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Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge

Loudspeakers

Relative price

above typical

Among the 26 loudspeakerss in the catalogue, this one is above typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

5-year warranty; supplied as matched pairs only with individually-numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Gold Badge crossover (Jan 2020 onwards) has BBC Registered Design Status.

Competition record

Assessed against 8 rivals across the sixty systems: 6 head-to-heads won, 21 lost.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • timing and drive ×10
  • low-level clarity ×3
  • bass control ×2

Who it comes up against

Emmae Reginae (custom)

12 lost· 3 won · Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Twin Arms, Vocals-First

Against the Characterful brief, the Emmae Reginae (custom) keeps the slot decisively.

With the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

overloads graduallyZaph|Audio ZRT project measurements (driver-level)

Neat Iota 2

3 lost· 1 won · Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Vocals-First

Against the Characterful brief, the Neat Iota 2 keeps the slot clearly.

With the NVA S80 Stereo, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

ProAc Tablette 10 Signature

3 lost · Intimate, PRaT, Twin Arms

Against the Intimate brief, the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature keeps the slot decisively.

With the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) gives up low-level clarity under the Intimate weighting.

Neat Petite Classic

1 lost · Characterful

Against the Characterful brief, the Neat Petite Classic keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audiolab 9000P, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audiolab 9000P gives up timing and drive under the Characterful weighting.

Harbeth P3ESR XD2

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

NVA Cube 3

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the NVA Cube 3 keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Rogers LS3/5a Classic SE

0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge takes the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge is the stronger loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Falcon Q7 Complete@Home

0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge takes the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge is the stronger loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Systems it is part of

What the reviewers said

best of both worlds vs Harbeth warm and monitor side Pink Fish forum consensus (citing Stereophile)· Tonal body
exceptional Midrange Clarity, Precise Imaging Analogue Fellowship comparison (Oct 2025)· Presence & articulation
precision, hear the spaces between notes Stereophile (HR) + No Limits Audio· Harmonic texture
studio monitor, neutral and open in nearfield Stereophile Class A Recommended Component· Micro-dynamic resolution
lacks deep bass due to compact size Stereophile + LS3/5a heritage acknowledged limitation· Physical impact
most musical, engaging, open did not have bloated bass Audiogon forum comparison consensus· Spatial resolution
different impedance characteristics, both 6Ω+ Stereophile (HR Gramophone Dreams #86)

How it scores

Clarity

  • Spatial resolution 73 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Tonal body 82 from listening evidence
  • Presence & articulation 82 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 82 from listening evidence

Bass

  • Physical impact 66 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Micro-dynamic resolution 78 from listening evidence

Specifications

speaker typestandmount
enclosure typesealed
way count2
drivers138mm Falcon B110 Bextrene + 19mm Falcon T27 Mylar dome
crossover hz3000
sensitivity db83.0
nominal impedance ohm15.0
minimum impedance ohm11.0
frequency response hz70/20000
dimensions mm190/305/165
weight kg5.35
finishesCherry, Walnut, Rosewood, Burr Walnut, Yew
stand requiredTrue
notes