Pro-Ac Tab 10 vs Spendor S3/5r Vs Celef LS8
- Thread starter matt j
- Start date
Nice comparison! You came to quite similar conclusions as I when I tested the LS8 and Tablette 10 side by side earlier this year. In case someone's interested, my little review is here: https://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum...s3-5-and-an-ls3-5a.178416/page-4#post-3602699 (the LS8 price I mentioned in the post is probably inaccurate though - maybe someone can confirm what the actual made-to-order price is? I found mine cheaper on ebay)
I still have the LS8s but have now sold the Tab 10s.
I still have the LS8s but have now sold the Tab 10s.
James Evans
Bedroom Bodger
Having played a bit more with the positioning I seem to have improved things. I concentrated on the LS8 for now and started them where I tried the Spendors and wasn't keen for the same reasons, about 9" off the back wall and the bass was far too thick and chesty whilst encroaching way too much into the magical mid range so I moved them forward to 12" out and whilst better there was still too much boundary reinforcement, I've settled on 15" for now as this has bought the focus and clarity back but kept a bit of bass warmth, there's probably even more small improvements to be made but I'm quite happy with where they are for now.
Just trying some late night listening and this location seems to have improved that aspect as well. I shall try the Tab 10s in the same location tomorrow and see how it affects them.
As for price mentioned by @eka above- I don't think the price is set in stone, I contacted them out of the blue to see if they had any left or any intention to produce another batch and was told no plans to do any more yet, then received a message to say they had found a pair of black ash cabinets left over from the previous batch and if I would be ok with that finish they could knock me a pair up, they were made up and sent out by the end of the following day! This pair were £1k which I didn't think was too bad for a boxed brand new pair with warranty etc. certainly less than I paid for the Tablette 10s by a piece. I think the cabinet is a more complex design than the Tab 10, certainly more damped at least. I think if this were a full blown Pro-Ac production model then they'd be considerably more expensive.
I'm using them on the end of a JVC AX-Z1010tn BTW, which has now comfortably seen off a fair few amps, not to mention the best digital I've heard via the K2 DAC. Just a pity it's the size of a house and ugly as sin.
Just trying some late night listening and this location seems to have improved that aspect as well. I shall try the Tab 10s in the same location tomorrow and see how it affects them.
As for price mentioned by @eka above- I don't think the price is set in stone, I contacted them out of the blue to see if they had any left or any intention to produce another batch and was told no plans to do any more yet, then received a message to say they had found a pair of black ash cabinets left over from the previous batch and if I would be ok with that finish they could knock me a pair up, they were made up and sent out by the end of the following day! This pair were £1k which I didn't think was too bad for a boxed brand new pair with warranty etc. certainly less than I paid for the Tablette 10s by a piece. I think the cabinet is a more complex design than the Tab 10, certainly more damped at least. I think if this were a full blown Pro-Ac production model then they'd be considerably more expensive.
I'm using them on the end of a JVC AX-Z1010tn BTW, which has now comfortably seen off a fair few amps, not to mention the best digital I've heard via the K2 DAC. Just a pity it's the size of a house and ugly as sin.
At the moment I'm feeding them with a Nac12 RSL/TPR4 Hicap/Nap140 setup. Testing with the Devialet 220pro that I have in my main set I didn't feel the LS8s were forming any kind of bottleneck.
You definitely got a good deal on those. I would think that it would make it hard for ProAc to sell their other small speakers if more people had heard the LS8s
Mr. Tyler explained the cabinet differences like this when I asked about them: "The LS8 uses exactly type of cabinet as the LS3/5a ie plywood,
with soft wood battons and bitumen damping, with removable baffle and Tygan grill. The Tab 10 uses thin wall mdf with bitumen damping. The cost of the LS8
cabinet being much higher than the 10, however because the drivers and crossover are more cutting edge than LS3/5a makes the 10 pretty close if not better than
the LS3/5a IMO. The LS8 benefits by having LS3/5a cabinet with modern cutting edge drivers and crossover makes them better than the LS3/5a according to people
who have compared and bought LS8."
Martyn Miles
pfm Member
I recall Stewart Tyler mentioning speaking to Derek Hughes about the LS3/5a.
I remember thinking that those two together could make something special.
Small speakers, like the LS8, continue to fascinate me.
I still have so many to hear...
I remember thinking that those two together could make something special.
Small speakers, like the LS8, continue to fascinate me.
I still have so many to hear...
Is it the Tablette 10 or 10 Signature that you own? Can the Tablette 10 handle high SPLs?
Tarzan
pfm Member
Martyn Miles
pfm Member
I would really enjoy a ‘get together’ to listen to some of these small speakers. I
appreciate it’s not easy to arrange, plus the venue.
I’ve had a few people come over, mainly to talk about LS3/5a clones with a listening session.
It was particularly interesting when I had a pair of Stirling V2s for comparison.
They really are good.
I couldn’t really offer a venue at the moment due to family circumstances, not to mention
a lack of any make of LS3/5a.
Now that will have to be addressed...
appreciate it’s not easy to arrange, plus the venue.
I’ve had a few people come over, mainly to talk about LS3/5a clones with a listening session.
It was particularly interesting when I had a pair of Stirling V2s for comparison.
They really are good.
I couldn’t really offer a venue at the moment due to family circumstances, not to mention
a lack of any make of LS3/5a.
Now that will have to be addressed...
Since settling on a location the LS8s have stretched their lead even more, I think they're keepers. I may be a bit *cough* of a box swapper, but the speakers have been here almost 3 years as I had no desire to change them, it was only the chance encounter of an unopened pair of S3/5rs and the LS8s being available that led me down this path.
I'm slowly getting to a settled system, it may be a load of hassle and not always cost effective to be constantly trying new kit, but I'm glad I've done it this way so I can hear things at home in my system with no pressure on a purchase or to liking it. Extended demos so to speak.
I'm slowly getting to a settled system, it may be a load of hassle and not always cost effective to be constantly trying new kit, but I'm glad I've done it this way so I can hear things at home in my system with no pressure on a purchase or to liking it. Extended demos so to speak.
You'd need to contact Celef/Pro-Ac direct and ask them, from what I could gather they make/made them in small run batches, I'm not sure if they have the bits to make any to order or if they're waiting to make another batch etc. If the serial numbers are correct, and I have the newest pair, then there are only 8 other pairs.
Martyn Miles
pfm Member
I would certainly like to know if the LS8s are likely to be available again.
ArtK
Lovin’ life!
I have the Tablette 10. I don't play music loud so I really don't know.
CharlesTAryee
New Member
I owned the 10 Signatures, they were surprisingly composed at higher SPLs. I was running them on the back end of a TeddyPardo i80a.
Hello, I'm new around here.
I write from Spain, i'm sorry for my English,
I own speakers celef ls8,and very happy with them,I am a fan of the mini-monitor descendant of the mythical BBC LS3/5a, in addition I have, a couple of Harbeth LS3/5a (with original Kef transducers, from the year 1990, and a Stirling LS3/5a V2, since 2014,)each owns their own own characteristics, and each one brings their particular concept of musical reproduction, but they all have a special "Magic" when it comes to listening,
thank you so much for accepting me in this group, and I reiterate my apologies for my level of English (I use the google translator)
a greeting
Bear
I write from Spain, i'm sorry for my English,
I own speakers celef ls8,and very happy with them,I am a fan of the mini-monitor descendant of the mythical BBC LS3/5a, in addition I have, a couple of Harbeth LS3/5a (with original Kef transducers, from the year 1990, and a Stirling LS3/5a V2, since 2014,)each owns their own own characteristics, and each one brings their particular concept of musical reproduction, but they all have a special "Magic" when it comes to listening,
thank you so much for accepting me in this group, and I reiterate my apologies for my level of English (I use the google translator)
a greeting
Bear
