KEF LS50 Meta speaker review
My review of the KEF LS50 speakers has been posted: https://theaudiobeatnik.com/kef-ls50-meta-speaker-review/
I bought these speakers on a whim late last year because I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I wasn't planning on formally reviewing these but then I decided to after hearing how they sounded. Long story short, the hype is warranted!
These are excellent performers but did take quite a while to really come into their own. While they had good imaging and an expansive sound right out of the box, I admit I was underwhelmed with some aspects of their performance like the tonality and tweeter performance at first. Fortunately everything came together around the 100-120 hour mark!
Hope you enjoy the review!
I bought these speakers on a whim late last year because I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I wasn't planning on formally reviewing these but then I decided to after hearing how they sounded. Long story short, the hype is warranted!
These are excellent performers but did take quite a while to really come into their own. While they had good imaging and an expansive sound right out of the box, I admit I was underwhelmed with some aspects of their performance like the tonality and tweeter performance at first. Fortunately everything came together around the 100-120 hour mark!
Hope you enjoy the review!
Comments
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Great write up!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Great review.
I now want to hear them one day.Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
Excellent review. I’d love to hear a pair of these someday.Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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Thanks guys! I think one of my biggest surprises with them was the bass response.
KEF rates the frequency response (±3dB) as "79 Hz - 28 kHz" but the "typical in-room bass response (-6dB)" at "26 Hz".
While 26hz may be slightly generous, these were definitely digging deep down to around the 40-45hz range where a lot of the content in bass-heavy electronic music lives.
Sure they aren't going to be able to really give you much below 40hz, but I don't feel like that detracts from their enjoyment for bass-heavy electronic music. YMMV and of course these would really shine with the matching KC62 subwoofer, but for my smaller 13x10 room I found the bass response adequate and enjoyable without a sub. -
Very good review, Drew. What height stands do you have?
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Here are the songs Drew mentioned in his review. I found them to be exactly as he described them to be.
https://youtu.be/Mnufvy9Z_FU
Juno Reactor - Song For Ancestors.
https://youtu.be/om9XR26maVk
https://youtu.be/Xab8yPALBaA Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
Nice review and I enjoyed the Juno Reactor! I, in my nerdy fashion, found this particular interesting since I have been modding along the same avenue but lower tech of course:
PS: I think a Part II review with a teardown and reverse engineering is in order 😁
Post edited by Gardenstater onGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Very good review, Drew. What height stands do you have?
I have both 22" and 30" stands.Gardenstater wrote: »PS: I think a Part II review with a teardown and reverse engineering is in order 😁
Haha! Already some pretty nice teardown videos on YouTube where they remove the driver, etc.
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Excellent review as always Drew! You really nailed it.
I've had the pleasure of getting my ears on them on multiple occasions & in various sized rooms.
They never ceased to amaze. In the one room (approx 15x22) they didn't sound like they needed any help whatsoever...their performance was as you described in your review... outstanding & extremely satisfying.
But once we added the KC62 sub into the mix the results were off the charts to say the least🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
Next up for your review will have to be the Blade. But you're gonna need a bigger room. Akin to needing a bigger boat in Jaws. Lol!"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
Steve Guttenberg thinks it's a breakthrough product and he loved the original one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTYvP7YQ0Q George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Interesting. I hadn't watched his review until just now. Seems like we picked up on some of the same performance attributes, especially in regards to the bass response and how low they go.
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I enjoyed the review, however it was missing the word "nutmeg".
Penalty: Now you have to use the words "nutmeg" and "flaccid" in your next review. -
flaccid bass has been a veritable plague in loudspeakers.
I believe that Pfizer brought some relief, but it can still happen.
The heartbreak of flaccid bass.
Here's to turgid bass!
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My nutmeg is flaccid!
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Great review! Have you had a shot to get your ears on the powered version? On the original and meta. I felt that after broken in, the powered version had an edge.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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Nope, I have never heard the powered wireless version.
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Great review!Yamaha RX-A2070, Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amp, Benchmark Dac1, Bluesound NODE 2i, Audiolab 6000CDT CD Transport, Parasound Zphono USB Phono Preamp, Fluance RT85, Ortofon 2M Bronze, Polk L600's, L400, L900's, RC80i's, SVS 3000 Micro, Audioquest Interconnects and Digital Cables, Nordost Silver Shadow Digital Cable, Cullen Gold and Crossover Series Power Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 12AWG OCC Speaker Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha Analog Interconnect Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 11 OCC Custom Power Cable, Signal Power Cable, Furman PL-8C 15 Power Conditioner, Sony 65" 900F, Sony UBP-X700, Fios, Apple TV 4K, Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables.
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Thanks, appreciate it.
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Finally got around to giving this review a read. I've always been curious about the newest LS50s, and this certainly continues that. I'll need to check out these test tracks as well!
Great work as always.Analog: MoFi MasterTracker > MoFi UltraDeck > Sutherland 20/20
Digital: Cambridge CXC / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
MastersounD Dueventi > Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo or Arcam rHead > Hifiman HE4XX
Discogs -
Thanks Willie!
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Excellent review! Thanks!Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
My pleasure.
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Thanks guys! I think one of my biggest surprises with them was the bass response.
KEF rates the frequency response (±3dB) as "79 Hz - 28 kHz" but the "typical in-room bass response (-6dB)" at "26 Hz".
While 26hz may be slightly generous, these were definitely digging deep down to around the 40-45hz range where a lot of the content in bass-heavy electronic music lives.
Sure they aren't going to be able to really give you much below 40hz, but I don't feel like that detracts from their enjoyment for bass-heavy electronic music. YMMV and of course these would really shine with the matching KC62 subwoofer, but for my smaller 13x10 room I found the bass response adequate and enjoyable without a sub.
Yeah, would find that a bit hard to believe. I had to double check the specs, and you are indeed correct! -
Nice review! I've yet to listen to the Meta and really want to.
I had a chance to check out the LS50W at the 2017 AXPONA show. I thought KEF gave a great demo and really showed the versatility of the set. When they played the track Celestial Echo by Malia & Boris Blank, I was floored at what I was hearing. The detail, clarity, texture, soundstage was impressive. Also, the BASS was pretty special given the size of the room and the small driver and cabinet. I had a chance to talk to their brand ambassador Johan Coorg and he was saying how he cleared / decluttered his own A/V space and got rid of floor standers and components in favor of the LS50W.Great review! Have you had a shot to get your ears on the powered version? On the original and meta. I felt that after broken in, the powered version had an edge.
Celestial Echo by Malia & Boris Blank
https://youtu.be/x7-wwwraZ9k
2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2 -
I've heard the original LS50 a few times on different gear in different rooms, MEH! In fact, the owner of said pair sold them.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Fascinating.
But what did you think of the review? -
Nice review! I've yet to listen to the Meta and really want to.
I had a chance to check out the LS50W at the 2017 AXPONA show. I thought KEF gave a great demo and really showed the versatility of the set. When they played the track Celestial Echo by Malia & Boris Blank, I was floored at what I was hearing. The detail, clarity, texture, soundstage was impressive. Also, the BASS was pretty special given the size of the room and the small driver and cabinet. I had a chance to talk to their brand ambassador Johan Coorg and he was saying how he cleared / decluttered his own A/V space and got rid of floor standers and components in favor of the LS50W.Great review! Have you had a shot to get your ears on the powered version? On the original and meta. I felt that after broken in, the powered version had an edge.
Celestial Echo by Malia & Boris Blankhttps://youtu.be/x7-wwwraZ9k
The LS50W Meta I feel is even better vs the LS50W. My only grip on the LS50W Meta is they got rid of the RCA.
On the non powered version that Drew reviewed, I feel the Meta is a much better sound VS the original LS50. I used to own the LS50W and heard the Meta powered and non powered several times. I think Drew 's writing closely echoed my own thoughts on them. They are sensitive to the source and equipment used.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's. -
Fascinating.
But what did you think of the review?
What review...who reviewed what?
J/K.........excellent review as always
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
@clipdat - Nice review
Do you have any reviews on the Aurender A100 & Auralic G1?
Oh, and how about that Benchmark combo you keep suggesting?
Send me some links, mang! 😁CD Players: Sony CDP-211; Sony DVP-S9000ES; Sony UDP-X800M2 (x2); Cambridge Audio CXC
DACs: Jolida Glass FX Tube DAC III (x2); Denafrips Ares II (x2)
Streamers: ROKU (x3); Bluesound Node 2i and Node N130 w/LHY LPS // Receivers: Yamaha RX-V775BT; Yamaha RX-V777
Preamps: B&K Ref 50; B&K Ref 5 S2; Classe CP-800 MkII; Audio Research SP16L (soon)
Amps: Niles SI-275; B&K ST125.7; B&K ST125.2; Classe CA-2300; Butler Audio TDB-5150
Speakers: Boston Acoustics CR55; Focal Chorus 705v; Wharfedale Diamond 10.2; Monitor Audio Silver-1; Def Tech Mythos One (x4)/Mythos Three Center (x2)/Mythos Two pr.; Martin Logan Electromotion ESL; Legacy Audio Victoria/Silverscreen Center; Gallo Acoustics Reference 3.1; SVS SB-1000 Pro; REL HT-1003; B&W ASW610; HifiMan HE400i
Turntable: Dual 721 Direct-Drive w/Audio Technica AT-VM95e cart
Cables: Tripp-lite 14ga. PCs, Blue Jeans Cable ICs, Philips PXT1000 ICs; Kimber Kable DV30 coaxial ICs; Canare L-4E6S XLR ICs; Kimber Kable 8PR & 8TC speaker cables.
