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You won't believe me. KEF LS50 Meta was the first speaker I heard from the brand and I was like. Nope no way I be spending $1800 for them. I hated KEF brand as a whole as the first impression from them was not that great. They sounded neutral(which I like) they sounded deep(which also I like) had great imaging(which also I like) and had crazy clarity(which I like) but that was it. It had no heft to it. It was not immersive and feels a bit narrow. Possibly due to it being lifeless. That is the best I could describe it. After that I tried KEF R5(old) and you know the shock I was in coming from this with absolutely no expectations actually expecting to be disappointed. I heard R5 and my mind was blown. Because it was as neutral, clear and detailed. It had more depth and width than LS50 Metas. And most importantly it was lively without being warm or bright. It had that heft to it which LS50 Meta lacks completely. I went from hating KEF thanks to these to absolutely being a KEF fanboy thanks to R5. After than I heard others as well. And thankfully none sounded like these LS50 thin and lifeless. Had Q Series home-theater installed for one of my uncles and now planning to getting KEF Refernce and R series living room setup and theater for other.
Overrated. I compared 3 and here's what I thought: 1st place: GoldenEar BRX (AMT tweeters, 90db sensitivity, 40 hz-35 Khz). I kept this. 2nd place: JBL L52 (sounded fun like live music) distant 3rd place: Kef LS50 meta (too beaming, too heavy, low 85 db sensitivity, sounded thin, plastic binding nuts).
I have a pair and yes they are awesome. The only gripe I could offer is that they are too clear. They don't add anything to the music, which I solved by adding a kef sub. Not only have I not heard anything better, KEF also has fabulous customer service should you run into any trouble.
Had the LS50 Metas, loved them, sold them and now I bought them again because I frankly can not find better at the price or even higher. Tried ATC SCM 11, Dynaudio Evoke 20, Acoustic Energy AE 500, Wharfedale EVO 4.2 etc. The Kefs work the best in my room. Love them
Totally agree, new videos bring me back to why I started watching. Feel like things got a little too technical and lost a little randy vibe for a while.
My old speakers died (Quad ELS 65 ) so I got the LS50 Metas and a KC62 sub until I could afford something better but I’am so impress with this setup I’am not looking to replace them any time soon. I have them in a small room (3.2 x 3.4m) and that’s what they were probably designed for.
I own LS50 Metas, and while -yeah- they might be a bit "boring" as you call them, I think that's a good thing. In that, they never ever fatigue me or irritate me with too much sibilance or being too analytical. I can't stand sharp highs, and the KEFs never give me that. Meanwhile, in the three or so months I've owned them now, I've never had a session of more than half an hour or so when they have not delighted me. With either new details that I hadn't yet heard, or just plain good music-making. Cheapaudioman, you're probably right that there are a lot of speakers, even cheaper ones, that excel at some discipline or other - but they might have real flaws elsewhere. And unlike an audio reviewer, people might not have a dozen pairs of speakers around the house to suit their mood of the day. Meanwhile, the KEFs fail at nothing, they never irritate, and they do delight (me at least). I think all in all, they're great allrounders. In my opinion, the cheapest speakers I'd call world class.
Great insight on the LS50 Meta speakers! I own them for let’s say 3 years now. One thing I’d like to mention is that my living room is way less spacious than yours. Mine is filled with furniture, a big couch with pillows on it, a wooden floor with a rug on it and long drapes close by the windows. Okay, what I basically want to point out is that my living room is kinda perfectly for speaker for the size of the LS50 Meta’s?… I think? Maybe I’m wrong. However I got to say man, I really love them and yes, they have a lot umf. They are good and fine! Love your videos! Cheers mate! 😂😂😂👍🏼
Great opening & congrats on another real sponsor! Glad you’ve come to your senses on these, again, tough breakups are always better the 2nd time around?
Great Video! Been a subscriber for the past 3.5 year since the beginning. This is one of your best all time. Loved the intro “breakup” drive. Have heard these auditioned, good speaker but definitely not competitive for the price.
Although it's marked as an 8ohm speaker, detailed measurements show it at 4ohms through most of the frequency range, which is why high a quality amplifier with high current output is recommended
While you’re right, a high powered amp just shows its further shortcomings when you get music with bass. Its woofers are so weak, they sound like they’re gonna blow at semi-loud volume.
@@mikechivy My experience is completely different. I have the LS50W 1's in a large room about one foot from the back wall. I removed the sub from the equation because I just don't need it. I like a little low end but I don't need to shake the room. They sound fantastic. These speakers are not for blasting your ears off. If that's what you are after then these speakers aren't right for you. I would love to also have some Klipsch Cornwalls for those loud hard rock moments. My wife disagrees with me.
@@kevinperlic2920 you’re talking about two completely different speakers. The LS50w is not the LS50 meta… regardless they’re incredible at imaging and clarity, but they’re simply not that good compared to what you can get for the money
Love my LS50 Metas in my small room home theater as LCR with a Rythmik 15" sub. Amazing for dialouge and soundtracks. I bougth open box so that helped me decide.
Excellent vid my friend. Really enjoyed it. But...... I have to say my partner has these & I think they are terrific for the money. In the UK they sell for about £1k & are in my opinion well worth it. We are all different with what we like & enjoy about speakers, as you said. I was really surprised the first time I heard them, night & day better than the originals. I really enjoy the detail they dig out , since buying she added a BK sub & they sound even better. Anyway keep the vids coming.
In my room the Metas are the best I haved tried. It beats some speakers costing quite a bit more. I have at times struggled to find the best placement. It is very critical about the signal chain as well. My favorite amplifier with these are the new Musical Fidelity A1. What I don't like about this combination is related to the low power of the A1. The Sound levels I got with my previous Quad Artera pre/power was impressive with the Meta. The A1 sounds better thought.The Meta is real high end. Must be treated that way. It can sound fabulous. It is also very easy to get mediocre sound out of them.
I think it would depend on what your ear tunes into. If your into an analytical box then... you'll like them. But the truth is, you can get that and perhaps something sounding a little more balanced and natural for half the price or lower. Or much better for a price that's on par.
@@NightFlight1973 I completely and totally disagree I’ve had over 30 sets of bookshelves speakers in the past nine years. These are by far the best for their price build qualities sound quality and looks are phenomenal.
I’ve had this spkr for a yr , my views 1. Spkr is very sensitive to placement 2. Associated equipment must be more towards high end 3. Class A amp drives it better than B 4. S2 stands with Gaia is a must
gave you a thumbs up for an honest opinion without hyping up the product..Your opinion is similar to mine after listening to it in the showroom. It's too expensive for what it provides.
For the $1,000 I paid for my LS 50 Metas when KEF put them on sale last year, you'll have to pry them from my cold, dead hands. Paired with my Arcam SA20 class G integrated amp (BTW currently available for $1,000), they sound anything but "boring". The most amazing thing about your pair is that the tweeters are still intact with all the little tweeter pokers you live with.
I had the OG anniversary LS50s with an Arcam SA20. I also had Q150s as surrounds. So I did a side by side comparison. The LS50s wiped the floor with the Q150s. Not to mention the build quality of the LS50s. The Q150s look like they are DYI. Look at them wrong and the vinyl will peel off.
I'm with you on the Meta's. I was trying to decide between the Meta's and a pair of Buchardt s400's. I went with the s400's and wouldn't part with them but when the Meta's went on sale for $1000 a picked up a pair and also wouldn't part with them. Both benefit from a good, long break-in and are different in very interesting ways. My music is rock, chamber music, jazz, symphonic classical, folk, and streaming Berliner Philharmoniker's Digital Concert Hall.
I always use Steve Earle’s Copperhead Road off his album of the same name. The intro has amazing bass and the song bounces along very well! Give it a go 🎉
Cool new video vibe :) Nice of you to pick up one of the Kef’s from school ;) I have to believe your audiophile chops are building, hearing the soundstage extend behind your fireplace +++ My LS 50’s took 50 hours to loosen up and keep getting better. Even as a small speaker, they respond to being out in the room more. One of the other tips is measuring and getting each speaker’s distance from the back wall pretty much exactly the same, toe angles similarly close. They can be really rewarding, but you have to be open and receptive as much as possible. They aren’t rowdy or terribly live sounding. They are windows into recordings and borderline glorious ✨ Good speaker cables make a difference, i like analysis plus oval 12 for these, though they may well scale with their better cables too. Keep listening and making videos ✨🙏✨🥁✨
This speaker has probably had 100s of reviews by now Loved how you have made this video Dynamic witty charming also with plenty information if your process and honest mindset
We all know that there is not one sound that pleases everyone. We all listen to different music in different rooms at different volumes. That said, we are all looking for information about the speaker and the way it sounds under proper listening conditions set up to make them sound their best. Please tell us how you set them up, how far from the wall and with ports plugged or not. Also, the distance from you and the 😅distance from one speaker to the other and if they are toed in or out would be helpful. You usually describe the bass, the mid range and treble and throw in the important specs which is perfect. When you do all of that we can decide if it is a speaker that fits our personal preferences and if the price sounds reasonable. Have your fun but know that an accurate description of the speaker or whatever gear you are reviewing without any personal bias is appreciated. I am a long time subscriber and enjoy your sense of humor and, if possible, I suggest that you go back to your old listening room that looks like the lair of a music freak which is where you belong. Thanks and keep the reviews coming.
I bought em second hand in new condition for 800$, they're my first speakers. You're right, they do lack some bass. But I still love them, especially for classical music. Eventually I plan to get a sub to go with it, but not in a hurry.
I tried the KEF LS50 Metas with my Naim Uniti Atom, but they were sadly lacking low bass and punch. I realised I was paying for the looks and colour, so I opted for the small but perfect PMC Prodigy 1 Speaker's. They may be small and plain-looking, but the comments of awe when they come to life are highly satisfying to others as well as my ears.
I think those PMC are great, a good bit more expensive than the Meta in the UK and do have more punch for sure, the transmission line design is really doing a great job.
Thank you for your fresh look at the KEF LS50 Meta. A few years ago I walked into a local audio store fully prepared to buy them based on all the reviews I had seen and read. I was disappointed. The speakers were good. But they didn't deliver that overwhelming sonic experience I had been hoping for. I auditioned other speakers that day in the same store. I ended up walking out with the KLH Model 5s. Those hit my sweet spot. Of course, speaker preference is completely subjective, as it should be. Get the speakers that are right for you. Others could find the Model 5s abhorrent. But to the first point, the KEFs didn't do it for me. Like you, I found the mid-range lacking and the bass a little underwhelming.
Same thing here. Walked into the hifi store expecting to love the ls50 meta, but they were just fine. Sales person recommended I try the atc scm11, which I ended up buying. Don't get caught up in the hype and go listen for your self.
@@squee147 I did exactly this and would recommend everyone to listen to the other available options. I walked out of the shop with superior and completely different speakers I went in for!
I have the LS50 meta paired with the NAD c399 and it is AMAZING. 3D holographic imaging that just makes you sit through the night listening to more and more music. It is that engaging. I really don’t understand how people can put down this speaker, other than them just trolling for attention.
HI Randy, very nice and entertaining review 🙂. Thank you. I hope you get a chance to review the Kef R3 Meta, as it has a bit warmer tonality and is significantly more fun/dynamic (the sound might be a little more up your alley). The new TEAC should drive it just fine.
I auditioned the LS50 Meta amongst others from Dynaudio, Dali and Ophidian. In the end I bought some Neat Motives, they just sounded right and I found myself enjoying the music, not the hifi.
I have the Meta's, Neat Motive SX3's and Dali Epicon 2's. Playing with the Meta's in my main system and they scale really well. The Motives are in my bedroom system for low level listening and really limited space for positioning. The Motives are phenomenal for their size and what they can do in a limited space.
I have them in my living room augmented by a REL T5. I agree that they do t have a whole lot of punch to them but their imaging is incredible. Even my wife, who doesn’t really care about such things, commented on their “clarity” as she put it. Not here to defend them, different strokes I suppose.
Yes, this. Personally, KEF never spoke to me (former industry guy here....going back quite a ways). The voicing was never right for me. That said, I have audiophile friends that LOVE these speakers. So as you said, different strokes. Really, that's the case with all speakers. It's kind of silly to say they are over rated or whatever......though I do appreciate a reviewer giving their honest take. Fluff need not be tossed around.
So i have the Q150s n then jumped to Magnepan LRS+… but those aren’t ideal for me unless im sitting. Would you say the q150 is good enough for similar soundstage cuz i miss being able to stand and listen to my vinyls vs having to sit . Im tempted to get the metas so i could place them on my kitchen island so i could listen on moderate volume, nothing loud. Any thoughts?
I have a pair of Ls50 meta and the LSXwii. Both are outstanding speakers in "my" opinion, but they are far from perfect in many regards. The meta do an excellent job with some music and not so great with others, they can be very song-dependent (possibly recording-dependent too). I intend to keep them (I only paid about 1050 USD out the door), but I am looking at adding another pair of speakers with a different sound to complement my setup (the Lumina ii amour is on my short list of speakers to listen to before deciding), but I understand that many people might only want one pair of speakers in their music rooms and if these don't sound up to snuff then by all means shop elsewhere. How speakers sound to "you" should always be the deciding factor.
Hey man nice video. One observation though, have you ever correlated your preference with the anechoic frequency response of the speakers you like? Cause it seems that you like bright speakers and KEFs are neutral speakers. By definition anything other than neutral sounds different than how the song was mixed. nothing wrong with that but then your reviews are misleading and biased (e.g. boring sounding). Maybe you have hearing impairment as well and dont listen to higher frequencies well enough? Im not being mean or anything just some food for thought
Your conclusion is exactly the same I had when I got a pair. Used them for few minutes just to try if the hype was real... It is not. They sounded boring an rolled off on the highs. I measured their FR on my room and the results told exactly the same. Rolled off on the highs. A way that I found to make them a little less boring was to pair them with a Naim XS2 integrated. With a class D like the CA Evo you have they don't match at all.
@@chrisxie2234 It gets more alive and rhythmic. The Naim seems to deliver the current to feed them faster and provides better driver control than other amplifiers on this price class.
@@audiodemos2579 Wow, that sounds a great choice. I heard NAIM XS2 or Supernait2 long time ago, they said it can drive speaker more musical. Seems it's true! But NAIM is not a popular choice these days, and those Hi-fi TH-camrs are also not mention to it at all. Have you ever tried Rotel RB-1582MKII Power amp?
@@chrisxie2234 the SN2 offers better resolution than the XS2. The person that I sold my pair of LS50 Metas paired them with that after hearing the XS2 on my home. I haven't tried the Rotel.
Awesome production this time, I loved it. I own LS 50, people need to stop complaining just because a reviewer dosen't like the same sound as them. It was a fair review, can't win them all. My biggest problem is that they sound small. Now, can you test the wharfedale Elysian 4? Just bought them, they are in the mail. Don't you dare to give them a bad review :D
Oh boy, $1600 retail price. These are expensive AF in the US. I feel like, every time I see/check these, LS50 Meta's are in sale at 999€ (inc. 24% VAT). Good value speaker in the Europe + easy to sell at semi high used price if needed.
I demo'd LS50's and Q350's side by side and chose the Q's. The Meta's were forward and too sharp to my bears. The Q's were far more 'acoustic' to my ears. Have had no regrets. They're not the final word in speakers but I think they were a good choice.
Thanks for that. I was just wondering about the comparison between the two of them doesn't seem to be many. I'm just wondering how you feel now a few months on from making your comment. Would you say that there are pretty good upgrade from the Q acoustics 3030I? I ran a sweep test today on a amplifier rebuild that I completed using a Signal generator with a 50 Hz to 15,000 Hz sign Wave and the Tweeter failed really disappointed in Q acoustics.
I don't think you're wrong. I bought the LS50 based on great reviews. Thought they were OK but sold them. Then I demo'ed the LS50 Meta and thought you were spot on -- they sounded metallic to me. I am however intrigued by the R3 Meta.
Ok, so my mileage does vary, and so does the version of this speaker that I own - the self-powered LS50 II. Same drivers and cabinets, but with bi-amplification in each one. Truly amazing speaker for their size, though even more pricey than the ones you reviewed. Putting my opinion in context, I run them in a smallish space, with a small sub, and using a separate DAC fed to the aux in. Done this way, with a lot of fiddling with speaker position to get it to sound just right (too much, really), they shine on lots of differnet music. Wide and kind of tall soundstage, wonderful realism on acoustic guitars and vocals, remarkable detail retrieval (I put this down to the dac, mostly) and an overall excellent sound in my office. I had their previous version, the LS50 powered, and it was good. But these are on a different level, and made the originals sound flat and boring. Before you label me a KEF fanboy: after I'd owned the LS50 IIs for a while, I started a project to upgrade my main listening room gear - 20 year old Sonus Fabers with Krell electronics. I looked up a dealer who sold the KEF R3 Metas, thinking that the meta stuff was magic sauce for speakers. After a combined 4 hours of demoing with ridiculously expensive electronics of different brands, I gave up on the R3 Meta. It never sounded great, and was sometimes fatiquing with certain older recordings that weren't great sonically. I was surprised the magic in my stand-mount LS50 Metas didn't come through with the R3s. Conclusion: I might agree that the R3s are overrated.... but for my room (with a lot of speaker position tweaking) and my setup, the powered LS 50 Metas are really hard to beat. In my case they are the classic definition of "expensive, but worth it." YMMV 😀
Hey, Randy. I get your relationship with the LS50s. They are not everyone's cup of tea. I didn't hear you mention if the evaluation speakers were new, or had some time on them. In my experience with KEF speakers they need a minimum of 25 hours of break-in time before they start to sound good. And they only seem to sound great (to me) after about 50 to 100 hours. Also, apparently the watts matter. An 80 WPC Yamaha R-N500 Receiver did not bring my LS50s (non-Meta) to life like the 110 WPC OutLaw Audio RR2160 MKII. Given that I listen at relatively low volume levels, an additional 30 watts should not have made any difference, but it made a big difference. Maybe more importantly, the high-pass/low-pass subwoofer filtering in the RR2160 MKII made sure the LS50s did not have to play bass below 100hz that the subwoofer covers. The big win for me with the LS50s is that they provide an impressive soundstage even with a highly compromised placement on a table near a wall in my home office only about 7 feet from my listening position. They are keepers for me.
You are not crazy. I went and listened to these. They are decent. They are clinically clean and detailed. but they lack realism and depth. For the same price (or close), I can name 5 other speakers I would buy instead KEFs why haven't you reviewed the Magnepan LRS+ at $995 yet? under $1000 and should be 10X better than the KEF Meta.
Glad to see you've moved your speaker evaluation to a more acoustically friendly location. That upstairs space you showed a few years ago was sonically challenged.
As an LS50 meta owner i get that they can be a Marmite speaker for quite a few folks but to be fair, all KEF speakers are a bit like that. They really do require a sub (or 2) and also need a bit of decent juice despite what the specs say but they do scale quite well. Theyre not room fillers and id say theyre mote of a technical listen than one that'll get your toes tapping if you get what I mean. Definitely should demo them before buying for all the reasons above.
he did all that and still didn't like them. (not arguing with you) jus sayin. I listened to them. These speakers should be $799 a pair and they would be worth that price. At $1600, there are WAY too many options to pick KEF. For $99 more you can get the DYNAUDIO Evoke 10 and it is way better sounding.
If I was given the choice for free speakers, between KEF or Elac Debut Referece ($700), guess which one I would pick? Elac DBR62 BLOWS AWAY the KEF. I own speakers costing 7 TIMES as much as Elac Reference and DO NOT SOUND AS GOOD as Elac $700 speakers. So I know what I am talking about. And the amp, with tube preamp, was under $200. KEF is pretty. Pretty d'ont always pay, or play either. Great video, again!
So many fine speaker options out there now and for the varied spectrum of music loving sound nerds. Got em for right under 1k on eBay, paired with a downfiring sub and a good R2R dac. 200 watts of juice in a small & medium room with 2 ft. rear from the wall. I listen to other speakers for rock and other genres, though these hit the Ambient, Classical, Jazz, Acoustic and Folk sweet spot for me. Also, music from Caterina Barbirei and Tangerine Dream’s Zeit are a trip via the meta’s.
There is allot to be said about the build quality of these speakers. That’s definitely reflective in there price. I don’t own any KEF speakers but I appreciate what they put into there design and build quality.
Yea good review, I agree with you they are good speakers, but from what I have noticed from listening to them they are nothing special! To me actually sound wise they are over priced. From the cabinet build and finish, they are worth the money. But in all honesty I buy speakers for the listening not the looks.They are more hype than value.
I replaced my Pioneer HPM 100's with these KEFs..your video was complicated and simple. Perfect. 3 reasons I got the KEF$': 1: A LOT LOT LOT LOT smaller. I replaced Pioneer HPM 100's with these. Speakers in the center of a living room are also art. I can now see out my window. I replaced Michelangelo's David with Degas Little Dancer. 2: I was surprised at how they sounded a lot like the HPM 100's..meaning no better, no worse (ok much less bass given the size difference) 3: But...and it's a big Butt..over 3 weeks I noticed the KEFs began to sound a lot better..in fact they sound magic (I have a sub). Running a Schiit Vidar using a Marantz 2285b preamp out with a Bluesound Node 2i. It was a new Vidar so that too burned in after 3 weeks. Yes it's over priced, but that's really subjective. I ain't got a lotta dough, so I got mine for $1k on ebay unopened. I would not have paid $1.6k..but I'm ok with $1k. k? BTW: In Omaha..are you from "outstate" Nerbraksa? Said you waz a farmers boy. Where the heck did you get HIFI in rural Nebraska other than Radio Shack?
I’m with you 100% on these speakers. The first time I heard them I actually thought they sounded pretty darn good. But then I heard them next to other speakers and suddenly I felt about them the same way you do. They OK but I don’t find them special. I did own some KEF R3 Metas For about a year and I found those significantly better than the LS50 Metas. I eventually sold the R3s As even in the long run, I felt like I was missing something from those as well.
YT did it again! I'll notice that I haven't seen Randy pop-up for a bit then check the Sub box and it's deselected. What the Hell YT! Lots of love Randy!
The ls50 meta has an extended bass shelf so if you place it close to the wall it will increase its bass extension without becoming boomy. I think it was actually designed like that on purpose as other kef speakers also have that. And you're right, measurements of this speaker show a dip in the 2/3k region.
@@cheapaudioman i've heard or red somewhere kef figured bookshelf and particularlly small bookshelf speakers are bought to be used in small spaces and in small spaces people will likely have less room to pull them out of the wall, so probably they would go close to a wall. And so they came out with that tweak. Clever thinking. This i haven't red but it makes even more sense because if you indeed have more room and use them in a big space you'll likely use a subwoofer (or 2), so no need for bass extension on the speakers.
Couldn’t agree more about the Metas. I bought them at Christmas for $999 when they were on sale. I tried to like them because of the price I paid. Even hooked them up to the living room system and they just weren’t for me so back they went.
I have the Metas paired up to a Parasound Halo Hint 6 in a small room. I've always thought the vocals sounded soft and recessed. Everyone talked about these being forward sounding speakers and I've never experienced that. I even have my treble turned up some. The imaging and soundstage is amazing and one of my favorite experiences. I can also get them very loud without any distortion. Coupled with my SVS 3000 Micro my room is full of sound.
I've had the LS50W and found them very overrated. No bass and the highs are fatiguing. Bought a set of Dyanudio speakers in the same price range and was much happier.
I’ve never got on with these speakers, I find them small sounding and uninspiring. I like music to envelope me when I’m listening, these just don’t bring the noise.
Love my Q150's on my downstairs system. I liked em so much I bought the big brother Q350's for my office, mated with a REL TZero sub. Sound fantastic to me and 1/3 the price of the LS50 metas.
I own the Q150, Q350, Meta, and Maggie LRS+. The Q150 is quite good, but in no way does it compete with the Meta. The Q350 is much more competitive. When set up properly, 5 feet from all walls and aimed 15 degrees off axis, the Meta sounds even more musical than the LRS+, though less accurate. A subwoofer is recommended for all, especially the Q150s.
I had a chance to AB the LS50 Meta with the Dali Menuet SE. Same electronics, same song, acoustic guitar with vocals. Night and day. The Dali had a more refined sound. The LS50 Meta is harsh by comparison. I went home with the Menuet SE.
Cry Little Sister, love it! It’s 1998 and I have that song on repeat on my paradigm titan v2’s. A lot of money for kid in jr. high. I have it cranked right now on a definitive tech. CLR 3000 which is becoming my favorite speaker/form factor. Thanks for bringing me back.
I have the KEF R3 Metas that have a similar arrangement with the mid range and tweeter, with the addition of a woofer in the same cabinet. Used with a SVS Sub, I am very happy with all aspects of the sound. Is this a cheap set up, no. Is there better out there, probably. All I can say is that I am done shopping for better speakers for the first time in 40 years.
I think the whole problem with this speaker was the "Audiophile" press / videos and magazine reviews. They were called the greatest thing in audio when they hit the market and if you didn't love them, you were the problem. If you dared to call the LS50 out, you were considered an outcast in the "audiophile" community. I visited a local audio store when these first came out and remember having a demo and thinking this was $1500? Pretty speaker but no match for an old Kef Reference 105/107/etc which could be had for less money. Thanks for calling them out CAM!🥇 I also want to add, the ONLY thing the LS50 did right is starting Randy on his way to become the Cheap Audio Man.
I couldn't live with the original LS50. Too harsh and fatiquing. The Elac UB5 was unlistenable. But the LS50 META is very different, it's musical, but finicky and needs to be set up away from walls, and then every type of music sounds good. I'm not a fan of in your face sound projection, so I like their laid back presentation. They have great space and depth. But I agree they're expensive and won't do well in giant living rooms like Randy's.
I haven't heard the KEFs myself (a friend of mine has them though), but I have a pair of Pioneer RM-05 which is designed by the same guy who worked with KEF way back. They're also a dual coincident driver, though with a different guide for the tweeter so you get less interference from the woofer (5", there's also an RM-07 with a 7" woofer). Cabinet made from aluminium, like a tank, solid, heavy, no resonance. Front ported with some port trickery as well as internal chambers to tame reflections. Dual Class A/B amps with a toroidal transformer. These things sound incredible. If you haven't tried dual concentric speakers before, then you're in for a treat. Stereo imaging is like nothing I've heard before, and it feels like there's a center speaker without there actually being one. However, like the Kef, these need a subwoofer (the 5" version at least). But I'd like to argue that any 2-way speaker would ideally need a subwoofer for bass. Those small 5"-8" cones are not the best for low end, and you end up with worse mids cause that one woofer has to do double duty.
I've read many rave reviews about the LS50 Metas-so I was hyped to finally hear it. I can confirm it was "just fine." Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. I immediately took it off my short-list. ty for this review
They have a safe tuning. That's why they need EQ. And they will not play all that loud, and they do need a sub. So yes, not for everyone, including you. But, if you're willing to use a sub, play them in a smaller room, and use some DSP like Dirac to get everything playing well together, they will within their limits sound about as good as anything. And yes, they are more expensive than the Elacs. One look at them will tell you why. I've owned them for two years, with Dirac DLBC and dual SB 2000's crossed at 150 hz (you can do that with DLBC), and they sound amazing. And I did bump up the midrange trough which everyone has measured (makes all the difference). And they look way better than a pair of Elacs.
Immediate follow. 100% agree, thanks for saying it. Too many ‘philes in love. I just keep scratching my head at some these “blown away” reviews. Boring is exactly the word I used. I’ll take the Billy Bob Harvey Oswald Amators.
lol it’s good, it’s fine! This is probably the best way to express when something is ok, which it must, given the price range, but it’s just that, it won’t really blow you away, which they should… I personally don’t like the simplistic look of just one two-way concentric driver per box, but if the sound result was something extraordinary I would consider buying the KEFs, but I won’t do it for something that looks odd and just sounds ok 😂… thank you for the great review, keep up the fantastic work 😊
Got mine, along with the matching stands for less than $900. They're matched with the Kef KC62 sub and I think they sound awesome. Most subjective reviewers out there think they're amazing and the main objective reviewer on TH-cam also really likes them. So go figure?
@@cheapaudioman Yeah, completely understandable. I wouldn't have found out about cheaper brands like Aiyima, Fosi Audio and WiiM if it wasn't for this channel so I love you man! Yep, you heard that right, I'm using a WiiM Pro Plus to feed the KC62, that then feeds the high pass signal to two Aiyima A07 Max amps in mono that then feed the LS50 Metas. Budget meets premium, meets budget, meets premium. All because of this channel.
I bought a pair second had for $800. They’re a definite step up from my first speakers(Klipsch SB51s). They do need a subwoofer and power to drive them.
Interesting review - thanks! Maybe when giving less than glowing reviews to much loved products, you can include links to other reviews that praise the heck out of it - e g. You bought these and need to not feel bad about it, here's a link to Steve guttenberg who friggin' loves this thing.
Thank you for putting things back into perspective. These have been praised by utubers to a point where they seemed to be able to suspend gravity and making coffe. Looks are subjective but they’re not for me,
sold mine for a lumina 2 sonos faber and you are RIGHT. FABER IS >>>>>> META. META is metallic and fatiguing but separation is good. Powered by wiim amp with svs sb 1000 pro
Love KEF. One of my major issues with this line of speakers is no cover for the components. I see too many with dents and punctures. It wouldn’t last in my home. It’s speaker beware.
My own experience 1. They pair well with tube amps 2. They are suitable for small listening rooms 3. They need a subwoofer 4.They need very good front end DAC /streamer/CD etc. 5. They sound much better with IsoAcoustic Gaias 2 6. They are sensitive to positioning 7. They def need the S2 stands filled with sand/lead 8. Speaker cables matter 9. They are not for head banging ( 65-85dB )
Love your channel. The only KEF speakers that I have listened to are the Wireless II'S that I ended up buying. The pair of KC62s that doubled the cost of the system were essential.
So well done, Randy! I absolutely love this video and the Teac one you just did. I haven't been as big a fan of some of your other videos this year, but this one really hit the mark. It was as entertaining as some of the classic CAM goodness. Keep up the good work!
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You won't believe me. KEF LS50 Meta was the first speaker I heard from the brand and I was like. Nope no way I be spending $1800 for them. I hated KEF brand as a whole as the first impression from them was not that great. They sounded neutral(which I like) they sounded deep(which also I like) had great imaging(which also I like) and had crazy clarity(which I like) but that was it. It had no heft to it. It was not immersive and feels a bit narrow. Possibly due to it being lifeless. That is the best I could describe it. After that I tried KEF R5(old) and you know the shock I was in coming from this with absolutely no expectations actually expecting to be disappointed. I heard R5 and my mind was blown. Because it was as neutral, clear and detailed. It had more depth and width than LS50 Metas. And most importantly it was lively without being warm or bright. It had that heft to it which LS50 Meta lacks completely. I went from hating KEF thanks to these to absolutely being a KEF fanboy thanks to R5. After than I heard others as well. And thankfully none sounded like these LS50 thin and lifeless. Had Q Series home-theater installed for one of my uncles and now planning to getting KEF Refernce and R series living room setup and theater for other.
Wow, your video is awesome.
Overrated.
I compared 3 and here's what I thought:
1st place: GoldenEar BRX (AMT tweeters, 90db sensitivity, 40 hz-35 Khz). I kept this.
2nd place: JBL L52 (sounded fun like live music)
distant 3rd place: Kef LS50 meta (too beaming, too heavy, low 85 db sensitivity, sounded thin, plastic binding nuts).
I keep watching your reviews so i thought I better subscribe So +1 sub 🤔🤔
I have a pair and yes they are awesome. The only gripe I could offer is that they are too clear. They don't add anything to the music, which I solved by adding a kef sub. Not only have I not heard anything better, KEF also has fabulous customer service should you run into any trouble.
Had the LS50 Metas, loved them, sold them and now I bought them again because I frankly can not find better at the price or even higher. Tried ATC SCM 11, Dynaudio Evoke 20, Acoustic Energy AE 500, Wharfedale EVO 4.2 etc. The Kefs work the best in my room. Love them
Loving the new videos! New camera angles, complex editing, improving the backing tracks every day, and the comedy… top shelf stuff!
Awesome, thank you!
I listen to most videos at 1.5x or higher, so all that just becomes clutter. Can't say I appreciate the extra effort. Not looking for frills, I guess.
@@terrencebuckerI'm guessing your in the minority. We come for the roses.
@@cheapaudioman yea man. The final product is very entertaining. Your hard work and efforts are appreciated.
Totally agree, new videos bring me back to why I started watching. Feel like things got a little too technical and lost a little randy vibe for a while.
i come for the info, I stay for the comedy
For real tho. That’s what makes CAM the best. He’s a natural comedic talent.
It's good. It's fine.
I stayed for the puppers. 🐕
I come for the comedy, and stay for the info 😄
I come for the comedy and go elsewhere for the info.
This was a hoot! Very whimsical, Randy. Your comedic touch was top notch today.
Thanks, Steve!
My old speakers died (Quad ELS 65 ) so I got the LS50 Metas and a KC62 sub until I could afford something better but I’am so impress with this setup I’am not looking to replace them any time soon.
I have them in a small room (3.2 x 3.4m) and that’s what they were probably designed for.
What are you doing with your now broken Quads?
I own LS50 Metas, and while -yeah- they might be a bit "boring" as you call them, I think that's a good thing. In that, they never ever fatigue me or irritate me with too much sibilance or being too analytical. I can't stand sharp highs, and the KEFs never give me that. Meanwhile, in the three or so months I've owned them now, I've never had a session of more than half an hour or so when they have not delighted me. With either new details that I hadn't yet heard, or just plain good music-making. Cheapaudioman, you're probably right that there are a lot of speakers, even cheaper ones, that excel at some discipline or other - but they might have real flaws elsewhere. And unlike an audio reviewer, people might not have a dozen pairs of speakers around the house to suit their mood of the day. Meanwhile, the KEFs fail at nothing, they never irritate, and they do delight (me at least). I think all in all, they're great allrounders. In my opinion, the cheapest speakers I'd call world class.
Killer review....kudos. The quest to find true value at any price range still burns deep in your soul!
Great insight on the LS50 Meta speakers! I own them for let’s say 3 years now. One thing I’d like to mention is that my living room is way less spacious than yours.
Mine is filled with furniture, a big couch with pillows on it, a wooden floor with a rug on it and long drapes close by the windows. Okay, what I basically want to point out is that my living room is kinda perfectly for speaker for the size of the LS50 Meta’s?… I think? Maybe I’m wrong.
However I got to say man, I really love them and yes, they have a lot umf. They are good and fine!
Love your videos! Cheers mate! 😂😂😂👍🏼
Great opening & congrats on another real sponsor! Glad you’ve come to your senses on these, again, tough breakups are always better the 2nd time around?
Thanks so much!!
Great Video! Been a subscriber for the past 3.5 year since the beginning. This is one of your best all time. Loved the intro “breakup” drive. Have heard these auditioned, good speaker but definitely not competitive for the price.
Although it's marked as an 8ohm speaker, detailed measurements show it at 4ohms through most of the frequency range, which is why high a quality amplifier with high current output is recommended
Very inefficient, poor bass response also. Sub is needed, high passing speakers. And a powerful and good capable amp needed.
While you’re right, a high powered amp just shows its further shortcomings when you get music with bass. Its woofers are so weak, they sound like they’re gonna blow at semi-loud volume.
@@mikechivy yup needed to high pass them
@@mikechivy My experience is completely different. I have the LS50W 1's in a large room about one foot from the back wall. I removed the sub from the equation because I just don't need it. I like a little low end but I don't need to shake the room. They sound fantastic. These speakers are not for blasting your ears off. If that's what you are after then these speakers aren't right for you. I would love to also have some Klipsch Cornwalls for those loud hard rock moments. My wife disagrees with me.
@@kevinperlic2920 you’re talking about two completely different speakers. The LS50w is not the LS50 meta… regardless they’re incredible at imaging and clarity, but they’re simply not that good compared to what you can get for the money
Love my LS50 Metas in my small room home theater as LCR with a Rythmik 15" sub. Amazing for dialouge and soundtracks. I bougth open box so that helped me decide.
That may be my favorite CAM intro yet
it was my favorite intro I've ever shot. so much fun
Excellent vid my friend. Really enjoyed it. But...... I have to say my partner has these & I think they are terrific for the money. In the UK they sell for about £1k & are in my opinion well worth it. We are all different with what we like & enjoy about speakers, as you said. I was really surprised the first time I heard them, night & day better than the originals. I really enjoy the detail they dig out , since buying she added a BK sub & they sound even better. Anyway keep the vids coming.
In my room the Metas are the best I haved tried. It beats some speakers costing quite a bit more. I have at times struggled to find the best placement. It is very critical about the signal chain as well. My favorite amplifier with these are the new Musical Fidelity A1. What I don't like about this combination is related to the low power of the A1. The Sound levels I got with my previous Quad Artera pre/power was impressive with the Meta. The A1 sounds better thought.The Meta is real high end. Must be treated that way. It can sound fabulous. It is also very easy to get mediocre sound out of them.
The beginning of this video is sheer genius! Hahaha well done Randy
Don’t know. I had the LS50 Meta’s and they were absolutely terrific.
I think it would depend on what your ear tunes into. If your into an analytical box then... you'll like them. But the truth is, you can get that and perhaps something sounding a little more balanced and natural for half the price or lower. Or much better for a price that's on par.
@@NightFlight1973 I completely and totally disagree I’ve had over 30 sets of bookshelves speakers in the past nine years. These are by far the best for their price build qualities sound quality and looks are phenomenal.
HAD? They could not have been that terrific if you don't still have them
@@scottlowell493 lol you are challenging me???. There are personal reasons that I had to let them go and it was strictly financial.
@@stephencosta6814 Don't you find it hard to remember their sound? Thirty sets of speakers sounds as if you were chasing your tail somewhat.
I’ve had this spkr for a yr , my views 1. Spkr is very sensitive to placement 2. Associated equipment must be more towards high end 3. Class A amp drives it better than B 4. S2 stands with Gaia is a must
gave you a thumbs up for an honest opinion without hyping up the product..Your opinion is similar to mine after listening to it in the showroom. It's too expensive for what it provides.
Love my KEF Q950:s ! LS50 and LS50 Meta are super great.
they are boring
To you. Nothing wrong with that, though!@@MasterofPlay7
For the $1,000 I paid for my LS 50 Metas when KEF put them on sale last year, you'll have to pry them from my cold, dead hands. Paired with my Arcam SA20 class G integrated amp (BTW currently available for $1,000), they sound anything but "boring". The most amazing thing about your pair is that the tweeters are still intact with all the little tweeter pokers you live with.
I had the OG anniversary LS50s with an Arcam SA20. I also had Q150s as surrounds. So I did a side by side comparison. The LS50s wiped the floor with the Q150s. Not to mention the build quality of the LS50s. The Q150s look like they are DYI. Look at them wrong and the vinyl will peel off.
I'm with you on the Meta's. I was trying to decide between the Meta's and a pair of Buchardt s400's. I went with the s400's and wouldn't part with them but when the Meta's went on sale for $1000 a picked up a pair and also wouldn't part with them. Both benefit from a good, long break-in and are different in very interesting ways. My music is rock, chamber music, jazz, symphonic classical, folk, and streaming Berliner Philharmoniker's Digital Concert Hall.
I always use Steve Earle’s Copperhead Road off his album of the same name. The intro has amazing bass and the song bounces along very well! Give it a go 🎉
One of your most entertaining vids. Loved the intro, the farm and chicken sound, very well produced
Much appreciated
Cool new video vibe :)
Nice of you to pick up one of the Kef’s from school ;)
I have to believe your audiophile chops are building, hearing the soundstage extend behind your fireplace +++
My LS 50’s took 50 hours to loosen up and keep getting better.
Even as a small speaker, they respond to being out in the room more.
One of the other tips is measuring and getting each speaker’s distance from the back wall pretty much exactly the same, toe angles similarly close.
They can be really rewarding, but you have to be open and receptive as much as possible.
They aren’t rowdy or terribly live sounding.
They are windows into recordings and borderline glorious ✨
Good speaker cables make a difference, i like analysis plus oval 12 for these, though they may well scale with their better cables too.
Keep listening and making videos ✨🙏✨🥁✨
This speaker has probably had 100s of reviews by now
Loved how you have made this video
Dynamic witty charming also with plenty information if your process and honest mindset
We all know that there is not one sound that pleases everyone. We all listen to different music in different rooms at different volumes. That said, we are all looking for information about the speaker and the way it sounds under proper listening conditions set up to make them sound their best. Please tell us how you set them up, how far from the wall and with ports plugged or not. Also, the distance from you and the 😅distance from one speaker to the other and if they are toed in or out would be helpful. You usually describe the bass, the mid range and treble and throw in the important specs which is perfect. When you do all of that we can decide if it is a speaker that fits our personal preferences and if the price sounds reasonable. Have your fun but know that an accurate description of the speaker or whatever gear you are reviewing without any personal bias is appreciated. I am a long time subscriber and enjoy your sense of humor and, if possible, I suggest that you go back to your old listening room that looks like the lair of a music freak which is where you belong. Thanks and keep the reviews coming.
I bought em second hand in new condition for 800$, they're my first speakers. You're right, they do lack some bass. But I still love them, especially for classical music. Eventually I plan to get a sub to go with it, but not in a hurry.
$800 is a good price for them.
A subwoofer really moves them to the next level.
Got say am really liking the new direction you’re taking in making your content.
thanks! I'm having a lot of fun
I tried the KEF LS50 Metas with my Naim Uniti Atom, but they were sadly lacking low bass and punch. I realised I was paying for the looks and colour, so I opted for the small but perfect PMC Prodigy 1 Speaker's. They may be small and plain-looking, but the comments of awe when they come to life are highly satisfying to others as well as my ears.
I think those PMC are great, a good bit more expensive than the Meta in the UK and do have more punch for sure, the transmission line design is really doing a great job.
@@jondonnelly3 I paid £1050 after asking their best price so not much more.
Thank you for your fresh look at the KEF LS50 Meta. A few years ago I walked into a local audio store fully prepared to buy them based on all the reviews I had seen and read. I was disappointed. The speakers were good. But they didn't deliver that overwhelming sonic experience I had been hoping for. I auditioned other speakers that day in the same store. I ended up walking out with the KLH Model 5s. Those hit my sweet spot. Of course, speaker preference is completely subjective, as it should be. Get the speakers that are right for you. Others could find the Model 5s abhorrent. But to the first point, the KEFs didn't do it for me. Like you, I found the mid-range lacking and the bass a little underwhelming.
Same thing here. Walked into the hifi store expecting to love the ls50 meta, but they were just fine. Sales person recommended I try the atc scm11, which I ended up buying. Don't get caught up in the hype and go listen for your self.
@@squee147 I did exactly this and would recommend everyone to listen to the other available options. I walked out of the shop with superior and completely different speakers I went in for!
Model 5 is a classic
Same here but a few years ago, grabbed the GoldenEar Aon 3 instead.
I have the LS50 meta paired with the NAD c399 and it is AMAZING. 3D holographic imaging that just makes you sit through the night listening to more and more music. It is that engaging. I really don’t understand how people can put down this speaker, other than them just trolling for attention.
HI Randy, very nice and entertaining review 🙂. Thank you. I hope you get a chance to review the Kef R3 Meta, as it has a bit warmer tonality and is significantly more fun/dynamic (the sound might be a little more up your alley). The new TEAC should drive it just fine.
I auditioned the LS50 Meta amongst others from Dynaudio, Dali and Ophidian. In the end I bought some Neat Motives, they just sounded right and I found myself enjoying the music, not the hifi.
I have the Meta's, Neat Motive SX3's and Dali Epicon 2's. Playing with the Meta's in my main system and they scale really well. The Motives are in my bedroom system for low level listening and really limited space for positioning. The Motives are phenomenal for their size and what they can do in a limited space.
I have them in my living room augmented by a REL T5. I agree that they do t have a whole lot of punch to them but their imaging is incredible. Even my wife, who doesn’t really care about such things, commented on their “clarity” as she put it. Not here to defend them, different strokes I suppose.
Yes, this. Personally, KEF never spoke to me (former industry guy here....going back quite a ways). The voicing was never right for me. That said, I have audiophile friends that LOVE these speakers. So as you said, different strokes. Really, that's the case with all speakers. It's kind of silly to say they are over rated or whatever......though I do appreciate a reviewer giving their honest take. Fluff need not be tossed around.
@@CotesDuQ some audiophiles get chaffed a reviewer doesn’t gush over their equipment. Who cares, so long as you like it?
Great Video! As an owner of LS-50's and Q150's... I can't disagree that the Q150 is a fantastic speaker with pretty similar sound to LS-50.
So i have the Q150s n then jumped to Magnepan LRS+… but those aren’t ideal for me unless im sitting. Would you say the q150 is good enough for similar soundstage cuz i miss being able to stand and listen to my vinyls vs having to sit . Im tempted to get the metas so i could place them on my kitchen island so i could listen on moderate volume, nothing loud. Any thoughts?
I have a pair of Ls50 meta and the LSXwii. Both are outstanding speakers in "my" opinion, but they are far from perfect in many regards. The meta do an excellent job with some music and not so great with others, they can be very song-dependent (possibly recording-dependent too). I intend to keep them (I only paid about 1050 USD out the door), but I am looking at adding another pair of speakers with a different sound to complement my setup (the Lumina ii amour is on my short list of speakers to listen to before deciding), but I understand that many people might only want one pair of speakers in their music rooms and if these don't sound up to snuff then by all means shop elsewhere. How speakers sound to "you" should always be the deciding factor.
Hey man nice video. One observation though, have you ever correlated your preference with the anechoic frequency response of the speakers you like? Cause it seems that you like bright speakers and KEFs are neutral speakers. By definition anything other than neutral sounds different than how the song was mixed. nothing wrong with that but then your reviews are misleading and biased (e.g. boring sounding). Maybe you have hearing impairment as well and dont listen to higher frequencies well enough? Im not being mean or anything just some food for thought
Your conclusion is exactly the same I had when I got a pair. Used them for few minutes just to try if the hype was real... It is not. They sounded boring an rolled off on the highs. I measured their FR on my room and the results told exactly the same. Rolled off on the highs. A way that I found to make them a little less boring was to pair them with a Naim XS2 integrated. With a class D like the CA Evo you have they don't match at all.
What was the sound tonality change when it pairs with NAIM XS2?
@@chrisxie2234 It gets more alive and rhythmic. The Naim seems to deliver the current to feed them faster and provides better driver control than other amplifiers on this price class.
@@audiodemos2579 Wow, that sounds a great choice. I heard NAIM XS2 or Supernait2 long time ago, they said it can drive speaker more musical. Seems it's true! But NAIM is not a popular choice these days, and those Hi-fi TH-camrs are also not mention to it at all.
Have you ever tried Rotel RB-1582MKII Power amp?
@@chrisxie2234 the SN2 offers better resolution than the XS2. The person that I sold my pair of LS50 Metas paired them with that after hearing the XS2 on my home. I haven't tried the Rotel.
KEF Q150's are a TON of fun for about 1/5th the price (when they're on sale). Can be run off any modestly-powered amp or receiver.
agreed
Love the Mazda!! Keep the reviews coming. Can't wait for the emotiva towers
My wife won’t let me drive her CX-5 - she loves that car.
Awesome production this time, I loved it. I own LS 50, people need to stop complaining just because a reviewer dosen't like the same sound as them. It was a fair review, can't win them all. My biggest problem is that they sound small. Now, can you test the wharfedale Elysian 4? Just bought them, they are in the mail. Don't you dare to give them a bad review :D
I AGREE. I have the LS50's, and the best words to describe them are: good, fine, and OK.
Feel the exact same. Looking to replace mine now for that very reason.
It's GOOD. It's FINE.
Great video, and the intro was awesome. Maybe you had the Polk T15 wrong too, which could also be a hilarious video.
dude... I bought those for $65 from best buy and they're going for over $150 now. How old do I sound...
@cheapaudioman But pushing them off the table was the best. Still rated 4.7 out of 5 stars rated on Amazon, too. LOL
That intro was funny. I was getting prepared for you to do the Mice and Men thing and take them out. Start telling the speakers about the rabbits..
ha
Thanks for the honest review.
Not crazy about how Cheapaudio lied right to the Kef’s grill. He knew about Enotiva!
All is fair in Love and War.... And speaker pricing!
Oh boy, $1600 retail price. These are expensive AF in the US. I feel like, every time I see/check these, LS50 Meta's are in sale at 999€ (inc. 24% VAT). Good value speaker in the Europe + easy to sell at semi high used price if needed.
I demo'd LS50's and Q350's side by side and chose the Q's. The Meta's were forward and too sharp to my bears. The Q's were far more 'acoustic' to my ears. Have had no regrets. They're not the final word in speakers but I think they were a good choice.
Thanks for that. I was just wondering about the comparison between the two of them doesn't seem to be many. I'm just wondering how you feel now a few months on from making your comment. Would you say that there are pretty good upgrade from the Q acoustics 3030I? I ran a sweep test today on a amplifier rebuild that I completed using a Signal generator with a 50 Hz to 15,000 Hz sign Wave and the Tweeter failed really disappointed in Q acoustics.
I don't think you're wrong. I bought the LS50 based on great reviews. Thought they were OK but sold them. Then I demo'ed the LS50 Meta and thought you were spot on -- they sounded metallic to me. I am however intrigued by the R3 Meta.
Ok, so my mileage does vary, and so does the version of this speaker that I own - the self-powered LS50 II. Same drivers and cabinets, but with bi-amplification in each one. Truly amazing speaker for their size, though even more pricey than the ones you reviewed. Putting my opinion in context, I run them in a smallish space, with a small sub, and using a separate DAC fed to the aux in. Done this way, with a lot of fiddling with speaker position to get it to sound just right (too much, really), they shine on lots of differnet music. Wide and kind of tall soundstage, wonderful realism on acoustic guitars and vocals, remarkable detail retrieval (I put this down to the dac, mostly) and an overall excellent sound in my office. I had their previous version, the LS50 powered, and it was good. But these are on a different level, and made the originals sound flat and boring.
Before you label me a KEF fanboy: after I'd owned the LS50 IIs for a while, I started a project to upgrade my main listening room gear - 20 year old Sonus Fabers with Krell electronics. I looked up a dealer who sold the KEF R3 Metas, thinking that the meta stuff was magic sauce for speakers. After a combined 4 hours of demoing with ridiculously expensive electronics of different brands, I gave up on the R3 Meta. It never sounded great, and was sometimes fatiquing with certain older recordings that weren't great sonically. I was surprised the magic in my stand-mount LS50 Metas didn't come through with the R3s.
Conclusion: I might agree that the R3s are overrated.... but for my room (with a lot of speaker position tweaking) and my setup, the powered LS 50 Metas are really hard to beat. In my case they are the classic definition of "expensive, but worth it."
YMMV 😀
Hey, Randy. I get your relationship with the LS50s. They are not everyone's cup of tea. I didn't hear you mention if the evaluation speakers were new, or had some time on them. In my experience with KEF speakers they need a minimum of 25 hours of break-in time before they start to sound good. And they only seem to sound great (to me) after about 50 to 100 hours.
Also, apparently the watts matter. An 80 WPC Yamaha R-N500 Receiver did not bring my LS50s (non-Meta) to life like the 110 WPC OutLaw Audio RR2160 MKII. Given that I listen at relatively low volume levels, an additional 30 watts should not have made any difference, but it made a big difference. Maybe more importantly, the high-pass/low-pass subwoofer filtering in the RR2160 MKII made sure the LS50s did not have to play bass below 100hz that the subwoofer covers.
The big win for me with the LS50s is that they provide an impressive soundstage even with a highly compromised placement on a table near a wall in my home office only about 7 feet from my listening position. They are keepers for me.
You are not crazy. I went and listened to these. They are decent. They are clinically clean and detailed. but they lack realism and depth. For the same price (or close), I can name 5 other speakers I would buy instead KEFs
why haven't you reviewed the Magnepan LRS+ at $995 yet? under $1000 and should be 10X better than the KEF Meta.
Glad to see you've moved your speaker evaluation to a more acoustically friendly location. That upstairs space you showed a few years ago was sonically challenged.
Listening from my 3.1.2 KEF R series setup. Sounds great. 😅
As an LS50 meta owner i get that they can be a Marmite speaker for quite a few folks but to be fair, all KEF speakers are a bit like that.
They really do require a sub (or 2) and also need a bit of decent juice despite what the specs say but they do scale quite well.
Theyre not room fillers and id say theyre mote of a technical listen than one that'll get your toes tapping if you get what I mean.
Definitely should demo them before buying for all the reasons above.
he did all that and still didn't like them. (not arguing with you) jus sayin. I listened to them. These speakers should be $799 a pair and they would be worth that price. At $1600, there are WAY too many options to pick KEF. For $99 more you can get the DYNAUDIO Evoke 10 and it is way better sounding.
If I was given the choice for free speakers, between KEF or Elac Debut Referece ($700), guess which one I would pick? Elac DBR62 BLOWS AWAY the KEF. I own speakers costing 7 TIMES as much as Elac Reference and DO NOT SOUND AS GOOD as Elac $700 speakers. So I know what I am talking about. And the amp, with tube preamp, was under $200. KEF is pretty. Pretty d'ont always pay, or play either. Great video, again!
Thanks. So good you have your own opinions and don't follow the crowd!
So many fine speaker options out there now and for the varied spectrum of music loving sound nerds. Got em for right under 1k on eBay, paired with a downfiring sub and a good R2R dac. 200 watts of juice in a small & medium room with 2 ft. rear from the wall. I listen to other speakers for rock and other genres, though these hit the Ambient, Classical, Jazz, Acoustic and Folk sweet spot for me. Also, music from Caterina Barbirei and Tangerine Dream’s Zeit are a trip via the meta’s.
There is allot to be said about the build quality of these speakers. That’s definitely reflective in there price. I don’t own any KEF speakers but I appreciate what they put into there design and build quality.
Yea good review, I agree with you they are good speakers, but from what I have noticed from listening to them they are nothing special! To me actually sound wise they are over priced. From the cabinet build and finish, they are worth the money. But in all honesty I buy speakers for the listening not the looks.They are more hype than value.
I replaced my Pioneer HPM 100's with these KEFs..your video was complicated and simple. Perfect.
3 reasons I got the KEF$':
1: A LOT LOT LOT LOT smaller. I replaced Pioneer HPM 100's with these. Speakers in the center of a living room are also art. I can now see out my window. I replaced Michelangelo's David with Degas Little Dancer.
2: I was surprised at how they sounded a lot like the HPM 100's..meaning no better, no worse (ok much less bass given the size difference)
3: But...and it's a big Butt..over 3 weeks I noticed the KEFs began to sound a lot better..in fact they sound magic (I have a sub).
Running a Schiit Vidar using a Marantz 2285b preamp out with a Bluesound Node 2i. It was a new Vidar so that too burned in after 3 weeks.
Yes it's over priced, but that's really subjective. I ain't got a lotta dough, so I got mine for $1k on ebay unopened. I would not have paid $1.6k..but I'm ok with $1k. k?
BTW: In Omaha..are you from "outstate" Nerbraksa? Said you waz a farmers boy. Where the heck did you get HIFI in rural Nebraska other than Radio Shack?
I came here to find out why people keep dropping LS50's off on the curb in front of my house. Now I think I know.
Lol
I’m with you 100% on these speakers. The first time I heard them I actually thought they sounded pretty darn good. But then I heard them next to other speakers and suddenly I felt about them the same way you do. They OK but I don’t find them special. I did own some KEF R3 Metas For about a year and I found those significantly better than the LS50 Metas. I eventually sold the R3s As even in the long run, I felt like I was missing something from those as well.
LS50 meta with the KC62 and NAD M10V2 and im loving it.bigtime...
YT did it again! I'll notice that I haven't seen Randy pop-up for a bit then check the Sub box and it's deselected. What the Hell YT! Lots of love Randy!
The ls50 meta has an extended bass shelf so if you place it close to the wall it will increase its bass extension without becoming boomy. I think it was actually designed like that on purpose as other kef speakers also have that. And you're right, measurements of this speaker show a dip in the 2/3k region.
very cool. thanks for sharing, my friend
He should have tried corner loading them in a not too big a room. His listening room is not good enough for a reviewer.
@@cheapaudioman i've heard or red somewhere kef figured bookshelf and particularlly small bookshelf speakers are bought to be used in small spaces and in small spaces people will likely have less room to pull them out of the wall, so probably they would go close to a wall. And so they came out with that tweak. Clever thinking. This i haven't red but it makes even more sense because if you indeed have more room and use them in a big space you'll likely use a subwoofer (or 2), so no need for bass extension on the speakers.
Couldn’t agree more about the Metas. I bought them at Christmas for $999 when they were on sale. I tried to like them because of the price I paid. Even hooked them up to the living room system and they just weren’t for me so back they went.
I love my pair for desktop, near field listening. But they do better the more amplifier you throw at them.
I have the Metas paired up to a Parasound Halo Hint 6 in a small room. I've always thought the vocals sounded soft and recessed. Everyone talked about these being forward sounding speakers and I've never experienced that. I even have my treble turned up some. The imaging and soundstage is amazing and one of my favorite experiences. I can also get them very loud without any distortion. Coupled with my SVS 3000 Micro my room is full of sound.
Forward sounding was standard version. In Meta vocals are recessed.
I've had the LS50W and found them very overrated. No bass and the highs are fatiguing. Bought a set of Dyanudio speakers in the same price range and was much happier.
I’ve never got on with these speakers, I find them small sounding and uninspiring. I like music to envelope me when I’m listening, these just don’t bring the noise.
I’ll keep and enjoy my KEF Q150’s all day over the super hyped and over priced LS50 metas. Another Great unbiased honest review 👍 Rock on Randy 🎸
Love my Q150's on my downstairs system. I liked em so much I bought the big brother Q350's for my office, mated with a REL TZero sub. Sound fantastic to me and 1/3 the price of the LS50 metas.
I own the Q150, Q350, Meta, and Maggie LRS+. The Q150 is quite good, but in no way does it compete with the Meta. The Q350 is much more competitive. When set up properly, 5 feet from all walls and aimed 15 degrees off axis, the Meta sounds even more musical than the LRS+, though less accurate. A subwoofer is recommended for all, especially the Q150s.
I had a chance to AB the LS50 Meta with the Dali Menuet SE. Same electronics, same song, acoustic guitar with vocals. Night and day. The Dali had a more refined sound. The LS50 Meta is harsh by comparison. I went home with the Menuet SE.
Cry Little Sister, love it! It’s 1998 and I have that song on repeat on my paradigm titan v2’s. A lot of money for kid in jr. high. I have it cranked right now on a definitive tech. CLR 3000 which is becoming my favorite speaker/form factor. Thanks for bringing me back.
I have the KEF R3 Metas that have a similar arrangement with the mid range and tweeter, with the addition of a woofer in the same cabinet. Used with a SVS Sub, I am very happy with all aspects of the sound. Is this a cheap set up, no. Is there better out there, probably. All I can say is that I am done shopping for better speakers for the first time in 40 years.
I think the whole problem with this speaker was the "Audiophile" press / videos and magazine reviews. They were called the greatest thing in audio when they hit the market and if you didn't love them, you were the problem. If you dared to call the LS50 out, you were considered an outcast in the "audiophile" community. I visited a local audio store when these first came out and remember having a demo and thinking this was $1500? Pretty speaker but no match for an old Kef Reference 105/107/etc which could be had for less money. Thanks for calling them out CAM!🥇 I also want to add, the ONLY thing the LS50 did right is starting Randy on his way to become the Cheap Audio Man.
Agreed the ls 50's are for dudes with Little wee wees 🤣🤣
ahhh... thank you
or for people who think they sound fantastic...because they do. @@anthonyalvarado1635
I couldn't live with the original LS50. Too harsh and fatiquing. The Elac UB5 was unlistenable. But the LS50 META is very different, it's musical, but finicky and needs to be set up away from walls, and then every type of music sounds good. I'm not a fan of in your face sound projection, so I like their laid back presentation. They have great space and depth. But I agree they're expensive and won't do well in giant living rooms like Randy's.
They remind me of the old coaxial speakers i had in my car in the 70's in high school 😅
I haven't heard the KEFs myself (a friend of mine has them though), but I have a pair of Pioneer RM-05 which is designed by the same guy who worked with KEF way back. They're also a dual coincident driver, though with a different guide for the tweeter so you get less interference from the woofer (5", there's also an RM-07 with a 7" woofer). Cabinet made from aluminium, like a tank, solid, heavy, no resonance. Front ported with some port trickery as well as internal chambers to tame reflections. Dual Class A/B amps with a toroidal transformer. These things sound incredible. If you haven't tried dual concentric speakers before, then you're in for a treat. Stereo imaging is like nothing I've heard before, and it feels like there's a center speaker without there actually being one. However, like the Kef, these need a subwoofer (the 5" version at least). But I'd like to argue that any 2-way speaker would ideally need a subwoofer for bass. Those small 5"-8" cones are not the best for low end, and you end up with worse mids cause that one woofer has to do double duty.
I've read many rave reviews about the LS50 Metas-so I was hyped to finally hear it. I can confirm it was "just fine." Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. I immediately took it off my short-list. ty for this review
Bang on buddy. It took me 10 minutes to figure out they’re overhyped. Packed them back into the box and returned them next day.
They have a safe tuning. That's why they need EQ. And they will not play all that loud, and they do need a sub. So yes, not for everyone, including you. But, if you're willing to use a sub, play them in a smaller room, and use some DSP like Dirac to get everything playing well together, they will within their limits sound about as good as anything. And yes, they are more expensive than the Elacs. One look at them will tell you why.
I've owned them for two years, with Dirac DLBC and dual SB 2000's crossed at 150 hz (you can do that with DLBC), and they sound amazing. And I did bump up the midrange trough which everyone has measured (makes all the difference). And they look way better than a pair of Elacs.
How does this speaker compare to the SVS ultra bookshelf. Great video
Immediate follow. 100% agree, thanks for saying it. Too many ‘philes in love. I just keep scratching my head at some these “blown away” reviews. Boring is exactly the word I used. I’ll take the Billy Bob Harvey Oswald Amators.
LOL! That was a terrific intro! And one of Hank's Free-Range Pomeranians got a cameo!
she's been bugging me and bugging me to be in another vid
lol it’s good, it’s fine! This is probably the best way to express when something is ok, which it must, given the price range, but it’s just that, it won’t really blow you away, which they should… I personally don’t like the simplistic look of just one two-way concentric driver per box, but if the sound result was something extraordinary I would consider buying the KEFs, but I won’t do it for something that looks odd and just sounds ok 😂… thank you for the great review, keep up the fantastic work 😊
Got mine, along with the matching stands for less than $900. They're matched with the Kef KC62 sub and I think they sound awesome. Most subjective reviewers out there think they're amazing and the main objective reviewer on TH-cam also really likes them. So go figure?
I just talk about what my experience is. if my opinion was like everyone else's it would be a pretty boring channel
@@cheapaudioman Yeah, completely understandable. I wouldn't have found out about cheaper brands like Aiyima, Fosi Audio and WiiM if it wasn't for this channel so I love you man! Yep, you heard that right, I'm using a WiiM Pro Plus to feed the KC62, that then feeds the high pass signal to two Aiyima A07 Max amps in mono that then feed the LS50 Metas. Budget meets premium, meets budget, meets premium. All because of this channel.
I bought a pair second had for $800. They’re a definite step up from my first speakers(Klipsch SB51s). They do need a subwoofer and power to drive them.
Working a commentary on raising chickens in the city to a bird screech during speaker excursion in this video is genius 😅
Interesting review - thanks! Maybe when giving less than glowing reviews to much loved products, you can include links to other reviews that praise the heck out of it - e g. You bought these and need to not feel bad about it, here's a link to Steve guttenberg who friggin' loves this thing.
Thank you for putting things back into perspective. These have been praised by utubers to a point where they seemed to be able to suspend gravity and making coffe. Looks are subjective but they’re not for me,
I have the powered ones with a svs 3000 micro on my desk and it sounds amazing!
If Kef made these ima bigger cabinet 6.5” driver it would be amazing. I like the Q350 better
sold mine for a lumina 2 sonos faber and you are RIGHT. FABER IS >>>>>> META. META is metallic and fatiguing but separation is good. Powered by wiim amp with svs sb 1000 pro
Love KEF. One of my major issues with this line of speakers is no cover for the components. I see too many with dents and punctures. It wouldn’t last in my home. It’s speaker beware.
My own experience 1. They pair well with tube amps 2. They are suitable for small listening rooms 3. They need a subwoofer 4.They need very good front end DAC /streamer/CD etc. 5. They sound much better with IsoAcoustic Gaias 2 6. They are sensitive to positioning 7. They def need the S2 stands filled with sand/lead 8. Speaker cables matter 9. They are not for head banging ( 65-85dB )
I was never overly impressed with these.
Love your channel. The only KEF speakers that I have listened to are the Wireless II'S that I ended up buying. The pair of KC62s that doubled the cost of the system were essential.
Just a question...have you tried the LS60s without a sub?
After extensive testing, I came to the conclusion that they’re good. They’re fine.
ha
So well done, Randy! I absolutely love this video and the Teac one you just did. I haven't been as big a fan of some of your other videos this year, but this one really hit the mark. It was as entertaining as some of the classic CAM goodness. Keep up the good work!
Wow, thank you!
The car scenario is fantastic 😂😂😂. Most speakers and girlfriends have met the same fate with less care. You are a gentleman and a scholar.
That might be the most passive aggressive, positive review, I've ever seen 😂😂😂