KEF LS-50 ... A true little gem

Dpod4

Dpod4

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I just heard the KEF LS50 speakers at Echo Audio in Portland, Oregon (a great hi-fi dealer by the way). WOW was my immediate impression. I own Magico S5 speakers so I am partial to sealed cabinet design. But the KEF LS 50s did not have any of the chuffing or breathing or sloppiness usually found in ported designs. The controlled and articulate bass, spacious (and deep!) soundstage, grainless mids and highs, coherence and musicality of this little speaker floored me given its price and size. These sound better than a couple USD $4,000-$8,000 speakers from high-end brands I've auditioned. Needless to say, I walked out with a pair. Nicely done, KEF!!
 
Haven't had a chance to hear them yet, but friends are raving about them.


Dpod4 said:
I just heard the KEF LS50 speakers at Echo Audio in Portland, Oregon (a great hi-fi dealer by the way). WOW was my immediate impression. I own Magico S5 speakers so I am partial to sealed cabinet design. But the KEF LS 50s did not have any of the chuffing or breathing or sloppiness usually found in ported designs. The controlled and articulate bass, spacious (and deep!) soundstage, grainless mids and highs, coherence and musicality of this little speaker floored me given its price and size. These sound better than a couple USD $4,000-$8,000 speakers from high-end brands I've auditioned. Needless to say, I walked out with a pair. Nicely done, KEF!!
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I have a pair of their baby brothers, the Q100. Nice extension for a little bookshelf, but the imaging and soundstage from these little guys is amazing. There's certainly something very special about a coax done right.
 
Come on and hear em next to a pair of Blades, and you'll see just how much magic they've been able to put in a small box...

:)
 
Well, they certainly aren't a pair of Blades for $1500. However, after visiting the factory last fall and spending some time with the Blade engineering team, then listening to Muon, Blade and LS50 all in the same room, it's easy to hear where the trade offs were made and what an overachiever the LS50 is. I'm currently using the Blades as my reference speakers in the main room, so it's been a ton of fun to hook the LS-50's up right next to them and switch back.

It's like comparing a basic no frills Porsche Boxster to a tricked out GT3, you can still see where the DNA trickles down and the basic engineering principles apply to the entry level car.

And much depends on your room. In a small to medium sized room, if you aren't trying to play music with a lot of super low bass, you'll be surprised at just how good that LS50 really is.
 
tonepub said:
Well, they certainly aren't a pair of Blades for $1500. However, after visiting the factory last fall and spending some time with the Blade engineering team, then listening to Muon, Blade and LS50 all in the same room, it's easy to hear where the trade offs were made and what an overachiever the LS50 is. I'm currently using the Blades as my reference speakers in the main room, so it's been a ton of fun to hook the LS-50's up right next to them and switch back.

It's like comparing a basic no frills Porsche Boxster to a tricked out GT3, you can still see where the DNA trickles down and the basic engineering principles apply to the entry level car.

And much depends on your room. In a small to medium sized room, if you aren't trying to play music with a lot of super low bass, you'll be surprised at just how good that LS50 really is.
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With the porsche analogy and coming from you that's a big endorsement.. Now you got me intrigue
 
I need to try the LS50 in my new tiny room. I bet my 600w McIntosh MC602 will make them sing LOUD. :D
 
I know you guys would enjoy them. One of my favorite little speakers, period.
 
Intrigued as well. I have a Kef dealer near me, I'll see if he has a pair for demo.
 
Seriously, I was amazed at what I heard....one of the few products I've auditioned and purchased where there was a real "wow" factor, and not from hyped-up or colored sound but from true high-end acoustics in a small and affordable footprint.
 
Here you go gents...the review of the LS50 that just came out at Soundstage.com where it received a Reviewer's Choice award: http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/557-kef-ls50-loudspeakers

A nice pic to wet the appetite:

KEF_LS50_Photo_Main_270x222.jpg


Here are Doug Schneider's concluding remarks from the review above:
The LS50’s sound, irrespective of price, was outstanding in my room: a wide-open soundfield; razor-sharp imaging; voluminous bass; soaring, clean highs; and a midband as natural as it was clear. Holy moly, this speaker sounded good -- and at a ridiculously low price.

The LS50 is nothing short of a masterpiece of a minimonitor, priced so that anyone serious about audio can buy a pair -- and probably should, if only to know how great a small speaker can be. Time hasn’t been as much on my side as it’s been on KEF’s -- the LS50 is one of their best speakers yet, and one of their best values; it’s proof that, as it ages, this company seems to get better and better.
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Here are some other reviews that had come out earlier on the LS-50:

What Hifi: http://www.kef.com/uploads/files/en/award/LS50_WHF_1112.pdf

Hifi News: http://www.kef.com/uploads/files/en/review/LS50_HFN_0712.pdf

Enjoy!
 
Thx for sharing. Spot on.

cmalak said:
Here you go gents...the review of the LS50 that just came out at Soundstage.com where it received a Reviewer's Choice award: http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/557-kef-ls50-loudspeakers

A nice pic to wet the appetite:

KEF_LS50_Photo_Main_270x222.jpg


Here are Doug Schneider's concluding remarks from the review above:

Here are some other reviews that had come out earlier on the LS-50:

What Hifi: http://www.kef.com/uploads/files/en/award/LS50_WHF_1112.pdf

Hifi News: http://www.kef.com/uploads/files/en/review/LS50_HFN_0712.pdf

Enjoy!
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I have a pending sale on my Spendor SA1 ....maybe I should go check this out. This topic really got me interested hmmmm :reading:
 
Those speakers are really great. Heard them a couple of times and was very impressed each time. You can go wrong with them for the price.
 
I have a pair of these. They truly are all that has been said about them, though a bit picky about amps to get them to open up. They certainly like a smaller room but its not absolutely necessary (I auditioned them in a huge, open, room, and fell for them right away). What you get for $1500 is pretty amazing.
 
All three speakers are great BUT yes there is a but IF you have the room think think and think again.

Kef LS-50 - - - enceinte-de-bibliotheque-kef-ls50-la-paire.jpg - - - Tannoy Mini Autograph - - - Tannoy Prestige Mini Autographs.jpg - - - Proac Signature 8 - - - Proac Tablette Reference8.jpg

Magnepan MG-12 - - - Magnepan MG-12 02.jpg


Kef LS-50 = $1,500.00 - - - Magnepan MG-12 = $1,800.00 - - - Proac Signature 8 = $1,800.00 - - - Tannoy Mini Autograph = $2,000.00 - - -
 
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