I love my LS6. They have been the most surprising speaker I’ve owned. If you want some bass snack though you do need to put a beefy amp behind them. Or if you don’t care, yes they’re easy to drive. One thing that wasn’t discussed much was the treble - in addition to magic midrange, I think the treble is also incredible, and gives you a lots of detail and articulation, good air and great timber with no rolloff like some other BBC monitors. But it’s also inoffensive in the way it’s delivered, unlike many hard/metal dome tweeters. There’s no peakiness or etch in this tweeter. I love the mids and treble on this speaker. The other thing that amazes me about these is how wide open and big and spacious they sound. You get a total sense of the recording space with these speakers and you hear the body and space around instruments. And the stage and imaging is very 3D holographic and deep with these speakers. I use them with a Schiit Freya+, 2 Vidar monoblocks and a Schiit Yggdrasil and the entire front of my room opens up with a huge space with instruments placed all around it. No other speakers I’ve owned including the Dynaudio Special Forty can do anything like this.
I got a pair of speakers just recently for 500ish bucks (Elac Unifi 2.0 bookshelves from A. Jones). It has magic midrange, incredible treble, spooky imaging, etc. Can these 3000+ dollar dinky li'l speakers beat the Elacs by 6 to 7 times? In fact, i wonder if these can beat the Elacs at all.
@@wa2368 you’re right, you win the battle of the bookshelf speakers, congrats. Elacs are the uber speaker and can’t be beat at any price. Well done. I personally rather throw money away for no purpose.
@@rlowes … just heard the LS6 today, I was wowed. I love Harbeth speakers but the LS6 does take it up a notch. The bass has so much texture for its size.
I heard these recently & being a bit jaded because of owning so many of the classic British monitors over the years, these were a great surprise indeed, superb! As I always look forward to your reviews the real gift is your depth of knowledge finding musical talent. I always walk away discovering a great record because of your recommendation, always another Gem to enjoy. Thank you Steve.
The LS6f is a great sounding speaker. A friend of mine near Belfast is a main dealer for Graham Audio, Proac and PMC. After listening to them the Proac DT8 and a PMC, the LS 6f were sensational. Lovely deep bass and beautiful mid range with slightly rolled off treble.
I've looked them up, haven't heard them but yes the review on SuperBestFriends Audio seems to match up with refinement and resolution of sound. Would you say these are akin to studio monitors to more of a warm tilt? Or would you describe them as having a slightly colored and pleasant as an audiophile speaker?
I'd say ... accurate. If there's excess high-frequency information in a recording, you'll hear it. They only sound rolled-off in comparison to most other speakers out there -- which are voiced bright. After hearing the BBC sound, most everything else sounds 'wrong'.
I adore my Graham Chartwell LS3/5A, glad to see Steve reviewing some Graham Audio stuff! Hope to see more impressions of the Graham Audio lineup in the future.
@@erho8607 I have never directly A-B compared them, but I have heard both at Gig Harbor Audio. Hard to go wrong either way. This article does a great job comparing their strengths www.stereophile.com/content/listening-199-falcon-graham-ls35a
At one time I was on a conquest to find the perfect “one” speaker. I was on the wrong path. It’s not about perfection, but rather taste, music, and mood. So now I have 3-4 speakers in my system which I alternate depending on my music, taste, and mood. Unfortunately this is the same with amps, dac, etc. Being an audiophile isn’t cheap and uses up a lot of space however I love it.
I do the same Speakers Harbeth P3ESR, Neat Iota, KEF Q100 Amplifiers Rega Elicit R, Naim Nac72/Nap140, Vinvcent SV237 - that caters for quite a lot of moods and tastes
@@markphillips1509 My significant other cringes when I watch Steve Guttenberg. She see’s all the clutter of audio equipment in the background of his place. She’s always saying... our place better not end up like his place. I’m have 3 amps, Mark Levinson beast 94lbs, A10 tube amp, and an inexpensive SMSL mini amp. 5 pairs of speakers, 2 pairs of Magnepans, custom Zu Audio DW, B&W and Jamo stand mounts. Nuprime XLR and SMSL DAC, custom tube preamp, and an inexpensive Audio Technica turntable for fun and playing old records I find at rummage sales for like 10-50 cents.
Nice job, I think this is one of your best reviews. It says a lot that you didn't feel let down when you switched back from a speaker that was double the price that you had just given a rave review to.
Today, 2 hours ago, i watched a graham ls 5/9 Clip :) And now Steve comes up with these wonderful graham speakers again. Great. I have some Spendors @home. Its the magic bbc-tone.
It’s amazing how listening in the near-field envelops you in the music. Surprises the hell out of me every time I pull my listening chair forward. This seems somewhat like isolating with headphones... the closer you get to the speakers seems somewhat like putting on a pair of cans..
@@bryanglassglass8971 I am happy that you found happiness. Now as they burn in over the months and even a year or two you will notice even more difference in a positive way. Good luck!
Love Slow Joe. Immediately, my wife and I agreed his vocal stylings reminded us of Mike Patton. But can totally hear the Jim Morrison comparison, too. Any way you slice it, he's just terrific.
HI Steve & thanks for your Time i worked around hifi and design in cambridge uk 25 years , where lots of brands were conceived . in 1972s , onwards # it doesn't surprise me as You probably know That the Grahames were Designed by Derek Hughes The Son and mentor Of the Famous Spencer Hughes of BBC. Design , And original owner and designer of Spendor Speakers Fame .., i love those speakers . i went and got a set of the LS 5/9 wow ,, he Used The Great Audax Tweeters in some And Redesigned Volt drivers for them ,, Great watch and Listen ,, Again ,, Regards Derek
There are a few sites who have measured these. No diffraction or reflection issues noted. The depth of edge is pretty minimal, and the design of the tweeter probably prevents this.
I got my first Grisman album ( vinyl) at Mardi Gras in about 1984 or so. It was flying through the air at a jazz fest ( during Mardi Gras) . The band started zinging albums out through the crowd and I caught one. Loved it but I don’t remember which one it was.
Regarding LS6 vs Dynaudio Heritage ...Preferring one over the other can indeed be a matter of taste, but it might also be the need to hear a different sound, to rediscover your music collection through a different perspective. One doesn't need to be better than the other. Variation is the spice of life .
Yep. I go back and forth from my KEF LS50s and my Tannoy Cheviots -- about 80 years of difference in technology -- but both using point source, 2-way concentric configuration. Very different sound. Both have a place in my main listening room. LS50s emphasizes resolution, the Tannoys emphasize a quality I have not been able to define -- maybe dynamics, realism, momentum, mid-range joyfulness. I play both with a REL T/7i sub that makes a big improvement. If I had to keep one, it would be the Cheviots. OK, at 3 times the price. Note: Powered speakers are becoming a thing; they are getting much better quickly.
I have only quite recently bought a pair of LS6/F and what can I say… I’m lost for words. I would be a rubbish reviewer. I have 3 amps and these sound great with the little Rega io. Though I’ve settled on the Temple Audio Bantam One - A lovely little 100w Class D. Handmade in Manchester, England. They fit together beautifully.
Thanks for this great review, Steve. You are my fave! And thnx for turning me on to Slow Joe. I totally hear the Jim Morrison (if he were 60) and Iggy Pop references .
Last episode you talked about meeting David Lynch, it would be the coolest thing to see you interview him about music. I wonder if he'd be down or if he just keeps too busy, he is a hard man to read.
Steve, great review. Could you hold the CD jackets still for just a moment? I'd like to see what the jackets look like, but your arms are doing the windmill thing.
You touched up a bit on the f version but did you actually get a chance to listen to it or other speakers in the line-up? Should we assume that everything you said about the sound profile of this speaker, would be valid for the f version? But only fuller or more room filling version of it or would the cabinet geometry becoming bigger actually change the sound profile at all ?
@@dcfcdunk Yeah, good point. Even though the materials may be cheap, the business & manufacturing end isn't. If ppl are so cranky and bitter about someone trying to earn a decent living maybe they'd be better off making their own speakers
One of my favorite acoustic sessions was “Song to John” on the 1975 Stanley Clarke solo album “ with the late Chick Corea (RIP) piano, John McLaughlin acoustic guitar, and Stanley Clark Bass. It was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in NYC and it was a session(s) of three virtuoso artists who lifted the jazz trio to the level of chamber music finesse and refinement (much like the elegant Modern Jazz Quartet recordings). Many are not familiar this third Stanley Clarke solo album but for me the acoustic “Song to John” (co-written by Clarke and Corea) is especially noteworthy. But hey that’s just me 🤔😉 Bet this cut would be really special on these Chartwell speakers.
@@jerryjazzbo2845 Those guys hit a rare level. It’s like listening to three scientists having an intellectual discussion of things we can’t understand but appreciate and are in awe of their perceptions, observations, and knowledge.
Steve some say the stands can make a big difference with these speakers. Graham Audio recommend open frame stands so that the bottom of the cabinet is not constrained. Unfortunately they’re hard to come by in this specific size unless you have them built. Apparently Gig Harbour Audio makes a metal frame stand for them. I was thinking of making some myself from wood.
They're a bit unconventional, but Mapleshade Records makes some very nice solid wood stands for speakers like this. Even though they are unconventional, they have garnered at least one or two good reviews that I have been able to find. : )
Hey Steve, while I appreciate your commentary I wish you and other reviewers would do a professional studio sound check for us to hear and compare for ourselves. Using a Neve console with Neumann U-87 mics and Mogami cables with Neutrik connectors is one possible setup to isolate the audio details for each cabinet. All talk and no action just doesn't cut it for me, bro! I've been betrayed too many times for taking someone else's word for it. And I'm not about to spend 3 grand to find out. When I compared all the audiophile monitors, the B&W Nautilus 805 was the only speaker I've ever heard that sounds superb in every genre of music: from symphonic, jazz, fusion, rock, R&B, & country, to classical piano, which is most difficult for speakers to handle the fast transients. And if you add a Dynaudio active subwoofer those 45 foot wavelengths @ 27 Hz will give a superlative listening experience.
1 of my "Live" Velvet Unferground L.P.'s was recorded in a club (Max's?) & it's the only V.U. 'live' L.P. i've got or heard. It says on it's back cover "This performance was recorded by an audience member on a Phillip's portable mono cassette recorder..." & goes on to say why & how they decided to release it officially. Surprisingly good sound if a little lacking in top-end treble sparkle & deep bass! Ah, I see you play a little guitar
These speakers 'threw me' on a dem session. I had gone to a local hifi supplier to listen to the Neat Iota Alpha. Pretty quirky at just 18in high for a floor stander. The dealer had some 2nd hand LS6 traded in, up at £1200, which seemed a very fair price. I listened to them, and then got stuck into this dilemma about choice. I liked both speakers. In the end I went for some other Neat floor standers, but looking back, I think I should have bought the Grahams. They just sounded right somehow.
I have purchased the LS 6 speakers and I’m wondering if the Hegel 95 or 120 would be a good amplifier to match the speakers with. I’m primarily interested in an amplifier that will preserve the LS 6’s lush mid range. Thank you.
I ended up purchasing an Atoll In100 amplifier (a French company). I bought it after doing the usual research (very good reviews), because it has sufficient power to drive the LS 6 (87 db’s) and it pairs well with the mellow sound of the LS6. It’s in a pretty big room, but I sit only 6 feet or so from the speakers. I like the pairing very much and always look forward to listening sessions. But I’m afraid my comments will be of limited value to you because these are the first speakers I’ve ever owned and so I have no basis for comparison, I’m not a a knowledgeable audiophile and my ears, along the rest of me, are quite old. Having said that,I like the combination very much. Thanks for asking. 😮
@@michaelswitzer3186 My tip. If you are happy and look forward to listening sessions, keep this set and don't look further. A lot of HiFi people suffer from HiFi OCD. They obsessively want to improve sound. But if you have spend the vast amount of money you did, just grow old together. Have fun.
It's funny people complaing about the price based purely on the looks. As if a flashier looking speaker is worth more money. If someone really wants acoustic instruments and voices to sound like the real deal, good luck finding that for cheaper. Some more affordable widebanders could probably do it, but those have limitations that these wouldn't have.
Try a KUDOS C10 another great British speaker. Next Level AV has those similar size but goes down to 40htz at about $3000 ish and a good sensitivity 87 db.
I find it interesting that the foam surround is inverted like it is on my old Ohm C2 speakers that also has a 3 level tweeter switch but has a 10 inch woofer and and was a 3 way with a low tweeter (not midrange) and a super tweeter and sound great , when adjusted for inflation would cost almost what this one costs.
I have the Walsh ohm 1000’s running with a Denafrips Thallo amplifier and Schiit Freya + preamp, best sound I’ve ever had…Thallo leaves my Kinki Studio EX-M 1 integrated amp in the dust…Steve was very impressed with the Ohm 2000’s.
Everything has a value and that value is whatever seems appropriate for the parameters a product’s profile. Someone will agree with the value and price point and take ownership of a highly valued product and certainly will be very complimentary towards its performance characteristics. So if something costs 3k it’s likely the owner of 3k speakers will tout the characteristics of the product so it becomes justifiable. For me I can’t afford a 3k speaker but I can appreciate a product that is well over my budget. Happy Valentine’s Day to Everyone. Thanks Steve for another great review.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac As Steve is implying, a 1.5k speaker and a 3k speaker both playback music. It is a matter of what you get out of the experience. Not everyone will necessarily agree on what experience they will enjoy the most. Or in some cases enjoy different experiences depending on what mood they are in.
Steve, Interesting that you used low-powered amps with the LS 6, which I think Graham Audio recommends 50-150 Watts amplifiers. I think it would have been a bit helpful to get your take on this speaker with a 100 Watt amp to compare to the 12 Watt tube integrate. i was thinking of matching this with the Raven Blackhawk integrated at 20 Watts or their Osprey at 30 Watts if the 20 Watt option was "under powered". I don't know what Paul Graham would think about a 12 Watt amp with these monitors, I know Alan Shaw would roll his eyes and shake his head in disbelief.
Am loving the VU Matrix tapes. Thanks! Sounds like the same tour as on the Live 1969 album, by far my favourite VU material. Such egoless playing by all. Cheers!
Dave Grisman is great. Listen to his first album. One of my favorites. Dave played all the time with Jerry Garcia. There is a version of him doing Coltrane's "Naima" on Grisman '80. I've seen him a couple of times. Also, the 50th anniversary of Workingman's dead, American Beauty and Stage Fright are all worth listening to them. My friend's band backed up Lou Reed right before Transformer album. They have the most famous Lou Reed bootleg with the "Tot's. This is not the best recording and you can hear the w wind blowing but a great show. They do an acoustic version of "So What" ruclips.net/video/PJl-zvWLitY/видео.html
Hey Paul, I owned the earlier 5s as well as the 7s & P3s & in all honesty the 5s were a real disappointment. I think the M30s are the best of the Harbeths for their standpoints but they are 6000.00 plus if I'm not mistaken, far too much in all honesty. These Grahams are defiantly worth listening to.
What happened to the Buchardt S400 review? Was there something technically wrong with the review unit? Did you send them back to Mads without a review due to Availability issues in the US?
@GOTT MIT UNS My ones as well!My ones are with upgraded tweeter caps and they sound even better.They create magical sound for sure.There are another speakers that i am after.The Merilin TSM MXM,but they are twice the price (used) and i am not sure if i am gonna like their sound compared to Epos ES14.
You're not going to buy anything like them, so why comment about the price? Enjoy your $250 Elacs (without ever knowing what a great sounding speaker sounds like compared to just a good sounding one does).
Quality ...yes ...but 2 drive units in a wooden box should never cost £3000 .... I use Epos speakers, they make their own drive units ,. Which need no crossover...and cost less than £1000 .... Anyone selling a wooden box with off the shelf drive units for £3900 is ripping you off .... You can build these speakers for £250
Any speaker with LS in the name rules! I've lived for 30 years with LS3/6 variants - the Spendor SP1/2 and Stirling LS3/6 and they both serve the music beautifully.
I love my LS6. They have been the most surprising speaker I’ve owned. If you want some bass snack though you do need to put a beefy amp behind them. Or if you don’t care, yes they’re easy to drive.
One thing that wasn’t discussed much was the treble - in addition to magic midrange, I think the treble is also incredible, and gives you a lots of detail and articulation, good air and great timber with no rolloff like some other BBC monitors. But it’s also inoffensive in the way it’s delivered, unlike many hard/metal dome tweeters. There’s no peakiness or etch in this tweeter. I love the mids and treble on this speaker.
The other thing that amazes me about these is how wide open and big and spacious they sound. You get a total sense of the recording space with these speakers and you hear the body and space around instruments. And the stage and imaging is very 3D holographic and deep with these speakers.
I use them with a Schiit Freya+, 2 Vidar monoblocks and a Schiit Yggdrasil and the entire front of my room opens up with a huge space with instruments placed all around it. No other speakers I’ve owned including the Dynaudio Special Forty can do anything like this.
Hello
I got a pair of speakers just recently for 500ish bucks (Elac Unifi 2.0 bookshelves from A. Jones). It has magic midrange, incredible treble, spooky imaging, etc. Can these 3000+ dollar dinky li'l speakers beat the Elacs by 6 to 7 times? In fact, i wonder if these can beat the Elacs at all.
@@wa2368 you’re right, you win the battle of the bookshelf speakers, congrats. Elacs are the uber speaker and can’t be beat at any price. Well done. I personally rather throw money away for no purpose.
@@wa2368 Blah blah blah.
@@rlowes … just heard the LS6 today, I was wowed. I love Harbeth speakers but the LS6 does take it up a notch. The bass has so much texture for its size.
I heard these recently & being a bit jaded because of owning so many of the classic British monitors over the years, these were a great surprise indeed, superb! As I always look forward to your reviews the real gift is your depth of knowledge finding musical talent. I always walk away discovering a great record because of your recommendation, always another Gem to enjoy. Thank you Steve.
The LS6f is a great sounding speaker. A friend of mine near Belfast is a main dealer for Graham Audio, Proac and PMC. After listening to them the Proac DT8 and a PMC, the LS 6f were sensational. Lovely deep bass and beautiful mid range with slightly rolled off treble.
Sounds awesome. Would you say aside from live music like classical and jazz these would play 60's and 70's music just fine?
This was the speaker that sent me down the rabbit hole of high end audio.
Did you end up starting with the LS6? Which other speakers compare to it?
Steve, thanks for the music suggestions -that’s what sets your channel apart.
Just realised my country does a speaker, you appreciate . .excited to look at this close up. . Speakers here looked like this growing up in the 80s
Your country does many incredible speakers, you should be proud.
@@512bb thank you. Its good to learn more . We just need to use our passion to pick up any tips and ideas.
My #1 speakers. :) Truly end-game.
Graham/Chartwell make the best speakers on the planet (yes, I'm biased.)
I've looked them up, haven't heard them but yes the review on SuperBestFriends Audio seems to match up with refinement and resolution of sound. Would you say these are akin to studio monitors to more of a warm tilt? Or would you describe them as having a slightly colored and pleasant as an audiophile speaker?
I'd say ... accurate. If there's excess high-frequency information in a recording, you'll hear it. They only sound rolled-off in comparison to most other speakers out there -- which are voiced bright.
After hearing the BBC sound, most everything else sounds 'wrong'.
I adore my Graham Chartwell LS3/5A, glad to see Steve reviewing some Graham Audio stuff! Hope to see more impressions of the Graham Audio lineup in the future.
Hey Curt, are we Graham Audio shills or what!?? Hahaha
@@rlowes Guilty as charged. Sounds so cliche to say, but once you have heard it, hard to want to listen to much else.
hey, have you compared your speakers with the Grahahm LS3/5, differences?
@@erho8607 I have never directly A-B compared them, but I have heard both at Gig Harbor Audio. Hard to go wrong either way. This article does a great job comparing their strengths www.stereophile.com/content/listening-199-falcon-graham-ls35a
At one time I was on a conquest to find the perfect “one” speaker. I was on the wrong path. It’s not about perfection, but rather taste, music, and mood. So now I have 3-4 speakers in my system which I alternate depending on my music, taste, and mood. Unfortunately this is the same with amps, dac, etc. Being an audiophile isn’t cheap and uses up a lot of space however I love it.
I do the same Speakers Harbeth P3ESR, Neat Iota, KEF Q100 Amplifiers Rega Elicit R, Naim Nac72/Nap140, Vinvcent SV237 - that caters for quite a lot of moods and tastes
@@markphillips1509 My significant other cringes when I watch Steve Guttenberg. She see’s all the clutter of audio equipment in the background of his place. She’s always saying... our place better not end up like his place.
I’m have 3 amps, Mark Levinson beast 94lbs, A10 tube amp, and an inexpensive SMSL mini amp. 5 pairs of speakers, 2 pairs of Magnepans, custom Zu Audio DW, B&W and Jamo stand mounts. Nuprime XLR and SMSL DAC, custom tube preamp, and an inexpensive Audio Technica turntable for fun and playing old records I find at rummage sales for like 10-50 cents.
I have watch this one so many times I am sold you are the best
Nice job, I think this is one of your best reviews. It says a lot that you didn't feel let down when you switched back from a speaker that was double the price that you had just given a rave review to.
Harbeth 30.1 vs Graham LS6. Amy suggestions ?
Today, 2 hours ago, i watched a graham ls 5/9 Clip :)
And now Steve comes up with these wonderful graham speakers again. Great.
I have some Spendors @home.
Its the magic bbc-tone.
It’s amazing how listening in the near-field envelops you in the music. Surprises the hell out of me every time I pull my listening chair forward. This seems somewhat like isolating with headphones... the closer you get to the speakers seems somewhat like putting on a pair of cans..
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay
SPHERE!!
I bought the ls6, they are amazing, Soundstage depth is uncanny!!!!
@@bryanglassglass8971 I am happy that you found happiness. Now as they burn in over the months and even a year or two you will notice even more difference in a positive way. Good luck!
I saw a thanks and felt I should thanku as thats how I feel. My one stop audiophile place.
Well Steve, I listened to the The Velvets album and it had to be mine! Thanks very much !!
Slow joe will be my . next buy love your riffs
Hope you can get Derek on the channel soon, I want to hear his ideas and approach to creating these beautiful works of art.
Needs tea mug stains, smell of Benson and Hedges, and a small framed picture of local football team on top.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay
...Sphere??
Hi :)
And a half eaten bacon butty.
Love Slow Joe. Immediately, my wife and I agreed his vocal stylings reminded us of Mike Patton. But can totally hear the Jim Morrison comparison, too. Any way you slice it, he's just terrific.
HI Steve & thanks for your Time i worked around hifi and design in cambridge uk 25 years , where lots of brands were conceived . in 1972s , onwards # it doesn't surprise me as You probably know That the Grahames were Designed by Derek Hughes The Son and mentor Of the Famous Spencer Hughes of BBC. Design , And original owner and designer of Spendor Speakers Fame .., i love those speakers . i went and got a set of the LS 5/9 wow ,, he Used The Great Audax Tweeters in some And Redesigned Volt drivers for them ,, Great watch and Listen ,, Again ,, Regards Derek
I love how the edges stick out for a bit of extra diffraction effect.
I thought that was to hold the grille in place
🤣
@@offason 😂🤣
There are a few sites who have measured these. No diffraction or reflection issues noted. The depth of edge is pretty minimal, and the design of the tweeter probably prevents this.
@@carlitomelon4610 yeah, what?
Oh great, i don't have to close my eyes during the title sequence, no more flashing of "the Audiophiliac Daily Show" - love it ;-)
I got my first Grisman album ( vinyl) at Mardi Gras in about 1984 or so. It was flying through the air at a jazz fest ( during Mardi Gras) . The band started zinging albums out through the crowd and I caught one. Loved it but I don’t remember which one it was.
Steve, thanks for the music recommendations, the David Grisman recording sounds great on my Zu DW's.
Do you like the Zu DW’s. I may get a pair
@@MrJason9142002 Great speakers! Easy to drive, beautiful sound.
Regarding LS6 vs Dynaudio Heritage ...Preferring one over the other can indeed be a matter of taste, but it might also be the need to hear a different sound, to rediscover your music collection through a different perspective. One doesn't need to be better than the other. Variation is the spice of life .
Yep. I go back and forth from my KEF LS50s and my Tannoy Cheviots -- about 80 years of difference in technology -- but both using point source, 2-way concentric configuration. Very different sound. Both have a place in my main listening room. LS50s emphasizes resolution, the Tannoys emphasize a quality I have not been able to define -- maybe dynamics, realism, momentum, mid-range joyfulness. I play both with a REL T/7i sub that makes a big improvement. If I had to keep one, it would be the Cheviots. OK, at 3 times the price. Note: Powered speakers are becoming a thing; they are getting much better quickly.
It's Valentines Day Steve and you up early having a date with a new pair of speakers. =) Thanks for the review.
Great Tone Poem album, Great Mandolins and Archtops sound revealing
"Time has come today." I love the Chambers Brothers reference.
A great review. You can't have just one pair of speakers. They are like guitars...They all sound different.
Always Enjoy these vids especially new music like Slow Joe
Happy with "Slow joe & ...". Thanks, I m testing my new Klipsch rp-600m.
I have only quite recently bought a pair of LS6/F and what can I say… I’m lost for words. I would be a rubbish reviewer. I have 3 amps and these sound great with the little Rega io. Though I’ve settled on the Temple Audio Bantam One - A lovely little 100w Class D. Handmade in Manchester, England. They fit together beautifully.
I couldn't help but wonder if you had been listening to The Chambers Brothers, Time has come today. Nice review, that just has a look of quality.
Thanks for this great review, Steve. You are my fave! And thnx for turning me on to Slow Joe. I totally hear the Jim Morrison (if he were 60) and Iggy Pop references .
I'm diggin the Tok Tok Tok. Thanks for the recommendation!
Ok you got me at "marrying the speaker" I'm done and out. Beautiful speakers indeed.
Steve, Thanks for the music recommendations!
Last episode you talked about meeting David Lynch, it would be the coolest thing to see you interview him about music. I wonder if he'd be down or if he just keeps too busy, he is a hard man to read.
I dig your 45 adapter lapel pin! Choice!
Another great review! Ill be looking up slow joe later this afternoon.
Steve, great review. Could you hold the CD jackets still for just a moment? I'd like to see what the jackets look like, but your arms are doing the windmill thing.
Could use pause... works for me.
You touched up a bit on the f version but did you actually get a chance to listen to it or other speakers in the line-up? Should we assume that everything you said about the sound profile of this speaker, would be valid for the f version? But only fuller or more room filling version of it or would the cabinet geometry becoming bigger actually change the sound profile at all ?
No, I never heard the F version. I assume they sound very similar
Evidently, there are no shitty speakers, no overpriced speakers and no bad audio equipment, period.
Exactly.... 2 drive units cost £60 ... Plus wooden boxes .... Retail price £3000 ... Bargain
@@edwardbalboa5528 you are right! Retail mark up (40-50%), design , r&d, logistics, marketing, wages, benefits ALL ZERO pounds.
Also forgot taxes and profit margin. But other than that. Spot on
I wouldn't pay that much TOO High,🤤
@@dcfcdunk Yeah, good point. Even though the materials may be cheap, the business & manufacturing end isn't. If ppl are so cranky and bitter about someone trying to earn a decent living maybe they'd be better off making their own speakers
How about a Graham Audio LS6/f review?
Sounds interesting.
One of my favorite acoustic sessions was “Song to John” on the 1975 Stanley Clarke solo album “ with the late Chick Corea (RIP) piano, John McLaughlin acoustic guitar, and Stanley Clark Bass. It was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in NYC and it was a session(s) of three virtuoso artists who lifted the jazz trio to the level of chamber music finesse and refinement (much like the elegant Modern Jazz Quartet recordings). Many are not familiar this third Stanley Clarke solo album but for me the acoustic “Song to John” (co-written by Clarke and Corea) is especially noteworthy. But hey that’s just me 🤔😉
Bet this cut would be really special on these Chartwell speakers.
Not unfamiliar at all.😉 Love the exchanges on the 2nd part. Corea (RIP) and McLaughlin are "way up there" to me.
@@jerryjazzbo2845 Those guys hit a rare level. It’s like listening to three scientists having an intellectual discussion of things we can’t understand but appreciate and are in awe of their perceptions, observations, and knowledge.
Steve some say the stands can make a big difference with these speakers. Graham Audio recommend open frame stands so that the bottom of the cabinet is not constrained. Unfortunately they’re hard to come by in this specific size unless you have them built. Apparently Gig Harbour Audio makes a metal frame stand for them. I was thinking of making some myself from wood.
They're a bit unconventional, but Mapleshade Records makes some very nice solid wood stands for speakers like this.
Even though they are unconventional, they have garnered at least one or two good reviews that I have been able to find. : )
For UK listeners, Something Solid make brilliant open-frame metal stands for P3ESR and other Harbeths, and other makes, so might suit these too.
Hey Steve, nice video as always! As a suggestion, it would be great to make a video about the LS3/5A and its numerous versions.
$3400 a pair. OUCH!!!!! Dealer mark-up is 60%.
Probably more. Rediculous pricing.
@@drazenbabich I'd buy the best Scan Speak kits. 😂
The graham's are worth every penny!!!
Screams vintage as far as the looks. The high frequency switch reminds me of name tags from the 70s.
Steve, thanks for letting us know what artists you play. Hoping to get to listen to Sons of Kemet! And maybe something from Slow Joe!
Love the ‘Tok Tok Tok’, album. I think your comparison to Sade is accurate, I think it’s Sade with a good dose of Rickie Lee Jones. It’s fantastic!
Hey Steve, while I appreciate your commentary I wish you and other reviewers would do a professional studio sound check for us to hear and compare for ourselves. Using a Neve console with Neumann U-87 mics and Mogami cables with Neutrik connectors is one possible setup to isolate the audio details for each cabinet. All talk and no action just doesn't cut it for me, bro! I've been betrayed too many times for taking someone else's word for it. And I'm not about to spend 3 grand to find out.
When I compared all the audiophile monitors, the B&W Nautilus 805 was the only speaker I've ever heard that sounds superb in every genre of music: from symphonic, jazz, fusion, rock, R&B, & country, to classical piano, which is most difficult for speakers to handle the fast transients. And if you add a Dynaudio active subwoofer those 45 foot wavelengths @ 27 Hz will give a superlative listening experience.
They look like my old Epos ES-11's....classic British design.
You and Herb should do reviews together, like Siskel and Ebert style. Maybe like every Friday.
Tubes and Herb or something:)
That would be truly terrific.
1 of my "Live" Velvet Unferground L.P.'s was recorded in a club (Max's?) & it's the only V.U. 'live' L.P. i've got or heard. It says on it's back cover "This performance was recorded by an audience member on a Phillip's portable mono cassette recorder..." & goes on to say why & how they decided to release it officially. Surprisingly good sound if a little lacking in top-end treble sparkle & deep bass!
Ah, I see you play a little guitar
The tweeter looks similar to that in the current Spendor speakers.
Considering Derick Hughes is son of Spencer and Dorothy = Spendor
Great intro!
These speakers 'threw me' on a dem session.
I had gone to a local hifi supplier to listen to the Neat Iota Alpha. Pretty quirky at just 18in high for a floor stander.
The dealer had some 2nd hand LS6 traded in, up at £1200, which seemed a very fair price.
I listened to them, and then got stuck into this dilemma about choice. I liked both speakers.
In the end I went for some other Neat floor standers, but looking back, I think I should have bought the Grahams. They just sounded right somehow.
Would you say these excel primarily with live classical and jazz, or could oldies be played with them?
I only have 3 words to say: Tok Tok Tok!
the enclosure is that bad ?
I have purchased the LS 6 speakers and I’m wondering if the Hegel 95 or 120 would be a good amplifier to match the speakers with. I’m primarily interested in an amplifier that will preserve the LS 6’s lush mid range. Thank you.
With what amp you ended op?
I ended up purchasing an Atoll In100 amplifier (a French company). I bought it after doing the usual research (very good reviews), because it has sufficient power to drive the LS 6 (87 db’s) and it pairs well with the mellow sound of the LS6. It’s in a pretty big room, but I sit only 6 feet or so from the speakers. I like the pairing very much and always look forward to listening sessions. But I’m afraid my comments will be of limited value to you because these are the first speakers I’ve ever owned and so I have no basis for comparison, I’m not a a knowledgeable audiophile and my ears, along the rest of me, are quite old. Having said that,I like the combination very much. Thanks for asking. 😮
@@michaelswitzer3186 My tip. If you are happy and look forward to listening sessions, keep this set and don't look further. A lot of HiFi people suffer from HiFi OCD. They obsessively want to improve sound. But if you have spend the vast amount of money you did, just grow old together. Have fun.
I want them to send you that LS5/5 for review. THAT'S an interesting speaker.
It's funny people complaing about the price based purely on the looks. As if a flashier looking speaker is worth more money. If someone really wants acoustic instruments and voices to sound like the real deal, good luck finding that for cheaper. Some more affordable widebanders could probably do it, but those have limitations that these wouldn't have.
Hi Steve, could you please review speakers built by Davis Acoustics from France please? They make incredible sounding speakers.
Try a KUDOS C10 another great British speaker. Next Level AV has those similar size but goes down to 40htz at about $3000 ish and a good sensitivity 87 db.
I find it interesting that the foam surround is inverted like it is on my old Ohm C2 speakers that also has a 3 level tweeter switch but has a 10 inch woofer and and was a 3 way with a low tweeter (not midrange) and a super tweeter and sound great , when adjusted for inflation would cost almost what this one costs.
I have the Walsh ohm 1000’s running with a Denafrips Thallo amplifier and Schiit Freya + preamp, best sound I’ve ever had…Thallo leaves my Kinki Studio EX-M 1 integrated amp in the dust…Steve was very impressed with the Ohm 2000’s.
Where do they get the price from?
City Of London vault.
I think I'll go for the Dayton audio speakers that you recommended Steve and save myself a little money😮
So Steve, do you mean this speaker is better than Kef LS50W II used as nearfield monitors?
THANKS from Copenhagen.
Ha. I had the same thought.
Everybody just buy Wharfedale EVO speakers ! They are the best under 4000$ !
Hi Steve. How would you compare LS 6 to kef ls50 meta? Would it be worth the upgrade from ls50 metas?
Steve, what are your personal gages/meters that you use when addressing so many different audio products ?
what do you think of the JBL PS1400 with the attached PT800 their about 20 years did you ever review them back in the day?
hi Steve. what power did you Try will a class a passlab works well? which one works best?
he steve i like you reviews. one question why not a review from ATC speakers ???
I hope to in coming months
Price range aside, how would you compare these to Elac unifi 2.0
sounds like great speakers with tubes
Best bookshelves I ever heard were the Brigadier Mu2. Though they are around £5,000 GBP. Wonder how they compare.
Do you think there is a definite 2x improvement with these 3k speakers over say a 1.5k speaker?
Or is it a case of diminishing returns?
Funny! Is a $200,000 Ferrari twice as fast as $100,000 Corvette? Of course not! There’s $100,000 watch keep better time and a $10,000 watch?
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Sounds like it's more along the lines of "You get what you pay for". : )
Everything has a value and that value is whatever seems appropriate for the parameters a product’s profile. Someone will agree with the value and price point and take ownership of a highly valued product and certainly will be very complimentary towards its performance characteristics. So if something costs 3k it’s likely the owner of 3k speakers will tout the characteristics of the product so it becomes justifiable. For me I can’t afford a 3k speaker but I can appreciate a product that is well over my budget.
Happy Valentine’s Day to Everyone.
Thanks Steve for another great review.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac As Steve is implying, a 1.5k speaker and a 3k speaker both playback music. It is a matter of what you get out of the experience. Not everyone will necessarily agree on what experience they will enjoy the most. Or in some cases enjoy different experiences depending on what mood they are in.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac You just described the law of diminishing return, it is real.
Steve, Interesting that you used low-powered amps with the LS 6, which I think Graham Audio recommends 50-150 Watts amplifiers. I think it would have been a bit helpful to get your take on this speaker with a 100 Watt amp to compare to the 12 Watt tube integrate. i was thinking of matching this with the Raven Blackhawk integrated at 20 Watts or their Osprey at 30 Watts if the 20 Watt option was "under powered". I don't know what Paul Graham would think about a 12 Watt amp with these monitors, I know Alan Shaw would roll his eyes and shake his head in disbelief.
I like the music suggestions. I’m always looking for new music to try
Hi Steve, Can you please put a list of the music you mention down below so we can easily search for those artists? Thanks.
Am loving the VU Matrix tapes. Thanks! Sounds like the same tour as on the Live 1969 album, by far my favourite VU material. Such egoless playing by all. Cheers!
So I have a question for you Steve… Did you like the speakers?😉
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay
sPhErE...?!
Tok Tok Tok, wow ! How did you come up with that cd, from my home now, Hannover Germany
Hold the albums up there for a second or two longer so I don’t have to keep rewinding:)
Pause !
You could not have always...have they been around that long?. Harbeth Spendor Stirling Broadcast Falcon Acoustics. All have classic British speakers.
Sounds more like Guttenburg the audio salesman instead of Guttenburg the audio reviewer/critic. How about a few disclaimers.
Dave Grisman is great. Listen to his first album. One of my favorites. Dave played all the time with Jerry Garcia. There is a version of him doing Coltrane's "Naima" on Grisman '80. I've seen him a couple of times. Also, the 50th anniversary of Workingman's dead, American Beauty and Stage Fright are all worth listening to them. My friend's band backed up Lou Reed right before Transformer album. They have the most famous Lou Reed bootleg with the "Tot's. This is not the best recording and you can hear the w wind blowing but a great show. They do an acoustic version of "So What" ruclips.net/video/PJl-zvWLitY/видео.html
Would now be a good time to ask for a review of Harbeth SHL5plus XD ...?
Hey Paul, I owned the earlier 5s as well as the 7s & P3s & in all honesty the 5s were a real disappointment. I think the M30s are the best of the Harbeths for their standpoints but they are 6000.00 plus if I'm not mistaken, far too much in all honesty. These Grahams are defiantly worth listening to.
3500? Good god. Do they come with a lap dance? Hahahahaha
They don't need to, their worth every penny!!!
What happened to the Buchardt S400 review? Was there something technically wrong with the review unit? Did you send them back to Mads without a review due to Availability issues in the US?
I decided not to do the review, lots of reviews out there, I didn’t feel I need to join the chorus
the smaller Graham Audio BBC LS3/5 could be the only speaker I need for the rest of my life ... if they weren't so expensive at around 3,000 EURO/pair
Ls6. Chevy 454 big block Chevelle
Proac tablette 10 signature vs graham ls6? ....somebody know
Look at its stands.They look the same as the Epos ES14 stands from 40 years ago!I am sure that Epos ES14 won't sound worst than these!
@GOTT MIT UNS My ones as well!My ones are with upgraded tweeter caps and they sound even better.They create magical sound for sure.There are another speakers that i am after.The Merilin TSM MXM,but they are twice the price (used) and i am not sure if i am gonna like their sound compared to Epos ES14.
One dealer in the US
Ridiculous high price
Quality costs money Edward.
You're not going to buy anything like them, so why comment about the price? Enjoy your $250 Elacs (without ever knowing what a great sounding speaker sounds like compared to just a good sounding one does).
Quality ...yes ...but 2 drive units in a wooden box should never cost £3000 .... I use Epos speakers, they make their own drive units ,. Which need no crossover...and cost less than £1000 .... Anyone selling a wooden box with off the shelf drive units for £3900 is ripping you off .... You can build these speakers for £250
If you don’t have money don’t complain about price.
Worth every fckng penny!!!
How about the Chartwell model LS 5/5? Pricey devil.
Any speaker with LS in the name rules! I've lived for 30 years with LS3/6 variants - the Spendor SP1/2 and Stirling LS3/6 and they both serve the music beautifully.