After leaving the vintage hifi gears for a while, the return of the vintage 755c Fullrange speakers and my son's interest in hifi have brought back my interest in vintage gears.
As a result, I have set out to search for a nice condition unmodified LS3/5a. The gold badge prices are way too high for me to consider. Since I only intend to get one set, my intention is to get one with nice cosmetic condition, all original, 15 ohms. The choice came down to the 15 ohms Rogers Black badge, which is the best choice from the point of view of performance versus price.
The Chartwell and gold badge prices are too high while the black badge is still reasonable given that these were produced during the peak of the LS3/5a production and it has been considered by many to be the most matured products among the LS3/5a. (黑牌Rogers LS3/5a 大約是1979-1980間產品，是Rogers品質最穩定的時期)
I was lucky as I have managed to buy from a collector who has over 30 set of LS3/5a and this set was bought from the UK with no modification at all. I was really worried about the 6 in 1 set where the components were sourced from all over the place and assembled into one.
Knowing the limitation of the SLS3/5a, these will be used mainly for the listening to the vocal, violin and light instruments. Originally, I was hoping to upgrade to a set of Fabian Accardo speakers priced around hK$48,000 (second hand price).
In the end I have decided to let go the idea as the speakers will need quite a high powered amplifier to drive it and it will mean a complete change over of all my amplifiers which I was not prepared to do. Moreover, the price is quite high and I need to find a better alternatives.
Since this is my third attempt with the LS3/5a ( the first was in Singapore with Harbath and Rogers LS3/5A, and the second attempts was during 2005-6 before I upgrade to the big Tannoy speakers), my plan is to keep these for life as good and original set is getting more difficult to find as there are so many sets with newly made wooden cabinets or with modifications.
Well, despite my desires to upgrade to modern speakers, I still have to eat the humble pie of coming back to these vintage gears. Even though I have went through the circle of search, I am glad to listen to these speakers again even though these speakers have deficiencies and limitations. After all, there is no perfect speakers that can fit all needs. As long as it can satisfy 90% of the needs, my guess is that its good enough. Enjoy! Haha, I am back with these little monsters...
Quote from a famous audiophile, which describes some of our feeling:
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/apophoto/27694076
以前年輕氣盛，只盲目追求刺激，也是年過四十不惑之年後，才能體會這種生命的韻味，魔力要比魅力還要更極致，它會直接憾動內心深處，每次聽它演繹的音樂，除了感動還有感傷，這無法用頻譜去量測，也無法用規格去標示，就像一種歲月之音，一種亙古而動人的旋律，簡單卻寧靜。我也總算明白，為何一些老玩家在看遍天下名器後，最後總是情歸ls3/5a，或許他們曾經歷太多驚濤駭浪，最後發現簡單才最是彌足珍貴。
我想起了二十多年前，香港雜誌上一句Rogers LS3/5a的廣告詞──「渺小見偉大」。
一路從好奇、追尋、迷惘、唾棄，到頓悟，其間花了我無以數計的金錢和十多年的歲月，一路上我與它分分合合，就像人與人間的緣份起滅，或許此時的相遇，是彼此最對的年歲，如果人的一生只能帶一對喇叭前往一座孤島，我會毫不猶豫舍下昂貴的guarneri而選3/5a。人生風雨已太多，恬靜的角落卻難求。
我想起了二十多年前，香港雜誌上一句Rogers LS3/5a的廣告詞──「渺小見偉大」。
一路從好奇、追尋、迷惘、唾棄，到頓悟，其間花了我無以數計的金錢和十多年的歲月，一路上我與它分分合合，就像人與人間的緣份起滅，或許此時的相遇，是彼此最對的年歲，如果人的一生只能帶一對喇叭前往一座孤島，我會毫不猶豫舍下昂貴的guarneri而選3/5a。人生風雨已太多，恬靜的角落卻難求。
Rogers Ls3/5a
金牌編號：099/100——so3185
黑牌編號：so3354ab——so16182,
白牌編號：so17408——so25337,(白肚臍)
小銀字母：so25294——030997（15欧）
031220——036029(標15歐，實際11歐)
大银字母：36321——42821(直标11歐，凸出式端子)
43082——050775
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