Kef LS50 - finally...

[chebby]

The "rose gold" was for the 50th anniversary.

Current finishes available according to KEF's website today ...

 

[Q5]

I'm running a pair of LS50 with an Arcam A49 and can highly recommend this combination.

 

[steve_1979]

Current finishes available according to KEF's website today ...

I bet if they did the gloss black cabinet with the black driver it would be popular.

 

[Q5]

Current finishes available according to KEF's website today ...

I bet if they did the gloss black cabinet with the black driver it would be popular.

+1

 

[plastic penguin]

Umm...erm... let's say they look different. Not sure who colour co-ordinated the drivers, but I'd advise them to look for alternative employment: White cabinets and blue drivers.They look like a frozen inverted nipple.

LS50 score 4/10

TB2i 7/10

I'm sure you don't need telling other colours are available right?

Right. Still an odd looking design.

 

[plastic penguin]

I have written many times.Pair Ls50 with Hpex amps like NC400/NC500 and a DAC/Pre of your choice(all to get for reasonable money) or if you have deeper pockets go for a Devialet 120 and you will have a cracking system that punches well above its pricetag.It won´t get better with LS50,believe me I demoed these speakers with a lot of amps reaching from budget to very expensive ones.The Dev 120 is a nice machine to show what LS50 are capable to do.The Dev 200 is even better at this but expensive,so I highly recommend first option with Hypex.

+1 for Devialet & LS50. I'm still very happy with the combo (SAM engaged), and I came to the same conclusion: if anything a more powerful Dev would make it even better, especially when you want to crank it up a little.

The Ncore & LS50 looks like an intriguing combination too. Might give it a try when I finish my NC400 project...

Devialet & LS50 is the kind of combo I'd love to audition. Both measure exceptionally well.

Sure it is a good match. Non-applicable as far as I'm concerned. The Leema is going nowhere anytime soon.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Matt black with blue driver looks cool

 

[DocG]

The Ncore & LS50 looks like an intriguing combination too. Might give it a try when I finish my NC400 project...

I am very curious about your opinion when you have your hands on them.I would expect you either to change to Hypex and maybe upgrading your speakers better than LS50 or to go for Dev200 combining the best of both (Look/Power/Sound).

The plan is to keep the D120+LS50 (in our upstairs system), and use the Ncores (4 x NC400) to actively drive a pair of Maggie MMGs, with a Rythmik sub and a DEQX processor (for the living room).

But I might try Ncore + LS50, just out of curiosity...

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_664715932]

Thanks for the review. Very interesting indeed.

you now have made things complicated for me, for my next speaker upgrade i was thinking of getting a pair of used 805d, now i am thinking 805d or reference 1?

 

[CnoEvil]

Thanks for the review. Very interesting indeed.

you now have made things complicated for me, for my next speaker upgrade i was thinking of getting a pair of used 805d, now i am thinking 805d or reference 1? 

I was very impressed by the Kef Reference 1s....they are like LS50s after a body building course!....phenomenally clean and detailed, but without becoming analytical.

 

[Ajani]

Matt black with blue driver looks cool

Very *good*

 

[Freddy58]

I have to say though that I was less impressed, in fact, quite disappointed when I heard them. Ah well...

 

[Ajani]

@Ajani

do it but be prepared to want it.Imo.it sounds better than Dev. own phantoms except bass.It´s a honest but at the same time involving sound.

I want it now and I haven't even heard it.... *biggrin*

In fairness to the phantom, the LS50/120 combo is double the price of the Phantoms (at least in the US). So it would be really bad if the Phantoms were just as good or, worse yet, better.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Matt black with blue driver looks cool

The colour I'm using. I was going to swap out the blue driver for the black driver seeing as I'm using them in a darkened room for home cinema, but decided the blue was dark enough as I don't see them with the lights off.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Thanks for the review. Very interesting indeed.

you now have made things complicated for me, for my next speaker upgrade i was thinking of getting a pair of used 805d, now i am thinking 805d or reference 1?

Two excellent standmount speakers, both of which I would probably take over virtually any floorstander at the price.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Right. Still an odd looking design.

Its design is functional though, and I think a lot of people overlook that. Most speakers are designed with an easy to manufacture, flat front panel, which has its issues. A curved front panel is pretty rare at this price point, and is the only speaker in KEF's line up other than the Blades to have this feature.

 

[Troy62]

Don't want to hijack thread but is anybody running the ls50's with an Audiolab amp? How does it sound?

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks for the review. Very interesting indeed.

you now have made things complicated for me, for my next speaker upgrade i was thinking of getting a pair of used 805d, now i am thinking 805d or reference 1?

One lesson I've learnt, Animesh, is to buy a speaker suited to your room size rather than just purchase on reputation. I know it's poke-in-eye obvious but the tweaks don't just start and stop with accessories. As I'm not familiar with your room I couldn't comment on the above speakers.

 

[plastic penguin]

Right. Still an odd looking design.

Its design is functional though, and I think a lot of people overlook that. Most speakers are designed with an easy to manufacture, flat front panel, which has its issues. A curved front panel is pretty rare at this price point, and is the only speaker in KEF's line up other than the Blades to have this feature.

They still divide opinion, and probably why the design is pretty rare. After spending a day and a half with them I still don't know what to make of the design - is it unique or odd?

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_664715932]

Thanks for the review. Very interesting indeed.

you now have made things complicated for me, for my next speaker upgrade i was thinking of getting a pair of used 805d, now i am thinking 805d or reference 1?

One lesson I've learnt, Animesh, is to buy a speaker suited to your room size rather than just purchase on reputation. I know it's poke-in-eye obvious but the tweaks don't just start and stop with accessories. As I'm not familiar with your room I couldn't comment on the above speakers.

quite right.

as i have a dedicated music room i had to pick the smaller one so in terms of size its about 10feet by 12 with hardwood flooring. Also Have a quite a few percussion instruments in the room, mainly tablas (indian drums) i do cover with pillows when i am in for a long listening session.

 

[Frank Harvey]

They still divide opinion, and probably why the design is pretty rare. After spending a day and a half with them I still don't know what to make of the design - is it unique or odd?

Both?

Either way, it is a benefit.

 

[plastic penguin]

They still divide opinion, and probably why the design is pretty rare. After spending a day and a half with them I still don't know what to make of the design - is it unique or odd?

Both?

That it be. *pleasantry*