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Dellichord FR35
Dellichord FR35 – A brand new take on the classic LS3/5A
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In collaboration with the celebrated loudspeaker designer, Brad Serhan on crossover design and development, the result is a full-range speaker that delivers outstanding sound quality in full colour. This little speaker has wonderful texture and instrument placement, images beautifully and unveils hidden detail in recordings without fatigue.
With the wonderful musicality of the legendary LS3/5a monitor in mind, the FR35 provides remarkable transparency and fine detail and has been compared favourably against similar designs at much higher price points.
Improving the LS3/5a style sound? Just add bass.
Designer, Andrew Hutchison, has a long history with the BBC classic LS3/5a monitor. Andrew and his design team strove to design a speaker rich in detail and authentic reproduction of the mid range frequencies of the human voice. You could say the FR35 is a homage, an ode or a tip-of-the-hat to the legendary LS3/5a updated for the modern ear.
Andrew and his team were lead by the fundamentals of the design of the LS3/5a including the size of the diaphragm of the drive units, front baffle, and cabinet – adding modern technologies such as neodymium magnets, hybrid cone materials, self-damped cabinet materials, and visco-elastic sealants. The bass was tuned lower and flatter by increasing cabinet depth and in turn, increasing the volume from this small, sealed box.
The FR35 bookshelf monitor has been designed as a full-range loudspeaker in its own right. Some have said that the only improvement to an LS3/5a style loudspeaker would be more bass. Dellichord has done just that and more by incorporating the FR35 into an active bass system as the FR2035 IsoActive System. This system ‘polishes’ the performance of the FR35 and blends it seamlessly with the thunderous twin 265mm isobaric bass units.
The FR35 internal passive crossover is still ‘in-circuit’ when used as part of a FR2035 system. The visible jumper cables deliver power from the FR20 to the same terminals on the FR35 as used when enjoying them ‘solo’.
Dellichord FR2035 – Key design features
- FR35 bookshelf monitor is a full range speaker in its own right but you can add the FR20 to create your own FR2035 System
- Extraordinary sound quality in this price range
- Designed and manufactured in Australia in our own facility
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The Dellichord FR35 marries compact charm with surprisingly deep, controlled bass and a refined, forward midrange praised by Edgar Kramer. Its Scan‑Speak tweeter and sealed‑box design deliver clear highs and midrange immediacy, while the small baffle yields a wide 3D soundstage. Immaculate maple or walnut finishes underline its premium build.
Pros
- Surprisingly deep, well‑controlled bass for a compact monitor, delivering punch and low‑frequency detail beyond its size.
- Immediate, realistic midrange with excellent vocal presence and controlled sibilance, preserving nuance on close‑mic recordings.
- Refined, non‑shrill treble from the 20mm Scan‑Speak soft‑dome tweeter that renders piano and highs with clarity and tone.
- High‑quality build and real‑wood finishes (maple or walnut) with careful machining and cabinet craftsmanship.
Sound Quality
91/100
Bass
91/100
Sealed-box 150 mm woofer and in-room spec (55 Hz) deliver surprisingly deep and well-controlled bass; reviewers repeatedly call the low end 'deep and powerful' and say the speaker 'plays big' — excellent performance for its size.
Mid
91/100
Reviewers praise the midrange immediacy and realistic vocal presence ('excellent reproduction of vocals', 'immediacy and realness'), with sibilance and etch noted as controlled even on closely miked recordings.
Treble
90/100
20 mm Scan‑Speak soft-dome tweeter renders piano and highs as 'beautifully‑toned' with 'no shrillness' or etch; treble is refined, detailed and balanced.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
Small baffle and quality drivers produce precise center imaging and a large, 3‑dimensional soundfield with widely spread, well-defined images according to the review.
Dynamics
90/100
Described as 'dynamically lively' with the ability to convey fine detail at low levels and surprising upward dynamic swings; good punch and control for the form factor.
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Build Quality
92/100
First‑class veneers, solid enclosures and immaculately machined components (OctoBaffle) cited; finish and craftsmanship described as excellent.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive bookshelf baseline applied (single‑post binding posts in spec). No DSP/app penalty applied per passive rules.
Value for Money
82/100
Review lists a lower AUD price (AU$3,999) while product data shows 5,399; reviewers commend performance but do not call it a 'no‑brainer' at either price, so value is good but not stellar.
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