Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Wider frontal dispersion of the entire frequency spectrum without compromising stereo imaging eliminates the need for head-in-a-vise sweet-spot listening
- Exceptional imaging precision and stability is comparable to renowned speakers like Quad ESLs
- Refined and exquisite resolution presents details in right proportions without an overly analytical presentation
- Bass is strong, well-defined, low distortion, and highly articulate throughout the entire spectrum
- The LS5/5 speaks with a single voice from top to bottom with great transparency and outstanding coherence, due to the careful matching and optimization of its drivers
Product Considerations
- Not a speaker for extremely large rooms, where it will be a bit lost
- As a box speaker, it cannot propagate sound in the manner of a dipole panel
- Highs are not always crisp, the midrange is not always luscious and succulent, and the presence region does not constantly project into room if the recording does not exhibit these things
- Stands are needed, and if the speakers are rigidly coupled to the stands—and the stands in turn rigidly coupled to the floor—you may wind up with a sound that is slightly edgy
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The 5/5 easily rivals Quad ESLs, surpassing many extravagantly expensive speakers renowned for their so-called "resolution"
Takeaway: The LS5/5 delivers high-fidelity sound with wide dispersion and exceptional imaging, making music sound like real instruments. It is a speaker that can be enjoyed for a long time, bringing out the best in well-recorded sources.
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LS5/5
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Manufacturer details
- System: 3 Way, reflex loading
- Enclosure: Thin wall damped construction
- Finish: Real wood veneer
- Dimensions (w/h/d): 36cm by 65cm by 48cm
- Weight: 35.5kg
- Frequency response: 40Hz to 20kHz, ±2dB
- Nominal impedance: 8Ω
- Sensitivity: 88dB SPL (2.83V, 1m)
- Maximum output: Over 104dB for a pair at 2m
- Bass: 300mm long throw
- Midrange: 200mm
- Tweeter: 25mm soft dome tweeter
- Recommended amplifier power: 50 to 250 watts unclipped programme
Straight away you'll notice that the bass and midrange drivers are mounted behind slots on the front panel. This feature is highly unusual today, but it works to control the off-axis response of the drive units which results in a smoother response through the crossover regions in typical listening environments. Not surprisingly, we get a lot of questions about this, so we have written an in-depth article explaining how the slots work.
Naturally, this is a BBC-style "thinwall" cabinet, where the relatively thin panels are mass-loaded to ensure that resonances are moved away from the critical mid-range region. Rockwool provides air damping. Hand-matched veneers are applied and finished to a very high standard. The grille is carefully designed to minimise diffraction effects and is held in place by concealed rare-earth magnets.
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Graham Audio's designs benefit from Derek Hughes's expertise, son of Spencer Hughes (Spendor), maintaining a strong connection to the classic BBC sound.
- The brand is committed to BBC "thin-wall" cabinet construction, using birch plywood, corner fillets, and strategically placed mastic elements to manage resonances.
- Musical Fidelity speakers deliver a clean, smooth, even, and detailed sound with pleasing subtlety, tight bass, and fine imaging.
- Graham Audio's LS3/5A variants provide both a historically accurate sound reproduction and dynamic range for smaller spaces, as well as offer an opportunity for use in larger rooms.
Select products
Chartwell LS3/5
- Positioning: The entry-level model in the Chartwell series, designed for small spaces and nearfield listening.
- Description: Praised for its natural and uncolored sound, making it ideal for those who prioritize vocal clarity and detail in compact environments. Unlike larger models in the lineup, it lacks deep bass extension, which is a trade-off for its small size and portability, making it less suitable for those seeking a full-range sound in larger rooms.
Chartwell LS6
- Positioning: A mid-range model in the Chartwell series, offering a balance between size and performance.
- Description: Stands out with its modern driver technology, providing greater clarity and a bigger soundstage compared to the LS3/5. It offers a more detailed and dynamic sound.
Graham LS5/9
- Positioning: A classic model in the Graham lineup, known for its BBC heritage and studio monitor accuracy.
- Description: This model is celebrated for its superb midrange and natural vocal reproduction, making it a favorite for critical listening and professional use. Compared to the LS3/5, it offers a fuller sound with better bass response.
Graham LS5/9f
- Positioning: An advanced floor-standing version of the LS5/9, designed for enhanced bass and room-filling sound.
- Description: Enhances the classic LS5/9 design with a floor-standing cabinet, providing deeper bass and a more expansive soundstage.
Graham LS5/8
- Positioning: A high-end model in the Graham lineup, offering professional-grade performance for audiophiles and studios.
- Description: Known for its exceptional accuracy and wide frequency response. It surpasses the LS5/9 in terms of bass depth and overall power.
Our take on the brand
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Used
Graham
What if you spend more?
The critically acclaimed TAD-CE1 speaker system was known for its innovative design inside and out to reproduce musical sounds down to the last detail of the original—without adding or subtracting anything that might alter the subtleties and nuances intended by recording artists and producers. We have taken the already impressive performance of the CE1 to the next level when designing the new TAD-CE1TX—by incorporating refinements and innovations inside and out. The TAD-CE1TX gives a whole new meaning to the two-channel reproduction of music. The CE1TX combines the pinpoint localization of sound images with three-dimension-like sound-field reproduction between the right- and left-channel speakers to create a “being-there” experience for a listener. You would feel as if you were in a recording studio, listening to musicians play their parts. The CE1TX has exquisitely honed its quality to provide an immersive sound-field experience to you.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Very high transparency, very neutral, very accurate sound elevates the reproduction of music
- Extraordinary leading edge response makes instruments, especially brass, sound lifelike
- The beryllium tweeter provides some of the best high-frequency response reviewers have heard
- Spatial aspects of recordings are delivered incredibly well, with imaging that is wide, spacious, and tall
- Solid construction uses birch wood bracing inside the cabinet and thick aluminum side plates for structural rigidity and dampening
Product Considerations
- The speakers are expensive, requiring a significant financial investment
- Low sensitivity rating of 85 dB potentially requires a high-powered amplifier for optimal performance
- While the bass response is clean and tight, some listeners may prefer to supplement with subwoofers for deeper bass extension, particularly for genres like electronica or organ music
- One reviewer found that the NAD M23 Class D amplifier pairing was a bit too transistory, too hard, not enough warmth—not enough soul
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Klipsch Jubilee: The Jubilee offers greater scale, plays louder with greater ease, and has bigger bass and dynamics, excelling in larger rooms
- Vs PureAudioProject Due at 15: The PureAudioProject offers greater scale and energizes the room more completely, representing significantly better value for the money
- Vs Kharma Elegance dB7-S: The Kharma offers greater bass shove but a less neutral, 'flamboyant' sound profile compared to the more 'modest, measured' CE1TX
Takeaway: The TAD-CE1TX offers high accuracy and neutral sound that audiophiles who value imaging and clarity will enjoy. With its high resolution, this is a speaker that rewards you with a quality sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
We began with the launch of the highly acclaimed and award-winning 0-series loudspeakers. Willing to break new ground, we designed innovative electronic components, used unconventional materials and employed state-of-the-art manufacturing processes. Since all of these audio components are engineered and assembled in-house, highest quality standards are permanently ensured.
The Børresen tweeter has exceptional efficiency. Elaborate finite element methods have been applied to linearize and optimize the magnetic flux field, to facilitate driver movement and to ensure high efficiency and outstanding linearity. The efficiency of this closed ribbon tweeter amounts to an exceptional 94dB and operates from approximately 2.5 kHz upwards. The moving mass is extremely low at 0.01 grams. The totally concealed tweeter has the capacity to operate at an incredible speed, which is an absolute prerequisite to unlocking the most subtle and refined sound details of any kind of music.
The Børresen membrane consists of a composite of two layers of very thin carbon on both sides of a 4 mm Nomex honeycomb core. This composite structure provides the ultimate combination of stiffness to weight ratio. The exceptionally low weight of only 5.5 grams allows a very high acceleration factor in the driver, resulting in both outstanding resolution and higher efficiency.
The Børresen magnet system is breaking new ground with its unique, innovative design. It uses 4 opposing neodymium ring-magnets and solid copper discs as pole pieces, eliminating iron and its associated distortion issues. This system provides faster driver response, refined detail, and authentic bass performance.
The cabinets are heavily braced, block milled, compressed wood structures, beautifully veneered in walnut and fitted with solid walnut inserts. They follow the best of Danish furniture design traditions. The tweeter section is vented to balance out the build-up of air pressure. The bass sections consist of tuned ports calibrated for musically relevant frequencies.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Creates a realistic sense of scale, moving beyond the walls and ceiling to adapt the room to the recorded venue
- Exceptional immediacy and clarity across the musical spectrum
- Capable of producing deep and accurate bass, especially given its size
- Offers a very accurate rendition of music—completely uncolored and offering ultimate refinement
- Retrieves a high level of detail, harmonic separation, and immediacy due to fast and efficient drivers
- Speaker terminals will only accept banana/BFA-styled cable terminations
Product Considerations
- Has limited low-frequency extension given it is a stand-mounted monitor
- Requires careful system matching to ensure optimal performance
- Poor recordings will sound really poor due to the speaker's revealing nature
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Franco Serblin Accordo Essence: Børresen has the upper hand on resolution and transparency
Takeaway: The Børresen 01 offers a high-fidelity experience by communicating musical nuances, capturing a live experience. These speakers excel in presenting the artist's intent, bringing listeners closer to the original performance.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The third generation of a Wilson Benesch classic. The original ‘Discovery’ name was a reference to the development of the unique acoustic presentation that the first Discovery loudspeaker delivered when it was launched in 2002. A 2.5-way standmount monitor like no other, the Discovery 3Zero deploys the same unique drive topology as the original classic, placing the Fibonacci Tweeter and a dedicated Tactic 3.0 midrange drive unit in close proximity to the powerful Isobaric Drive System that sits directly on the underside of the loudspeaker in the vertical plane. With all drive technologies placed within a few inches of one another, time alignment and integration across the Discovery 3Zero frequency band is unmatched. The Discovery 3Zero delivers a lightning-fast, punchy, highly accurate and endlessly captivating presentation.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional transparency and insight reveal details in recordings that other speakers miss
- Vivid dynamics and an ability to communicate shifts in musical mood explicitly
- Impressive engineering and design, with a cabinet that minimizes unwanted sound and resonances
- A convincingly layered and precisely focused soundstage is produced, with cohesive drive unit dispersion
- Highly differentiated bass reproduction reveals structure, fine dynamic gradations, and delicate shadings
Product Considerations
- A top-class partnering system is demanded due to its high level of transparency, and it will not hide weaknesses in other components
- Placement can be sensitive, requiring careful positioning close to a wall
- Frequency response rises noticeably towards the highs, which can be too much of a good thing with poor recordings
- Deep bass extension is lacking compared to larger alternatives
- Sound is sensitive to placement and acoustics
Takeaway: The Discovery 3Zero is a transparent and revealing speaker that offers an electrostatic-like sound, freeing music from any earthly weight. When partnered well and carefully set up, it is capable of sounding magical and delivering a highly exciting acoustic discovery journey.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Powerful and deep bass response for its size
- Clear and natural sound reproduction, with vocals being particularly noteworthy
- An 'all-in-two' system, the RIALTO includes a streamer, DAC, pre-amp, and amp, making it easy to set up and use, especially with the Cabasse StreamCONTROL app
- Effective room correction helps to optimize the sound for the listening environment
- Elegant design and build quality
Product Considerations
- The lack of seamless gapless playback between digital tracks requires a workaround or use of an analog source
- The RIALTO has a laid-back treble response, which may not appeal to listeners who prefer a brighter sound
- Potential for technical hiccups exists, because of the amount of technology packed into the RIALTO
- Many features are controlled with the mobile app
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The RIALTO provides a more balanced—and much more natural—listening experience than the Devialet Phantom II 98 dB Stereo
Takeaway: The Cabasse RIALTO is a compact and elegant audio system that offers powerful sound and a range of integrated features, making it a great choice for music lovers who want an easy-to-use and high-performing system. The sound quality and room correction allow it to adapt well to different listening spaces, offering an immersive experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Build quality is second to none, using the best construction materials
- Very well-controlled midrange
- Excellent imaging capabilities
- All aluminum cabinets make for an impressive sight
- Good dynamic range, if given enough power to compensate for bass equalization
Product Considerations
- Depressed bass response below 100Hz, potentially requiring equalization
- Rough treble response on-axis that can be piercing with certain content, solvable by mild to no toe-in angle
- The effort involved in attaining a great sound from these speakers will inevitably be a turn-off for some people
- At 80 lbs each, users will need to be careful when handling these speakers
- The use of an isobaric design has likely caused more problems than it has solved in this instance
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The SuperMon Mini provides an incredible amount of detail to go with that superb imaging and soundstaging, while the LS3/5a has a natural tonality that's simply breathtaking
Takeaway: With EQ'd bass and correct placement, the SuperMon Isobarics can sound terrific—offering excellent soundstage and imaging. These speakers are for audio lovers to proudly display and will likely be the subject of conversation.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The Minissimo Forte creates a palpably dimensional and believable representation of musical sounds, offering the most believable representation of a musical sound through a stereo system
- It communicates the dynamic life of music exceptionally well at lower playback levels
- Incredible resolution and coloration-free tonality
- The speakers play organically with excellent timbre, detail, and incredible soundstage
Product Considerations
- The owner's manual lacks detailed setup instructions regarding channel configuration
- Positioning the right and left speakers with the 'fat' part of the apostrophe on the outside results in a reduction in the seamlessness of the soundstage
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Harbeth, the Crystal Cable speakers possessed a skill—allowing even better insight into the recording
- Compared to BBC LS3/5a loudspeakers, the Minissimo Forte goes a step, or two, further in transparency
Takeaway: The Crystal Cable Minissimo Forte loudspeaker is excellent for audiophiles who want a high level of realism. These speakers are especially good in small and medium spaces with high-end electronics.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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