Considering upgrading from RX2 vs KEF LS50

[liav.teichner]

Hey,

I wondering if the KEF SL50 are better speakers then my own RX2. Also, I'll enjoy any comments or suggestions regarding my current system:

Foobar2000->V-DAC II (With V-PSU II Upgrade) -> PM6004 -> Monitor Audio RX2 (and also Sennheiser RS180)

 

[dbbloke]

I quite liked the sound of the bx2 but not the rx2. usher s520 is worth a look. Dynaudio seems overpriced and warm/coloured. Acoustic energy is good but pricey, same for PMC which isnt quite as good until you spens a lot.

You should be able to get something with a ribon tweeter for your sort of money though, xtz 99.25 seems obvious. Jungson bd1 or other oem gear.

As for kef ls50, I've heard the blade system and thought its very hyped and not so good especially given the price, but definitely above average in driver integration. I imagine that the soundstage of the ls50 is still a mess like its big brother? Somehow they get great reviews though. Personally I always prefer tannoy over kef but they are much the same.

If I were buying some small speakers (I Cant justify lots of money on my small system) I would get a local cabinetmaker some work and make a pair of bookshelf electrostatics

. http://www.eraudio.com.au/Mini_Panels/mini_panels.html

decware 945?

Dont forget a good budget for stands, second hand seems to be the way to save here, plus half decent cables.

 

[tonky]

If you have never heard the Kef LS50 speakers. "I imagine the soundstage is a mess!"

No way is the soundstage a mess! Please listen first!

Its reviews are good for a reason!

Tonky

 

[tonky]

edit

 

[Ketan Bharadia]

I think the KEFs are more revealing and have more expressive dynamics than the RX2s

 

[d_a_n1979]

Both very good speakers; both I've owned and still own the RX2's!

The KEF's have a more open soundstage than the RX2s but the RX2s dig deeper and dont have quite as forward a top end whereas the KEF's, at times, can be a bit too overly detailed IMO

The Marantz amp you have will be running the RX2's well but not to their fullest potential; in saying that it wont do the KEF's justice at all and wouldnt be able to drive them to their best

IMO the forward route with your system would be to look at a better amp to get the RX2s to sing better and dig deeper and then this way I feel you'd hear what the RX2's are all about!

 

[ID.]

Subjectively better. You'd lose a fair bit of bass in terms of quantity as well as depth, but you'd gain in other areas. It all depends on the compromises that best suit you.

 

[liav.teichner]

Will the rega Brio-R be an adequate amp?

 

[BigH]

Depends on you, your room, your music etc. Only you can tell. The Kef LS50s get good reviews but many users seem underwhelmed by them, just check your opinions under their review on this site. Only way to tell is go and hear them.

What is wrong with your RX2s?

I would say your amp is a bit underpowered.

 

[antskip]

I have had KEF LS50's for a few weeks now, and they are as good as the reviews say they are. Big bass is hardly their thing, but transparency and detail at every level is something else. They do let you know how they feel about equipment quality, but provided with an adequate chain of hardware, their sound is exquisite.

I am receiving a Rega Brio-R amp tomorrow, so can report on how that goes once things settle...

 

[d_a_n1979]

For me when demoing the KEFs the Brio R was mentioned a lot and I did listen to one a good few times with LS50s but for me it just didnt have the overall grip and grunt to do the justice speakers. But then again that was for my tastes in music and room lay out etc...

Stepping up to a Cyrus amp with 70WPC made a good deal of difference for me but Cyrus & Rega amps are on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to soundstage. Cyrus VERY detailed and open but with bags of punch etc... Rega very detailed again but a lot smoother and a more rounded sound etc...

The LS50s can kick out bags of deep, taut & punchy bass when partnered with the right amp. They blew me away with the depth of bass they could reach and the smount of kick/slam on offer; espeically with electronica music etc... But with really good vocals; they REALLY do shine!

For me the PM6004 amp is good but not good enough for the KEF's. The Brio R is a stunning little amp but for similar money, all be it probably 2nd hand, better & more powerful amps can be had which will allow the LS50's to really open up!

In saying that; you'd need to do the same with the MA RX2's to get a full understanding of how good they really can sound!

 

[Frank Harvey]

One of the demo tracks I used to use on my old KEF Reference 4.2's was No Doubt's Hella Good. It sounded pretty amazing on them and the bass line really sounded like a beefy bass guitar. I thought I would try it on my LS50's at home and expected it to sound nothing like what I remembered and sound quite thin. I was quite surprised that the bass didn't seem to be lacking at all, and the tonal balance of the track didn't sound any different to the huge 4.2's. I do have electronic tracks that reach very deep, some well below what the LS50's can hint at, but then that'd be the same for many other standmounts too.

So to sum up, the bass level in relation to the rest of the frequency range is balanced - it just doesn't reach down as far as larger standmounts and floorstanders. Not bad for a 5.25" mid/bass driver that is radiates from a smaller cone area than a 5".

 

[BigH]

One of the demo tracks I used to use on my old KEF Reference 4.2's was No Doubt's Hella Good. It sounded pretty amazing on them and the bass line really sounded like a beefy bass guitar. I thought I would try it on my LS50's at home and expected it to sound nothing like what I remembered and sound quite thin. I was quite surprised that the bass didn't seem to be lacking at all, and the tonal balance of the track didn't sound any different to the huge 4.2's. I do have electronic tracks that reach very deep, some well below what the LS50's can hint at, but then that'd be the same for many other standmounts too.

So to sum up, the bass level in relation to the rest of the frequency range is balanced - it just doesn't reach down as far as larger standmounts and floorstanders. Not bad for a 5.25" mid/bass driver that is radiates from a smaller cone area than a 5".

What amp. are you using?

 

[liav.teichner]

The system was just too bright. After going to the local dealer I found that changing my rca cables and using the Brio-R solved the issue.

thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Frank Harvey]

What amp. are you using?

My hi-fi system is currently my AV system, which uses a 5-channel Rotel RMB1575 power amplifier.

 

[nopiano]

The system was just too bright. After going to the local dealer I found that changing my rca cables and using the Brio-R solved the issue.

thanks for the help everyone!

So you kept the RX2s and upgraded the amp? If so, I'm glad you took that route as I was going to say look at improving the amp first.

Hope you enjoy the Rega.

 

[dbbloke]

tonky

i've not heard the ls50 but have heard the blade (costs like 20 times the ls50 and uses the same if not better tech). Hence the comment about blade, which easily gets equalled by speakers around the 1k mark other than on weird looks/bragging rights for people with ego issues.

Yeah, perhaps the 20k speaker with this driver sounds much worse than the 500 quid one.

 

[tonky]

dbbloke

I have never heard the blades so I couldn't possibly comment on them and their soundstaging/driver integration etc

I HAVE heard, at length, the LS50 speakers - give them a listen - it would be interesting to hear your opinion then - and only then.

tonky

 

[nopiano]

tonky

i've not heard the ls50 but have heard the blade (costs like 20 times the ls50 and uses the same if not better tech). Hence the comment about blade, which easily gets equalled by speakers around the 1k mark other than on weird looks/bragging rights for people with ego issues.

Yeah, perhaps the 20k speaker with this driver sounds much worse than the 500 quid one.

i was also left unmoved by the Blades, and wrote about experience here

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/kef-blades-first-outing

 

[gregvet]

Well I guess everyone's different. I think the blades have sounded amazing both times I have heard them. I think the single point source thing has some serious advantages.

That doesn't mean I am saving to buy a pair tho. I couldn't imagine a pair in my living room.

I haven't heard the LS50's yet to be able to comment on those, but the R100's are excellent so I assume they will be at least as good

 

[Frank Harvey]

i've not heard the ls50 but have heard the blade (costs like 20 times the ls50 and uses the same if not better tech). Hence the comment about blade, which easily gets equalled by speakers around the 1k mark other than on weird looks/bragging rights for people with ego issues.

Yeah, perhaps the 20k speaker with this driver sounds much worse than the 500 quid one.

25 times more, to be precise

I can understand that some people may not like the sound of the Blades, but a comment like them being equalled by a £1k speaker just shows a lack of understanding for the product. The first time I heard the Concept Blade, I wasn't wowed, but I had the knowledge and experience to hear what they weren't doing, and that's almost as important as what they are doing. Once you research the product to nicer stand the ethos behind it, then you can fully appreciate it. The fact that they're in a completely different league to the Reference range puts paid to the £1k speaker comment.

Again, I appreciate some people won't like them, for whatever reason, and that's fine, but comments like that are unjustified. I have the LS50's playing next to a pair of Blades right now - feel free to pop in and hold the same view after a direct comparison

 

[tonky]

I couldn't agree more David@Frank Harvey Hifi

tonky

 

[Frank Harvey]

Thank you Tonky.

 

[g777o]

What amp. are you using?

My hi-fi system is currently my AV system, which uses a 5-channel Rotel RMB1575 power amplifier.

Thats encouraging that they work well with such a brute of an amp.

i have a large 2 channel rotel amp and thought that it might be too much for the small kefs, obviously not!

Thanks