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Harbeth P3ESR versus LS3/5a by Rogers/Falcon/Sterling/etc

The P3ESR has been described as the best evolution of the 3/5 (or some similar wordings), and some of the Falcons (Gold Badge or ?) have been described as the best version of the LS3/5a.  
 

so which is “better”. Or perhaps better stated, which do you prefer? And why?  
 

If it influences your comments, I would be driving them with AtmaSphere class D monos with a Conrad Johnson ET7 tube preamp

meiatflask
meiatflask OP
187 posts
 

@mlsstl @donquichotte - appreciate your comments and thoughts.  I really don’t know much about any of the Spendors and have never listened to any of them. And have not seen them very often in the used markets. By contrast, I have listened to Harbeths on many occasions, read many reviews, and seen them often on the used markets.  
 

I wonder why that is?  Better distribution and marketing networks in the US I suspect

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jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,839 posts
 

@meiatflask : Mine are 11 ohms as stated on their backs. The 15 ohm versions used an autoformer on the woofer.

mlsstl
1,579 posts
 

I think Spendor has been through a couple of different US importers/distributors over the years and this has affected how widely they've been marketed here.  I bought my pair from Gene Rubin Audio. They still sell Spendor but it looks like the price on the 4/5 has zoomed upwards quite a bit. 

jastralfu's avatar
jastralfu
562 posts
 

I have a pair of Falcon Q7 Gold Badge that I think sound really good.  I rotate them in for something different from my Fritz Rev7SEs.  The Q7 is the LS3/5a in a slightly larger cabinet with a slightly deeper response. The Q7 has very similar x characteristics to the LS3/5a  but significantly cheaper as a build kit or prebuilt from Falcon.  They are 15ohms I believe.  

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