GRAHAM LS3 SWISSTONE

Pre owned. In good condition. Minor signs of wear on the corners, as also shown in the photos. Supplied with non-original but compatible packaging.

The LS3 is a compact two-way sealed-box loudspeaker that draws on many principles of classic BBC designs, simplifying the more expensive aspects and dispensing with any official licensing, with the aim of delivering much of the sonic experience of the LS3/5 and LS3/5a at a significantly more accessible price. It is not a scaled-down LS3/5a in the strict sense, as it features a piano-gloss finish and a cabinet that is deeper than it is wide, offering a modern reinterpretation of the original proportions, yet it still places the listener very close to that unmistakable tonal balance.

The design is by Derek Hughes, as with other Graham Audio models, and employs a 19 mm SEAS soft-dome tweeter paired with a 130 mm polypropylene mid-bass driver manufactured and treated by Graham Audio, with the actual production deliberately undisclosed. The loudspeaker is single-wired and fitted with gold-plated multi-way binding posts. The cabinet is one of the main distinguishing elements, with the drivers mounted flush on the front baffle and a magnetically attached, stand-off grille intended primarily for protection rather than critical listening, where removal is recommended.

Its dimensions allow the use of stands designed for the LS3/5a by simply rotating the top plate, and the speaker benefits from a short running-in period that helps to integrate and smooth its overall performance. The general approach is to condense the sonic character of the LS3/5a into a more affordable design, and this goal is largely achieved, especially in vocal reproduction, which has always been a defining strength of BBC loudspeakers.

The LS3 reproduces speech with excellent clarity, articulation, and sensitivity to microdynamics, presenting male voices with good body and a slight reinforcement in the upper-bass region that adds presence and warmth, while female voices are rendered with correct timbre, pitch accuracy, and naturalness. With solo instruments such as piano, a character very close to that of the LS3/5a also emerges, offering a full, projected, and engaging sound, albeit with less refinement in the handling of the most delicate decays.

With more complex and orchestral music, the LS3 proves surprisingly capable of conveying a greater sense of weight and low-frequency presence than the LS3/5a, while revealing a bass response that is not entirely strict but intentionally pleasing, slightly emphasized to make listening more enjoyable and involving. This choice gives the speaker a lively and communicative character, far removed from the bland neutrality of many designs aimed at sounding inoffensive.

The LS3 stands out as an independent, modern loudspeaker with an excellent price-to-performance balance, capable of playing louder than the historic models without betraying their philosophy, and well suited to listeners seeking the engagement and character of a classic British compact speaker combined with solid tonal honesty inspired by the BBC tradition.

Technical specifications:

• Configuration: 2-way; sealed enclosure
• Frequency response: 70 Hz – 20 kHz (±3 dB)
• Sensitivity: 83 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)
• Maximum sound pressure level (SPL): 96 dB (pair at 2 m)
• Woofer: 110 mm polypropylene; die-cast aluminum basket
• Tweeter: 19 mm SEAS soft-dome (exclusive)
• Connection terminals: premium multi-way binding posts; compatible with banana plugs, spades, and bare wire
• Dimensions: 30.4 cm (H) × 16.5 cm (W) × 19.5 cm (D)
• Weight: 5.3 kg per speaker