It is an iconic pair of monitors which started in the early 1970s and was used by BBC for their outdoor broadcasting vans as they require high sound quality of their broadcasts. Rogers LS3 5A even has contemporary clones made by various reputable brands such as KEF, Linn, Spendor, and more. This legendary pair of studio monitors even inspired KEF to design and build KEF LS50 which is now a legend on its own.
Even though is made for commercial use and specifically designed for BBC, LS3 5A still makes it to the homes/studios of audiophiles and enthusiasts. With an estimated circulation of over 100,000 pairs, this shows how sought-after the sound quality is and why until now there is still a large loyal following. We are going to delve further into the sound quality of Rogers LS3 5A and find out how they have managed to enchant so many audiophiles over the years, and why they become an inspiration to KEF.
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Rogers LS3 5A Review
Rogers LS3 5A still has that iconic and vintage look, the build quality is still top-notch as well, with the speaker cabinet properly tuned to ensure the highest accuracy of sound reproduction. Another unique feature of these monitors will be the sealed enclosure which does limit the bass response and extension (down to 80Hz only). To boost the bass, you may like to place it near the wall but we decided to give it the recommended breathing space for front-ported bookshelf speakers. The true sonic quality of Rogers LS3 5A was never really about the bass as it is always about the transparency. With this in mind, we started playing.
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Immediately awestruck by how transparent and neutral these monitors sound, we are hearing everything with crystal clear clarity. Accurate tonal balance and very expressive, the vocals sounded natural, the reverbs and delays were reproduced exactly what the artists have intended. The sound reproduction of the vocals is so beautiful, we just keep feeding songs after songs but when it came to bad mixes, Rogers LS3 5A is not forgiving, you will hear the flaws. The soundstage has that 3D feel, not those DSP virtual sound formats, this is the real deal. The soundstage is filled with details, giving you an immersive and lifelike sound reproduction, as it pulls you into the music. The amount of realism that the Rogers LS3 5A can deliver to you, lets you want to close your eyes and just listen to your favorite songs and fall in love with them again.
Rogers LS3 5A delivers a much weightier bass than expected, tight, rich, and with agility. The bass reproduction is musically fun to listen to but not as accurate as expected. We were wondering if adding a sealed subwoofer to supplement the bass and also to take charge of reproducing the low-frequency range between 20Hz-80Hz, will make the overall sound quality better. It will require fast and accurate sealed subs such as Rythmik Audio F12SE to match the musicality and transparency of Rogers LS3 5A, is a pity we don’t have such a sub at our disposal.
Next will be the vinyl records playback, as expected the vocals sounded magical with a bit of warmth but it could be too clinical and neutral for listeners who are used to warm-sounding speakers. The greatness and flaws of the vinyl recording are all out on the table, still, the lifelike vocals and realism delivered by this pair of monitors are astounding, it is definitely worth the trade in my opinion.
LS3 5A will be an amazing addition to your home audio system, whether is for casual listening or professional use, the exceptional sound performance and lifelike realism will be more than enough to leave you satisfied and wanting for more. It doesn’t sound as ‘thin’ as other sealed speakers and not as bright sounding too. Due to the limitation of the monitors’ bass, having a subwoofer into the mix may improve the overall bass performance of your sound system but it is recommended that you audition such a combination first before really deciding to get one. Or you can patiently wait for Roger’s new and improved AB3a Active Subwoofer System, which is currently in production.
Rogers LS3 5A Specifications
- System Type: 2-way infinite baffle
- Frequency Response: 80 Hz – 20 KHz (+/-3dB)
- Nominal Impedance: 15Ω
- Tweeter | Bass/Midrange: 19mm Mylar Dome | 110mm Bextrene Cone
- Sensitivity: 82.5dB (1w/1m)
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 305mm x 190mm x 165mm (12″ x 7.5″ x 6.5″)
- Weight: 10.8lbs (4.9kg)
Rogers Speakers Review
Rogers HiFi has produced a variety of HiFi products but the most famous of them all will be their speakers, specifically their LS3 5A. Rogers speakers are exceptionally accurate and transparent as they need to meet the standards set by BBC in the past and now used as a benchmark. Rogers LS3 5A has limitations in the bass department due to their 2-way infinite baffle speaker system but this gives them unrivaled transparency and accuracy, delivering sound quality with such lifelike realism.
Another model that was produced and with better bass performance, will be Rogers LS5/9 which is a 2-way bass-reflex system with incredible clarity throughout the frequency response. Even with the deeper bass extension, the Rogers LS5/9 still can’t really beat the legendary Rogers LS3 5A in terms of sound quality. The highs are a bit lackluster probably due to the limited treble extension of only up to 16kHz at +/-3dB. Both are excellent monitors but I will stick with Rogers LS3 5A.
With the upcoming newly improved Rogers AB3a active subwoofer, LS3 5A is going to receive an upgrade and finally ‘removing’ its bass limitation. A full range Rogers LS3/5A, really can’t wait to get our hands on both of them and be finally able to try out bass-heavy movie soundtracks composed by Hans Zimmer, Junkie XL, etc. I truly believe it will be quite a performance and a memorable one.
There aren’t many speaker options like other brands, Rogers sticks to what they do best and improves on it. Giving their fans and professionals what they want and really need. If you love sound reproduction that is truly lifelike, transparent, and neutral, Rogers speakers are excellent choices for you and worthy of your considerations.
Rogers LS3 5A Vs KEF LS50
Both award-winning monitors have been praised by critics and loved by many, with accolades under their belt, which monitor is better than the other. Can KEF LS50 which is greatly inspired by LS3/5A have better sonic performance or will it be Rogers LS3/5A which uses KEF drivers in the past? Rogers LS3 5A has better overall transparency and slightly more neutral than KEF LS50. Nothing escapes LS3 5A, every single detail of your recordings and mixes are revealed clear as day. The Rogers LS3 5A may be more revealing and clinical but the KEF LS50 packs more weight and has a higher bass output. The scale and weight of the bass been reproduced by LS50 has slightly more impact as well.
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Both monitors reproduce tight and agile bass, just that KEF LS50 has slightly more punch to it. Ultimately for music performance and professional use, either one will be amazing. Rogers LS3 5A is more transparent and has more of that British sound signature. If we look at KEF LS50 Meta, the transparency and clarity have been improved significantly. It still has all the strengths and merits of its predecessor. In this case, the clear winner will be KEF LS50 Meta as firstly the overall sound performance is slightly better and another important factor will be how good these LS50s look. You can easily integrate the KEF LS50 Meta into any modern homes and studios, catching the eyes of your guests, impressing them with the monitors’ gorgeous speaker cabinet design.
More Details at Amazon – KEF LS50 Meta
There is no doubt that KEF LS50s are more suited for modern homes unless you prefer the vintage/retro aesthetics then Rogers LS3 5A will be a great asset for your home interiors.
Rogers LS3 5A 15 Ohm
At 15 Ohms impedance, you will think it will be easy to drive Rogers LS3 5A, in theory, it is true and the Rogers E20a/ii which is a valve amplifier with 18 Watts per channel Class A (8 Ohms 1KHz 3% THD) will be able to drive them but not at loud volumes. LS3 5A sensitivity is only at 82.5dB/W/M and you will require a lot of power to hit a certain level of loudness. For normal music listening without too high peaks, it should be fine and dandy for low power output valve amplifiers. Usually low power Class A valve amps such as Rogers E20a/ii will be good enough but for Class AB or Class D, you might want to consider getting more power output.
Rogers LS3 5A 15 Ohm are classic vintage speakers and their nominal impedance is already a big giveaway, amazing for Class A valve amplifiers as their midrange sound reproduction is almost perfect. I am not saying they are not great for modern music but these days, most of them have really heavy bass mixed into them, you will really need a subwoofer paired with Rogers LS3/5A to truly enjoy them.
In Conclusion
The realism and crystal clear clarity is simply hard to resist, with the addition of matching subwoofers like Rogers AB3a, the legendary Rogers LS3 5A will still be highly sought after for years to come. Still, with the clinical nature and price point, it will be difficult to be accepted by the mainstream customers but still within reach of any of them who wishes to upgrade or have converted to vinyl enthusiasts.
This pair of legendary monitors will hold a special place in our hearts, we will always remember how pristine and clean they sound. You should go check them out and have a listen, from there you will understand how we have felt, and maybe you will fall in love with Rogers LS3 5A as well.
