Stirling Broadcast - LS3/5a V2 Speakers

"…Stirling returned to its origins: the V2's may be the only cabinets that are an exact copy, including materials and construction methods, of the Kingswood Warren cabinets used for the small number of very early LS3/5as that were manufactured at the BBC's in-house R&D center, units that have acquired near Arc-of-the-Covenant status among true believers. So, is the Stirling Broadcast LS3/5a V2 a true LS3/5a? The brief Derek Hughes was handed was or should have been impossible, yet the answer has to be a triumphant "Yes!" Even right out of the box the Stirlings are proud descendants of their royal lineage – the tactile midrange, the projected presence, the warm upper-bass, the stellar imaging, the deceptively large presentation – they're all back…Although it's been well over fifteen years since I've owned a pair, they were once one of several valued references and I've much enjoyed this recent reunion. To give the little devils their due, that old black magic that I once knew so well still weaves a pretty bewitching spell." – Paul Seydor, The Absolute Sound, November 2006, www.theabsolutesound.com

"Suffice it to say, Doug Stirling and his designer have, through careful deliberation and experimentation, produced a surrogate that even the most hidebound LS3/5a purist could not fail to admire." Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News, Sept 2005

"As a 15-year LS3/5a owner and lover, I'm delighted to be able to import the unique Stirling LS3/5a V2. If you have a small listening room or listen in the near-field and are on a limited budget, the Stirling LS3/5a V2 partnered with one of the new outstanding Cayin tube integrated amps will give you a thoroughly captivating listening experience. Buy these impeccably finished gems, and you'll remain in bliss for a lifetime." Clark Williams

September 2005 HFNRR review (page 1)
September 2005 HFNRR review (page 2)
September 2005 HFNRR review (page 3)

Click Here to View the Stirling Certificate

A BIT OF STIRLING HISTORY...

After a long history of repairing and servicing LS3/5a's from within both the professional and amateur arenas, Stirling Broadcast became involved in the manufacture of LS3/5a loudspeakers after purchasing and reselling the bankrupt Rogers stock as NOS. Once an LS3/5a License had been obtained from the BBC, Stirling Broadcast commissioned the manufacture of new T27 and B110 drive units from KEF and reintroduced the LS3/5a to the market, to enthusiastic reception. Shortly afterwards Stirling Broadcast began its path of innovation in the LS3/5a world by introducing higher quality crossovers, referred to as 'SuperSpec', and thin-walled, screw-back cabinets modelled after the prototype LS3/5a cabinets and as seen on the 001/002 pair demonstrated at the HiFi News shows of 2001 and 2002.

Following problems and uncertainties with the continuing supply of T27 and B110 drive units Stirling Broadcast have introduced an updated version of the LS3/5a, unofficially known as the V2. The designer, a luminary in the audio industry, has utilised specially prepared SEAS and ScanSpeak drive units with high grade crossovers that accurately mimic the response characteristics of the original versions. Indeed, feedback from professional and domestic customers so far has indicated that Stirling Broadcast has successfully managed to capture the best aspects of both versions of the LS3/5a, combining the faster and more modern sound of the 11ohm version with the seductive vocal abilities of the 15ohm version, and adding an improved and extended bass response and greater power handling for good measure.

This 'V2' version retains the LS3/5a License from the British Broadcasting Corporation and is suitable as a drop in replacement for any working pair of LS3/5as. Several professional broadcast establishments have already deployed pairs of 'V2' LS3/5a's into production environments