kef ls50 meta

[Deleted member 188516]

so kef have released the new ls50 meta.
the original ls50's were released in 2012.
the question is how much better will the new model actually sound with all those further years of development ?

KEF LS50 Meta review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2021 winner. These standmounters set new standards at the price

www.whathifi.com

 

[Deleted member 188516]

from the official kef website a comparison of the differences between the original kef ls50 and the new meta version :-
(scroll to the bottom under "what's new").

LS50 Meta. Every note. Every word. Every detail.

LS50 Meta Every note. Every word. Every detail. SHOP NOW LS50 Meta Every note. Every word. Every detail. SHOP NOW LS50 Meta Every note. Every word. Every detail. SHOP NOW The World's First Speakers with Metamaterial Great loudspeakers disappear, leaving just the music. LS50 Meta is such a...

uk.kef.com

 

[Deleted member 188516]

another new feature of the new ls50 meta version is that it has "mounting inserts" to allow the speakers to be attached to the partnering "kef s2 floor stand" speaker stands.

great as this will dispel the argument regarding which is best between speaker and speaker stand - the use of blu-tach vs gel pads. just a shame the matching stands cost £400...

LS50 Meta

Drawing from decades of acoustic expertise, View KEF's wireless HiFi audio system speakers, conveying outstanding sounds with a full-range of connectivity options.

uk.kef.com

S2 Floor Stand

The S2 Floor Stand provides the perfect platform for your speakers to perform. Designed to partner LS50 Meta, LS50 Wireless II, and other KEF standmount speakers, they boast a mounting system with integrated cable management that allows wires to be hidden, and spike discs to protect wooden floors.

uk.kef.com

 

[Simon 13th note]

It does look a nice product. The originals were good, but a straight a to b would be good.

 

[daytona600]

A to B

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTYvP7YQ0Q&t=1152s

 

[Deleted member 188516]

It does look a nice product. The originals were good, but a straight a to b would be good.

exactly its the review i would be interested in ! i wonder if a youtube video will appear showing an a/b switch of old vs new ls50 ?
there are videos featuring the old passive vs wireless version such as this one :-

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rJo-0n1ous

 

[manicm]

exactly its the review i would be interested in ! i wonder if a youtube video will appear showing an a/b switch of old vs new ls50 ?
there are videos featuring the old passive vs wireless version such as this one :-

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rJo-0n1ous

The Steve Gutenberg review is essentially an A/B review. He owns the original LS50. When he says he was ‘floored’ he’s talking relative to the originals.

 

[Deleted member 188516]

The Steve Gutenberg review is essentially an A/B review. He owns the original LS50. When he says he was ‘floored’ he’s talking relative to the originals.

i mean like the one in the attached video - a filmed a/b comparison. i know people say such videos are pointless due to mics used, playback system of viewers etc but i still enjoy them !

 

[alchemist 1]

A to B

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTYvP7YQ0Q&t=1152s

according to this review the mata is the same price as the original ls50's in the USA
In the UK a £200 hike !.........??????????????

 

[nopiano]

It’s interesting that KEF offered more variety of stands, while keeping the LS50 unchanged. There were special versions of Custom Design, then their own model , and now yet another permutation.
Personally, I liked mine on pads rather than coupled!

 

[nopiano]

i mean like the one in the attached video - a filmed a/b comparison. i know people say such videos are pointless due to mics used, playback system of viewers etc but i still enjoy them !

Yea, they’re pointless! It’s surely easier to choose paint colour over the phone than chose speakers video’d in a stranger’s room.

 

[Deleted member 188516]

It’s interesting that KEF offered more variety of stands, while keeping the LS50 unchanged. There were special versions of Custom Design, then their own model , and now yet another permutation.
Personally, I liked mine on pads rather than coupled!

i believe the new speaker stands feature a locking system featuring holes that the new meta speakers rubber feet "slot" into place.

i think its a better idea than the screw and thread "bolting" system used by other manufacturers especially as it allows quick(er) removal from the stands.

i'm guessing kef did not want to build threads into the cabinets of the new meta versions which apparently have a different stronger internal bracing than the mk1 models.

edit : the speakers have holes in the cabinet as shown in this video 1m40sec mark :-

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuruN27ktE0

 

[Deleted member 188516]

Yea, they’re pointless! It’s surely easier to choose paint colour over the phone than chose speakers video’d in a stranger’s room.

i still like to watch them !

 

[Hems]

What would be the reason to get these over the Kef R3? I'm genuinely considering one of the 2

 

[Deleted member 188516]

What would be the reason to get these over the Kef R3? I'm genuinely considering one of the 2

good question and i await some answers.
the ls50 meta speakers are of interest to me as they are a "standalone" range as such, meaning, there is no floor standing version unlike the other kef ranges.

 

[Hems]

good question and await some answers.
the ls50 meta speakers are of interest to me as they are a "standalone" range as such, meaning, there is no floor standing version unlike the other kef ranges.

Will do.

Also, what streamer would be best suited to this? Sonos Amp (primarily because I'm also thinking of buying an Arc at some point and ideally like to stick to one eco system), Bluesound Powernode, or something else?

I'm looking at a budget of £2k max. I'm not sure if any similar products are on the horizon.

 

[Deleted member 188516]

Will do.

Also, what streamer would be best suited to this? Sonos Amp (primarily because I'm also thinking of buying an Arc at some point and ideally like to stick to one eco system), Bluesound Powernode, or something else?

I'm looking at a budget of £2k max. I'm not sure if any similar products are on the horizon.

i meant to type "good question and "i" await some answers" - no sarcasm intended !

streamers ?

simon 13th note is your man to answer that but he is currently banned...

 

[Hawkwind16]

according to this review the mata is the same price as the original ls50's in the USA
In the UK a £200 hike !.........??????????????

Probably due to the dollar pound exchange rate. Welcome to the wonderful world of Brexit

 

[Hawkwind16]

What would be the reason to get these over the Kef R3? I'm genuinely considering one of the 2

I tried the R3's predecessor, the R300 and wasn't impressed. Better bass than the LS50 but imaging was very poor - sound was all over the place.
I much preferred the powerful focused sound of the LS50
R300 better for a party

 

[Hems]

Hoping there will be some Black Friday deals coming up.

 

[Deleted member 188516]

Probably due to the dollar pound exchange rate. Welcome to the wonderful world of Brexit

i thought kef was chinese owned ?

 

[Deleted member 188516]

I tried the R3's predecessor, the R300 and wasn't impressed. Better bass than the LS50 but imaging was very poor - sound was all over the place.
I much preferred the powerful focused sound of the LS50
R300 better for a party

may i ask what speaker stands were being used and were the r300 and ls50's "blu-tacked down" ?

 

[gowiththeflow]

..... what streamer would be best suited to this? Sonos Amp (primarily because I'm also thinking of buying an Arc at some point and ideally like to stick to one eco system), Bluesound Powernode, or something else?

I'm looking at a budget of £2k max. I'm not sure if any similar products are on the horizon.

If you're thinking of adding a streamer, then it might be worth looking at the LS50W-2 actives.
This new version of the wireless actives had had a much bigger makeover and improvement compared with the passive versions, including direct access to more streaming services and Roon, with a completely new and improved app to control it all.
You could save money by selling an existing amp.

 

[Hems]

If you're thinking of adding a streamer, then it might be worth looking at the LS50W-2 actives.
This new version of the wireless actives had had a much bigger makeover and improvement compared with the passive versions, including direct access to more streaming services and Roon, with a completely new and improved app to control it all.
You could save money by selling an existing amp.

I was considering the wireless version but with the rate that tech changes I’d rather have it connected to something I can upgrade. Need something that’s AirPlay 2 compatible that I can use with HomeKit.

To be honest, I’m also concerned about KEFs ability to keep the software/feature compatibility up to date.

 

[Deleted member 188516]

I was considering the wireless version but with the rate that tech changes I’d rather have it connected to something I can upgrade. Need something that’s AirPlay 2 compatible that I can use with HomeKit.

To be honest, I’m also concerned about KEFs ability to keep the software/feature compatibility up to date.

this video of use ?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaAgbUh4Qno