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Graham Chartwell LS3/5

Loudspeakers

Relative price

typical

Among the 26 loudspeakerss in the catalogue, this one is 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

BBC LS3/5 ("non-A") — Graham Audio is the only manufacturer to make this pre-LS3/5A original variant. Compared to the LS3/5A, this offers fuller midrange and deeper bass via thinner walls (9mm vs 12mm) and different crossover topology. Designed by Derek Hughes (son of Spencer Hughes, Spendor founder) — same designer as Spendor Classic line.

Hand-built in Newton Abbot, Devon; BBC-licensed design with Chartwell badge revival (one of original 1970s LS3/5A licensees).

Competition record

Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 50 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

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

  • timing and drive ×22
  • low-level clarity ×11
  • bass control ×2

Who it comes up against

Emmae Reginae (custom)

26 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path, 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 Graham Chartwell LS3/5 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

7 lost · Artisan, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path, Vocals-First

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

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

On its own merits the Graham Chartwell LS3/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

ProAc Tablette 10 Signature

6 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, 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 Graham Chartwell LS3/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge

3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First

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

On its own merits the Graham Chartwell LS3/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

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

Epos ES-7N

2 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Epos ES-7N keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audiolab 9000P, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Graham Chartwell LS3/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

NVA Cube 3

2 lost · Cavity-Native, Twin Arms

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

On its own merits the Graham Chartwell LS3/5 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

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Rogers LS3/5a Classic SE keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Graham Chartwell LS3/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

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

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 Graham Chartwell LS3/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

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 Graham Chartwell LS3/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

Falcon Q7 Complete@Home

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Falcon Q7 Complete@Home keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Graham Chartwell LS3/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

What the reviewers said

delighted with reproduction of human voice Analogue Fellowship comparison (Oct 2025)· Tonal body
richest timbral colors of all Stereophile (Dudley) 2019· Harmonic texture
taut and full, with exceptional pitch definition Stereophile (Dudley) 2019· Bass control
entirely natural and correctly-proportioned Hi-Fi+ (Kennedy) 2016· Tonal consistency
note attacks that sounded less crisp Stereophile (Dudley) 2019· Transient attack
the lack of deep bass Hi-Fi+ (Kennedy) 2016· Bass extension

How it scores

Voice

  • Tonal body 76 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 82 from listening evidence

Rhythm

  • Transient attack 64 from listening evidence

Bass

  • Bass control 76 from listening evidence
  • Bass extension 64 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Tonal consistency 76 from listening evidence

Specifications

speaker typestandmount
enclosure typesealed
way count2
drivers110mm Bextrene bass/mid + 19mm SEAS dome tweeter
sensitivity db83.0
nominal impedance ohm9.0
minimum impedance ohm7.0
recommended amp w25/50
frequency response hz70/20000
max spl db95.0
dimensions mm190/305/165
weight kg5.3
finishesCherry, Oak, Walnut, Ebony, Rosewood
stand requiredTrue
notes