KEF LS50
Just Tested
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In this month's mag
July 2013
SUPERTEST: Soundbar solutions £250-£450
GROUP TEST: 46-47in smart TVs
GROUP TEST: Standmount speakers £350-£450
© 2013 Haymarket Publishing
Comments
The sound I'm getting from this set up is "stupendous!" Don't think it can get any / much better - certainly not for less than 10X the price!Using the Sony XA5400ES SACD/CDP (the best there is), into the Anti-Mode 2.0 as a pre and DSP to eliminate the "room boom," into a tube buffer, into the Class D Audio amp into the LS50's and R400b produces real "you are there" sound. Incredible detail, resolution, tone, tenure, texture, stage, image, bass, mids and treble... etc., etc...Hard to believe... really... And just an incredible value!Those who comment to the contrary... either haven't heard these set up properly (which I suspect)... or... they simply are reflecting biased agendas - because these truly are "giant killers."
Hey guys, I just made an unboxing video of these:
http://youtu.be/1wXhPOZJ9_o
How would these compare with my old B&W DM201's? Worth the "upgrade"? And comments re "boxiness'!? Really? I listen to classical music, mainly voice and chamber music.
I was immensely fortunate to have received a pair of LS50s for Christmas, as a replacement to my now deceased KEF Q 15.2 speakers I bought over 10 years ago.
They sound great (of course). Precise sound, giving the music an almost three-dimensional presence in the room. Not at all boxy, or like in-car speakers.
My concern, however, is that they are being driven by my Rotel RA-05 Amplifier and matching Rotel CD player.
Any suggestions for suitable replacement amp with a phono input. The Cyrus 6a is well received by you guys, but appears not to have any phono inputs?
Many thanks.
Best to ask this on the forum as not many people will see it here.
The Rega Brio-R has a very fine MM phono in and would make a great amp for the LS50s. Or you could up the budget and go for the Heed Audio Obelisk si, which also has MM phono in.
Thanks Andy.
Impressive response time!
I think I used the wrong phrase when I said "boxiness"
i listened to Lilac Wine by Jeff Buckley, a track which I play at home regularly, and there was an awful prominence of middle frequencies, a strange nasal effect that I did not like at all, that said, I also demmed some Roksan Kandy's which seemed a little better, but not much, which leads me to ask about how dead the WHF test rooms are? Do they emulate a real world situation at all?
PS
Having read Danthemans reply, maybe I should have still used the word boxiness!
I went to my local Hifi dealers for a listen after reading the reviews.
i have never been more disappointed, and haven't heard "boxiness" like this in many years!
I really cannot understand how these speakers are so highly reviewed!
Completely agree, auditioned the LS50's against the KEF R100 and the R300 and the clear winner was the R100 followed by R300 and last by a long way was the LS50's which sounded like a car stereo speaker very boxy and unnatural sounding...
Every thing above and more !
Beg ,steal, a pair of these to listen too.
So are KEF copying Tannoy... placing the tweeter in the centre of the mid/base unit ? (just curious is all)
KEF has been making these Uni-Q drivers since the 1980s.
I totally agree with this review.
I bought the KEF LS50 several weeks ago after listening to many other bookshelves and for me these are the best compact speakers i ever owned (B&W Nautilus 805, Proac Tablette Reference 8 Signature, Dali Mentor Menuet, Dynaudio Focus 110, ATC SCM12, ...). For the price they are incredible.
The LS50 are also easy to place. Mine are about 10 inch from the back wall without a problem. Although the LS50 are very impressive sounding from top to bottom, the bass is something special: deep, powerful and tight.
A must audition for everybody looking for a compact speaker below £2000.