Measurements and conclusion
Contents
We measured the Graham LS8-1 using our Illusonic software. For the measurements, we use a DPA 4091 measurement microphone that we position at 1 meter for the basic measurements. We always try multiple positions to get the best results. The window is set to 3ms for the measurements to exclude reflections.
Response and distortion
The Graham LS8-1 uses two tweeters. That’s a wacky setup, of course. We used three positions to see where it coincides: just above the woofer, between the tweeters (best) and on the top tweeter. In all cases, the curve is about the same: a bit of a BBC dip (2dB) and a slight bump between 4 and 10 kHz (2dB). It’s all pretty mild. And that’s audible: this is not an overtly tuned speaker.
Distortion is low. It shifts a bit between -50 dB (0.3%) and -60dB (0.1%). These are not bizarre scores, but it is decent for a speaker in this class (6200 euros per pair). The third harmonic is dominant, which also explains the clear character a bit.
Impedance
The Graham’s impedance is quite friendly: there are no dips below 8 ohms. It does go up quite nicely: 26 in the low end (2nd resonance point) and at the region around 2000 Hz we see almost 30 Ohms. This can cause coloration when using a tube amplifier.
The electrical phase shifts between -35 and +35 degrees. That’s pretty friendly. It will not easily drain an amplifier, we estimate.
Hi All.
Quick request if I may, I’m having a reshuffle with my kit.
I will end up with
Mola mola Perca
Lumin p1 pre, dac, streamer
And a choice of Tad E2 or Graham LS8/1 monitor.
I acknowledge the class price/difference etc . Will I miss much If I saved some money with the Grahams for my domestic front room setting.
The Tad I could get are ex demo so nowhere near full price.
I’ve not heard either but read, watched your reviews . Can you add some thoughts please.
Regards all.
Good evening Jaap,
I have a pair of Graham LS5/5 speakers and I agree with your sound description.
I am searching a dac that can be the ideal partner in a very neutral system. The big advantage of the Graham is that thei deliver a very transparent sound without being aseptic…they are very natural sounding indeed, with a great sense of realism and timbral accuracy.
I would like to add a source that can have the same qualities and peculiarities in order to listen every recording in a different way.
I don’t want a source that makes every recording sound the same…
Do you think that a Sonnet Pasithea could have these features and can be a good matching with them?
thank you
David
Yes… Pasithea will do that.
Met interesse heb ik kennis genomen van de Graham BBC retro monitor speaker. Uiterlijk lijkt deze speaker veel op de Spendor BC2 die ik al jaren (vanaf 1977) in mijn bezit heb en al die jaren koester. Door persoonlijke omstandigheden en ruimtegebrek zijn deze speakers al een tijdje niet meer aangesloten en dus niet meer actief. Ik heb ze met trots al die tijd onderhouden en gekoesterd. Maar ik sta nu op een punt waarop ik mij afvraag wat met deze “beauty’s” te doen. Ben ook heel benieuwd hoe ze op verschillende bronnen klinken. Weet iemand in dit forum meer van deze speakers??? Ben benieuwd.
Beste Willem,
Ik raad je aan om deze reactie even onder de Nederlandse versie van het artikel te plaatsen. Je kan de taal wisselen via het menu (vlaggetje en dan kiezen voor Nederlands).