R100 vs LS50

[David Parkes]

I have a pair of R100s with an Arcam A19. I avoided the LS50 cos I didn't like the look. I see there are new looks available which I quite like. Would I get a better, and descernable improvement in sound? I am streaming via an irDac. Speakers have to be close to the wall, around 4 inches. This has been no problem with the r100s. Might I be better going the whole hog with r500 floormount? Thinking of sticking with kef as they match arcam so well and don't want to replace my entire system.

any wise words please?

 

[BigH]

Don't think the LS50s are that good that close to walls, you may need to use the bungs which is not a good idea IMHO. Floormounts will probably be even worse near walls. I would stick with what you have got until you can afford a large upgrade.

Whats happened to this forum, its all over the place?

 

[MickyBlue]

both the ls50's and r500's won't be happy so close to the walls, you would be better off looking at front ported or sealed units imo

 

[CnoEvil]

I agree with the Arcam/Kef Synergy.

FWIW. My advice is to spend the morning at your dealer listening to different combinations of Arcam Amps (A19, A29, A39) and Kef speakers....then go with the best sounding pair that fits your budget. That might be a more expensive amp with cheaper speakers...or it might not.

You also need the option to return/exchange the Speakers if they don't work in your room.

IMO. The LS50s are much better than the R100s, provided they are in the right system and correctly set up on decent stands.

 

[David Parkes]

Thanks, for everyone's input so far. Are the LS50 worst close to a wall than the r100s? Would thus not be an improvement? I do like my r100s, but feel the LS50s are better based on all the reviews. I get the fact that a more powerful amp could improve things, especially at lower volumes, but I do like the A19 and would rather not replace. Close to the wall is a must I'm afraid. I have NO boom with the r100s at all.

 

[davedotco]

Thanks, for everyone's input so far. Are the LS50 worst close to a wall than the r100s? Would thus not be an improvement? I do like my r100s, but feel the LS50s are better based on all the reviews. I get the fact that a more powerful amp could improve things, especially at lower volumes, but I do like the A19 and would rather not replace. Close to the wall is a must I'm afraid. I have NO boom with the r100s at all.

Sounds like your system works well. I would be loath to mess this up.

If you really have to change, look at a better amp and dac. Hegel 180 maybe?

 

[Frank Harvey]

To answer the question directly, the LS50s are a technically better speaker than the R100s, and in my opinion, a better performer. Slightly different sounding though, so it depends what you're after.

For info purposes, I'm using my LS50s pretty close to a solid wall, and have previously used R300s equally close (around 5-6").

 

[David Parkes]

Thanks very much David. I am looking for the same expansive sound stage as the R100s, and the same detail.... You hear everything in the tracks. What is lacking I think is low frequency bass, especially at lower volumes. At 30+ volume level on the A19 all is well, but at lower volumes you don't get the depth of bass. I don't want to ruin the positives from the R100s though. Hence my thoughts on going for the more expensive Kefs. Equally I'd be happy to move to another make like Pmc twenty's etc. I don't want anything too big either, hence the LS50 and smaller floorstanders. Hope I've articulated my needs well enough! Thanks for everyone's input so far.

 

[CnoEvil]

If you want an alternative that's small, detailed and can go close to the wall, try ATC SCM 7 or 11.

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks very much David. I am looking for the same expansive sound stage as the R100s, and the same detail.... You hear everything in the tracks. What is lacking I think is low frequency bass, especially at lower volumes. At 30+ volume level on the A19 all is well, but at lower volumes you don't get the depth of bass. I don't want to ruin the positives from the R100s though. Hence my thoughts on going for the more expensive Kefs. Equally I'd be happy to move to another make like Pmc twenty's etc. I don't want anything too big either, hence the LS50 and smaller floorstanders. Hope I've articulated my needs well enough! Thanks for everyone's input so far.

Agree with the others that Kef and Arcam are a very good match. Yes, the LS50s should be a noticeable improvement over the R100s. Yes, PMC and Arcam is another cracking match - it'll depend whether the aesthetics you prefer are PMC or Kef.

FWIW I've had on home dem PMC DB1i with my old Arcam A65+ - considering it was only 40 watts per channel, the SQ was impressive.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Thanks very much David. I am looking for the same expansive sound stage as the R100s, and the same detail.... You hear everything in the tracks. What is lacking I think is low frequency bass, especially at lower volumes. At 30+ volume level on the A19 all is well, but at lower volumes you don't get the depth of bass. I don't want to ruin the positives from the R100s though. Hence my thoughts on going for the more expensive Kefs. Equally I'd be happy to move to another make like Pmc twenty's etc. I don't want anything too big either, hence the LS50 and smaller floorstanders. Hope I've articulated my needs well enough! Thanks for everyone's input so far.

Whilst the LS50s will be an improvement with regards to detail, the soundstage should be a little better (helped by the curved front baffle - less/no interference), but I doubt you'll find them any better at lower volumes as the bass drivers are the same size, and with even less cabinet coloration, they may een sound a little lighter - although the bass they have doesn't lack in any way. For depth you'll either need the R300s, or maybe even the R500s which produce a surprisingly deep bass for their cabinet and driver size - excellent if you like electronics music. Unfortunately laws of physics will restrict what is possible, and I think the only way you'll get more bass from a cabinet the size of LS50s is to look at speakers with more conventional cabinets that add a bit of "bloom", so to speak - but the bass quality won't be so good.

 

[MickyBlue]

or add a sub at a later date!

LS50's & a good subwoofer are amazing, when correctly integrated!

 

[BigH]

A lot will depend on your room so I suggest you try and have a home demo with the LS50s if you can.

 

[David Parkes]

David, you are clearly a kef expert!

my R100s are firing across a room (short dimension) 3m x 7m, and are around 2.3m apart 4" away from a solid wall with a bit of toe in. I don't want to move the position of the speakers...... Or more accurately the wife won't!

would R500s work in this position which are roughly the same size as R100s + Stands (another wife criteria)? I am assuming LS50s would have no issue with this placement?

is my A19 man enough to drive the R500s and provide more depth at Lower volumes, say 25 on the arcam Richter scale?

my mates neat small floorstanders + rega amp seem to give that depth, I guess his amp is more like 80w though, perhaps that contributes. Perhaps neats could work for me....... Hate copying though lol!

thanks!

 

[plastic penguin]

I have a pair of R100s with an Arcam A19. I avoided the LS50 cos I didn't like the look. I see there are new looks available which I quite like. Would I get a better, and descernable improvement in sound? I am streaming via an irDac. Speakers have to be close to the wall, around 4 inches. This has been no problem with the r100s. Might I be better going the whole hog with r500 floormount? Thinking of sticking with kef as they match arcam so well and don't want to replace my entire system.

any wise words please?

Mmm... 4" from a wall seems very, very close. My room is 12' x 18' and my PMCs are 18" from the wall (firing across the narrow dimension) and that's almost borderline.

Perhaps Neat floorstanders will be better suited to your room. No matter how good a speaker it won't sound right unless everything is suited: Room size, acoustics, system synergy...

 

[Andrewjvt]

For your original request id look at r300s and demo them at home in your position away from the wall. Bass might be an issue that close but for the sound your looking for the r300s will do it for you better than the ls50s. Ls50s are a totally different sound.

My r700s are about 8 - 10 inches away from wall with no problems with boom

 

[iceman16]

I have a pair of R100s with an Arcam A19. I avoided the LS50 cos I didn't like the look. I see there are new looks available which I quite like. Would I get a better, and descernable improvement in sound? I am streaming via an irDac. Speakers have to be close to the wall, around 4 inches. This has been no problem with the r100s. Might I be better going the whole hog with r500 floormount? Thinking of sticking with kef as they match arcam so well and don't want to replace my entire system.

any wise words please?

Mmm... 4" from a wall seems very, very close. My room is 12' x 18' and my PMCs are 18" from the wall (firing across the narrow dimension) and that's almost borderline.

Perhaps Neat floorstanders will be better suited to your room. No matter how good a speaker it won't sound right unless everything is suited: Room size, acoustics, system synergy...

+1 for Neat's or Totem Arro's