The performance of the Graham Audio LS8/1F in detail
Contents
Close to the music
There is little reverb audible, compared to many other speakers, which means you feel close to the music. In the bass solo on Joe Jackson’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, a drummer plays along with hard, tight hits on the snare drum. Hits you can hear bouncing back from the walls of the studio. This is a good track to hear how much of the ambience is transmitted. There is just enough resonance and after-tone here to give body and position to the instruments and make them instantly recognisable.
Effortless and relaxed
Peter Gabriel’s “I/O” CD, and specifically the “Dark Side” mix, shows that they sound like a set of huge studio monitors. You can hear every subtlety in the mix. What is clever about Graham Audio is that they are nevertheless forgiving. The “I/O” CDs are not exactly subtly mixed and you have to turn back the amplifier’s volume knob considerably, the CDs are very loud.
The mastering of “I/O” is balancing on the edge and listening fatigue lurks. The Grahams makes the listening experience of the album relaxed, while the soundstage is very close. “I/O” is a ‘canary in the coal mine’ CD: if something is not right you will hear it immediately. The Graham Audio LS8/1F passes with flying colours.
Precise and clean
The opening track “The Package” on A Perfect Circle’s CD requires a lot of precision in the phase of the speakers. Maynard James Keenan’s voice is embedded in the guitar sounds draped around him and the bass has to growl underneath. The sound pressure the Grahams can produce is enough to make your hair move in the airflow, but the soundstage remains clean, all instrument parts in the mix are easy to follow.
The atmospheric “The Noose”, where Maynard puts a lot of feeling in his voice, sounds big, clean, subtle, full and driving.
Perhaps the tuning of the Graham Audio LS8/1F speakers is most evident on this track. Clear and dry, especially noticeable in the cymbals, without the dryness taking over or distracting from the midrange. They are tuned in such a way that it is very easy to hear all the detail without having to exert yourself, but also without detracting from the overall sound.
On other speakers, this track can sound more mystical, more veiled. The Graham’s have nothing of a veil, the playback is completely transparent but still has body and a solid kick in bass and drums. This is where taste will enamour you or decide this not for you: what are you looking for in how this track sounds, open or veiled?
Quick
Level42’s bass player Mark King is known for his “slapping” method on the bass, resulting in hefty air displacements, even at a little volume. The driving bass in the CD version of “Hot Water” remains tightly under control. This CD is mastered with an open and slightly technical sound and that works very well on the Graham Audio LS8/1F speakers. The result is a tight and funky groove that never gets muddy anywhere. These speakers are fast!
Down to the last audible sound
A noteworthy peculiarity is that fading music remains audible until the last moment, without changing the colour of the sound. We do not hear that very often.
Thanks for the review. I currently have a pair of Graham’s LS 5/9 and love the (midrange) sound for jazz, vocals, acoustic, etc. The LS5/9 is not very forgiving imo when the source is of average recording quality. I find they also struggle with other music genres (rock, funky, hiphop,…). So, I wonder if I should upgrade to the LS8/1f for a more forgiving and/or better all-round sound? Also, how do the LS8/1 floorstanders compare to the LS 8/1 stand-mounted loudspeakers? Thanks!
Hi Jan. I haven’t heard the monitors and the floor stander side by side, so I cannot comment on differences.
They are quite different from the ‘BBC models’ in sound, but not so much forgiving. The emphasis in the midrange, the vocal range of frequencies, is where you will notice the different characteristics.
I recommend an audition at home. Depending on your room size, either the monitor or the floor stander will be the better choice. The floor stander is big in physical size, but the sound is also ‘meaty’. If the room is too small, the sound won’t breath. A good dealer can help you out here.
You can send Hexagon, the importer, a mail if you like to get some advice. He’s an approachable man and will help you out.
Many thanks for your reply Martijn