The SoundArtist LS3/5A ranks #119 out of 177 total Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers for sound quality. See all Passive Home rankings for every top pick.
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#119 SoundArtist LS3/5A: $569 per pair eBay
Pros: An inexpensive Chinese take on the BBC LS3/5A in a real wood cabinet, with deeper bass than the original design (63Hz at -3dB in Audio Science Review’s measurements, against 90.8Hz for the Rogers LS3/5A Classic) and even directivity (2.81dB variation in the directivity index). Measured bass extension of 63.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Audio Science Review measured an uneven response (0.68 band deviation) and a rough predicted in-room response, giving scores of 2.50 on its own and 4.92 with an ideal subwoofer, in line with the classic design rather than modern bookshelves. It is sold direct from China with no US retailer found.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 41.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 5” woofer, 0.75” dome tweeter (2-way, BBC LS3/5A layout) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.50 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.92 (spinorama.org) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the SoundArtist LS3/5A measures across the audible range. A flatter listening window (the sound arriving straight at you) is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. The estimated in-room response adds what a typical room does, and there a gentle, even tilt down toward the treble is ideal. Both curves are shifted so their 300 Hz to 3 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: spinorama.org, measured by Audio Science Review.
EQ for a Neutral Response
Flattens the measured listening window from the SoundArtist LS3/5A's own bass extension up to 16 kHz. Set a preamp of -3.2 dB, then add these filters to any parametric equalizer in the signal path: the speaker's app or DSP if it has parametric EQ, a miniDSP, Equalizer APO or Wavelet. Boosts are kept to 3 dB, and EQ cannot fix how evenly the speaker spreads sound off-axis, which is why some speakers gain more than others. Predicted preference score with this EQ: 4.4, up from 2.5 (6.8 with an ideal subwoofer, up from 4.9). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the spinorama measurements above.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| High shelf | 8,000 Hz | -0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 131 Hz | -6.8 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 840 Hz | -3.8 dB | 2.40 |
| Peak | 1,202 Hz | -2.4 dB | 4.00 |
| Peak | 2,095 Hz | +3.0 dB | 1.53 |
| Peak | 3,100 Hz | +2.1 dB | 2.58 |
| Peak | 5,215 Hz | -2.8 dB | 4.00 |
| Peak | 15,463 Hz | -3.8 dB | 2.72 |