Graham Audio LS5/5 Monitor Loudspeakers

Graham Audio LS5/5 Monitor Loudspeakers: The Legacy of Precision

The Graham Audio LS5/5 Monitor Loudspeakers is a meticulously designed, large-format, three-way system with a legacy rooted in 1967. The LS5/5 is crafted to deliver accuracy and dynamic sound reproduction, embodying the design principles developed by the BBC for studio monitoring. With its heritage and finely-tuned engineering, it offers a sonic experience that resonates with professionals and discerning audiophiles alike.

Three-Way System for Accurate Sound Reproduction

The LS5/5 monitor utilises a refined three-way driver configuration to ensure balanced, clear, and transparent audio. At the core of this system is a 12-inch low-frequency driver, designed to handle bass frequencies up to 400Hz. This large, long-throw woofer ensures rich, detailed low-end reproduction, making the LS5/5 perfect for critical listening environments where bass accuracy is paramount. Above 400Hz, an 8-inch midrange driver takes over, designed to deliver articulate and smooth mids, ensuring clarity in voices and instruments without harshness. Finally, the transition to higher frequencies is managed by a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter, designed to extend the response cleanly up to 20kHz, reproducing high frequencies with precision and air.

This blend of driver sizes and types ensures the LS5/5 delivers a flat frequency response within ±2dB, from 40Hz to 20kHz, offering a neutral sound that remains faithful to the source material.

Unique Slot-Mounted Drivers for Controlled Dispersion

One of the most distinctive features of the LS5/5 is the use of slot-mounted drivers for the bass and midrange frequencies. This retro design technique, initially conceived in the late 1960s, serves a critical purpose. By recessing the drivers behind the slots in the front panel, the LS5/5 controls the off-axis response. This method helps smooth the performance through the crossover regions—particularly between the bass and midrange units, as well as the midrange and tweeter. In practical terms, this means more consistent performance, even in acoustically challenging environments where room reflections might otherwise degrade sound accuracy. The result is smoother transitions between frequencies and a more coherent soundstage.

Thin-Wall Cabinet Design: A BBC Signature

The LS5/5’s cabinet employs the classic BBC-style thin-wall construction, a hallmark of Graham Audio’s designs. Rather than using thick, rigid materials, the panels are relatively thin and strategically mass-loaded to shift resonance frequencies away from the critical midrange spectrum. This technique minimises unwanted colouration and distortion, preserving the transparency of the sound. Inside the cabinet, rockwool damping is used to control internal reflections, further enhancing the neutrality of the speaker.

The external finish features hand-matched real wood veneers, a testament to the craftsmanship and attention to detail. Beyond aesthetics, the cabinet’s design also incorporates a carefully engineered grille that’s held in place with concealed rare-earth magnets. The grille minimises diffraction effects that could otherwise interfere with the drivers' performance, ensuring that the LS5/5’s sound remains true to its design ethos, whether the grille is on or off.

Robust Build with Wide Amplifier Compatibility

Weighing in at 35.5kg and with dimensions of 36cm by 65cm by 48cm, the LS5/5 monitor is both substantial and finely constructed. With a nominal impedance of 8Ω and a sensitivity rating of 88dB SPL (measured at 2.83V, 1m), the speakers are efficient enough to be driven by a wide range of amplifiers. For optimal performance, Graham Audio recommends an amplifier power range between 50 to 250 watts of unclipped programme power, allowing the LS5/5 to scale from intimate listening levels to over 104dB output for a pair, measured at 2 metres.

The LS5/5 monitor’s bass reflex system ensures extended low-frequency response without distortion, and the 300mm long-throw woofer ensures that even deep bass notes are rendered with both weight and definition. The 200mm midrange driver and 25mm soft-dome tweeter complete the speaker’s exceptional ability to reproduce music and dialogue with pinpoint accuracy.

Designed for the Discerning Listener

The Graham Audio LS5/5 Monitor Loudspeakers represents the pinnacle of British speaker design. With its combination of bespoke engineering, heritage techniques like the slot-mounted drivers and thin-wall cabinet, and a focus on sound neutrality, the LS5/5 is designed to excel in environments where accuracy is essential. Whether for critical studio monitoring or high-end home listening, the LS5/5 offers a precise and immersive auditory experience that honours its BBC legacy while delivering contemporary performance.