KEF: LS 50 vs Uni-Q? Experience?

[asilker]

A big part of this hobby is the exposure to different designs and technologies, and I'm at the point where I've got just a bit of financial room to flex if I can move a small pile of gear. That being said, I remember hearing the KEF LS-50 a while ago and being really impressed with their clarity and coherence. I plan on going back into the shop and spending some more time with them in a few weeks.

Just wondering if there are any KEF enthusiasts who have experience with both the new LS 50 and older Uni-Q speakers. I see some very obvious driver and design differences, but it also looks like the design concept shares a similar root. Do these speakers have a similar feel? Or are they totally different? All comparisons and comments are welcome I have listened to the Uni-Q KEF's only in a retail shop and they sounded fine but I have no experience with them critically speaking.

 

[asilker]

I'm finding some good stuff here: http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/speaker-shootout.570067/

Still hoping to find a few comments about the generational change like you mentioned

 

[asilker]

Ok. I would expect a speaker that age could benefit from a recap regardless. How big is the difference between the old and new? Is it a day and night comparison?

I ask because the price of the older generation uni-q is DRAMATICALLY lower than the new ones. I understand that if a company continues to produce improvements on a design every few years eventually the older models will be seen as woefully outdated regardless of actual performance. Judging by the attention the LS 50 and Q300 have garnered, I'm wondering if the old Uni-Q's that pop up everywhere are some real sleepers

 

[asilker]

Wow ok. So does that implicate that KEF marketed the Uni-q design as entry level until they were satisfied with its technology and performance and not market it as high performance?

Essentially 20 years of product development and now they've arrived?

 

[Donkey Karma]

I wouldn't say that at all. Uni-Q drivers were used as midrange-tweeter combo's for high end speakers like below. KEF, as a British company was looking at a different market (their domestic one) and also trying to design some new speakers. The higher end Uni-Q's were different materials, crossovers, etc. It is just the Uni-Q brought a brilliantly designed point source to the mass market.

The material science and computer testing and design just helped to push this design, currently.

Well put

Foe the most part the Uni-Q's seem to be treated like orphans on this site. I am of the opinion that from the 2nd generation through the 4th they perform about 75/80% of the spectrum very well.

First couple of generations were prone to voice coil failure in the tweeters. Aftermarket on replacement are a Chi-Fi and a heist imho.

 

[asilker]

Very interesting. I predict that eventually I will be bringing some home because they float around all the time. I think the next time a friend asks for a recommendation for a first set of speakers, I may point out some old Uni-Q's