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KEF LS50

Don't post often here but thought I would let you all know I stumbled on a pretty amazing performer in this little monitor.

I would say the midrange is on par with my Harbeth 40.1, treble has a tad more leading edge bite than the best soft dome but its a really good top end that never gets nasty. Dynamically they are performing way better than they should. I'm betting they would compete with the new 30.1 sonically, just a guess.

Have them running with 20X price electronics in a small office and they are not outclassed in any way. Made me want to keep throwing my best gear with them they sounded so good.

If you are in the market grab a pair, you will not regret. Saw two pair this morning for sale for around 1K, I can't think of anything in 20 years offering this much performance for 1K. You could build a world class non-full range sound around these.
petland
bassdude
194 posts
 
Yes... these are about as good as it gets. And... they are certainly not limited in their range... when set up properly.

You don't need to spend "thousands" or "tens of thousands" to get "real live" sound with a huge soundstage, and pin-point imaging.

Though, I've got them set up with the KEF R400b sub... it isnt' really needed - they have great bass on their own (for audiophile sound - HT buffs may want to shake the house down with auto subs, but these just produce life-like, quality sound).

Get yourself a great SACD/CDP, an Anti-Mode 2.0 DSP, a tube buffer, and a Class D Audio amp, some Better Cables XLR interconnects, and 10 AWG Magnet wire for speaker cables, and you will have life-like sound, you can't match for less than 10-20X the price.
bassdude
194 posts
 
And... they're soundstage and imaging are even better when they are placed on stands about 4'+ from the walls, toed in about 10-15 degrees and tilted up about 10-15 degrees.

Just an incredible, "you are there," life-like sound... even when you're off axis and standing - just a huge wall of sound.

Again... properly set up... very little betters these amazing monitor speakers (they are not "bookshelf" or "desktop" speakers).
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
Stereophile rated them "Class A, limited bass." In other words, from about 50 Hz on up, they compete in transparency and musicality with the best. Limitations, of course, are bass extension and ultimate dynamic range. But if you want the midrange magic and soundstaging of a class A speaker without spending 5 or 6 figures, this is evidently the place to start.

This is very tempting for me as I have a nice little pair of 8" subs that would match well with them.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
829 posts
 
I think they're nice looking speakers too. I can see myself getting a pair someday; or next week, lol.
rebbi
1,319 posts
 
A speaker I'd love to hear. So many interesting things in the design, and so well reviewed!
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