Naim Nait II and LS3/5A
jy...@asiaonline.net
I have a main Nait II and is looking at buying a used LA3/5A.
Will the Nait II drive the 3/5A comfortably? My musical taste
is:
Chamber Music 45%
Orchastral Music 35%
Jazz Music 15%
Pop Music 5%
Also any advise on which vintage and brand to get? Price
expected?
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
khows...@zdnetmail.com
jy...@asiaonline.net wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience with the above combination?
> I have a main Nait II and is looking at buying a used LA3/5A.
> Will the Nait II drive the 3/5A comfortably? My musical taste
> is:
> Chamber Music 45%
> Orchastral Music 35%
> Jazz Music 15%
> Pop Music 5%
> Also any advise on which vintage and brand to get? Price
> expected?
Part of the answer lies in what size room and how loud. However, I
have a fine old Naim 110 that is not rated much above 30-35 wpc which
made my brother's pair of Rogers LS3/5A's sing quite nicely in a
20X15 room. I tend to listen to orchestral at a less-than-realistic
level, so chamber should be less of a problem. Just don't expect
big, thudding bass.
--
K. Howson-Jan
André Jean Quintal
[ . . . ]
| Will the Nait II drive the LS3/5A comfortably?
1 / Note the Rogers LS3/5a, and clones, need electronics
that are at ease with speakers presenting one of the wildest
impedance curve ever, from 3 to above 15 ohm . . .
2 / If it were possible, try to switch to NAIM s-e-p-a-r-a-t-e-s,
most especially with such a load as the LS3/5a's,
even their 30 watt would be great.
Traditionally, you would most probably have been
offered Sugden, QUAD, Meridian, Radford, NAIM,
and comparable competitors, to maximize and justify the
magnificent LS3/5a.
Actually, something capable of 20+ w.p.c. at 15 ohms
would be what you need.
Well chosen tube electronics would be nice, too.
Dynaco ST70 / ST80 / Mk III blocks comes to mind,
obviously Conrad-Johnson and Audio Research would fly.
My used choice would be a Sugden A25 - A45 or a QUAD 34/405
or 34/306 combi, or the less frequent Meridian 103/105,
if life-like sound and dependability are dominant factors.
Actually, get the very best you can afford !
The LS3/5a possibly are the ultimate audiophile "classic"
in Europe, along with the QUAD 22 and Linn Sondek LP12.
The better the electronics and source,
the better the end product.
Hope this helps,
Andre Jean Quintal
--
Before you judge me,
try hard to love me,
look within your heart then ask,
have you seen my childhood.
Michael Jackson
Stewart Pinkerton
>jy...@asiaonline.net wrote:
>[ . . . ]
>| Will the Nait II drive the LS3/5A comfortably?
>
> 1 / Note the Rogers LS3/5a, and clones, need electronics
> that are at ease with speakers presenting one of the wildest
> impedance curve ever, from 3 to above 15 ohm . . .
Excuse me? The LS3/5A is one of the most tightly specified
loudspeakers ever designed, and its impedance most certainly does
*not* drop below 8 ohms at any frequency (about 9 ohms at 150 Hz, in
fact). It does indeed vary wildly, to more than 50 ohms at around 65
and 600Hz, but it does *not* have any of the evil low-impedance dips
which characterise say Thiel designs. The LS3/5A is quoted at 15 ohms
average, and this is a fair description, although the combination of
no deep bass, 82dB sensitivity and 50 watt maximum power rating does
mean that you're not going to annoy the neighbours!
Bottom line, a NAIT II will struggle to provide decent sound levels,
and the inevitable clipping may destroy the tweeter. Note that rumour
suggests that the KEF T27 tweeter may not be available as a spare any
longer!
> My musical taste is:
> Chamber Music 45%
> Orchastral Music 35%
> Jazz Music 15%
> Pop Music 5%
Although I wouldn't normally recommend tube amps, I can imagine few
sweeter combinations for chamber music or acoustic jazz than the
LS3/5A and the C-J MV-55.
> Also any advise on which vintage and brand to get? Price
> expected?
Some people are very partisan about brands, but the whole point of the
LS3/5A specification is that you can take any two units from any
licensed manufacturer and they will make a well-matched stereo pair.
It follows that condition is more important than brand. Price is not
predictable, but should certainly be less than $500 for a used pair.
--
Stewart Pinkerton | Music is art, audio is engineering
LKern2253
suspect you are a bit confused after the re-
sponses, but I'll add my two-cents worth.
The LS 3/5A is a fine speaker,but lacks a
"bottom" end, and it is no longer made via
Rodgers. You might be wise to contact Mike
Pranka...pranka@i1.com....distributor for
Exposure and Neat speakers. You might find
the contact to be very rewarding in sound
satisfaction and price. Any questions feel free
to ask me....
Bert
dun...@aol.com
jy...@asiaonline.net wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience with the above combination?
> I have a main Nait II and is looking at buying a used LA3/5A.
>
> is:
>
> Chamber Music 45%
> Orchastral Music 35%
> Jazz Music 15%
> Pop Music 5%
>
> expected?
Just to add another element to the exchange . I have owned a pair of
ls3/5a's for 20 years, and just purchased a pair of much cheaper Sound
Dynamics RTS-3's whilst in Canada, home of their manufacturer. These have
been praised by both the Absolute Sound and The Sensible Sound in recent
issues, comparing them to the ls3/5as, so after a brief and positive
audition, I thought, what the hell , at a little over 200 US$. how much am I
out? When I got them back to LA, I was able to compare them against my
Rogers. I should mention that the rest of my set up is not exactly high end;
A 10 year old Nak cd player driving the power amp stage of an old Kenwood
receiver, all soon to be replaced. Immediate impressions with the RTS-3's
were a more extended bottom end, (requiring care with room placement), &
greater efficiency (which is of benefit to you). I'm afraid the ls3/5a's
suffered in the comparison. I did compensate for the greater effiency in my
comparison, so that wasn't a factor. I may be seduced by some clever
engineering sleigt of hand, that will eventually grow tiring, but they are a
remarkable product for the $, and are worth a listen before you commit to
the ls3/5a's. They aren't widely available yet in the US, but can be
ordered thru the Audio Advisor. Happy listening.