Falcon Acoustics, the name may not strike a chord with most audiophiles younger than half a century old but ask the ‘oldies’ and they will tell you it was (and perhaps still is) one of the U.K.’s most well known and respected supplier of DIY speaker components and enclosures.
Founded as FALCON ELECTRONICS in 1972 by Malcolm Jones whose claim to fame was as the senior development engineer for KEF Electronics, Falcon Electronics morphed to Falcon Acoustics two years later in 1974 when Malcolm left KEF to concentrate full time on his new found baby.
Over the years Falcon Acoustics developed a well earned reputation as the foremost supplier of components parts to the OEM as well as the rapidly growing DIY segment of the audio market.
Older audiophiles will recall the many Falcon Acoustics Speaker D.I.Y. speaker design projects published in virtually every British audio magazine with one of the most successful and popular being the Tabor which was also available as a kit system in many countries.
Today Falcon Acoustics is still growing from strength to strength and while capably helmed by Jerry Bloomfield is still aided by Jones who stayed on as its Technical Consultant.
Throughout its near 50 years of existence Falcon Acoustics became well known for its OEM and DIY contributions to the speaker world and it has also been known for its contribution that lead to the development of the famous Nightingale Acoustics NM1 speaker system as well as the NM3, Lyrics and Enigma models that followed.
However its main contribution, which reflects Jones’ background as the engineer who was mainly responsible for the design of its component drive units, the Kef B110 and the T27 tweeter, must be the legendary LS3/5a. Falcon Acoustics today offers a complete build up LS3/5a speaker system build to the most stringent original specifications laid down by the BBC. It is also available as a DIY system with complete parts and components provided.
Brought into Malaysia by AV Designs through the participation of the LS3/5a Club’s Joseph Ki, the Falcon Acoustic LS3/5a is now ready for audition with the demo system critically put up by the maestro of sound himself, Jo Ki.
According to Jo Ki the Falcon Acoustic version of the LS3/5a is not only fully licensed by the BBC and hand assembled in Oxford, England, it is said to be the only LS3/5a now in production that is recognised by top audio reviewers to faithfully replicate the original design first published by the BBC in October 1976. Ki adds that Falcon LS3/5a are unique in the sense that they have been specially voiced to reproduce the famous sound of the early ‘gold badge’ era of the LS3/5a.
In explaining, Ki revealed that the Falcon B110 bass/midrange and the Falcon T27 tweeter, the key component drive units of the LS3/5a were originally designed by Malcolm Jones himself and is presented here in the original 15 ohms LS3/5a design laid down by the BBC! To ensure its true adherence to the originally specified LS3/5a design, the Falcon Acoustic LS3/5a is now available only in single wire connectors. Most post 1980s LS3/5a comes with by-wire connectors and a revised crossover network that results in a drop of impedance from the original 15 ohm to 11 ohms. In addition, all components for the Falcon Acoustics are handmade in the UK and are unique to Falcon. Also in keeping to the original LS3/5a specification the cabinets are also made to BBC specs and are available in a variety of natural wood veneers and comes with Tygan Cloth front grills.
The Falcon Acoustics LS3/5a measures 305 x 190 x 165mm and weighs approximately 5.4kg.
For further information contact:
AV Designs Sdn Bhd.,
Tel: 03 62411237, Tony Low: 012 2330771
