Official Kef LS50 owners thread
- Thread starter canuckaudiog
- Start date
Lee Harvey
Well-Known Member
Cool setup with LS50's, monster sized subs and a Aragon amp! I wish I would have hung on to the Aragon I had back in the 90's.
Yeah the Aragon is a nice solid amp, a little long in the tooth. Biggest complaint I have with it is the high end performance, definitely dry and a touch grainy. The amp would be great for the low end of a bi-amp setup.
I actually have two other Aragons, an 8002 and an 8008BB, both DOA, sitting in the attic. The cost to get them shipped away and repaired would probably be best to instead just use the money to go towards a new amp better suited for the KEFs. So if anyone here has a boat, and needs a couple of anchors...jk
Speaking of amps, these below are what I use for all the subs. Yamaha P3500S pro amps, on a Ikea Lack rack inside the LH closet shown. Higher quality then the cheapo Behringers, typically used for subs. Using one channel per driver, and the balanced inputs from a DBX 223xs analog crossover. Thermostatically fan controlled, even in the closet, have never heard the fans come on once. Use a Juice Goose sequencer, along with a relay and Xantech current sensor clamped on the Aragon power cord, to turn on/off the Yammys without having to go in the closet each time.
I actually have two other Aragons, an 8002 and an 8008BB, both DOA, sitting in the attic. The cost to get them shipped away and repaired would probably be best to instead just use the money to go towards a new amp better suited for the KEFs. So if anyone here has a boat, and needs a couple of anchors...jk
Speaking of amps, these below are what I use for all the subs. Yamaha P3500S pro amps, on a Ikea Lack rack inside the LH closet shown. Higher quality then the cheapo Behringers, typically used for subs. Using one channel per driver, and the balanced inputs from a DBX 223xs analog crossover. Thermostatically fan controlled, even in the closet, have never heard the fans come on once. Use a Juice Goose sequencer, along with a relay and Xantech current sensor clamped on the Aragon power cord, to turn on/off the Yammys without having to go in the closet each time.
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Don't know about that amp, but I can tell you that the LS50 sounds unbelievably good with the JC1 monoblocks. While with AVRs it sounds good. You will need a really sturdy and inert speaker stand once you get to those levels though.
Kt77
Well-Known Member
Joeviola,
I haven't visited here in awhile, but this popped up in my email, so I felt I'd give it a go. I can't speak for how the LS 50s might sound with said LM Audio 518IA, but I wouldn't imagine it being a bad sound in the least, and you might actually prefer it to a solid state amp?, but that's for your ears to decide.
If you're good at connecting the dots?, then this video should give you some sort of ideal of what's what, enjoy:
http://www.avshowrooms.com/KEF_LS50.html
scar
murphythecat
Active Member
while raising money for the audio note AN E, I need a speaker.
I will get asap the kef ls 50 and report. I come from using a ref3a decapo be, which I just sold, so will be interesting to compare!
I'm pumped!
I will get asap the kef ls 50 and report. I come from using a ref3a decapo be, which I just sold, so will be interesting to compare!
I'm pumped!
Maybe i can shed some light to help you along.
Having owned the LS 50`s i found them limited in what they had to offer, at the time i owned the 50`s i was using an AR Reference 150 (12k) and the LS 50`s were not allowing the AR to expose everything it was capable of. In other words sonically the AR was on a different level.
Now i have never heard the 518 with the LS 50`s but sonically i find that the 518 is superior to what the AR was. So the 518 with the LS 50`s is a mismatch as you will never hear what the 518 has to offer, so personally i think that you would be wasting your money buying the 518 to use with the LS 50`s. The performance of the equipment you mentioned is more inline with the LS 50.
I`m not knocking the LS 50 it is a great speaker for it`s intended purpose and price point but it is not a speaker that i could live with as the only speaker in my main system, knowing what the 518 is capable of it`s not going to come thru with the LS 50.
I`m sure that it sounds excellent i just think the amp is overkill for the speakers and the poster might achieve the same results with the equipment he mentioned. The 518 for most is a lot of money and if it is limited by the speaker i would go with the less expensive equipment unless he plans to upgrade the speakers down the road.
I own the 518 and it is a very special amp and it sounds fantastic but you cannot realize 518`s full potential with the LS50`s.
He has a LM dealer in his area now so that is a good thing and only he can determine if it will be money well spent.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Can you realize the full potential of the 0/96 with the 518 or would Shindo (and beyond if there is such a thing) be the way to go. There are limitations inherent in any system. Just have to choose where the limitations will be.
I have heard the 0/96 with both amps and the speakers allow both amps to sing. It`s my opinion that the LS50 would cut the wings of both of these amps, and i have spent many hours with all of the products mentioned. A more suitable speaker in the same price range for the above mentioned amps would be the GoldenEar Technology Triton Seven Speakers.
Just trying to help out.
slippers-on
Music...let it move you!
You nailed it! Now I'm one to love wood grains on my speakers. That's just me. And I'd like to think I have an ear, and can hear when it comes to audio systems. But you hit it out the park when it came to the GoldenEar speaker. I am very good friends with my local dealer , who is like 73 years old, retired from the business, and sells as a hobby out of his home. The oldest audiophile I personally know. At times he has seemed like a mad scientist when I've gone over his house with gear and cables all over the floor and his grey hair all over his head and he is running around like a chicken with his head cut off. LOL!
All of the tall lanky speakers with the black socks sound great, especially at what they sell for...but that new one they come out with...seems to stand about 5 feet tall and one Hugh sock, But to hear that thang!.....man was I floored! This is no joke, I've spent hours and days with the Revel Salon2 speaker which retail for $22k.... it's a stunning sounding speaker. Well that new GoldenEar Triton One Tower which retails for $5k for the pair I'd say is just as good....that's saying something.
(Back to the regular programming.)
All of the tall lanky speakers with the black socks sound great, especially at what they sell for...but that new one they come out with...seems to stand about 5 feet tall and one Hugh sock, But to hear that thang!.....man was I floored! This is no joke, I've spent hours and days with the Revel Salon2 speaker which retail for $22k.... it's a stunning sounding speaker. Well that new GoldenEar Triton One Tower which retails for $5k for the pair I'd say is just as good....that's saying something.
(Back to the regular programming.)
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
I understand and I'm just giving another perspective. All of our opinions are just that, opinions. Golden Ear has received raves and so has Nola and I prefer other speakers to both. However my opinion is probably based on completely different preferences to yours and that's what makes this little hobby world go round and round.
wgb113
Super Member
That's the key with this hobby - no right or wrong, just what you like.
RH67 has had his experience and some visitors to this thread may find it very useful.
I personally think they're my system's biggest strength. I think if I were to go up the McIntosh line for example, the LS50s would hold their own.
I've always been curious to hear those GoldenEars.
Bill
I bought the Tower 2`s. I will give you my impressions on how they are with the 518 next week. Should be excellent as GoldenEar uses a 518 as a reference amp.
slippers-on
Music...let it move you!
Oh I know it will be stunning! I borrowed that new Vincent SV-237 integrated Hybrid amp from my dealer just to take a listen. After about a month with it , I t was time to take back. That's when I discovered the new Triton One Towers. We quickly changed stock tube in the SV-237 and hooked up the TOT's. It was a home run! Very transparent ....mind you, as you know....it has a version of the Heil Folded Tweeter....same technology in the outstanding Legacy speakers, as well as a few other brands. Yes, the GoldenEar speakers are another great performer with a very reasonable price tag. If you are going to run Pete's speaker wire with them....you are in for one heck of an experience!
RGA
Super Member
I think the KEF LS-50 is good enough to be put on a $50,000 front end - but then so are other speakers. A good speaker doesn't have to cost a lot but they tend to have more limitations than expensive speakers.
And I don't mean competing products but within the same company line-up. The reality is speaker manufacturers present music differently. KEF. B&W, Paradigm, MBL, Wilson, Klipsch, Magnepan, Devore, Harbeth, Quad, ATC, Revel Focal etc have a particular sonic presentation.
Within each company as you go up the line the sound either becomes better or becomes more (and sometimes both). B&W is an easy example. You could buy the 600, 700 or 800. As you go up the line the treble generally improves. But you could pay more for an 805 than a 604 floorstander. You gain 2 levels of midrange and treble improvement but lose bass, dynamics and impact (and probably sensitivity though I have not checked).
Comparing the sound across manufacturers is more difficult. I use Vandersteen as an example. You could listen to the Vandersteens at $1500 and they may not be to your taste. You may prefer KEF. If you go and listen to the $60,000 Vandersteen you might think people were batcrap crazy to spend that kind of money on the Vandersteen sound with more bass. But to someone who absolutely loves Vandersteen's take on the sound reproduction you would sooner buy a $1500 Vandersteen than a $30k KEF Blade. And that guy would think people are nuts spending $30k for a KEF LS-50 with more bass.
I have personally yet to hear a speaker that uses a ribbon that I would want to own. I like some of them mind you but long term they just don;t sound right to me. Speakers that are hybrids rarely work for me and ribbon planars going back to Apogee have left me cold. Obviously LOTS of people absolutely love Magnepan and various other ribbon speakers and for them the ribbon is the ONLY thing they like enough to want to buy.
That's why it's difficult to read - XYZ is better than speakers at 5 times the price. Well sure - I can say that too if I pit my preference up against something that I don't like but to generalize that out to everything is misleading.
And I don't mean competing products but within the same company line-up. The reality is speaker manufacturers present music differently. KEF. B&W, Paradigm, MBL, Wilson, Klipsch, Magnepan, Devore, Harbeth, Quad, ATC, Revel Focal etc have a particular sonic presentation.
Within each company as you go up the line the sound either becomes better or becomes more (and sometimes both). B&W is an easy example. You could buy the 600, 700 or 800. As you go up the line the treble generally improves. But you could pay more for an 805 than a 604 floorstander. You gain 2 levels of midrange and treble improvement but lose bass, dynamics and impact (and probably sensitivity though I have not checked).
Comparing the sound across manufacturers is more difficult. I use Vandersteen as an example. You could listen to the Vandersteens at $1500 and they may not be to your taste. You may prefer KEF. If you go and listen to the $60,000 Vandersteen you might think people were batcrap crazy to spend that kind of money on the Vandersteen sound with more bass. But to someone who absolutely loves Vandersteen's take on the sound reproduction you would sooner buy a $1500 Vandersteen than a $30k KEF Blade. And that guy would think people are nuts spending $30k for a KEF LS-50 with more bass.
I have personally yet to hear a speaker that uses a ribbon that I would want to own. I like some of them mind you but long term they just don;t sound right to me. Speakers that are hybrids rarely work for me and ribbon planars going back to Apogee have left me cold. Obviously LOTS of people absolutely love Magnepan and various other ribbon speakers and for them the ribbon is the ONLY thing they like enough to want to buy.
That's why it's difficult to read - XYZ is better than speakers at 5 times the price. Well sure - I can say that too if I pit my preference up against something that I don't like but to generalize that out to everything is misleading.