KEF LS50 Actives anyone?

[daveh75]

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/10/future-fi-now-kefs-ls50-wireless-active-loudspeaker/

Oooh!

 

[Infiniteloop]

Dear God Nooooooooo.

 

[Craig M.]

Very well featured product, I bet they sell loads.

 

[luckylion100]

there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth on What Hi-fi forum. ;-)

 

[ID.]

Very interesting, and feature packed. I hope it sounds great and sells loads. The features are very important, because it's the lack of these options that makes pro monitors somewhat of a left field choice.

 

[steve_1979]

Dear God Nooooooooo.

Why?

They look like a good product to me.

 

[lpv]

Dear God Nooooooooo.

Why?

They look like a good product to me.

not for cables enthusiasts

 

[avole]

there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth at AVI

Small correction

Seriously, this is exactly what I was trying to explain to Ashley he should be doing with their speakers. Being active is no longer enough, you need the bells and whistles, cf the Dynaudio speakers and Devialet.

I've heard the LS50s and was neutral about them - you may remember the marketing went on about the LS3/5a legacy, to which they had no relationship whatsoever - but would be interested to hear these ones. Hopefully they've cleaned up the bass.

 

[Kubs]

As an owner of the passive ls50 I'd be interested in hearing them .... I believe they are being showcased at the Indulgence hi fi show this weekend ... Anyone going? I am ...

 

[Leeps]

Very interesting, and feature packed. I hope it sounds great and sells loads. The features are very important, because it's the lack of these options that makes pro monitors somewhat of a left field choice.

Having gone as far as including a DAC, DSP, app-based tweaking et al, the icing on the cake would have been an ethernet connection and built-in streaming services (Tidal, Deezer, Spotify). At the moment you still need to purchase another box for streaming.

But at least the connection options are a vast improvement on the KEF X300's.

KEF's decision to make a product like this could spark similar efforts from other mainstream manufacturers. I do like the visual simplicity of actives, but I'm not keen on the LS50's sound, so I'm not too excited about this product in itself - I'm more interested in the indication this gives of the way the hifi market is progressing and changing.

 

[luckylion100]

there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth at AVI

Small correction

Seriously, this is exactly what I was trying to explain to Ashley he should be doing with their speakers. Being active is no longer enough, you need the bells and whistles, cf the Dynaudio speakers and Devialet.

I've heard the LS50s and was neutral about them - you may remember the marketing went on about the LS3/5a legacy, to which they had no relationship whatsoever - but would be interested to hear these ones. Hopefully they've cleaned up the bass.

On this I tend to agree with you... l felt I needed the addition of the Yamaha pre to supplement the DM10's after all.

 

[luckylion100]

Very interesting, and feature packed. I hope it sounds great and sells loads. The features are very important, because it's the lack of these options that makes pro monitors somewhat of a left field choice.

Having gone as far as including a DAC, DSP, app-based tweaking et al, the icing on the cake would have been an ethernet connection and built-in streaming services (Tidal, Deezer, Spotify). At the moment you still need to purchase another box for streaming.

But at least the connection options are a vast improvement on the KEF X300's.

KEF's decision to make a product like this could spark similar efforts from other mainstream manufacturers. I do like the visual simplicity of actives, but I'm not keen on the LS50's sound, so I'm not too excited about this product in itself - I'm more interested in the indication this gives of the way the hifi market is progressing and changing.

;times they are a changin'. As Avole states perhaps AVI have slightly stagnated whilst digging their heels in a little too much. Others are now seemingly taking up the challenge and baton. I've always liked the LS50's to look at but sadly have never heard them. These though have certainly caught my attention. At first I thought it was April 1st as they seem to have been lingering under the radar somewhat.

 

[drummerman]

Personally I think they look garstly, especially without grills.

The rated 200 watt would blow the tiny driver into smithereens was it continuous. - Probably peak into its lowest load with a little wind from behind

Interesting product though.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Personally I think they look garstly, especially without grills.

The rated 200 watt would blow the tiny driver into smithereens was it continuous. - Probably peak into its lowest load with a little wind from behind

The onboard DSP wouldn't allow that, so all would be safe

I'm extremely interested in hearing these, as I mentioned active LS50s to KEF a few years ago.

On another note, unless tha Darko piece was written pretending he didn't know what was coming but did, he's just running through what it would be nice to have on them. Those features aren't confirmed...

 

[ID.]

Personally I think they look garstly, especially without grills.

The rated 200 watt would blow the tiny driver into smithereens was it continuous. - Probably peak into its lowest load with a little wind from behind

The onboard DSP wouldn't allow that, so all would be safe

I'm extremely interested in hearing these, as I mentioned active LS50s to KEF a few years ago.

On another note, unless tha Darko piece was written pretending he didn't know what was coming but did, he's just running through what it would be nice to have on them. Those features aren't confirmed...

drummerman, then they fit in with the existing paradigm for active monitors - no grills and a challenging appearance

It seemed rather overspecced. Nice wish list though. Even with half of that they would be good. Hopefully they go further than the X300A in terms of features.

DSP to prevent blown drivers sounds sensible, and I think that's what Genelec does.

 

[ErwinC]

I'm extremely interested in hearing these, as I mentioned active LS50s to KEF a few years ago.

Do you still use the LS50 in your HT demo room or are they replaced by PMC (passive or active) in the meantime?

On another note, unless tha Darko piece was written pretending he didn't know what was coming but did, he's just running through what it would be nice to have on them. Those features aren't confirmed...

Do you know when KEF will announce the active LS50?

 

[nopiano]

The most interesting bit from the review (to me) was mention of voicing them like the Ref 1. That suggests they are not voicing them like LS50s, which seems rather odd.

 

[ErwinC]

The most interesting bit from the review (to me) was mention of voicing them like the Ref 1. That suggests they are not voicing them like LS50s, which seems rather odd.

Voicing them like the Reference 1 is a good thing imo. I prefer the voicing of the Reference 1.

 

[luckylion100]

The most interesting bit from the review (to me) was mention of voicing them like the Ref 1.  That suggests they are not voicing them like LS50s, which seems rather odd.

a lot of grey between the £800 LS50's and the £4.5K Ref 1's. Will be very interesting.

Pricing what we realistically talking about £2.5k ish...? According to the article they'll be around $2200 in the states.

I'll be sticking with what I've got thank you before adding a decent set of Genelec somewhere down the line.

 

[Native_bon]

Voiced like the Reference1 or marketed as the Reference1 *nea*

 

[Frank Harvey]

I'm extremely interested in hearing these, as I mentioned active LS50s to KEF a few years ago.

Do you still use the LS50 in your HT demo room or are they replaced by PMC (passive or active) in the meantime?

I do still use LS50s - I haven't gotten round to trying the PMCs yet.

Do you know when KEF will announce the active LS50?

I would presume today with the show, but maybe up on their website on Monday after the show finishes?

 

[avole]

when I rang them I was told they're being announced tomorrow, but no release date is yet set.

Given the amount of dealers KEF have globally, assuming they're as good as the specs KEF have an absolute winner on their hands.

 

[ErwinC]

Info is now available on the KEF website. *biggrin*

 

[daveh75]

Having gone as far as including a DAC, DSP, app-based tweaking et al, the icing on the cake would have been an ethernet connection and built-in streaming services (Tidal, Deezer, Spotify). At the moment you still need to purchase another box for streaming.

They do have an Ethernet connection

 

[ErwinC]

Having gone as far as including a DAC, DSP, app-based tweaking et al, the icing on the cake would have been an ethernet connection and built-in streaming services (Tidal, Deezer, Spotify). At the moment you still need to purchase another box for streaming.

They do have an Ethernet connection

But no DLNA network streaming or built-in streaming services? For what purpose is the ethernet connection?