Graham Audio have announced the purchase of the CHARTWELL and SWISSTONE Companies. The famous Chartwell brand were historically regarded as the finest builders of the BBC LS3/5A speakers and their products are perhaps the most sought after of all the licensees who built the brilliant LS3/5A

“Graham Audio will be manufacturing the most famous of all the BBC speakers under one of it’s most cherished names with the attention to detail and sound that made Chartwell so famous. The bespoke drive units and crossover networks are by Derek Hughes working in conjunction with Volt loudspeakers to produce a fully licensed ‘Made in England’ speaker using the very finest materials available” says the company’s recent press release.

Chartwell by Graham Audio, will be releasing a BBC licensed LS3/5A speaker at the Munich High End Show in May 2015

The company has also announced the worldwide release of their BBC LICENSED LS5/8 Grade One monitor speaker. Designed in conjunction with Derek Hughes and Volt loudspeakers the two way passive design features a bespoke 12 inch bass/mid unit and Audax tweeter matched to a handcrafted crossover built by Derek Hughes. The project was conceived to reintroduce the BBC design as a follow on from the Graham Audio LS5/9 monitor speaker.

The design principle was to maintain the midrange and balance of the LS5/9 but with greater extension, power handling and authority.

The new LS5/8 uses the same birch ply construction and real wood veneers as the LS5/9. The cabinets are dampened and upholstered, and feature the correct BBC lossy design principle.

Graham Audio are also currently working with the Royal Opera House Covent Garden who have commissioned a bespoke passive speaker system.

Graham Audio again turned to Derek Hughes to co-design a 4 box high resolution speaker system capable of being driven by any amplifier that will provide the same continuity of sound and detail as our other speakers but on a larger scale for the theatre and audio industry.

Called SYSTEM 3D, the design uses a bespoke high resolution, high powered passive crossover network that negates any digital correction or manipulation. The design simplifies the sound designers needs and provides a hi-fi quality speaker with enough power and delicacy to be used on the opera house stage as well as theatre sound. Designed as a 4 box, SYSTEM 3D uses a separate mid top box aligned to a twin bass unit on each side.

The 3D system will also be available to domestic users in a range of high quality real wood veneers.