kef ls50 meta

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I know it's vacuous, but I really dislike the way these speakers look - couldn't ever own anything that offended my eyes so much.

I love the title of one of the videos - 'Ten things you NEED to know about' blah blah. Er no, I don't.

 

[Hems]

this video of use ?

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

Thanks - it’s helpful.

Still undecided though. I’ve got a B&W PV1 I want to use with it. I‘m completely clueless with this - would using a Sonos amp be a serious mistake? I’m planning to buy an Arc soon and I guess I want to maintain a single eco system. However, if that’s going to be a terrible option then I’ll stay clear of it.

I might wait until actual customers get hold of them so I can get a sense from their reviews.

 

[sansui au719]

I've never felt the LS50s were wanting for bass. They punch far above what their size might suggest. I have a pair on filled custom design stands hooked up to a vintage Sansui amp which has plenty of headroom. Perhaps a powerful amp makes a difference. The AU-719, like it's bigger brother the AU-919, does not have a typical old Sansui warmth but is completely transparent, faithfully reproducing exactly what is fed to it. It combines with the Kef LS50s own purity to be unforgiving of poor recordings while with a top recording it will reproduce the singer's voice so clearly it's almost embarrassingly intimate. I have never heard anything even close for a similar price. If the LS50 Metas are so much better than the original LS50s then this really tempts me. I must book in a good listen at home.

 

[sansui au719]

I know it's vacuous, but I really dislike the way these speakers look - couldn't ever own anything that offended my eyes so much.

I love the title of one of the videos - 'Ten things you NEED to know about' blah blah. Er no, I don't.

I don't think the video does them justice at all. Everyone who sees my LS50s comments on their looks. They demand attention but in the nicest way. Purposeful, sleek, modern and a squat powerful stance. I love the rich piano black while rose gold (copper) drivers are as distinct as their tangerine waveguides are intriguing. KEF have pushed the boat out even further with their range of contrasting colours. The LS50s are a design icon with a modern aesthetic. They're not designed to blend in and would look completely out of place in a floral or pastel coloured room.

 

[Deleted member 188516]

I know it's vacuous, but I really dislike the way these speakers look - couldn't ever own anything that offended my eyes so much.

I love the title of one of the videos - 'Ten things you NEED to know about' blah blah. Er no, I don't.

i like the all black version of the mk1 ls50.

LS50 Black Edition

View KEF's wireless HiFi audio system speakers. Drawing on decades of acoustic expertise, each provides outstanding clarity with several connectivity options.

uk.kef.com

 

[sansui au719]

Thanks - it’s helpful.

Still undecided though. I’ve got a B&W PV1 I want to use with it. I‘m completely clueless with this - would using a Sonos amp be a serious mistake? I’m planning to buy an Arc soon and I guess I want to maintain a single eco system. However, if that’s going to be a terrible option then I’ll stay clear of it.

I might wait until actual customers get hold of them so I can get a sense from their reviews.

I'd lean towards buying a Cambridge CXA81 amp, as described in the Whathifi review, and use its subwoofer output to drive your PV1. A single eco-system is convenient but it's normally a compromise whereas matching separate components will produce a much better sound for a price, if those components match well.

 

[sansui au719]

i like the all black version of the mk1 ls50.

LS50 Black Edition

View KEF's wireless HiFi audio system speakers. Drawing on decades of acoustic expertise, each provides outstanding clarity with several connectivity options.

uk.kef.com

Nice. Hotblack Desiato's* favourite colour. Black on black with black lettering.

*of the plutonium rock group Disaster Area. See Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

The LS50s are a design icon with a modern aesthetic.

I'm perfectly happy that you like them, that's what opinion is all about. But I think it'll take the passage of a few years before that quote can be judged!

(And after all, Marvin might say 'I've seen it - it's rubbish.')

 

[TheJoker]

Wireless 2's are incredible, i have mine paired with a REL T5i and its mind-blowing,

 

[TheJoker]

Nice. Hotblack Desiato's* favourite colour. Black on black with black lettering.

*of the plutonium rock group Disaster Area. See Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The black edition & original Anniversary editions are still 2 of my favourite speakers, and without doubt future classics. Great prices at the moment on eBay.

 

[nopiano]

i like the all black version of the mk1 ls50.

I had some for a while. They didn’t show fingerprints like the glossy ones, but the finish was quite rough so it still showed finger marks, surprisingly.
They’re good if the gold colour isn’t your taste! Here’s a pic of them in front of my ATCs.

 

[Wil]

There's a 50% chance, in coming years, I'll buy a pair of LS50 variant.

I had some for a while. They didn’t show fingerprints like the glossy ones, but the finish was quite rough so it still showed finger marks, surprisingly.
They’re good if the gold colour isn’t your taste! Here’s a pic of them in front of my ATCs.

Inspiring setup, I too toe-in my speakers. And funnily, seeing your SE remote reminds me how they've, to me, a nice weighted feel—I've now got 5 of that style, but all came in silver (even though 4 of the units being controlled are Black, 3 being because of Ruby).

 

[12oner]

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

What amp were you running the 300's with?

 

[nopiano]

....seeing your SE remote reminds me how they've, to me, a nice weighted feel—I've now got 5 of that style, but all came in silver....

Thats very observant of you! Yes, you'd suppose mine should have been silver, now you mention it. Did they ever make the remotes in champagne colour, do you know?
Better yet, that I could change the codes as it clashes with my Primare amp, and in a weird way. For example, selecting a numbered track on the CD alters the volume on the amp!

 

[Wil]

That styling of remote, I'm only aware of them being in Silver or Black. Googling back to introduction, SA-7S1 had a pic that was most likely affected by lighting:

Because:

And as their player's codes, most probably, don't have an alternative option, I suggest to perhaps block sensor of Primare (manually operate it)?

If you've a friend who has a Marantz (or Philips) CD remote, borrow it to test… Even their old AV amp remote with CD option can be used to evaluate whether it clashes with Primare.

I sometimes use an old PM-66 KI remote to control their SA players, worked fine for common functions and numbered track selections:

Thats very observant of you! Yes, you'd suppose mine should have been silver, now you mention it. Did they ever make the remotes in champagne colour, do you know?
Better yet, that I could change the codes as it clashes with my Primare amp, and in a weird way. For example, selecting a numbered track on the CD alters the volume on the amp!

 

[Deleted member 188516]

here's a video review of the new meta's.
(love the amplifier he's using !)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs1h_PdLFrU

 

[Wil]

"In this video, lead designers Dr. Jack Oclee-Brown and Dr. ‪Sébastien Degraeve‬ describe what… and explain exactly how…:

 

[gowiththeflow]

The "Meta material", i.e. a moulded plastic disc, is only one part of the upgrade to the driver assembly, but it has been seized on for the marketing PR guff. So don't get distracted by that.
What they appear to have done with this new version of the driver, is to eliminate much of the upper frequency glare that was one of the original LS50's weak spots. The reviews and personal anecdotes say that it's resulted in turning an already very good design into a cleaner sounding speaker.
The wireless version has had a much bigger upgrade.




z

 

[Deleted member 188516]

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

here is another review of the new meta's.
it features a back to back comparison of the old vs new model, plus, pics of the two / both speakers in the actual test as proof !

KEF LS50 Meta – Klarster Klang durch verwandeltes Material

www.lite-magazin.de

 

[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

Experience the future of audio with KEF LS50 Meta HiFi Speakers. Immerse yourself in unparalleled sound quality and innovative design, brought to your home by KEF.

uk.kef.com

S2 Floor Stand

The S2 Floor Stand are the perfect platform for Hi-Fi audio, designed for compatibility with LS50 Meta, LS50 Wireless II, and other KEF standmount speakers.

uk.kef.com

a video showing the matching stands being constructed. i fail to see why the matching stands have a rrp £400 though...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eALE93UCW0

 

[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.

not at the "level" of gutenberg but this fledgling reviewer seems impressed with the comparison between the two models:-

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9hzmamaxZg

 

[Deleted member 188516]

here is a video review comparing the new kef ls50 meta's with b&w's price comparable 706 s2 product. the reviewer actually replaced his mk1 ls50's for b&w's - wonder if he will swap back to the new meta version ?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phZNgrO9IPw