Suspicious LS3/5As... "BBC" Branded... Fakes?

[adriantsui]

Hi everyone,

My dad recently checked out a pair of LS3/5A at an audio shop that claimed them to be a limited edition "gold badge", one of 500 made. They appeared to be branded as "BBC" speakers, not Rogers, Harbeth, etc. or any of the other companies I know manufactured them. This is supposedly a reputable shop, but to me, there are some serious red flags here, mainly, the fact that to my knowledge BBC never manufactured these speakers on their own, but only licensed the design to other companies (aside from perhaps in the VERY early days... however this speaker was supposedly made in 1997).

My guess is these are probably a KIT LS3 with a BBC sticker, unless someone knows otherwise?

I've attached a pic. What do you think?

I am unable to see them myself as we are in different cities, but I am advising him not to buy them (they are charging 1800 Canadian)

 

[Zonker92]

A Google Images search turns up some with similar (not identical) badges; here's one example:

 

[adriantsui]

Those are made by Stirling, which I know for a fact have acquired an official license from BBC (I actually used to own a pair of stirlings ), but as far as I know BBC did not manufacture these under their own branding, except perhaps like I said in the very beginning, and certainly not in 1997.

 

[petehall347]

looked at a few pics and all have 4 terminals on the back ..yours have only 2

 

[adriantsui]

Rogers definitely manufactured a 15ohm version with two terminals, in fact many consider these to be the "definitive" LS3/5a...
So, if these are fakes, that might explain why they chose to put 2 vs 4.

 

[mile50717]

Check with Stirling, but I think you would need to send them better photos.

Stirling list two Canadian resellers - http://www.stirlingbroadcast.net/usa_canada_resellers.html

 

[Graceman]

If you start here: http://www.ls35a.com you will find the LS3/5a users forum where you will get a definitive answer from the finest gathering of experts on this speaker!