BTW, how do you like the Bacch system? I demoed it, and Edgar couldn't have been nicer or more helpful, but apparently balanced ears are a requirement and I have significant high-frequency loss in my left ear, a congenital thing. Because of this I could not hear the effect--at all!
Advice on Sterling LS3/6
I learned on a UK Spendor forum that Derek Hughes is retiring and closing down Sterling Broadcast. They are clearing out inventory at excellent prices - mostly LS3/5a V2 and V3, but also a few other models. I'm looking at the LS3/6. The regular price for the LS3/6 is $6000/pair and the sale price is $3300 (plus $600 shipping to the US).
One pair of LS3/6 have been shipped to Jeff Stake, a dealer in Indiana. I told Jeff I may be interested, but I've never heard them. I could drive down to audition them (I live in Chicago) but I thought I'd check on Agon to see if others have experience with them.
I currently have Spendor SP3/5 R2 speakers in a small room. The LS3/6 would go in a new listening room, 17x23 ft. I will be using them with Bacch4Mac and a solid state amp (undecided, but probably Starcrimson monoblocks). Qobuz is the source, over a Bluesound streamer with LPS and English 8 switch. I'll use the Bacch's RME DAC. I like vocals (Melody Gardot), Argentine Tango (Gotan Project), Van Morrison, Duke Ellington. Seldom crank it up.
To my mind, the real alternative is a Harbeth 30.x or C7ES3. At Axpona I heard a Spendor Classic series (not sure which) that I really liked but the cost is beyond my budget (over $10k). Any comments would be welcome.
Latest review of the Stirling LS3/6 is from The Absolute Sound (where the retail price is listed as $9995):
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- 27 posts total
Buy them. No brainer at that price, given your goals / budget. Gig Harbor Audio will make nice stands for you that will further upgrade them. I am very familiar with the Hughes designed Graham LS8/1, which many BBC connoisseurs feel is the pinnacle of the Spendor BC-1 lineage of speakers (i.e., two cubic foot box w/8" woofer, 1" tweeter). I haven't listened to the Stirling, but I expect you will get a lot of performance from them for $4k (closer to $6k if you get really good stands). Great value proposition, enjoy them in good health. |
I’ve been using Quicksilver tube amps for years with any BBC type speaker that I have owned. The Mid Mono tube mono blocks would be a nice pairing with those Stirlings. My friend is using this solid state Van Alstine with his Harbeth M30s. Both of these brands are worth a look. BTW, they are not balanced if that is what you really need! Vision SET 120 Power Amplifier – Audio by Van Alstine (avahifi.com)
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Yes, I also use the Mid Monos with the Stirling LS3/6 and they sound wonderful. For some strange reason, however, they do not match very well with the MC275, With the stock Mcintosh tubes, allegedly made by J J, the sound is too bass heavy. Or it might be my room, I do not know. The Quicksilver are really a perfect match with the LS3/6 if one decides to go with tubes. |
- 27 posts total