WAJ on AUDIO (S-V)
AUDIO-RESEARCH LS3; ACTIVE vs PASSIVE PRE-AMP OPERATION:
'The Review' (S-V)
by W.A.J.
The AUDIO-RESEARCH LS3 is one of the greatest pre-amps the world has ever known. It MUST be. I cannot imagine anything sounding much better than this.
Sure there are some that cost more (Audio Research’s own latest Reference 5 is around twelve grand) and I’m sure there must be, at least, a slight increase in quality. For me, perhaps after several ‘slight increases’ I’ll reconsider my stance, but the point of diminishing returns must have been passed somewhere long before this pre-amp's moderately expensive original price-point. However, if the Reference 5 somehow combines, and improves upon, the strengths of the LS3's disparate modes then it might just be worth the price, as you'll probably agree when I elaborate on the strengths of the LS3's two modes of operation, 'Normal' & 'Direct'. The LS3 line-stage pre-amp is one of the two components that have made the biggest difference in my current system (night and day). And no, good as it is, my UREI power-amp isn’t one of the two.
Compared to other pre-amps, including an outstanding Quad 33, the sound of this Audio-Research is natural, open, and airy. Notes are clearly defined, stereophonics are near 'holographic', instruments/voices are sharply delineated on a wide sound-stage. Voices and instruments seem bigger, more life-sized as the lower-mid-range void is filled-in. Never-before-revealed low-level details are now apparent. Appropriate notes blossom, bloom, and glow, then linger and fade in a way they never ever did before - in a way eerily reminiscent of the live experience. Dynamics, bass, and treble are truly top-notch. But it is this pre-amp's outstanding and unerring fidelity to the WHOLE of the midrange that most distinguishes it from the pretenders - as we'll see.
Yes, it's solid-state, but it's also more tube-like than many tube-gear I've known. This thing is awesome, and fully deserves its place on Hi Fi Critic magazine's best pre-amp list, and on Stereophile’s list of class ‘A’ components.
This 'review' was, originally, a segment of the multi-part article, 'System-Building for Lifelike Sound', regarding the components of my own audio-system. However, due to the dearth of reviews on this outstanding component I've decided to publish this segment as a stand-alone 'review' with a view to assisting those who, like me, have searched fruitlessly for in-depth comment on the subject. I hope this is helpful. Insight into the popular 'sound' of high-end, today, is also intrinsic to this account as it relates to a comparison between this pre-amp and the "purists'" mode of system operation - passive or 'pre-amp less'.
There is, indeed, a school of thought which asserts; it is best to eschew the use of a pre-amp and connect ones line-level source-component directly into ones power-amp – a school of thought to which I once subscribed. For years, I used no pre-amp. My CD player was directly connected to my power-amps, and yes, it sounded significantly better than having a pre-amp in the chain. But then the LS3 arrived for a demo, and I was literally BLOWN-AWAY. An audiophile friend in attendance was also blown away by its performance. Its night and day effect on the system was virtually indescribable, so I’m tempted to leave it at that, for the most part. Suffice it to say, for the moment, that it made me appreciate the quality of both the UREI amp and my KLH/Altec/NS10/Goodmans-derived D.I.Y. speaker-system.
AUDIO-RESEARCH LS3; ACTIVE vs PASSIVE PRE-AMP OPERATION:
'The Review' (S-V)
by W.A.J.
The AUDIO-RESEARCH LS3 is one of the greatest pre-amps the world has ever known. It MUST be. I cannot imagine anything sounding much better than this.
Sure there are some that cost more (Audio Research’s own latest Reference 5 is around twelve grand) and I’m sure there must be, at least, a slight increase in quality. For me, perhaps after several ‘slight increases’ I’ll reconsider my stance, but the point of diminishing returns must have been passed somewhere long before this pre-amp's moderately expensive original price-point. However, if the Reference 5 somehow combines, and improves upon, the strengths of the LS3's disparate modes then it might just be worth the price, as you'll probably agree when I elaborate on the strengths of the LS3's two modes of operation, 'Normal' & 'Direct'. The LS3 line-stage pre-amp is one of the two components that have made the biggest difference in my current system (night and day). And no, good as it is, my UREI power-amp isn’t one of the two.
Compared to other pre-amps, including an outstanding Quad 33, the sound of this Audio-Research is natural, open, and airy. Notes are clearly defined, stereophonics are near 'holographic', instruments/voices are sharply delineated on a wide sound-stage. Voices and instruments seem bigger, more life-sized as the lower-mid-range void is filled-in. Never-before-revealed low-level details are now apparent. Appropriate notes blossom, bloom, and glow, then linger and fade in a way they never ever did before - in a way eerily reminiscent of the live experience. Dynamics, bass, and treble are truly top-notch. But it is this pre-amp's outstanding and unerring fidelity to the WHOLE of the midrange that most distinguishes it from the pretenders - as we'll see.
Yes, it's solid-state, but it's also more tube-like than many tube-gear I've known. This thing is awesome, and fully deserves its place on Hi Fi Critic magazine's best pre-amp list, and on Stereophile’s list of class ‘A’ components.
This 'review' was, originally, a segment of the multi-part article, 'System-Building for Lifelike Sound', regarding the components of my own audio-system. However, due to the dearth of reviews on this outstanding component I've decided to publish this segment as a stand-alone 'review' with a view to assisting those who, like me, have searched fruitlessly for in-depth comment on the subject. I hope this is helpful. Insight into the popular 'sound' of high-end, today, is also intrinsic to this account as it relates to a comparison between this pre-amp and the "purists'" mode of system operation - passive or 'pre-amp less'.
There is, indeed, a school of thought which asserts; it is best to eschew the use of a pre-amp and connect ones line-level source-component directly into ones power-amp – a school of thought to which I once subscribed. For years, I used no pre-amp. My CD player was directly connected to my power-amps, and yes, it sounded significantly better than having a pre-amp in the chain. But then the LS3 arrived for a demo, and I was literally BLOWN-AWAY. An audiophile friend in attendance was also blown away by its performance. Its night and day effect on the system was virtually indescribable, so I’m tempted to leave it at that, for the most part. Suffice it to say, for the moment, that it made me appreciate the quality of both the UREI amp and my KLH/Altec/NS10/Goodmans-derived D.I.Y. speaker-system.
LS3 versus PASSIVE (or PRE-AMP LESS) OPERATION: The argument vehemently posited in certain circles is that operating without a pre-amp is the ultimate mode of operation for a system - absolutely nothing can be better. This is a perfectly credible argument loaded with an immense amount of logic advocating purity and simplicity of system-operation. And since I’m a former ‘believer’, it would be remiss of me not to specifically relate the details of my own experience regarding the difference between operating a system without a pre-amp, and operating with the LS3:
The difference(s) in a nutshell; LOWER-MIDRANGE BODY, and a near indescribable, but life-like 'GLOWING-MUSICALITY'. Those are the differences. The LS3 IS better. At least in this system, it's better by a significant margin, lifting the system closer to the realms of sonic-realism.
Forgive me for the many times the low-mids region will be mentioned in this piece (and, indeed, at this site). But I feel compelled to stress it as this is one of the main elements missing from most modern systems, in my opinion, and it's one of the main keys to the LS-3's realistic performance.
This pre-amp has become, perhaps, the most critical component in the system - take it out, and the system goes flat, the lower-midrange goes missing, it resorts to merely very good, perhaps even extremely good hifi, but hifi nonetheless. (Believe me; pre-amp less, or 'passive pre-amplification', is no real substitute for a good active pre - not by a long shot). The LS3 is the elixir that breathes life and uncanny realism into the system.
A recent storm had caused me to disconnect the system for several days. Impatiently, I'd eventually reconnected without the pre-amp; that's what reminded me of what the LS3 did for the system, and inspired me to expand this segment into a full 'review'. Without this pre-amp the system, to me, sounds dry and analytical, the type of sound many seem to love, but with which I’ve long been dissatisfied as it lacks the fore-mentioned elements necessary for natural realism. It reminded me of how the system sounded before the LS3's arrival. Reconnecting this pre-amp returned the blossom, bloom, glow, linger & fade of appropriate notes, and also returned the all-important lower-midrange body. It allows all the other components to exhibit their prowess in these areas. Without the LS3, for instance, the UREI and the speakers sound ordinary, flat, and even lean - just like most other 'very good' amps and speaker-systems I've heard - they're unable to display their extra-ordinary abilities at operating in the area most other components and systems can't even visit; the lower-midrange.
This low-mids prowess, and the vibrant bloom, linger & fade of notes, in addition to its uncommon dynamism, these are some of the factors which distinguish this audio-system, set it apart from the merely very good, and facilitate its approach to the realms of sonic realism. And the Audio-Research LS3 plays the starring role in this scenario. In one sense - just this one sense - it's even more influential in a system than a turntable, I would argue. That's because the turntable's contribution is confined only to that source, but the pre-amp brings its benefits to every source - even CD's sound more realistic thru the LS3. It is THE KEY component without any hint, or shadow, of doubt!
A rare disappointed user at audioreviews.com, some time ago, described the LS3 as bright and analytical. I would politely suggest that it's more definitely the system, or other components of it, that is/are at fault. That criticism could never be further from the truth. But, ironically, this complaint substantiates a point I'll be stressing below, regarding popular but compromised systems which cannot reproduce the low-mids. For an example; I've already indicated, in the article, 'System-Building for Lifelike Sound', that most ss amps 'chop-off' the lower-midrange (claims of ruler-flat 20khz to 20hz response, notwithstanding). That alone would negate one of this pre-amp's main advantages. Therefore, this; combined with most high-end speakers which also 'chop-off' the lower-mids in addition to being overly bright-sounding and relatively thin on bass, will cause any component to sound bright and analytical.
In addressing those who would argue that a system should sound better without a pre-amp, and therefore this pre-amp's virtues may be due to a coloration, I'll say this: Any coloration that makes my system sound as good and as realistically lifelike as this, I welcome with open arms. In actuality, though, the LS3 is widely reputed to be as neutral as they come. Neutrality is one of the pillars on which its enviable reputation stands. I really don't know why it sounds so much better than pre-amp-less, so to speak, but it does, and I'm 'extreeemely' happy with that! And, yes, it does have a virtual pre-amp-less, or passive, mode labeled; 'Direct' (its purest mode of operation). In this mode it operates as a 'passive pre-amp', where all of the active circuit is cut out.
However, I use it most frequently in the (active) 'Normal' mode partly because I do a fair amount of recording, which can't be done in the 'Direct' mode. Perhaps more significant, though, is the fact that I seem to prefer the sound - the fullness of tone - this unit produces operating in the 'Normal' mode. Yes, the sound in 'Direct' is slightly clearer, and perhaps slightly more dynamic, treble is also more prominent. But it is, also, as thread-bare in the lower-mids as when the system is operated pre-amp less. So while I appreciate the benefits the 'Direct' mode brings to limited areas, I always find myself yearning to go back to the 'Normal' mode for the full-toned naturalness that so enhances the overall realism of the reproduction. . .
Vive la Difference: To put it simply, 'Direct' is like an excellent solid-state pre-amp excelling at the leading-edges of notes, with seemingly very slight enhancements of upper-range transients and dynamics. The 'Normal' mode is like an excellent tube pre-amp excelling at the trailing edges of said musical-notes, and at the lower-midrange tones, overtones, and resonances intrinsic to many of those musical-notes. But it goes further, for while the 'Normal' mode is close in competence at the 'Direct' mode's areas of strength, 'Direct' cannot even approach the 'Normal' mode's areas of excellence.
Because of its uncommon strengths, the 'Normal' mode brings to the fore all the lower-midrange sounds, tones, and fades of notes that are usually hidden by the vast majority of components and systems, which are mostly inept in this region. Every musical track is now a treasure-trove brimming with previously hidden gems of musical information that all conspire to make each recording sound much more like a live performance.
This pre-amp, in the 'Normal' mode, loves acoustic instruments like the piano and acoustic guitar, for just two examples, and goes above and beyond the call of duty to reveal every nuance of tone and overtone, not to mention very nearly the last iota of the resonances all such instruments produce in live performance. And, therefore, instruments tend to sound life-sized, not miniaturized as thru most components. Certainly because of its excellence with acoustic instruments, electronic instruments also benefit. For instance, the electric guitar so common to most popular music such as in reggae, rock & roll, electronic-jazz, 60's/70's R&B, etc., now display their full range of tones (which bloom, expand, and sound appropriately 'big') instead of the small, flat, and constricted generic nasal twang most components reduce them to. Most remarkable, though, are those previously barely discernible hauntingly melodic ghosts of guitar virtuosos extremely deep in the mix, which the LS3 now more prominently exposes within their proper context. Moreover, the ringing and prolonged fade of those notes along with their melodic tones give insight as to why electric-guitarists have always insisted upon tube-amplification for their instruments. The LS3 in 'Normal' makes all this information clearly apparent, more so than any other single component I've yet encountered.
The foregoing notwithstanding, I believe one of this pre-amp's greatest accomplishments is with the most difficult of instruments to reproduce convincingly - the human voice. Many components, including the LS3 in 'Direct' mode (and pre-amp less) seem to truncate certain voices at the bottom of their range causing a kind of 'clipping' effect where the voice hardens in this region. This I discovered with the LS3 in 'Direct' while specifically comparing both modes recently for the expansion of this review. This effect rarely occurred with Diana Krall's voice even though it generally sounded thinner than natural, but it was most blatantly apparent with Michael Franks at the low range of his (similarly thinned-out) voice, on one track especially, where the pre-amp in 'Direct' seemed to reach the point at which it could trace the signal no further, so it 'clipped', for want of a better expression. The same phenomenon, though rare in both instances, sometimes occurred in my days of pre-amp less operation. In the 'Normal' mode of the LS3, however, this never ever happens, and there's no un-natural thinning of the voice or any other instrument - ever. I'm growing tired of using the word 'real', but that's exactly the way voices sound thru this pre-amp in the 'Normal' mode - full, and natural, and REAL!
More evidence of the LS3's superiority is apparent in its treatment of previously barely-discernible voices deep in the background. Back-up singers, for instance, are afforded greater exposure in this pre-amp's 'Normal' mode as it elevates them from the barely evident homogeneous blob most components reduce them to, and separates and projects their voices to reveal distinct individual singers with unique vocal characteristics (even chest-cavity resonances) just as it does with all appropriate instruments, whether they're up-front or extremely deep in the mix. Countless are the times I've belatedly discovered 'new' singers and instruments I never knew were there on recordings I'd listened to for years thru other highly-rated components and systems - now revealed in all their lifelike glory thru the 'Normal' LS3. It bears repeating; this-thing-is-AWESOME!
The ideal would be to combine the slight increase in purity/dynamism of the 'Direct' mode with the fullness of tone the 'Normal' mode provides. (If Audio-Research's latest Reference pre-amp actually does this then it's probably worth it's weight in gold). I'll continue to experiment with inter-connects, etc., to see if this can be achieved by such means in 'Direct', but I doubt it. I have ideas as to how this can be achieved by other means, but that's another long story. Moreover, with the current level of performance, I really don't feel compelled to modify anything. So for now, since a choice must be made, the decision in favor of realism is easy, especially since the 'Direct' mode's limited benefits are not that great, in comparison.
This review is, therefore, based primarily on the LS3 operating in the more realistic (active) 'Normal' mode. But be advised; the LS3's prowess in the lower-mids will only be accessible to those rare systems which are also fully proficient in this area. [With most systems (which are, unfortunately, deficient in the lower-mids) the LS3's passive 'Direct' mode will be slightly more mid/treble-'detailed', and 'better', for them (since this is the only benefit they can access) even if not as realistic, overall - as previously articulated].
Putting the passive modes of operation into perspective; simple 'generic' pre-amp less operation is similar in sonics to the LS3's 'Direct' mode, but even less accomplished. This is because some of this pre-amp's 'glowing' musicality is still displayed in the 'Direct' mode, albeit to a lesser degree than 'Normal' - call it a 'thinned-out musicality'. But pre-amp less operation doesn't offer even that - producing, instead, a dryer more mechanical sound along with its lower-midrange anorexia.
Connecting a source-component directly to one's amp is no panacea for sonic realism, in my experience. It can even be a deterrent as the life and body of the sound can be sucked out of a system which is perfectly capable of LIFELIKE reproduction. What is left is a thoroughly competent sound that is crisp and clear but dry and analytical, and also bereft of lower-midrange body, liquid-lucidity and lifelike-musicality. Let us even concede that it minutely lowers the 'noise-floor', which logic would suggest - but the price is too high. And I'd much rather to have the big-picture whole and complete than to have that picture missing a major part, but brandishing a micro-sonically lower 'noise-floor'. The bare-boned 'nakedness' of this type of sound does encourage and facilitate analysis of the detail of what's left of the music (after the life and body have been sucked out) but to me analyzing a dead inanimate object, minus a major part, is not a pleasurable prospect. I'll leave that to the coroner.
Nevertheless, I can see why lovers of analytical detail would endorse this type of sound. It does not really provide much more detail, as some seem to think, but it does make it easier to examine what's left after some 'distracting elements' (mainly the lower-mids' body) have been stripped away. To each his own.
But the truth is; music cannot live, or be lifelike, without its body. It's a fact of nature. It's a fact of life! I've said elsewhere (re; 'From HiFi to High-End: What's Wrong?') that approximately 90% of the sounds of nature and music are in the midrange. Therefore to compromise the midrange in any way, is to compromise the realism of the whole reproduction. That lower-midrange, which is currently so uncommon in today's systems, is what gives live instrumental sound its robustness, its body, among other things (not the bass - generally speaking). Take away the lower-mids, as most systems do, and the resulting lean sound can never be regarded as accurately representative of the real thing. It can never be lifelike. This is a fact!
The difference(s) in a nutshell; LOWER-MIDRANGE BODY, and a near indescribable, but life-like 'GLOWING-MUSICALITY'. Those are the differences. The LS3 IS better. At least in this system, it's better by a significant margin, lifting the system closer to the realms of sonic-realism.
Forgive me for the many times the low-mids region will be mentioned in this piece (and, indeed, at this site). But I feel compelled to stress it as this is one of the main elements missing from most modern systems, in my opinion, and it's one of the main keys to the LS-3's realistic performance.
This pre-amp has become, perhaps, the most critical component in the system - take it out, and the system goes flat, the lower-midrange goes missing, it resorts to merely very good, perhaps even extremely good hifi, but hifi nonetheless. (Believe me; pre-amp less, or 'passive pre-amplification', is no real substitute for a good active pre - not by a long shot). The LS3 is the elixir that breathes life and uncanny realism into the system.
A recent storm had caused me to disconnect the system for several days. Impatiently, I'd eventually reconnected without the pre-amp; that's what reminded me of what the LS3 did for the system, and inspired me to expand this segment into a full 'review'. Without this pre-amp the system, to me, sounds dry and analytical, the type of sound many seem to love, but with which I’ve long been dissatisfied as it lacks the fore-mentioned elements necessary for natural realism. It reminded me of how the system sounded before the LS3's arrival. Reconnecting this pre-amp returned the blossom, bloom, glow, linger & fade of appropriate notes, and also returned the all-important lower-midrange body. It allows all the other components to exhibit their prowess in these areas. Without the LS3, for instance, the UREI and the speakers sound ordinary, flat, and even lean - just like most other 'very good' amps and speaker-systems I've heard - they're unable to display their extra-ordinary abilities at operating in the area most other components and systems can't even visit; the lower-midrange.
This low-mids prowess, and the vibrant bloom, linger & fade of notes, in addition to its uncommon dynamism, these are some of the factors which distinguish this audio-system, set it apart from the merely very good, and facilitate its approach to the realms of sonic realism. And the Audio-Research LS3 plays the starring role in this scenario. In one sense - just this one sense - it's even more influential in a system than a turntable, I would argue. That's because the turntable's contribution is confined only to that source, but the pre-amp brings its benefits to every source - even CD's sound more realistic thru the LS3. It is THE KEY component without any hint, or shadow, of doubt!
A rare disappointed user at audioreviews.com, some time ago, described the LS3 as bright and analytical. I would politely suggest that it's more definitely the system, or other components of it, that is/are at fault. That criticism could never be further from the truth. But, ironically, this complaint substantiates a point I'll be stressing below, regarding popular but compromised systems which cannot reproduce the low-mids. For an example; I've already indicated, in the article, 'System-Building for Lifelike Sound', that most ss amps 'chop-off' the lower-midrange (claims of ruler-flat 20khz to 20hz response, notwithstanding). That alone would negate one of this pre-amp's main advantages. Therefore, this; combined with most high-end speakers which also 'chop-off' the lower-mids in addition to being overly bright-sounding and relatively thin on bass, will cause any component to sound bright and analytical.
In addressing those who would argue that a system should sound better without a pre-amp, and therefore this pre-amp's virtues may be due to a coloration, I'll say this: Any coloration that makes my system sound as good and as realistically lifelike as this, I welcome with open arms. In actuality, though, the LS3 is widely reputed to be as neutral as they come. Neutrality is one of the pillars on which its enviable reputation stands. I really don't know why it sounds so much better than pre-amp-less, so to speak, but it does, and I'm 'extreeemely' happy with that! And, yes, it does have a virtual pre-amp-less, or passive, mode labeled; 'Direct' (its purest mode of operation). In this mode it operates as a 'passive pre-amp', where all of the active circuit is cut out.
However, I use it most frequently in the (active) 'Normal' mode partly because I do a fair amount of recording, which can't be done in the 'Direct' mode. Perhaps more significant, though, is the fact that I seem to prefer the sound - the fullness of tone - this unit produces operating in the 'Normal' mode. Yes, the sound in 'Direct' is slightly clearer, and perhaps slightly more dynamic, treble is also more prominent. But it is, also, as thread-bare in the lower-mids as when the system is operated pre-amp less. So while I appreciate the benefits the 'Direct' mode brings to limited areas, I always find myself yearning to go back to the 'Normal' mode for the full-toned naturalness that so enhances the overall realism of the reproduction. . .
Vive la Difference: To put it simply, 'Direct' is like an excellent solid-state pre-amp excelling at the leading-edges of notes, with seemingly very slight enhancements of upper-range transients and dynamics. The 'Normal' mode is like an excellent tube pre-amp excelling at the trailing edges of said musical-notes, and at the lower-midrange tones, overtones, and resonances intrinsic to many of those musical-notes. But it goes further, for while the 'Normal' mode is close in competence at the 'Direct' mode's areas of strength, 'Direct' cannot even approach the 'Normal' mode's areas of excellence.
Because of its uncommon strengths, the 'Normal' mode brings to the fore all the lower-midrange sounds, tones, and fades of notes that are usually hidden by the vast majority of components and systems, which are mostly inept in this region. Every musical track is now a treasure-trove brimming with previously hidden gems of musical information that all conspire to make each recording sound much more like a live performance.
This pre-amp, in the 'Normal' mode, loves acoustic instruments like the piano and acoustic guitar, for just two examples, and goes above and beyond the call of duty to reveal every nuance of tone and overtone, not to mention very nearly the last iota of the resonances all such instruments produce in live performance. And, therefore, instruments tend to sound life-sized, not miniaturized as thru most components. Certainly because of its excellence with acoustic instruments, electronic instruments also benefit. For instance, the electric guitar so common to most popular music such as in reggae, rock & roll, electronic-jazz, 60's/70's R&B, etc., now display their full range of tones (which bloom, expand, and sound appropriately 'big') instead of the small, flat, and constricted generic nasal twang most components reduce them to. Most remarkable, though, are those previously barely discernible hauntingly melodic ghosts of guitar virtuosos extremely deep in the mix, which the LS3 now more prominently exposes within their proper context. Moreover, the ringing and prolonged fade of those notes along with their melodic tones give insight as to why electric-guitarists have always insisted upon tube-amplification for their instruments. The LS3 in 'Normal' makes all this information clearly apparent, more so than any other single component I've yet encountered.
The foregoing notwithstanding, I believe one of this pre-amp's greatest accomplishments is with the most difficult of instruments to reproduce convincingly - the human voice. Many components, including the LS3 in 'Direct' mode (and pre-amp less) seem to truncate certain voices at the bottom of their range causing a kind of 'clipping' effect where the voice hardens in this region. This I discovered with the LS3 in 'Direct' while specifically comparing both modes recently for the expansion of this review. This effect rarely occurred with Diana Krall's voice even though it generally sounded thinner than natural, but it was most blatantly apparent with Michael Franks at the low range of his (similarly thinned-out) voice, on one track especially, where the pre-amp in 'Direct' seemed to reach the point at which it could trace the signal no further, so it 'clipped', for want of a better expression. The same phenomenon, though rare in both instances, sometimes occurred in my days of pre-amp less operation. In the 'Normal' mode of the LS3, however, this never ever happens, and there's no un-natural thinning of the voice or any other instrument - ever. I'm growing tired of using the word 'real', but that's exactly the way voices sound thru this pre-amp in the 'Normal' mode - full, and natural, and REAL!
More evidence of the LS3's superiority is apparent in its treatment of previously barely-discernible voices deep in the background. Back-up singers, for instance, are afforded greater exposure in this pre-amp's 'Normal' mode as it elevates them from the barely evident homogeneous blob most components reduce them to, and separates and projects their voices to reveal distinct individual singers with unique vocal characteristics (even chest-cavity resonances) just as it does with all appropriate instruments, whether they're up-front or extremely deep in the mix. Countless are the times I've belatedly discovered 'new' singers and instruments I never knew were there on recordings I'd listened to for years thru other highly-rated components and systems - now revealed in all their lifelike glory thru the 'Normal' LS3. It bears repeating; this-thing-is-AWESOME!
The ideal would be to combine the slight increase in purity/dynamism of the 'Direct' mode with the fullness of tone the 'Normal' mode provides. (If Audio-Research's latest Reference pre-amp actually does this then it's probably worth it's weight in gold). I'll continue to experiment with inter-connects, etc., to see if this can be achieved by such means in 'Direct', but I doubt it. I have ideas as to how this can be achieved by other means, but that's another long story. Moreover, with the current level of performance, I really don't feel compelled to modify anything. So for now, since a choice must be made, the decision in favor of realism is easy, especially since the 'Direct' mode's limited benefits are not that great, in comparison.
This review is, therefore, based primarily on the LS3 operating in the more realistic (active) 'Normal' mode. But be advised; the LS3's prowess in the lower-mids will only be accessible to those rare systems which are also fully proficient in this area. [With most systems (which are, unfortunately, deficient in the lower-mids) the LS3's passive 'Direct' mode will be slightly more mid/treble-'detailed', and 'better', for them (since this is the only benefit they can access) even if not as realistic, overall - as previously articulated].
Putting the passive modes of operation into perspective; simple 'generic' pre-amp less operation is similar in sonics to the LS3's 'Direct' mode, but even less accomplished. This is because some of this pre-amp's 'glowing' musicality is still displayed in the 'Direct' mode, albeit to a lesser degree than 'Normal' - call it a 'thinned-out musicality'. But pre-amp less operation doesn't offer even that - producing, instead, a dryer more mechanical sound along with its lower-midrange anorexia.
Connecting a source-component directly to one's amp is no panacea for sonic realism, in my experience. It can even be a deterrent as the life and body of the sound can be sucked out of a system which is perfectly capable of LIFELIKE reproduction. What is left is a thoroughly competent sound that is crisp and clear but dry and analytical, and also bereft of lower-midrange body, liquid-lucidity and lifelike-musicality. Let us even concede that it minutely lowers the 'noise-floor', which logic would suggest - but the price is too high. And I'd much rather to have the big-picture whole and complete than to have that picture missing a major part, but brandishing a micro-sonically lower 'noise-floor'. The bare-boned 'nakedness' of this type of sound does encourage and facilitate analysis of the detail of what's left of the music (after the life and body have been sucked out) but to me analyzing a dead inanimate object, minus a major part, is not a pleasurable prospect. I'll leave that to the coroner.
Nevertheless, I can see why lovers of analytical detail would endorse this type of sound. It does not really provide much more detail, as some seem to think, but it does make it easier to examine what's left after some 'distracting elements' (mainly the lower-mids' body) have been stripped away. To each his own.
But the truth is; music cannot live, or be lifelike, without its body. It's a fact of nature. It's a fact of life! I've said elsewhere (re; 'From HiFi to High-End: What's Wrong?') that approximately 90% of the sounds of nature and music are in the midrange. Therefore to compromise the midrange in any way, is to compromise the realism of the whole reproduction. That lower-midrange, which is currently so uncommon in today's systems, is what gives live instrumental sound its robustness, its body, among other things (not the bass - generally speaking). Take away the lower-mids, as most systems do, and the resulting lean sound can never be regarded as accurately representative of the real thing. It can never be lifelike. This is a fact!
LS-3, PRE-AMP LESS, & TODAY'S HIGH-END SOUND: Sadly, I realize that this is the type of sound many people appreciate; if only because this is the most common, since most amplifiers and, absolutely, MOST modern speaker-systems are incapable of reproducing the lower-midrange body to which I refer. However, for a system to be truly lifelike it simply MUST be competent at the lower-midrange as a pre-condition.
But even with the most competent of speakers and amps (in this area) pre-amp-less operation will negate those abilities, as I've discovered. It limits, strangles, and withholds the lower-mids from the rest of the system, so even if one's amp and speakers are proficient in this region, one will never be exposed to the wealth of information in the lower-mids.
The LS3 releases all that lower-midrange information to amps and speakers capable of operating in this area. The result is enhanced realism: Musical notes become whole, and complete. The resonance of certain instruments is liberated allowing the instrument(s) to sound truly like the real thing and as big as life. Notes in this region are more full, they expand, they linger for longer, then they slowly fade into oblivion, regardless of the cacophony around them. I was lucky to have an amp and speakers that were capable of showcasing the considerable advantage the LS3 holds over 'pre-amp-less' in the lower-mids - otherwise, I might never have bought it. If, however, one's amps or speakers also limit the lower-mids, as the vast majority do, then one will never notice that much of a difference in this area.
Perhaps other systems react differently, perhaps I'm wrong, but I sincerely doubt it, on both counts. I almost wish I were wrong, believe me, as these findings run counter to the opinions of some whose opinions I respect. What's more likely is that this dry and analytical sound, bereft of the lower-mids (such as that provided by pre-amp less operation) is more widely accepted and loved than I'd initially thought. In hind-sight, though, I realize I should have known better since I’d already recognized that this is the type of sound that has dominated high-end since the late ‘70’s when mini-monitors, and their detail-filled but thin midrange sound, took the world by storm.
Lower-midrange sounds are, indeed, a prominent feature of nature (and of live, un-amplified music). And previous generations, recognizing this, incorporated the capability of reproducing the lower-mids in their speakers (amps and pre-amps too) calling it ‘good tone’, then. Examples are; Tannoy, Bozak, Acoustic-Research, Klipsch, KLH and Advent, to name a few, most of which are still acclaimed as being amongst the most realistic reproducers of sound, in one sense or another. Despite short-comings in some areas – all were/are proficient at the lower-mids. Esteemed designer, Henry Kloss for instance, was famous for ensuring this 'good tone' in all his universally-acclaimed designs, including Advent, A-R, and KLH. Tannoys are still widely used as studio-monitors, and universally respected for their realism. And so is the Klipschorn, in the latter respect.
But then mini-monitors came along with all their impressive features, but also with the intrinsic inability to properly reproduce the lower-mids. Yet this thin detail-emphasizing mini-monitor style midrange is the standard the industry adopted, sacrificing the essential lower-mids for the sake of the analytical detail and superior imaging mini-monitors provided. This thin midrange is what is now described as neutral, since the 'standard' has long been translated to all categories of components.
As I see it; that thin mid may be ‘neutral’, but it is a 'neutrality' compromised by ineptitude at the essential lower-mids - and at sonic realism, as a consequence. Restore the lower-mids and ‘neutral’ expands to become ‘NATURAL’, as nature defines it.
That’s what a component like the LS3 excels at.
Conclusion: I'd advise any audiophile more interested in overall sonic realism than in fad-of-the-week hype, and narrowly focused obsession, to look closely into Audio-Research's products. For me, the LS3 is tangible testament to the relevance, and authenticity, of their formidable reputation. Therefore, I harbor no reservation in proclaiming that the best of these deservedly highly-acclaimed components can be ab-soo-lutely PHENOMENAL in their ability to lift a system closer to the realms of LIFELIKE-REALISM!
Since my early years, as an audiophile, I had lusted after the classic Audio Research SP8. The many rave-reviews of this pre-amp waxed lyrical about its vast superiority over virtually every other pre-amp known to man, at the time, and about its transforming and elevating effect on every system it graced. But now to own the Audio-Research LS3, which some say is even better, is an honor for which I am truly grateful.....
Excuse me while I wipe a tear!
But even with the most competent of speakers and amps (in this area) pre-amp-less operation will negate those abilities, as I've discovered. It limits, strangles, and withholds the lower-mids from the rest of the system, so even if one's amp and speakers are proficient in this region, one will never be exposed to the wealth of information in the lower-mids.
The LS3 releases all that lower-midrange information to amps and speakers capable of operating in this area. The result is enhanced realism: Musical notes become whole, and complete. The resonance of certain instruments is liberated allowing the instrument(s) to sound truly like the real thing and as big as life. Notes in this region are more full, they expand, they linger for longer, then they slowly fade into oblivion, regardless of the cacophony around them. I was lucky to have an amp and speakers that were capable of showcasing the considerable advantage the LS3 holds over 'pre-amp-less' in the lower-mids - otherwise, I might never have bought it. If, however, one's amps or speakers also limit the lower-mids, as the vast majority do, then one will never notice that much of a difference in this area.
Perhaps other systems react differently, perhaps I'm wrong, but I sincerely doubt it, on both counts. I almost wish I were wrong, believe me, as these findings run counter to the opinions of some whose opinions I respect. What's more likely is that this dry and analytical sound, bereft of the lower-mids (such as that provided by pre-amp less operation) is more widely accepted and loved than I'd initially thought. In hind-sight, though, I realize I should have known better since I’d already recognized that this is the type of sound that has dominated high-end since the late ‘70’s when mini-monitors, and their detail-filled but thin midrange sound, took the world by storm.
Lower-midrange sounds are, indeed, a prominent feature of nature (and of live, un-amplified music). And previous generations, recognizing this, incorporated the capability of reproducing the lower-mids in their speakers (amps and pre-amps too) calling it ‘good tone’, then. Examples are; Tannoy, Bozak, Acoustic-Research, Klipsch, KLH and Advent, to name a few, most of which are still acclaimed as being amongst the most realistic reproducers of sound, in one sense or another. Despite short-comings in some areas – all were/are proficient at the lower-mids. Esteemed designer, Henry Kloss for instance, was famous for ensuring this 'good tone' in all his universally-acclaimed designs, including Advent, A-R, and KLH. Tannoys are still widely used as studio-monitors, and universally respected for their realism. And so is the Klipschorn, in the latter respect.
But then mini-monitors came along with all their impressive features, but also with the intrinsic inability to properly reproduce the lower-mids. Yet this thin detail-emphasizing mini-monitor style midrange is the standard the industry adopted, sacrificing the essential lower-mids for the sake of the analytical detail and superior imaging mini-monitors provided. This thin midrange is what is now described as neutral, since the 'standard' has long been translated to all categories of components.
As I see it; that thin mid may be ‘neutral’, but it is a 'neutrality' compromised by ineptitude at the essential lower-mids - and at sonic realism, as a consequence. Restore the lower-mids and ‘neutral’ expands to become ‘NATURAL’, as nature defines it.
That’s what a component like the LS3 excels at.
Conclusion: I'd advise any audiophile more interested in overall sonic realism than in fad-of-the-week hype, and narrowly focused obsession, to look closely into Audio-Research's products. For me, the LS3 is tangible testament to the relevance, and authenticity, of their formidable reputation. Therefore, I harbor no reservation in proclaiming that the best of these deservedly highly-acclaimed components can be ab-soo-lutely PHENOMENAL in their ability to lift a system closer to the realms of LIFELIKE-REALISM!
Since my early years, as an audiophile, I had lusted after the classic Audio Research SP8. The many rave-reviews of this pre-amp waxed lyrical about its vast superiority over virtually every other pre-amp known to man, at the time, and about its transforming and elevating effect on every system it graced. But now to own the Audio-Research LS3, which some say is even better, is an honor for which I am truly grateful.....
Excuse me while I wipe a tear!
Copyright 2010