kef LS50 sound review and vintage Kef comparison

[@drummerKev]

The KEF LS50’s are worth their weight in gold. They are one of the best high end bookshelf speakers sold today. Why do you think KEF has kept them around for so long. Now we have the KEF Meta’s and the powered KEF LS50W. I have the wireless powered version and they’re hands down one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard under $3K, which leads me to believe, you’re either using a pre/pro and amp that isn’t mating well with the LS50’s, or, you’re just not able to hear what they’re capable of. You should be hearing strong tight mid’s and high level frequencies. They’re simply one of the best bookshelf speakers on the market today.

[@stephenjames3098]

I still listen to KEF Coda III speakers I bought in the early 80's. I have purchased newer, more expensive speakers over the years, but the vintage KEF's just sound right to me. I will be satisfied with them for as long as they last.

[@TheMildperil]

With some better capacitors in the crossover, Coda IIIs will embarrass a lot of much more expensive modern speakers.

[@dubpynchon1]

I have a Cambridge Audio CXA81, it works very well with these, amazing bass. I haven't noticed them missing much mid but I'll keep listening. I also have a Cambridge Audio CXN V2, it's a good combination overall.

[@MrAbleburger]

Totally agree there is so much guff written about progress in sound so love the comparisons. I’m really enjoying a pair of AR4xa’s I picked up. Knock the socks off anything else I’ve heard recently. Last year I bought a pair Q Acoustics. Sent them back after a week.

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes Jon I agree of course It’s about enjoyment,I want accuracy but the whole thing is an artifice . Happy listening K

[@billybeck]

Love your videos. No ponce or pretention. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I know you dwell mostly in 60s and 70s hifi, but could you please do one on good vintage CD players? I'm thinking ying to match one to my vintage 70s sony amp. All the best 👍

[@macroblockingone]

It was hard to get this type of comparison video I must thank the uploader

[@svtcontour]

The other thing I will say, the LS50 do need a fairly high current amp. They need power to shine. A lot of reviews have noted this. Im using a Hafler 280XL (140wpc) on the LS50

[@buttonman1831]

Agreed Running 250 wpc and they magical

[@anthonywunderlich3681]

I am using a 300 wpc Classe power amp and an excellent Audio Research preamp, Marantz SACD player with Tellurium q speaker cable, and an SVS SB3000 subwoofer. The sound is so good to me that I have bought the new LS50 Meta speakers, I should have them in the next couple of days.

[@buttonman1831]

@@anthonywunderlich3681 Let me know my friend how the metas sound because they are a serious contender for my next upgrade. These speakers are so misunderstood by so many people. The need quality power/sources to shine.

[@anthonywunderlich3681]

@@buttonman1831 I had an old pair of B&W 802's, in many ways the are very similar to the LS50, it isn't a speaker that you can slap in just any system with a mediocre source and poor recordings and expect them to shine. The sale of the 25 year old 802's paid for the Meta's, SVS sub, stands, sub interconnects and speaker cable. Old reference for brand new reference setup. I bought a beautiful pair of LS50's used at the beginning of the pandemic, I auditioned them at the gentleman's apartment on his tiny integrated amp, they where among the worst sounding speakers I have ever listened to, bought them anyway, put them in my stereo and they are the exact opposite. Musical! I am thinking that the Meta speakers are going to be even more ruthless, and they say power hungry than the originals. Equipment, room and speaker placement will be very important to achieve the most musical sound possible. The LS50's did also break in over time, I am certain the Meta speakers will require a break in period too. I will let you know what I think of the Meta's sound signature, hopefully soon.

[@buttonman1831]

@@anthonywunderlich3681 Excellent please do if you think about it!

[@MichaelYates]

Another nice video, i could watch them all day , love all the insight into the new vs vintage here with the 2 pairs of speakers in question.

[@crazymetallian]

owner of a Q15.2 here... my speakers are bigger but are really nice, great lineality across all frequency spectrum, really detailed sound and a nice a precise bass

[@vox9841]

Thanks for keeping up the videos you are doing a great job. Great down to earth presentation and good information informed by your years of experience. Much appreciated

[@stereoreviewx]

Thanks

[@jerome_2745]

Old stuff is still up to date! Nice review again.

[@zjzozn]

Well done.... the KEF’s are highly regarded and answered good questions 👍

[@bartvanransbeeck1341]

Top comments , love this way of comparing , even after working myself in audioshop and knowing lots , it's very genuine and truthfull and I value this very high, thanks a lot

[@stereoreviewx]

thanks much appreciated K

[@yanrad]

He's underpowering the LS50's, they open up a bit when you give them enough power. Check out the comments, he's figured that out since making this video.

[@Mike81111]

I have never owned high quality old speakers until I got pair of kEF 104ab Reference. They got the same treble and mid bass what you got there, but much bigger box with passive bass driver and I was blown away. I never kew how good old speakers can sound.

[@stereoreviewx]

yes that range of kefs were mostly great

[@cyelannford4735]

Concentric tweeters, MTMs, huge excursion, passive radiators, etc, just not for me. Quality vintage design is hard to beat...

[@noga8974]

Can't beat an infinite baffle 3 way vintage speaker.

[@JukeboxAlley]

I do have the ls50s, and they are great pound for pound, imaging and bass delivery for the size, and one of the sharpest looking but really would be best suited to smaller rooms to get the most and fullest sound from them, the kef c80 flagship i had was one of the kings, c80 was incredibly smooth and balanced.

[@stereoreviewx]

Would you agree that the LS 50s just don’t like going loud

[@JukeboxAlley]

@@stereoreviewx yes, no matter how hard you try they just gas out in most cases when it comes to getting loud and they lose their composure, but overall i do understand their small, but i believe theyd be plenty loud in a bedroom setup etc, in a big room they can get a little lost though at times.

[@JukeboxAlley]

@@stereoreviewx i do have to say though, pound for pound, looks and build quality their hard to beat, bass output for such a small driver is plenty, i cant complain, their good for their size and id like to see another 5 1/4 that would beat them all around, i havent found any yet thats even close. But loud? They dont like getting loud your right, a smooth detailed normal level listening speaker, not made to rock out thats for sure.

[@ratacris5520]

@@stereoreviewx The problem is they need amps 3x their value to roam the land. They are great speakers with proper amplification but a stupid investment overall.. I have them ..got them new for 800$ and Im whatever..worth for these money I suppose.

[@buttonman1831]

@@ratacris5520 No they don't. They do scale up the higher quality amp you get, but a 60wpc Hegel H90 makes them sing nicely for the money.

[@MrJason9142002]

I was going to buy the LS5 Meta. I heard good things. Now I want to hear them first. They are $1500

[@FEGTTTSDH]

The massive problem with this speakers is the "people who buy it, without idea" Normally it is recommended to spend 70% on speakers and 30% on an amplifier, in the case of the LS50 or a Magnepan LRS ($ 650) it is absolutely the opposite, they need that 70% amplifier and the speaker itself . In the LS50 you need at least a CXA80 which is an 80 rms (8 ohms) and 122 (4 ohms) amplifier in a Magnepan you need even more if possible, like a NAD C388 (150x2) ... but people want sound from a marantz of 40 rms of the 70´ and unfortunately IT IS NOT ENOUGH. So the problem is the speakers? No, you have to do a minimum of research, this is not like buying a 4k LED and easy results.

[@stereoreviewx]

My friend let me say after a good while with the speakers and more powerful lamps hundred watts at least I have changed my opinion on these I’m going to do a new review and take this one down because you’re right it’s not correct there is still things I don’t love about those speakers but I have definitely changed my view by using serious power with them so appreciate your comments cheers K

[@coenheydenrych154]

If you start with an attitude that there has been no real progress, then you will not find the progress. This is a real high end product and you should put it in a high end chain, which you didn't - your not so good Rotel. These speakers love power and 50 watts may not be enough. I drive my LS50s with 225 watts and they sing. I have been living with them for 3 years and either you are more deaf than me (I am 68 years old) or your approach to fidelity is simply not adequate. How can you expect a small speaker like this to fill a big room? If you think I am the odd one out, have a look some KZbin videos with John Atkinson the past editor of Stereophile talking about these speakers being his current go to speakers.

[@gura0101]

I’m agree, probably their LS50’s are so new, and need more use to begin to sing, when my LS50’s was new I felt all the things that the review said, but now I love it

[@PavelUrusov]

gura0101 it's more likely you just got used to their sound

[@volker12321]

Even with 1000 Watts they don't sing for me. A lot of HiFi- people only got used to todays sound (I know a lot of them). That doesn't mean that it is better. But everything in music and HiFi is a matter of taste. And yes, there has been no real progress. Modern systems only sound differently, but not better.

[@lesliefortier6595]

I have a pair of Kef Carina ll's, bought for $500 in 1984. They are still the front speakers in my 5.1 system. I have always loved them.

[@richardcrook2112]

Your lucky, those are the best speakers I've heard in my life!

[@lesliefortier6595]

@@richardcrook2112 As most should be advised fine audiophile speakers are engineered to have very similar sound throughout the manufacturers lineup of products. Even 35 years later I was able to match a newer and less expensive model of Kef’s, the C1, and they match timbre perfectly. This shows the commitment that these companies offer. They design according to a reference model.

[@volker12321]

Hi Kelvin! Thank you for all your review! You are sooooo right in what you're saying. I'm in your age and been in Stereo as long as you. Yes, there has not been a progress in the last 40 years and yes, a lot of modern HiFi- equipment doesn't touch my heart and soul, doesn't involve me, doesn't make the "magic" space and so on. I'm always testing different new and old equipment and I wasn't able to find any new stuff that I'd like to keep.

[@stereoreviewx]

Interesting thanks for that what’s your favourite gear by the way

[@volker12321]

@@stereoreviewx I guess that I don't have a real favourite. It depends a lot on the music I'm listing to and in which mood I am. Generally I like the NAD 3020 with older speakers (I've got a lot). Some vintage german amps or rec. also can sound great (Grundig, Dual, Saba and others). Also Philips made some great amps and speakers. In the early 80th I bought some used 70th receivers (I kept them all) for very very small money! (At that time noone wanted to keep them) Sansui and Harman- Kardon sound great, but also 2 Pioneers from 1974, the SX-1010 (a monster at that time!) and the SX-838 - (for me) they sound much much better than later Pioneer amps or rec. They all work well and are in a very good condition. In the last years I found not much new stuff that makes me happy. Perhaps the speakers Focal Corus 706 with the smaller Pioneers A 30 or the A 40ae - They sound not bad (for modern amps), very agile, quite rich and smooth, detailed, not harsh or to analytic, or to sterile (very much better than late 80th or 90th amps) - a little bit high end for small money.

[@syr1964]

I have the Kef R3 and really love them. Perhaps having the additional bass driver helps?

[@m.9243]

Just discovered your channel and I am impressed with your unbiased comments and analysis (..hard to find nowdays,..everyone is trying to sell something..LOL) I totally agree with your assessment re: old v new. I have and use Thiel CS6 speakers that are 20 y.o. and, so far, nothing has impressed me enough from the 'modern' offerings to tempt me to replace them. Yes, the new generation of speakers may look better, more modern, kind of 'lifestyle' products that decorate one's living room but, from a sound point of view, I am not convinced we have advanced to the levels they want us to believe. In the Audiophile community here in Australia, the saying goes: ' A well made speaker will always be a good speaker, never mind the age'. Thanks for the interesting video Kevin.

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes thanks for the interesting feedback Arthur. Incredible though it may seem some people want to spend £3000 on an amplifier I guess it’s in the world of status symbols.

[@trekjudas]

A lot of modern equipment is missing midrange!

[@MrTruth111]

or those awful soundbars or bose is nothing but midrange, so I disagree with you.

[@philr6865]

Interesting. I run a Radford STA-25 into a pair of KEF chorales in a 5x3m room, and was wondering whether LS50s would work with the same amplifier when I've downsized my house.

[@nickdoughty518]

Is the problem the waveguide effect of the woofer cone on the tweeter on the new KEF concept?

[@stereoreviewx]

Well it certainly could be in a way I just know it sounds plasticky

[@Anthony-cc8bx]

I think Proac make some of the best bookshelf speakers.

[@bartvanransbeeck1341]

I would suggest kef and other constructors to choose on midband highs for small speakers, so by adding a sub or 2 you make a top system

[@olivermatich2818]

Probably the coaxial arrangement is good in theory, but in practice you end up with a very small tweeter voice coil that limits performance by making the crossover point higher and being out of the optimal crossover point for the midrange. and you probably get weird effects from horn loading it slightly too.

[@lucapappalardo6956]

Hi Kelvin, very interesting comparative review. I totally agree with you, the uniQ system, despite all Kefs engineering and marketing efforts, does not sound right. I always thought high frequencies don't sound realistic. I own the Chorale myself and they are nice speakers if matched with a good amp while the current Kef production failed to impress me. I had the chance to choose between the pre uniQ reference 104/2 and the 105/3 with uniQ. I bought the 104/2 as they were better sounding in many ways.

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes that early uni queue in particular I think the only good thing was they look good..

[@vessela7484]

I got a pair of KEF C55's the other day, but I feel like I'm setting them up wrong. They sound a bit flat and "far away". Like I was expecting a bit more separation and sparkle. They're very flat and low-end to the point where I suspect I'm setting them up wrong. I don't have much room, so they're sitting either side of my TV, at about ear level when I'm sitting down, but there's only one 55" TV separating them. Should I try to get stands and spread them out a bit more? Running out of a Harman Kardon AVR145

[@spacehopper77]

I really enjoy watching your reviews, well done and please keep doing them. I own two sets of a Kef speakers, a pair of Cadenzas, which are the bigger brother 3 way version of your Chorales plus a set of q55.2 speakers. In my own experience uni q speakers can sound very good and exciting when the bass is being delivered by a separate drivers like in the q55.2s. They also like watts and for the speakers to be placed reasonable far apart. The Cadenzas are just simply lovely. These single uni q boxes I suspect would be better in a 2.5 way design with a powerful amp.

[@stereoreviewx]

Thanks for the feedback one thing worth mentioning the round bass driver tighten those screws up even rotate it and then tighten them up those screws get loose Tying it up will just make everything better K

[@pekkatervala8476]

Traditional 2-way speaker with 6,5" and 3/4-1" tweeter is economical solution for a good sound at home. I liked B&W 110i pair and my almost identical looking Spirit Absolute 2 passive studio monitor pair has even deeper bass, thanks to larger (more depth) cabinet. -3dB at 45 Hz, I consider it a full range speaker.

[@Bob.martens]

B&W 110!!!! My first 'real' speakers... loved them, miss them.

[@eddiebaby22]

yeah, great review. And I agree the LS3/5As are still king!

[@Bob.martens]

I got the meta's. It took a while for me to admit how hard I disliked them. I simultaneously had Klipsch rp150m, and they are sooo much more fun. I sold the Kefs and still have the Klipsch... Medium-budget floorstanders is what I want.

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes that detailing on the magnet tin looks like a real sound changer to me

[@nicoverhoef7259]

Fantastic explanation of the LS50 sound. I have a pair. Cannot listen them on certain well regarded amps. I am lucky to have one amp that seems to work well. The amp that seems to work with the LS50 is quite expensive so it feels a bit out of context to use it. As you mentioned it has a very strong signature so it is a speaker one could get used to but it does not come as easy as with other speakers. I can see you tried to like them but it can be a bit of an information instead of emotion loaded sound.

[@RockyLofeudo999]

What equipment are you guys driving Kef ls50 speakers with?? As you all should know, these speakers need alot of power to deliver a delightful sound for sure. Because as far as I can tell the Ls50' s can fill a fairly good sized room NO Problem at all, and the sound stage is rather Large. So I really find it hard to believe what you are saying 😎

[@stereoreviewx]

yes people say this do you have personel experience ? i mean ultimatley i dont like the sound of it i am pretty sure whatever the wattage . i am going to give them 140 watts to check this out soon thanks K

[@RockyLofeudo999]

Stereo review X hi. I do have experience with the Kef Ls50’s, but after owning them for a couple years I just Sold them Today and will be moving on from them and find something I like a bit more.

[@stereoreviewx]

Hi Rocky so I did put in 140 watts using the quad elite power amp still didn’t like it they just don’t have the space and life I would say you can probably get a pleasing result if you get the dead right equipment.K

[@FloatingOurBoat]

Just came across your channel and love your approach. I'm looking for a vintage reciever, turntable and tiny speakers for our boat as I'm bored with streaming and need something to play with.

[@jeroenmeester9528]

What about a combination of LS50 and the Rogers? Would that bring everything on the table?

[@svtcontour]

The Kef is ideal in a small room, semi-near field. In that configuration, it will basically demolish the old Kef. Also much less box coloration. Just my two cents.

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes I do accept your points actually simultaneously there is a lack of magic about the cafs literally just listening to them today with the quad 520 F hundred watts plus amp I do appreciate now they need the power . I would say they do good dynamics and drama in the base midbass They feel stifled in the mid range just a bit tight or claustrophobic even though sharp . With the quad I say I like them more But still don’t have the magic for me. Appreciate the comments cheers K

[@svtcontour]

@@stereoreviewx I'm still testing mine more. Moved them up to the smaller room that I will eventually make a dedicated reference listening room and having it in a smaller room actually did wake it up quite a bit. I think what might be happening is just basic physics. Too small a speaker to fill a large place with sound so they get driven harder. Now that its in a smaller room, they are that much more engaging and detailed. I think thats what they are probably made for - my guess. Well that or a big room but near field with a subwoofer. My regular speakers are a pair of open baffle twin MTM with compression driver for the highs. Its on another league :)

[@asmallwhitedog0479]

The only ported speaker Ive evr liked is Dynaco a25s. Kef Corelli's are one of the best Ive owned.

[@Justwantahover]

I build speakers and I am a point source freak. I made some coaxial drivers from separate drivers, a bass/med driver and a tweeter, built right inside the 2" core of the bass/med driver and used them in a speaker with a 10" woofer. And another full range driver and a 6" woofer. I also have incorporated some of my own unique acoustic (seminopen driver) features. Sometimes I get startled by someone speaking in my room when there is nobody in the room. With conventional 2 ways you simply don't get that. The home hacked coaxials are an 8" Eminence bass/med "PA" driver (like the Tecton med driver) and a 10" woofer. They crank and when you turn it up it gets bigger, not louder. Big is definitely better. Point source treble is there but it sounds different. It is way more subtle and yet objectively just as loud. But subjectively it isn't as obvious, that's all. Like real treble sound that is not from a speaker. We are used to the wizzy sound from the separate source and ignore the muffly sound from the separate woofers. Witch I can hear cos I don't ususlly listen to conventional 2 ways and not used to them. And with 2 ways there is a triangle between the two drivers and the ear and the brain knows where the sound is coming from with triangulation. But with the tweeter in the middle there is no triangle, just a single line so the brain has a harder time knowing where the the sound is coming from. Each to there own, but the image is way more there with point source and that is why I sometimes mistake a voice in my speakers for a real voice and get startled by the voice from a "real person" who is not there. But there is more than that, that causes the illusion. But without point source, the other stuff won't be as effective. Like the semi open driver and much more stuff like actually modifying drivers. About the KEFs. Aluminium cones sound bad but they do it for long lasting cones. Paper is best but doesn't last that long. I had some KEF Q150s and I got rid of them after 10 minutes having them. I then got some B&W 706s for reference and they are better, and at least they are listen-able flat. lol But my home built point source speakers smoke the B&Ws. Also cos of my unique acoustic innovations and my speakers are bigger. I got conventional 2 ways for comparison with point source so I can hear the difference. The best instrument through both pairs of my home built point source speakers is piano. The hardest instrument to reproduce. So they seem to say.

[@stereoreviewx]

Interesting stuff thanks for your input on this is a subject that will run and run if I had to say anything it would be point source Speakers want to be big

[@cnccnc1738]

Sound nice.

[@jackc.sondag4377]

Love these videos Kelvin! So I hooked up those B&W DM 10's I mentioned before, sounding great.....but one thing that's really worked for me, and it may be a placebo affect but I bought new cables and some banana plugs.....I think it sounds really smooth and nice.

[@stereoreviewx]

Hard to tell from here if it’s sounding good that’s good

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

These need big nice power amp to bring its full potential out 😆 Thanks for the video , My KEF-Q-100 sound great but front ported and easier to drive

[@zagyex]

I agree. It sounds exactly as it looks.

[@stereoreviewx]

Yeah it’s an aluminium or metal-ish cone

[@MegaM563]

On your criticism on concentric drivers... Try some 15 inch Tannoy Prestige series on a serious amp. They will probably surprise you!

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes I know those big tannoys sounds good 👍

[@tassostsoutis601]

Great comparison. Have you had any experience with PA speakers? I have my eye on JBL JRX215s but can't find any reliable review of them.

[@stereoreviewx]

No sorry

[@chrisblock6697]

Just found your channel and love your videos and approach. After hearing your discussion of the LS50s’ concentric tweeter design, would really like to hear your views on Tannoy's Dual Concentric Driver Technology. I don't know if my next speaker should be the Roger's LS3/5a or a Tannoy. This is all Brit, yea?

[@stereoreviewx]

Hi Chris yes whenever I have heard Tannoys they don’t seem choked in the same way the small kefs do .. It’s probably to do with the size. Ultimately the jewel concentric thing is not the best Imo. The difference between some big Tannoys and the LS358 is big. Sometimes I think of the LS35A is as the best mid range unit you can possibly get.. Not that the base is absolute rubbish it’s just you will be in thralled by the mid range.K

[@cbsawsaw6715]

Can you do a video a bout ls3/5a 11ohm vs 15ohm ?

[@stereoreviewx]

Wish I could maybe if someone has 11 ohm ones in North London we could try it.

[@dangoh2237]

I always find that the LS50 is overly overvalued! But their reviews are always fantastic and I believe the reviewers are getting paid! I know because I own a set myself!!

[@qlqnjeffey6917]

I heard some ls50 in a shop I really didnt rate them at all. Despite all the good reviews. I do wonder where these reviews come from. I found them closed busy just not enjoyable or musical. Not at all open or clear, I agree with your review they are not a good speaker in my opinion. They arent expensive enough to be good but too expensive for their sound

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes isn’t it incredible how things can get universally acclaimed and win awards they just flat out don’t sound good no one I’ve played them likes them nobody

[@polarbear3427]

They look like the 2020 LS-50 meta, but you are obviously reviewing the 2012 version, correct?

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes not the meta

[@leebarrett9581]

Your stick on wood noise was good

[@henryhartley9993]

Hiya Kelvin, new sub, I've just been given a pair of Keff 3303 speakers, not had a chance to try them yet and just want to know if you have any thoughts on them, cheers

[@stereoreviewx]

Well I know some other Kath Kath Cresta for instance I imagine your speakers are fine I mean there’ small that is a limiting factor ultimately but they’re free K

[@johnlong9862]

My KEF Coda 7 sounded way more musically like real instruments voices and fun than the LS50.

[@stereoreviewx]

oh yes my freind has those speakers ,they deliver the goods.

[@tankahyau3517]

So does my KEF Coda 3, very musical n involving...

[@markwarne893]

Another great Video for us HI Fi bods.

[@TheEnzoferrari12345]

it s 2020, everyone watching this video knows what a uniq is all about

[@stereoreviewx]

My mum hasn’t got a clue

[@FintanR]

@@stereoreviewx Me neither.

[@johnkeenan9495]

Thanks for the heads up

[@bartvanransbeeck1341]

Some engeneer told me that coaxials suffer from 'doppler' effect

[@warrenboychuk9081]

The core issue around new speaker developments rests with economics. If a company can produce smaller cabinets, with less drivers, mass-market the hell out of them, they can benefit with larger sales, reduced shipping costs, relative to high energy prices these days. Produce colour of the rainbow enclosures for maximum aesthetic effect for buyers. More women in the workforce with buying power, in comparison to the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, product should be attractive to entice these buyers as well. The economic equation does not always result in superior speakers when compared to products of yesteryear.

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes its amazing that sound comes second for speaker company 😂

[@linkeddevices]

it's the shape of the baffle. the ls50s couldn't be better than the blade so they had to cripple the design with a convexed baffle. look at the pod on the blade versus the shape of the ls50s. there is no reason why the blade sounds bigger except for one key difference: the blade is based on the 3001SEs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6mYfKCsea6fZpo the 3001SEs sound much larger and more holographic because it was marketed to casuals as a lost leader, hi fi enthusiasts would presume it was an egg but it's clearly not and the egg series from the 200X to the E301 to the just released egg duo are clearly the same design. the 300X series was built as a platform to reboot KEF. the center for the first time ever was even designed entirely from scratch with a Uni Q driver entirely unique to itself and not recycled from the mains as is always otherwise the case. the pod on the blade is available in plain sight, just grab the 3001SEs and get the stands, add a couple subwoofers and you'll end up with a large holographic Soundstage where if you switch back and forth between them and the ls50s with the same sub(s) the Soundstage expands and collapses as you flip back and forth just like when you switch back and forth between the Blade and the ls50 the blade sound larger and more 3D. if the ls50s convexed baffle was a good idea the blade would have had its driver situated the same way. the shape of the Blades cabinet is already shaped that way, but they clearly knew better and chose a concaved soft rubber baffle. in fact kef admits the 300x series was r and d for the Blade, that's why the driver even looks the same from the rear with the fins.

[@TwentyTwenty90]

50 watts per channel is not enough to get the best out of the LS50s. You need to drive them much harder as they're very demanding. Try them with a more powerful amp.

[@stereoreviewx]

Okay I’m going to try them with the quad520 F that’s quite a monster amp

[@TwentyTwenty90]

@@stereoreviewx Good plan. I use a Rega Elex-R and I've really enjoyed the combination. They are brilliant speakers when matched well.

[@jasonahdjfhsdfg]

50 watts is plenty for ANY speaker unless you’re planning on driving them at concert levels, most amps won’t be putting out more than half a watts of power driving a pair of fairly efficient speakers at normal listening levels.

[@faiosung]

think you need better quality and beefier amplification. The nap is better suited to vintage speakers

[@maymege]

Where is the time!

[@classicrock7890]

I heard the LS50 with a £9K Hegel 590. Unfortunately this is what it takes to get a terrific sound out of them.

[@classicrock7890]

@Matthew Taylor And where is the support when they go wrong ? Have to send them back to China. Not the same thing. Interestingly LS50 did not sound as good with a less expensive and powerful Hegel. Point is they need quality power not the amp price.

[@buttonman1831]

I own a h90 and they sound fantastic.

[@noco-pf3vj]

I had KEF LS50 once because of the hype surrounding this speaker. Kinda disappointed, the sound not full-bodied, not exciting to listen to, lacks dynamics, pretty boring speaker. I like Rock and Metal genre, a lack of midrange and dynamics on this speaker made me selling this speaker after 2 weeks of listening. Luckily I bought this speaker second hand.

[@timlink7817]

The newer KEF have a controlled dispersion up top that integrates nicely with the woofer at the crossover frequency, creating a smooth off-axis response. Depending on the room and what a listener is used to they may or may not like that effect. The newer KEF is using the woofer as a waveguide. I find this overall more satisfying sounding than the old school standard of letting the tweeter spray super wide before it crosses over to the woofer which then is beamy at the top of it's range before going wide again. I'll admit though that the wide spraying tweeter will add some life at times and may be helpful in an otherwise over damped sounding room. With a subwoofer and a crossover for the bass the new little KEFs will play plenty loud, otherwise I agree the bigger woofer on the old speaker will have an advantage when turned up. I got to listen to several models of the KEF speakers that use this coaxial arranged tweeter and mid-woofer. Big floor standing "Blade" models and some stand mounted models with separate woofer. I thought I heard a similar character to the highs on all of them, which I'd describe as a breathiness, almost a bit too much airiness that might be called hashiness if there were more, but just a hint of it, and not enough to ruin the sound. It added something nice at times but I'd be tempted to take some eq to any of these speakers to turn that effect down just a smidge.

[@stereoreviewx]

Interesting 🤔

[@bigdon3975]

50 watts is not enough..I play it with 100 Watt class a. Then its ok

[@Mellonen-Galadh]

Greetings, people! Am I among the few who believe the LS 50 to be butt-ugly?

[@stereoreviewx]

Literally

[@nicksundby]

LS50 is so overrated, I've never heard them sound any good.

[@isacv2182]

Con(e) figuration 🤣 bravo.

[@tnarch]

😀😀😀

[@brianroberts8938]

Sorry buddy, but it’s won many awards

[@stereoreviewx]

Sorry awards I just another selling techniques I mean I’ve got the speakers here and about 10 other pairs of speakers at least I know when that comes in his house likes the speakers I mean nobody and that includes me the proof of the pudding as they say

[@stereoreviewx]

Matthew Taylor Really I mean that seriously interesting . I mean that’s what I’ve always thought that’s why they say things are good when they’re not and their reviews are so abstract really it’s like a riddle sometimes. I have to ask Matthew do you definitely know this or you heard it I really don’t doubt it but I just love to know how certain you are. Cheers K

[@brianroberts8938]

Stereo review X I have listened to the speakers at HIFI shows and the KEF brand stands out from the rest. If you are looking for speakers, book a demo at your local HIFI shop and compare them with others at that price. I have just bought a pair of LS50s they sound great with music and home cinema. I run a full KEF system apart from the sub which is a REL T9. Best advice run demos on different speakers and go with what you feel. The KEF LS50s have won many awards, but they need to be heard 👍

[@buttonman1831]

Wow, You lost in the voices. My kefs got very realistic vocals with good weight. I play Lenard Cohen and it sounds like he is in the room.

[@stereoreviewx]

Hi there yes let me say I have change my opinion a fair bit on the speakers when feeding them with 100 W plus things do get much better I may even make another video explaining this but yes now I would probably agree with your comments though the speakers still don’t have any magic for me. Appreciate the feedback cheers K

[@buttonman1831]

@@stereoreviewx I ran them with a Rotel 1570 which is 120 wpc and was underwhelmed. They only really came alive when I stepped up to a Hegel H90 which is only 60wpc. I now have h390 which is frankly, staggeringly good. Seems silly to have an amp that cost almost 10 times the price, but my they are lightning quick and image incredibly well. The vocals are some of the best I've personally experienced and the sense of scale driven by this amp is impressive. I had Thiels cs2.2 and Spendor a7, Monitor Audio silver 8s, and the ls50 are my preferred speaker to my surprise.

[@Sparta155]

Utter nonsense.

[@nicksundby]

Bookshelf speaker = half a speaker. Small boxes on stands are a waste of time. Get proper floor standers.

[@Anthony-cc8bx]

I don't like the sound signature. It sounds like it's singing in a closet. It sounds off and not natural. I tried twice and I hate them.

[@stereoreviewx]

Yes I agree A lot of critics seems to think they’re great. Literally I do think if people get told they sound great some people will just go with that. What speakers do you like or use by the way K

[@Anthony-cc8bx]

@@stereoreviewx I am using Proac Anniversary Tablette. The cost a bit but they suit my ears which is a bit to the bright and they have a lot of bass for a little speaker. I tried Tablette 10 but too mellow. Other bookshelf speakers were a bit thinner on bass. Previously I had Martin Logan with ribbon tweeters. Good mids but the separation and depth of stage doesn't compare to Proac. Tried Totem Sky. It lacked deeper tone on vocals. It was a bit thin I think. I look for a sound signature that has the best natural vocal sound with accuracy like if it was in the room. My system is running Sansue CA3000 preamp, 2 Hitachi HMA 8500 in dual mono, very low distortion MOSFET amps. VIP Scout 2 turntable with Lyra Delos cart. Too many tape decks! MiniDisc, 8 tracks...it's all fun. My system is neutral to cool side. I like a tad on the warm side.

[@TalSteadyKill]

This video just saved me about 800 euros