Kef LS-50 (metas)

[PrISM 150]

Just curious to see if anyone around here has or had experience with the Kef LS-50s (or the new metas) and how they pair with some Carver amps. Everything I see says they're some of the best nearfield speakers, which is the setup I'm interested in creating. Currently using a pair of powered Adam A5Xs which will be moving to a different location and wanted to play around with some good passive nearfields.

[4krow 6,618]

 I believe that lonerT had a pair of the LS50's and liked them. I have heard positive and negative about them, so it would be a matter of taste.

[itchitch 4,511]

I am using the LS50's in my office system.

 

@loner_t did turn me on to them. They were originally going to be used in my main system with a sub.

 

They just don't fill a big room at higher listening volumes.

 

I am pleased with their sound in a smaller room and the port plugs removed.

 

 

 

 

[PrISM 150]

My usage would be nearfield on a desk in a larger room, probably about 16-18" away from the back wall. I'd be using a C-1 and a M-500t MKII.

[BarryG 2,853]

Other than Lt’s setup, which sounded nice; I heard them demoed at the dc hi fi group meeting with the new kef subwoofer. They sounded very good.  I can see how a large room would not work well.  Near field these would be excellent!

 

barry

[iamjohngalt 2,764]

I haven't compared the KEFs to these in the same room, but I liked these Emotiva's (now $249/pair) at least as well as the KEFs in near field application (and the B1+ are priced 80% lower.)

I have had the powered version of these on my desk for 5 years and love them. (They don't offer the powered ones any more.)

Both speakers are low efficiency, but the m500t will easily drive them and should sound great.

Quoted specs for the B1+: https://emotiva.com/collections/summer-sizzle/products/airmotiv-b1-pair#em-sin-pro-chat-lined

Emotiva has a 30 day no hassle return policy: https://emotiva.com/pages/return-policy 

so you can try them and return them (you pay return shipping) with full refund.

 

 

 

[PrISM 150]

Those Emo's look very similar (ribbon tweeter) to my current Adams (https://www.adam-audio.com/en/ax-series/a5x/) which sound great. They're just moving to another setup so I'm looking for a replacement. With the way my desk is currently configured, the only real way I'm going to have room is for anything is to place them horizontally (not ideal I know), but the KEF coaxial driver should mitigate the less than ideal placement somewhat.

 

Also, the black/copper LS50s look stunning so that doesn't help either...

[iamjohngalt 2,764]

Yes, they appear to be very similar. 

I always liked the AMT tweeters but couldn't afford them until the patents expired and lots of manufacturers started using them.

Good for the customers!

I don't know your musical tastes, but if those KEFs were in my budget I'd probably check out the mini-Maggies.

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/magnepan-mini-maggie-loudspeaker-system-tas-223

https://magnepan.com/products/mini-maggie-system?variant=42607804481772

 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649879633-magnepan-mini-maggies-desktop-system/

Edited August 6, 2022 by iamjohngalt