Friends, new Uniti Nova owner here. Using to stream from qbuz, or our Rega Planar p2 turntable with naca5 wire. I’ve had PMC GB1 speakers for almost 20 years. Have loved them, but with the Nova, I’m now hankering for something fuller. Maybe more musical. I’ve recently been introduced to Graham Audio, and wonder if any of you have thoughts pairing with the Nova. I’m going to listen to a 3yr old pair of the LS 5/9f floor standing speakers this Friday. The LS 8/1 I listened to in a showroom were super fun. For the record, I mostly listen to rock (stones, police, king gizzard & the lizard wizard, kikagaku moyo), but I’m also often listening to jazz and occasionally classical as well.
Thanks for input.
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You are doing the right thing listening and essentially only you can decide if they are right for you. Will the trial be in your listening room, that is probably the most important factor.
Graham speakers are designed using BBC thinwall build, but there are differences between the licensed designs and their own. Typically the LS5/9 has a curtailed top end, dropping off above 16kHz, they were designed for FM radio and this avoided the pilot tone for stereo broadcasts. The have a reputation as “pipe and slippers”, the contrary argument is that they were designed as monitor speakers to handle “louder” rock music. The LS8/1 are a slightly different animal, frequency is extended to 20kHz. They are also more expensive!
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I don’t know about the LS5/9f but the LS5/9 is very good. I find it to be more nuanced than Harbeth speakers (SHL5+) which I owned for more than a decade. A friend who owns the LS8/1 has nothing but praises for the speakers, and he too switched from Harbeth to Graham.
I’ve owned PMCs before (LB1 Signature). I’m not sure about the GB1 but the older PMC models are not very revealing and lack detail, not very expressive as well. It’s a punchy sound though but without subtlety.
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Love that expression, “pipe and slippers” - so intimate. Not rocking? First listening in the person’s home that owns them. Perhaps they’ll let me borrow them to put in my spot. I just did a dimension comparison to my GB1’s and boy howdy are they chunkier. My wife might object. I’m in no hurry…as the PMC’s are quite nice…but tight. Thanks!
How did the listening go?
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Hey! I actually went into my local HiFi shop, listened to Dynaudio, a couple Spendors, and the Graham Audio LS 6f…the Grahams were the winners for me. I’m demoing for the week, but they have the richness and ease I’ve been looking for.
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Also I think the Ls5/9 would be too big for my wife’s taste
If you can audition the HARBETH M30.2XD (or the new M30.3XD2).
They make a superb combination with the NOVA.
Add a PowerLine on top and you’re good to go.
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I own a pair of Graham Audio LS6f powered by a NAIT XS3 and been running for about 18 months and very pleased. So probably not too far from the Nova as a match.
Good dynamics and in particular the bass and mid range are so detailed to my ears. Just very natural and balanced.
The option of lifting the treble with the switch on the front is handy if furnishings/acoustics in room are heavy. But mine are at 0db setting, slightest toe in, and 2.5 m apart and sitting position is 4m back.
Great you are getting to home demo.
Size-wise, I don’t find them imposing in my around 4m x 5m room.
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I have Graham LS6, the nait 50 I had drove them brilliantly, the most natural speakers I have owned, even more so than revered LS3/5a’s.
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I have always taken dearly beloved to auditions, the only real disagreement was when she fell in love with Linn Isobariks and I said we couldn’t get them in our house.
It helps to see them in the flesh, if possible in the different finishes. That can affect the different perceptions in your own room.
The LS6f is slightly smaller so hopefully you get the best if both worlds.