Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Trying to simplify set up and avoid hassle of speaker vs amp matching hence started looking into active bookshelf speakers... And looked into various models and brands such as Dynaudio, Quad, Klipsch, Fostex, Genelec, JBL etc etc.. And after reading many reviews with hours and hours spent, found that KEF LS50W is the most reviewed and majority of them are very positive except terrible mobile apps that comes with. Is there any other active speakers that match KEF LS50W in terms of sonic quality and user friendliness in the marketplace at present? If you know any other brand or model that you experienced that is same caliber as LS50W, please do share. Thank you in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 Found this page, https://www.channelnews.com.au/kef-ls-50-wireless-speakers-are-overpriced-so-what-is-the-alternative/ And alternative recommended are Bluesound Pulse 2 and Denon HEOS 7. However, they look very general consumer oriented bluetooth speakers and does not look promising at all. (never tried either of them though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thathifiguy Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 I wouldn't take too much stock into that page, he had an axe to grind with the local distributors and has little significance to the merit of the LS50 wireless. Personally, I think they take the already excellent passive design to a whole other level. If unsure about control, word is DALI will be releasing a pair of active speakers using the excellent BluOS platform, no word yet on release though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) After owning the X300A for a few weeks, which are awesome. I do actually wonder how much better the LS50 actives are. So many great reviews, I'm keen to have a proper listen one day. Edited July 31, 2017 by Jonny 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 1 minute ago, thathifiguy said: I wouldn't take too much stock into that page, he had an axe to grind with the local distributors and has little significance to the merit of the LS50 wireless. Personally, I think they take the already excellent passive design to a whole other level. If unsure about control, word is DALI will be releasing a pair of active speakers using the excellent BluOS platform, no word yet on release though. Great news. I heard good thing about Dali Menuet but it is passive. keen to learn more about active version Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thathifiguy Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Just now, Spider27 said: Great news. I heard good thing about Dali Menuet but it is passive. keen to learn more about active version @Marc might know more, he was told about them at Munich back in May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 1 minute ago, Jonny said: After owning the X300A for a few weeks, which are awesome. I do actually do wonder how much better the LS50 actives are. So many great reviews, I'm keen to have a proper listen one day. Great to hear. Many review states that X300A is great speaker but lacks a bit of punchy and dynamic. I might audition both this weekend to try. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 Just now, thathifiguy said: @Marc might know more, he was told about them at Munich back in May. Great. Keen to hear from him if he can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 The LS50 Wireless is great bang for the buck. I'd be hard pressed to find a better sounding combo for 1.1k more for the passive version - if I had to spend 1.1k in DACs and preamps. That said, it is currently let down by its user interface and streaming functionality. To be fair, it was the same with the initial UI of BluSound's apps. And it took them 5? 6? iterations before they got to where they are today. And even then people still prefer Spotify for ease of use. For my money - if my budget could stretch a bit more, it'd be the Focal Solo 6 Be actives. XLR inputs. Biamped. Tweeters and woofers similar to the Electra 1007Be. I'd just need a DAC or streamer DAC - maybe a TEAC UD503 or the network streamer variant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timos Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 My only concern, and this is an old experience (with the old Q Series), is that if you listen at high volumes, the KEF's aren't great. I've had to replace tweeters (at no expense to me) because of them being blown. I wouldn't even call it high volume. I have also seen pictures of the passive LS50's with the same issue. The speakers are great, but don't like high SPL. Timos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 27 minutes ago, Timos said: My only concern, and this is an old experience (with the old Q Series), is that if you listen at high volumes, the KEF's aren't great. I've had to replace tweeters (at no expense to me) because of them being blown. I wouldn't even call it high volume. I have also seen pictures of the passive LS50's with the same issue. The speakers are great, but don't like high SPL. Timos. Good to know. Can you roughly indicate how much db was it to blow tweeter by any chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 1 hour ago, DoggieHowser said: The LS50 Wireless is great bang for the buck. I'd be hard pressed to find a better sounding combo for 1.1k more for the passive version - if I had to spend 1.1k in DACs and preamps. That said, it is currently let down by its user interface and streaming functionality. To be fair, it was the same with the initial UI of BluSound's apps. And it took them 5? 6? iterations before they got to where they are today. And even then people still prefer Spotify for ease of use. For my money - if my budget could stretch a bit more, it'd be the Focal Solo 6 Be actives. XLR inputs. Biamped. Tweeters and woofers similar to the Electra 1007Be. I'd just need a DAC or streamer DAC - maybe a TEAC UD503 or the network streamer variant. Is this sold in AU? I just searched it online and no AU retailers sell this but USA only if I understood correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timos Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Can't quote the exact dB, but it wasn't that high. High enough for the neighbours to complain though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Is this sold in AU? I just searched it online and no AU retailers sell this but USA only if I understood correctly. I've seen it sold by pro audio stores here in Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Devialet phantom?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 https://www.turramusic.com.au/pages/CatalogueItem.aspx?CIID=2088I used to own a pair. Loved them but couldn't get my high output impedance tube DAC/preamp to work with it properly with it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunno77 Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 I really like the Dyns. Xeo 4 are good, the Focus XD are really good. Sent from my JAZZ using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 40 minutes ago, Bunno77 said: I really like the Dyns. Xeo 4 are good, the Focus XD are really good. Sent from my JAZZ using Tapatalk Many people recommend Dyn as good alternative. Have you had a chance to compare between Xeo 4 and LS50W? Never knew about Focus XD and just browse on internet and noticed that Focus XD is 3 times more expensive than XEO series Not sure what the differences between XD and Xeo really are. I guess that Focus XD has much higher output power? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Marc Posted July 31, 2017 Administrator Share Posted July 31, 2017 7 hours ago, Spider27 said: Great. Keen to hear from him if he can. Dali Callisto certainly got my attention! Here's the information: http://stereo.net.au/news/exclusive-dali-get-activated It will be launched officially at IFA in Berlin September 1st. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 20 minutes ago, Marc said: Dali Callisto certainly got my attention! Here's the information: http://stereo.net.au/news/exclusive-dali-get-activated It will be launched officially at IFA in Berlin September 1st. Great. Thank you. Can you share impression on Callisto 2 comparing with LS50W? Any impression or information would be great. P.S.) The sound hub looks much better than Dyn XEO's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Marc Posted July 31, 2017 Administrator Share Posted July 31, 2017 I really can't compare sorry. I lived with LS50W extensively. Callisto was 3-4 tracks, in a big room with 50+ people. it was enough for me to form an impression of its capability, but not enough to conduct critical listening or a comparison I'm afraid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunnybridge Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 (edited) I have the dyn XEO 6 and phantom gold compare with LS50W. The XEO 6, phantom gold are better than the LS50W. Edited August 1, 2017 by Littlenicky 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 1 hour ago, Littlenicky said: I have the dyn XEO 6 and phantom gold compare with LS50W. The XEO 6, phantom gold are better than the LS50W. Better in what way? You're comparing a floor standing speaker and a 4500 watt single speaker with the LS50 wireless... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider27 Posted August 1, 2017 Author Share Posted August 1, 2017 1 hour ago, Littlenicky said: I have the dyn XEO 6 and phantom gold compare with LS50W. The XEO 6, phantom gold are better than the LS50W. Are these two speakers that you are currently selling? I guess that you also have LS50W... If so, could you share your impression? That would be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 ELAC Air-X would be a good consideration. I was seriously considering these until a Luxman L-550 integrated swayed me to stay with separates. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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