BBC Research Department

The BBC have made many of their R&D Reports available online. These make fascinating reading for anyone interested in the history of the LS3/5A in particular and BBC loudspeaker design in general.

Of particular relevance to the LS3/5A are:

• RD1970/13 Acoustic scaling: General Outline
• RD1972/34 Acoustic Scaling: Instrumentation
• RD 1976/29 The design of the minature monitoring loudspeaker LS3/5A
• RD1977/3 Factors in the Design of Loudspeaker Cabinets
• RD1979/22 Design of the High-level Studio Monitoring Loudspeaker Type LS5/8
• RD1983/10 The Design of the Prototype LS5/9 Studio Monitoring Loudspeaker
• RD1988/14 On the Design of Loudspeakers for Broadcast Monitoring

Books

• KEF 50 Years of Innovation in Sound by Ken Kessler and Andrew Watson. Includes previously unseen material and photographs about the LS3/5A. A must have for LS3/5A fans.

Magazine reviews and related articles

• The Little Legend, The BBC LS3/5A. Trevor Butler. January 1989 HiFi News and Record Review. Link House Publications by kind permission of Steve Harris HiFi News.
• The BBC’s Home Service by kind permission of David Prakel
• The BBC LS3/5A – Revisiting a Classic from HiFi Critic. By kind permission of Martin Colloms
• The LS3/5A Shootout by Ken Kessler from the June 2001 HiFi News.
• Stereophile LS3/5A reviews available on-line including the 1977 BBC version, 1984 Spendor, 1989 Rogers, 1993 Harbeth and more.
• Inspired by the BBC HiFi News November 2007 article about Harbeth
• FM RecoPal 1981 Japanese magazine article about the BBC including the LS3/5A
• FM PecoPal 1981 Japanese magazine article about UK speaker manufacturers including Spendor, Rogers & KEF
• A Fresh Look at the LS3/5A. HiFi News June 2023 by Ken Kessler

LS3/5A Manufacturers’ and Retailers’ Web Pages

• Falcon Acoustics sell spares and have LS3/5A information online.
• Graham Audio manufacture the LS3/5A under licence.
• Stirling Broadcast have a BBC licence to manufacture the LS3/5A.
• The Harbeth Web Site
• Rogers HiFi UK new LS3/5A

Miscellaneous LS3/5A and BBC Loudspeaker Related Sites

• Keith Snook’s LS3/5A web page
• HiFi Loudspeakers.info site about KEF drive units. Datasheets here.
• Under Pressure: Loudspeakers at Altitude Ever wondered if the LS3/5A would work at 7000ft above sea level?
• Mark Hennesy’s site includes information and pictures of the LS3/5A, LS5/8 and LS5/9 BBC monitors
• Graham Hartle’s JR149 pages.
• Roger Beckwith’s fascinating site on BBC Radio technical history. Spot the LS3/5As!
• The Affordable Valve Company OK so not everybody likes the LS3/5A!
• Stereophile interview with Robin Marshall of Audiomaster
• Francis Phua’s LS3/5A Blog
• The LS3/5A has a Facebook group with over 6000 members
• The RAM Loudspeakers Story including an interview with Vince Jennings, the founder of RAM, on the Falcon web site.
• Audio Science Review of a 1981 Rogers’ LS3/5A. They don’t like it!
• Music and Miscellany Phil Ward’s review of the new Rogers LS3/5A

Bibliography of LS3/5A Related Articles (not online)

• The Stirling LS3/5A V2 reviewed by Ken Kessler. HiFi News & Record Review September 2005
• The Rogers Phenomenon. LS3/5A- The Audio peace Treaty Audio Update Nine. March 1978. Audio Dimensions Inc.
• The Beeb’s Famous Boxes. Graham Whitehead and David Walker. November 1991. HiFi News and Record Review.
• Pot Pourii, BBC LS3/5A Update. Ken Kessler. March 1988. HiFi News and Record Review.
• Review of Harbeth LS3/5A. December 1993. Stereophile
• BBC LS3/5A: the inside story. Alan Shaw. HiFi News and Record Review November 2004
• Review of Stirling LS3/5A V2. Ken Kessler. HiFi News and Record Review September 2005

Other Articles of Interest

• The Monochord Sub Woofer. Richard Lord. January & February 1991. HiFi News and Record Review. Link House.
• Self Build Sub Woofer. Richard McDonald. May 1993. HiFi News and Record Review. Link House.