Ugreen NASync Private Cloud Storage Solution Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus: bit.ly/4auHJmi 40% OFF on (Mar 26th 8：00 am PDT-28th 8：00 am PDT) :48 Hours 40% OFF on (Mar 26th 11:00 am EDT-28th 11:00 am EDT)：48 Hours Up to 35% OFF during Mar28-May 9 KEF LS50 Meta bit.ly/4cL8SDt (thanks Just Audio!) #Ugreen #UgreenNASync #UgreenNAS
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.
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.
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.
With proper DSP, crossover, and room correction the LS50 Metas + KC62 are practically an end game solution unless one is looking to get into the >>$10k range.
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
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.
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.
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?
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.
I've had the LS50W and found them very overrated. No bass and the highs are fatiguing. Bought a set of Dynaudio speakers in the same price range and was much happier.
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.
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.
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
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
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 $1000 a picked up a pair and also wouldn't part with them. Both benefit from a good, long break-in and are different in very interesting ways. My music is rock, chamber music, jazz, symphonic classical, folk, and streaming Berliner Philharmoniker's Digital Concert Hall.
I bought em second hand in new condition for 800$, 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 🎉
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.
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.
I have ls50 metas. Played them for about 18 months. Yes they're good but always felt they lacked something. I never got buyers remorse but I continued to swap them out for my Epos es 14s. Now I think they are amazing. What did I do? I bought some Naim NACA 5 speaker cables for my Naim 72 hicap 180 setup. The results are incredible. I feel I have just won the lottery of hi-fi. Total cost 2300 euro. Driven by an Audio phonics raspdac streamer I can't complain. I was considering buying the kef kc62 subwoofer to see if things would improve. Now I think I will wait and enjoy what I have. So in short speaker cables made the difference for me
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?
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.
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! 😂😂😂👍🏼
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.
Very interesting take on these speakers. But I’m left wondering: what meets your personal definition of a “great” pair of speakers? Can we have a few examples? Color me curious.
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.
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.
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.
Will you be comparing the $599 wharfdale Denton 80 to the $1399 wharfdale Super Denton speakers? Curious if the 3 way Super Dentons are worth the extra money. Thank you. Love your channel.
I can only get mine to completely disappear when they are slightly toed otherwise I can hear the left speaker on occasion. Mine are also angled up 4° to take into account my higher listening position. Cracking wee speakers when you get the positioning sorted out.
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!
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 😀
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
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?
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I'm using KEF LS50 Wireless IIs connected to an Innuos Zenmini MK3 configured as a Roon core. Plenty of loudness for a small-to-midsize room. In a larger space I'd add a couple of KEF KC62 or KC92 subs. What I love about Uni-Q is the soundstage. The only speaker topology I've heard with better soundstage comes from Omnis like Ohm, MBL, or German Physiks.
I have the q150s, i got the magnepan lrs+ and a Rel sub for my turntable setup ( with freya+vidar2)… i realized i missed the aspect of bookshelf that allowed me to actually stand and listen to them, so i can change the records n walk around. can’t do that with my maggies. The metas have been tempting me so i coukd get that speaker close to my ear feel again, something i can place on my kitchen counter or elsewhere… do you think id not be that into the metas since i have the q150s n all that other gear? Any small nearfield you’d recommend otherwise?
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.
Hi CAM, I just received my Fosi BT20A and Elac BS41's based on viewing a number of your reviews. The Fosi should work great for my desktop / office set up but I'm finding the Elacs lack the crispness and clear high's I was hoping for, that said, their bass should suffice but I wouldn't want any less. So, can you please recommend a small (10" ht) speaker with a tweeter and cross over set up that will provide a pronounced snare drum, crystal clear cymbals etc. while at low volume? Many thanks and I continue to enjoy your videos.
Very honest review , I suspect much more so than those who simply follow the flow (and there’s lots of em ) and just say everything they review is fabulous . Every now and again much to manufacturers disgust , someone has to be a little bit more informative and give a genuine opinion .good or bad …Or Fine 👍
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.
I realy love the way these speakers look :( But I'm so afraid they'd be underwhelming. They cost ~900$ for new, in Romania. Would this help?! :)) Love your reviews!
Hey CAM - I currently have Q100s for L/R and a single Q150 as center. You have said a lot of good things about Emotiva B1+ and C1+. Would it be worth it to track down the Emotivas (they're discontinued) to replace my KEFs? Or would it only be a marginal improvement? Btw the new Emotivas won't fit (i.e. they're too tall for my EC shelving), so that's why I'd have to go B1+.
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.
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.
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!
In the UK you can find them new for 899/Pair. when converted to dollars US is $1135. I don't think they are overpriced at that, I think you're not getting a good deal.
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,
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.
Have to agree. I've never understood why KEF did not tweak that cabinet, perhaps made it larger and extended that bass at least into the 50hz region as a huge number of bookshelves can easily hit that-including most ELACS. What is the deal with 79hz. Sheesh, a set of Realistic Minimus can almost hit 90hz and they're tiny with a 4" driver. Also, concentric dome, OK we get that, but KEF is not the only manufacturer who does that, and I do believe the Tannoy precedes KEF with that design, no? Metal domes? I have some old JBLs wiih the Titanium dome that are damped wtth foam that don't seem to feature a too metallic sound. And then there are some Energy speakers that also had metal domes that don't really sound like metal. What was Energy doing before the Klipsch group axed them? KEF Q150? 51hz +/- 3 Db. WTF! Same size drivers? Currently $349 on Crutchfield? Really?
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.
Funny that you find these speakers as basically OK when both ASR and Stereophile recommended them while they either didn't recommend or list the ELAC UniFi UB52 as a recommended speaker.
if we all agreed it would be a boring world, my friend. And I'm much less qualified than either of the two outlets mentioned so I'd take anything I say with a grain of salt
I have a pair of ls50 metas and I really like them. Not love, but really like. My room is 3m x4.5m. So they work nicely, loads and loads of bass - too much sometimes. I think perhaps some folks may expect too much from drivers and cabinets that small in larger rooms. Originally I had these working with Cambridge Audio electronics, sounded great but a little forward and bright. In the slow process of a total system upgrade. Now with Rega P10 and Accuphase amplification, the little Kefs are nothing short of amazing. They’re going to be hard to replace. Closest I have heard to something g better so far was some PMC bookshelves, but £2.5k better? Not really. I doubt the kefs will be in my system for more than another year or two. But for now they’re doing great. My personal take? Small room, warm, high quality electronics, and The little Kefs will do you proud. Next stop for will likely be Devore Fidelity. If you get a chance listen to some, amazing things.
I auditioned the OG versions a long time ago. Even then, the LS50's were the most hyped of speakers. While they sounded good, they didn't really sound much different from some of their competitors. For that reason, I went with a less expensive brand. I seem to remember the LS50 as being touted as the first "full-range" stand-mount/bookshelf speakers in many stereo magazines, meaning it had supposedly good bass for its size, so I'm a little confused that they are now considered not full-range.
Many... many audio pros and reviewers have the KEF as their primary or secondary units. I assume the same folks that like their "tubey" second-order distortion like their speakers with a distinctive sound rather than flat.
Ugreen NASync Private Cloud Storage Solution
Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus: bit.ly/4auHJmi
40% OFF on (Mar 26th 8：00 am PDT-28th 8：00 am PDT) :48 Hours
40% OFF on (Mar 26th 11:00 am EDT-28th 11:00 am EDT)：48 Hours
Up to 35% OFF during Mar28-May 9
KEF LS50 Meta bit.ly/4cL8SDt (thanks Just Audio!)
#Ugreen #UgreenNASync #UgreenNAS
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
@@alanvanderhaegen4936 the evoke 20s are soooooo good. But I also prefer the the meta
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 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.
Totally agree. Have a pair and echo your words entirely!
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.
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?
With proper DSP, crossover, and room correction the LS50 Metas + KC62 are practically an end game solution unless one is looking to get into the >>$10k range.
Killer review....kudos. The quest to find true value at any price range still burns deep in your soul!
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
This was a hoot! Very whimsical, Randy. Your comedic touch was top notch today.
Thanks, Steve!
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 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
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.
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!!
How does this speaker compare to the SVS ultra bookshelf. Great video
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.
I've had the LS50W and found them very overrated. No bass and the highs are fatiguing. Bought a set of Dynaudio speakers in the same price range and was much happier.
@vongdong10 Dynaudio before China are amazing speakers.
Emit 20s ?
@@rxonmymind8362yes. Their contour line or Even the spécial 40s, are absolutely amazing, and still made in Denmark
@@extremeanalogmusic6296 Xeo 20 which are discontinued. They lack some the features of the LS50W but sound so much better
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.
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.
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
The beginning of this video is sheer genius! Hahaha well done Randy
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
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 $1000 a picked up a pair and also wouldn't part with them. Both benefit from a good, long break-in and are different in very interesting ways. My music is rock, chamber music, jazz, symphonic classical, folk, and streaming Berliner Philharmoniker's Digital Concert Hall.
I bought em second hand in new condition for 800$, 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.
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.
That may be my favorite CAM intro yet
it was my favorite intro I've ever shot. so much fun
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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?
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.
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 🎉
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
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.
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.
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
I have ls50 metas. Played them for about 18 months. Yes they're good but always felt they lacked something. I never got buyers remorse but I continued to swap them out for my Epos es 14s. Now I think they are amazing. What did I do? I bought some Naim NACA 5 speaker cables for my Naim 72 hicap 180 setup. The results are incredible. I feel I have just won the lottery of hi-fi. Total cost 2300 euro. Driven by an Audio phonics raspdac streamer I can't complain. I was considering buying the kef kc62 subwoofer to see if things would improve. Now I think I will wait and enjoy what I have. So in short speaker cables made the difference for me
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?
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.
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! 😂😂😂👍🏼
Thanks for the honest review.
One of your most entertaining vids. Loved the intro, the farm and chicken sound, very well produced
Much appreciated
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.
Very interesting take on these speakers. But I’m left wondering: what meets your personal definition of a “great” pair of speakers? Can we have a few examples? Color me curious.
Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator, Sony SSCS5, Elac Unifi 2.0, Wharfedale Denton, Linton, Emotiva XB2's
@@cheapaudioman Thank you so much for this list. Which speaker on this list would you say is best for bass heavy music?
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.
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.
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.
Will you be comparing the $599 wharfdale Denton 80 to the $1399 wharfdale Super Denton speakers? Curious if the 3 way Super Dentons are worth the extra money. Thank you. Love your channel.
Nice video!
I do hope u tried to place them “straight” instead of “toed in”? I prefer the ls50w2 this way quite a bit more then toed in.
I can only get mine to completely disappear when they are slightly toed otherwise I can hear the left speaker on occasion. Mine are also angled up 4° to take into account my higher listening position.
Cracking wee speakers when you get the positioning sorted out.
Was that 'back and to the left' a Bill Hicks reference!?
My audio system is built by a couple of Kef Ls50 meta/Roksan K3. For my ears, the best speakers I've ever had.
R3 Meta is the way to go
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!
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.
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 😀
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
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?
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 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 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.
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.
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
Did u try various DECOUPLING TECHNIQUES? Try the IsoAccoustic Oreas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I'm using KEF LS50 Wireless IIs connected to an Innuos Zenmini MK3 configured as a Roon core. Plenty of loudness for a small-to-midsize room. In a larger space I'd add a couple of KEF KC62 or KC92 subs. What I love about Uni-Q is the soundstage. The only speaker topology I've heard with better soundstage comes from Omnis like Ohm, MBL, or German Physiks.
I have the q150s, i got the magnepan lrs+ and a Rel sub for my turntable setup ( with freya+vidar2)… i realized i missed the aspect of bookshelf that allowed me to actually stand and listen to them, so i can change the records n walk around. can’t do that with my maggies. The metas have been tempting me so i coukd get that speaker close to my ear feel again, something i can place on my kitchen counter or elsewhere… do you think id not be that into the metas since i have the q150s n all that other gear? Any small nearfield you’d recommend otherwise?
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.
Hi CAM,
I just received my Fosi BT20A and Elac BS41's based on viewing a number of your reviews.
The Fosi should work great for my desktop / office set up but I'm finding the Elacs lack the crispness and clear high's I was hoping for, that said, their bass should suffice but I wouldn't want any less.
So, can you please recommend a small (10" ht) speaker with a tweeter and cross over set up that will provide a pronounced snare drum, crystal clear cymbals etc. while at low volume?
Many thanks and I continue to enjoy your videos.
Sony sscs5, brother
@@cheapaudioman Thanks!
Very honest review , I suspect much more so than those who simply follow the flow (and there’s lots of em ) and just say everything they review is fabulous .
Every now and again much to manufacturers disgust , someone has to be a little bit more informative and give a genuine opinion .good or bad …Or Fine 👍
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.
I realy love the way these speakers look :( But I'm so afraid they'd be underwhelming.
They cost ~900$ for new, in Romania. Would this help?! :))
Love your reviews!
Randy, as you’re more frequently playing with some “less than cheap” gear, have you had a chance to hear the Galion Voyager TL, or the A75 power amp?
Hey CAM - I currently have Q100s for L/R and a single Q150 as center. You have said a lot of good things about Emotiva B1+ and C1+. Would it be worth it to track down the Emotivas (they're discontinued) to replace my KEFs? Or would it only be a marginal improvement? Btw the new Emotivas won't fit (i.e. they're too tall for my EC shelving), so that's why I'd have to go B1+.
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.
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.
Great video Randy. I need some cheap 5.1 surround speakers if you have any suggestions?
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.
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!
64G bits or 64G Bytes?
In the UK you can find them new for 899/Pair. when converted to dollars US is $1135. I don't think they are overpriced at that, I think you're not getting a good deal.
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,
So does that mean the Elacs are a no-go as well? Or are they more palatable because of their lower price?
bingo. they grew on me but they regularly go on sale for $500 and they make a ton more bass than the LS50's
Thanks. So good you have your own opinions and don't follow the crowd!
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.
Have to agree. I've never understood why KEF did not tweak that cabinet, perhaps made it larger and extended that bass at least into the 50hz region as a huge number of bookshelves can easily hit that-including most ELACS. What is the deal with 79hz. Sheesh, a set of Realistic Minimus can almost hit 90hz and they're tiny with a 4" driver. Also, concentric dome, OK we get that, but KEF is not the only manufacturer who does that, and I do believe the Tannoy precedes KEF with that design, no? Metal domes? I have some old JBLs wiih the Titanium dome that are damped wtth foam that don't seem to feature a too metallic sound. And then there are some Energy speakers that also had metal domes that don't really sound like metal. What was Energy doing before the Klipsch group axed them?
KEF Q150? 51hz +/- 3 Db. WTF! Same size drivers? Currently $349 on Crutchfield? Really?
cause they have other speakers for that. check KEF R3 Meta
TEAK or TEAC
Speech impediment aside, you’re loved.
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.
Can you review Dayton Audio HTA200 Integrated Stereo Hybrid Tube Amplifier? I would really like your opinion on it.
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.
Funny that you find these speakers as basically OK when both ASR and Stereophile recommended them while they either didn't recommend or list the ELAC UniFi UB52 as a recommended speaker.
if we all agreed it would be a boring world, my friend. And I'm much less qualified than either of the two outlets mentioned so I'd take anything I say with a grain of salt
I have a pair of ls50 metas and I really like them. Not love, but really like. My room is 3m x4.5m. So they work nicely, loads and loads of bass - too much sometimes. I think perhaps some folks may expect too much from drivers and cabinets that small in larger rooms.
Originally I had these working with Cambridge Audio electronics, sounded great but a little forward and bright.
In the slow process of a total system upgrade. Now with Rega P10 and Accuphase amplification, the little Kefs are nothing short of amazing. They’re going to be hard to replace. Closest I have heard to something g better so far was some PMC bookshelves, but £2.5k better? Not really.
I doubt the kefs will be in my system for more than another year or two. But for now they’re doing great.
My personal take? Small room, warm, high quality electronics, and The little Kefs will do you proud.
Next stop for will likely be Devore Fidelity. If you get a chance listen to some, amazing things.
Got say am really liking the new direction you’re taking in making your content.
thanks! I'm having a lot of fun
I auditioned the OG versions a long time ago. Even then, the LS50's were the most hyped of speakers. While they sounded good, they didn't really sound much different from some of their competitors. For that reason, I went with a less expensive brand. I seem to remember the LS50 as being touted as the first "full-range" stand-mount/bookshelf speakers in many stereo magazines, meaning it had supposedly good bass for its size, so I'm a little confused that they are now considered not full-range.
Many... many audio pros and reviewers have the KEF as their primary or secondary units. I assume the same folks that like their "tubey" second-order distortion like their speakers with a distinctive sound rather than flat.