Audiomaster loudspeakers are rarely seen now, and we are delighted to have found a very rare full colour sales brochure from March 1979 plus several contemporary reviews in the Falcon Archives. This shows their range which included the Audiomaster LS3/5A and Audiomaster MLS1, MLS2 and the MLS5. You will find full specifications here, and several contemporary reviews here.
Apart from the LS3/5A, Audiomaster typically used Audax drive units, and we can supply replacement tweeters here:
Audiomaster was the loudspeaker brand founded and manufactured by KJ Leisuresound, one of the premier UK dealer chains in the 1970’s. The brand really got momentum when the legendary speaker designer Robin Marshall joined them from the BBC, starting off with the licenced LS3/5A. Robin went on to work for Monitor Audio, and founded Epos. His speaker designs are still sought after and cherished by audiophiles.
An interesting interview with Robin Marshall and Jon Atkinson from Stereophile in 1989 can be found here:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/robin-marshall-modicum-genius#DOGMWCOOrZztrPd6.97
The dealer list from March 1979 is from the heyday of British Hifi. There are many familiar names here, sadly nearly all of them have closed and disappeared. It is now even more important that wherever possible you support UK dealers and part suppliers, use us or lose us.
Audiomaster Sales Brochure
From the Audiomaster Sales Manual 1979
MLS 1
With a reputation for transparency and precision that belies its bargain price, the first choice of many critical listeners.
The Bextrene bass driver and hemispherical dome tweeter are equalised and integrated by a complex crossover of advanced design. Considerable care has been paid to optimising the cut-off characteristics for stable dispersion and the resultant stereo performance bears ample witness to this care.
MLS 2
Big brother to the MLS 1. It provides the same transparent sound and precision imaging but offers an extended bass response.
LS3/5A
Designed by the BBC and built to the highest standards. The cabinet is constructed from expensive laminated birch and braced with solid hardwood. Bituminous damping pads and polyurethane foam reduce unwanted resonances to an inaudible level.
Bass units are individually selected to meet a rigid specification and the complex 18-component crossover network is adjusted on test to equalise the relative sensitivity of the tweeter. Each LS3/5A is compared with a calibrated reference during listening tests and every one is guaranteed to meet its specification.
MLS 4
A carefully optimised reflex design employing a Bextrene cone bass driver and a hemispherical dome tweeter in a compact stand-mounting enclosure.
Great care has been given to the design of the precision 12-element crossover network to ensure that both drive units are correctly equalised and integrated. A considerable amount of attention has been paid to the crossover cut-off characteristics in particular in the search for the finest possible stereo performance.
With its accurate and extended bass response and detailed midrange, the MLS 4 is a true high performance speaker system.
MLS 5
Designed with stereo image precision very much in mind. A great deal of thought has been given to the design of the crossover network to ensure the degree of radiation symmetry necessary for true stereo image and depth information to be presented.
Two relatively small Bextrene bass drivers operate in tandem to ensure good transient performance while providing sufficient cone area for adequate bass output and a hemispherical dome tweeter takes over at the unusually low crossover frequency of 1800 Hz. Unit integration is carried out by a complex 21-element crossover of 4th-order cascade design.
Care has been given to both the shape and the construction of the enclosure to ensure low colouration and minimum diffraction. Time delay distortion is minimised by the positioning of the drive units in a staggered array.
We invite you to audition the MLS 5. But beware! It may reveal faults in the programme you didn't know existed.
Audiomaster Model Specifications 1979
All specs and prices are lifted straight from the Audiomaster sales brochure of 1979.
| Specification | MLS 1 | MLS 2 | LS3/5A | MLS 4 | MLS 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive units | 165 mm Bextrene bass 25 mm dome treble | 200 mm Bextrene bass 25 mm dome treble | 102 mm Bextrene bass 25 mm dome treble | 200 mm Bextrene bass 25 mm dome treble | Two 165 mm Bextrene bass 25 mm dome treble |
| Frequency response | 60 Hz - 20 kHz ± 4dB | 50 Hz - 20 kHz ± 4dB | 80 Hz - 20 kHz ± 3dB | 50 Hz - 20 kHz ± 3dB | 50 Hz - 20 kHz ± 3dB |
| Nominal impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms | 15 ohms | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
| Power requirements | 15 - 60 watts into 8 ohms | 12 - 75 watts into 8 ohms | 25 - 50 watts into 8 ohms | 15 - 75 watts into 8 ohms | 10 - 75 watts into 8 ohms |
| Dimensions | 372(h) x 230(w) x 192(d) mm 14⅝(h) x 9(w) x 7½(d) in | 463(h) x 287(w) x 231(d) mm 18¼(h) x 11¼(w) x 9(d) in | 308(h) x 193(w) x 160(d) mm 11⅛(h) x 7⅝(w) x 6⅜(d) in | 625(h) x 275(w) x 312(d) mm 24½(h) x 10¾(w) x 12¼(d) in | 625(h) x 275(w) x 250(d) mm 24½(h) x 10¾(w) x 9⅞(d) in |
| Weight | 5.3 kg (11.7 lb) | 8.1 kg (18 lb) | 5.3 kg (11.7 lb) | 14 kg (29.25 lb) | 17 kg (38 lb) |
| Finish | Teak or walnut | Teak or walnut | Teak or walnut | Walnut | Teak or walnut |
| Grille | Dark brown cloth | Dark brown cloth | Dark brown cloth | Dark brown cloth | Dark brown foam |
| PRICE per pair | £116 inc VAT | £148.50 inc VAT | £179.40 inc VAT | £191.70 inc VAT | £234 inc VAT |