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KEF LS50 or Wharfedale Reva 2 -- which would you buy?

Hi all,

I am considering upgrading my speakers and am between the KEF LS50 and Wharfedale Reva 2 speakers. I'm not able to hear either one where I am located so am looking for some input.

I am also able to get the Reva 2s for about half the price of the LS50, but if the KEFs are the right move I am ok spending more time saving for them.

Some notes to consider:

- Speakers will be used only for music, not TV/ movies
- Receiver is an older Denon DRA 825R (90 watts/ channel into 8 ohms). Minimum is 6ohms (please don't suggest I get the UB5s).
- Turntable is Pro-ject Carbon Debut
- Room is about 15x17 apartment living room
- I listen to everything from classic rock to jazz to classical. I don't listen to hip hop, house, or modern pop.

I am really just looking for beautiful sounding (and nice looking) speakers at $1k or less (I can get the LS50 for $1k or the Reva 2s for $450). I live in an apartment so the music is never loud, just looking for great sounding speakers.

The reviews on both seem very good. The LS50 is clearly a more popular speaker. I guess the question there is -- is it worth an extra $550 for me?

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
coaster86
coaster86 OP
9 posts
 
Hey guys - thanks for all of the help. I went ahead and bought the R300s in gloss black this morning. They should be here next week, and I'll let you know how they work out.

I decided on these because I came to the conclusion that I needed something less power hungry and with more bass than the LS50. I came to those conclusions initially because of all your guys' comments, so thank you again. When I compared the LS50 vs the R300 in a local store the R300 was a much fuller sound, as expected. I never ended up hearing the Reva 2s but given their size and specs I figured they wouldn't feel as full as either of the KEFs and ruled them out completely. I should mention that I don't have a sub.

I also never ended up hearing the SF Venere 2.0s, so I can't speak to those but I was very interested in them. Thanks for that recommendation too.




dolsey
9 posts
 
Congrats on your new purchase!  
chrisr's avatar
chrisr
444 posts
 
Good choice!
drumbe
4 posts
 
First of all, I'm a retired drummer (played for 50 years+).  Thus prefer music that sounds like the real deal.  Since I was directly in the sound field.  After hearing tons of rav reviews for the Kef ls50's -  I thought I could not go wrong in buying them.  My take:  Too much fluffy low end. Granted I have them in somewhat difficult room (12x12) but there was no way I could overcome the rear port-itis!  I wanted to love them for their very lovely highs but at owning them for a year I needed to let them go. I loved to play with bass players that had a tight low note, rather than a wobbly bass note that fluffs up.  I did replace them with polk lsi9's which I had previously, as they do not have the extent of port-itis that he kef's have.  No wonder Lsi9 are difficult to find used!  I owned a large pair of canton ventos that also sounded great in the room.  Good luck with your shopping bro!
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