munich Show.
Slava is a man of mystery and no-one seems to know exactly where he is at any point in time. When he isn't enjoying writing about all things audio and technical he can be found researching his next project of interest. The man never rests.