Here is my brief review of the Stirling V3 after I've had a chance to demo them in comparison.
I’ve been looking to decide on a pair of more definitive long term small speakers, and should add, mostly considering the modern versions LS3/5a type or similar. I am interested in how they sound and I’ve owned or heard a few before, including from Spendor, Harbeth and Falcon (these not extensively and not in comparison), and reading through here reminded me not to forget the Stirling V3. I’ve been curious about the V2 before as well but may be because I had other small monitors at the time, I somehow did not get round to explore them. So as I would not likely be able to lay hands on (or indeed afford) the Falcon special super limited edition (if these are the best sounding?), I thought I would try the Stirling V3 and have as a reference the P3ESR, which I was considering (again) and which I like and know really very well. So, I did a good quality audition of the Stirling V3 and the P3ESR 40th AE, in direct comparison over a couple of days. Naturally, here I’ve been bracing up and getting quite excited for a close contest and hair splitting differences, with difficult decisions but, surprisingly for me at least, this was far more straightforward than I thought.
The midrange, and voice reproduction in particular, was very good and similar with both, with some nuances perhaps - the Stirling slightly better defined and the Harbeth may be a bit fuller sounding so I could have had either, again, both brilliant in this regard (and as expected). So, if anything, this was the only “too close to call” part of the audition ... but then ... with everything else ... to me the Stirling was just really easily better - not by some crushing enormous margin "day and night" and all that, of course, but - easily and clearly, as if without any effort at all, spooky good tbh - more open, more detailed with a superb better top end, more vibrant, punching joyous and alive, natural sounding, better at both lower and higher listening volume levels and with all kinds of music; the bass - felt deeper, but probably just more “correct” and tactile without any bloated elements, the soundstage, the subtlety, the instruments presence, the air and ambiance ... I could go on but essentially to agree with Martyn's review (as well as others here), which he has written better than I would. The fact that the Stirling is slightly cheaper is just the cherry, of course, but to be honest even if the P3ESR was the cheaper speaker, no, in fact even half the price of the Stirling, I would still buy the Stirling V3 - which I did, as you might have guessed by now.
As for the P3s ... well, they remain good speakers ... however the Stirling V3 is simply a lot more musically rewarding and accomplished in my view, and by this I mean both by classical ls3/5a and modern standards! The Stirling V3 is indeed “something else” and to me as well, in a different league altogether. I would have not believed it if someone had told me that the difference would be so clear - so you certainly don’t have to, but I encourage you to hear them out if you want the best in this class.
Well, that’s me, it was fun to do and hopefully of some use to others. I feel like I am happily done with this and looking forward to enjoying the V3 for many years to come. Back to music.