RAM LS3/5a, classic BBC speakers in very good condition

I am selling my super little RAM LS3/5a speakers as I have used them rarely over the past few years having a few sets of larger speakers.

As most of you who are reading this are familiar with this classic speaker, designed in-house by the BBC, but I give a short history for those who are not.

The LS3/5a was designed and built by the BBC where many sets were used as studio monitors. News got out that the BBC had this superb speaker design which resulted in the BBC issuing manufacturing licenses to several companies including Chartwell, Decca, Harbeth, RAM, Rogers, Spendor and others.

All had to be built to the BBC’s exacting specifications or the license would be withdrawn. This is understandable as the BBC was a world leader in broadcasting technology and would have been extremely keen to protect its reputation. Anything carrying its name had to be perfect.

You then had a situation where several manufacturers were selling identical speakers all of which were using the same drivers and crossovers, had exactly the same performance and were carrying the same LS3/5a nomenclature!

I do not know the history of this but I cannot imagine some of these companies knowingly entering into a license agreement with the BBC for a speaker design had they known that Tom, Dick and Harry also had a license! I think some companies simply threw the towel in when all of the variants appeared on the market.

My RAMs are an early matched pair of 15 to 30 Watt, 15 Ohm speakers with consecutive serial numbers, 14535 and 14536.

They are in black finished ash veneer and are in excellent electro-mechanical condition with all drive units in undamaged condition. The photos appear to show marks on the bass drivers’ domes but these are simply reflections.

Cosmetically they are in very good condition for their age. As you will see from the photos there are some paint losses here and there and the odd little dint but nothing to get excited about. The paint losses on the back faces are where the rear panel is inset in the surrounding panels. The panels' fit is perfect but for some reason the paint has come off. The other paint losses are owing to wear and tear over the years. The bottoms have a few light scratches.

They could be easily brought to pristine condition with a little work. I could have done this but prefer to sell them honestly.

The removable grills are also in very good condition and are fitted with pull tabs at the bottoms to facilitate removal. These tabs can be folded back and hidden should you want to hide them when fitted.

There is not a lot to be said about their sound other than it is as it should be for a hi-fi speaker, a flat frequency response with great sound staging and a pure, clean sound and rather than an artificially boosted bass it tails off gently.

The sound difference between them used with grilles on or off is minimal, if any, and after a while I never removed them as they sound great with them on. The grille cloth is sonically virtually transparent.

They are offered at a starting price of £50.00 with no reserve.

Pick up is okay with postage within the UK costing £13.15 including insurance up £500.00.

I am selling my super little RAM LS3/5a speakers as I have used them rarely over the past few years having a few sets of larger speakers.

As most of you who are reading this are familiar with this classic speaker, designed in-house by the BBC, but I give a short history for those who are not.

The LS3/5a was designed and built by the BBC where many sets were used as studio monitors. News got out that the BBC had this superb speaker design which resulted in the BBC issuing manufacturing licenses to several companies including Chartwell, Decca, Harbeth, RAM, Rogers, Spendor and others.

All had to be built to the BBC’s exacting specifications or the license would be withdrawn. This is understandable as the BBC was a world leader in broadcasting technology and would have been extremely keen to protect its reputation. Anything carrying its name had to be perfect.

You then had a situation where several manufacturers were selling identical speakers all of which were using the same drivers and crossovers, had exactly the same performance and were carrying the same LS3/5a nomenclature!

I do not know the history of this but I cannot imagine some of these companies knowingly entering into a license agreement with the BBC for a speaker design had they known that Tom, Dick and Harry also had a license! I think some companies simply threw the towel in when all of the variants appeared on the market.

My RAMs are an early matched pair of 15 to 30 Watt, 15 Ohm speakers with consecutive serial numbers, 14535 and 14536.

They are in black finished ash veneer and are in excellent electro-mechanical condition with all drive units in undamaged condition. The photos appear to show marks on the bass drivers’ domes but these are simply reflections.

Cosmetically they are in very good condition for their age. As you will see from the photos there are some paint losses here and there and the odd little dint but nothing to get excited about. The paint losses on the back faces are where the rear panel is inset in the surrounding panels. The panels' fit is perfect but for some reason the paint has come off. The other paint losses are owing to wear and tear over the years. The bottoms have a few light scratches.

They could be easily brought to pristine condition with a little work. I could have done this but prefer to sell them honestly.

The removable grills are also in very good condition and are fitted with pull tabs at the bottoms to facilitate removal. These tabs can be folded back and hidden should you want to hide them when fitted.

There is not a lot to be said about their sound other than it is as it should be for a hi-fi speaker, a flat frequency response with great sound `staging and a pure, clean sound and rather than an artificially boosted bass it tails off gently.

The sound difference between them used with grilles on or off is minimal, if any, and after a while I never removed them as they sound great with them on. The grille cloth is sonically virtually transparent.

They are offered at a starting price of £50.00 with no reserve.

Pick up is okay with postage within the UK costing £8.15 including insurance up £50.00. Greater insurance coverage can be supplied if required.

Those living in the Channel Islands should request a postage price before bidding.

Good luck with your bidding!

Those living in the Channel Islands should request a postage price before bidding.

Good luck with your bidding!