I invested quite a lot in a purchase of the Stirling AB-2 when I owned a pair of ls3/5a V2s. The integration of these bass extenders and my speakers/room was not convincing and the purity of the midband of the ls3/5a was compromised and I sold the lot.
However, I've since purchased Stirling V3s (love them) and most significantly, I treated my room with floor to ceiling bass traps in the two corners behind the speakers. I suspect, (though i have not yet tried) that a pair of ab-2s would be far more successful now. The room treatment had a huge effect on clearing up the room bass frequencies and reduced the significance of the ls3/5a 'bass hump'.
I like this. You are not generalising as per 'S-Man'. You are describing your own experiences and approach to finding a speaker system which works for your tastes, in your system, in your room, which is all any of us can do.
The AB1 just doesn't make sense. It's a B110 in a ported box.
First off.. I don't have LS3/5As. I have Studio 3s which use the same box with different drivers and are, as several posters here will testify, very capable in their own right.. but that really isn't the issue here..
Yes, I know it's 'a B110 in a ported box'. I have two... And AB1 is NOT a subwoofer, nor was it marketed as such by Rogers, who first produced it. In reality it converts the LS3/5A and in my case the Studio 3, into a tidy and effective floorstander.
Why on earth would you want to "augment" the LS3/5As tight and tuneful bass.
Why on Earth would you want a speaker which only delivers upper bass? IME the strength of the LS3/5A is almost totally in the quality of the mids and highs. Without in any way 'dissing' the LS3 or its designers..any fool can get tight fast tuneful bass if they stay in the 'upper bass' region. So.. having got my Devil's Advocacy out of the way...it comes down to what every audio kit choice comes down to. How does the performance of your speakers, in your room, in your system, interact with your taste? It's the only way to choose kit sensibly.
.with something that doesn't extend the bass much, adds a load of bass overhang.....
Is that experience talking.. or some 'expert' opinion/ received wisdom..? I have had my Rogers since 1996 and the AB3s since 1997. They have seen off many competitors, but never been beaten according to my taste, in my room, in my system.
and doesn't low pass the LS3/5A?
If you are talking absolutes you are incorrect. If you are querying the crossover characteristics, I'd suggest you take that up with Andy Whittle who designed the AB1, the successful 'Studio' series and IIRC correctly another successful more budget oriented series with IIRC the 'LS' prefix. Also IIRC Andy went on to work for Exposure after Rogers closed, and then re-appeared recently with new British designs for the Rogers brand. I think he has a fair idea what he is doing.
But if you want the specs: Here they are direct from my AB1 manual:
Specifications
Type: single driver subwoofer
Frequency Response: 55Hz to 120Hz
Power Handling: 50W
Recommended Amplifier: 25 to 100W
Crossover Frequency: 120Hz
Impedance: 8Ω
Sensitivity: 84dB
Bass: 1 x 125mm cone
Enclosure: band pass
Dimensions: 570 x 190 x 162mm
Weight: 8.2kg
Since I have S3s which are not LS3s, I spoke to Andy way back about an 'AB3'. He told me the design was already worked out and agreed to make me a pair but I can't be bothered typing that story out again. I already posted it above.
No wonder that people get a bad impression about subwoofers!
I repeat. NOT a sub. As with everything else, there are good, bad and indifferent subs, but since the AB1 isn't a sub.. you should maybe look elsewhere for something to blame.