The BBC LS5/9

The LS5/9 is a high quality studio monitor that was designed by BBC
Research and Development and featured a brand new 8 inch bass/midrange
drive unit that was developed entirely in-house and constructed using
the best materials available at the time.

Designed for use by the BBC in smaller studios and control rooms,
the LS5/9 is a close sonic match for the larger LS5/8. Equally at home in a domestic setting, the
open and expansive mid-range reveals previously unheard details from
even the most familiar recordings.

With Derek Hughes at the drawing board, the original BBC design has
been recreated. A new bass/midrange driver has been developed in
conjunction with Volt
Loudspeakers which uses a substantial die-cast aluminium frame and a
massive motor assembly, allied to a diaphragm formed from a selected grade
of polypropylene and matched to a high quality rubber surround. Each bass
driver is hand-assembled and tested by Volt.

The tweeter is a selected version of the Audax 34mm soft dome, which
is protected by a strong metal grille. A sophisticated crossover network
blends the units together and equalises the overall response for optimum
performance in free space.

The cabinet uses classic BBC “thinwall” construction, and is
manufactured in the UK from high quality 9mm birch plywood. Hand-matched
veneers are applied and finished to a very high standard indeed. All
joints in the cabinet are reinforced with hardwood batons to ensure long
life and total air sealing. The panels are mass-loaded to ensure that
resonances are moved away from the critical mid-range region, and a layer
of Rockwool held in place by fabric provides air damping. The grille –
machined from a single piece of 9mm birch plywood – is held in place by
concealed rare-earth magnets.