KEF Owners & Discussion Thread

[rowanr]

1 hour ago, Richard Tremain said:

I do not know i took that qoute from a Tech person on another forum would it still be a LS60?

 

My point was that I would love a passive version of these speakers because they look awesome and I'm sure sound great. Would be good for L and R of my theater. I don't want wireless or powered for that as my AVR and amp does all the work.  

 

The LS50 range seem fairly unique and I was wondering what they actually compete against, specifically the meta's. 

[Guest]

KEF LSX II announced: https://www.stereonet.com/au/news/kef-announces-updated-lsx-ii-wireless-speakers

[Tweaky]

Darko Audio KEF LS60 review part 2

 

 

[Flash]

HiHo, KEF Owners

 

 I’m considering joining the club, and am after some advice/feedback. 
For quite a while I’d been looking at r5s, but came to the realisation that a full floorstander would just impose on my room too much, unless they were against the wall, and I didn’t want to do that. So now I’m pretty much settled on r3s. Pretty much all of the reviews have been favourable, but I’d be interested to hear any first hand views from here. 
 

I’m currently using VAF i90s, paired with REL T/5is. My amp is a Cayin CS-55a (kt88), which puts out 22W per channel in triode (my preference), and 40W in ultralinear. 

I guess my two main queries are-

Is 22w enough to get the best out of them?

Really how much of an upgrade will they be from my i90s? They are a very well regarded speaker, albeit at a slightly lesser price point. I’m also pretty attached to them, haha. 
 

Any opinions or advice would be much appreciated. 

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Flash said:

HiHo, KEF Owners

 

 I’m considering joining the club, and am after some advice/feedback. 
For quite a while I’d been looking at r5s, but came to the realisation that a full floorstander would just impose on my room too much, unless they were against the wall, and I didn’t want to do that. So now I’m pretty much settled on r3s. Pretty much all of the reviews have been favourable, but I’d be interested to hear any first hand views from here. 
 

I’m currently using VAF i90s, paired with REL T/5is. My amp is a Cayin CS-55a (kt88), which puts out 22W per channel in triode (my preference), and 40W in ultralinear. 

I guess my two main queries are-

Is 22w enough to get the best out of them?

Really how much of an upgrade will they be from my i90s? They are a very well regarded speaker, albeit at a slightly lesser price point. I’m also pretty attached to them, haha. 
 

Any opinions or advice would be much appreciated. 

 

Would KEF LS50 W be on option? Less imposing, and with perfectly matched amplifiers built-in already.

If you really wanted more bottom end, you could add a tiny little KC62 down the track and have the best of both worlds.

I'd audition the R3, R5, LS50 W, and LS50W with KC62 if you can. Most KEF dealers should have all of those in stock for a demo.

[Flash]

Thanks Marc

 To be honest, the LS50W is probably not an option I’d prefer at the moment. Call me a Luddite, but I kinda still like the idea of having wires connecting stuff, haha. 
As far as subs go, I’m more than happy with my RELs right now as well. 
Thanks for your input though. 
 

As far as auditioning goes, unfortunately it’s not an option. I’m in NW Tassie, and there’s not a KEF dealer within bulls roar of me. Also due to health reasons, being in a wheelchair, travelling is pretty difficult. 
I know buying blind is less than ideal, hence me putting plenty of feelers out before I commit to anything. 

[Richard Tremain]

1 hour ago, Flash said:

Thanks Marc

 To be honest, the LS50W is probably not an option I’d prefer at the moment. Call me a Luddite, but I kinda still like the idea of having wires connecting stuff, haha. 
As far as subs go, I’m more than happy with my RELs right now as well. 
Thanks for your input though. 
 

As far as auditioning goes, unfortunately it’s not an option. I’m in NW Tassie, and there’s not a KEF dealer within bulls roar of me. Also due to health reasons, being in a wheelchair, travelling is pretty difficult. 
I know buying blind is less than ideal, hence me putting plenty of feelers out before I commit to anything. 

The LS50W being Active would be a reason to buy them not one against. Solves all voicing and amp matching problems in a compact package - good for you?

Then again a Triode Valve Amp is exactly that you may possibly miss it.

For 22w you do not want speakers that drop below 4ohms anywhere in the 20hz to 20khz range.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Flash said:

Thanks Marc

 To be honest, the LS50W is probably not an option I’d prefer at the moment. Call me a Luddite, but I kinda still like the idea of having wires connecting stuff, haha. 
As far as subs go, I’m more than happy with my RELs right now as well. 
Thanks for your input though. 
 

As far as auditioning goes, unfortunately it’s not an option. I’m in NW Tassie, and there’s not a KEF dealer within bulls roar of me. Also due to health reasons, being in a wheelchair, travelling is pretty difficult. 
I know buying blind is less than ideal, hence me putting plenty of feelers out before I commit to anything. 

 

Understood entirely. In that case, I'd suggest the same but perhaps substitute the LS50 W for LS50 Meta. Keep your subs, but if you wanted minimalist, and a perfect match I would still replace the subs with KC62 at some point perhaps down the track if you do try and downsize.

 

Just trying to work my advice in here with what it seemed you were trying to achieve. I think certain retailers also have a no questions asked trial at home program, which might suit you well.

[barbz127]

Im considering a set of ls50w for my living room with the main source been the tv.

 

There's a few old posts around the web of audio cutting out when using HDMI arc.

 

Is anyone using these via HDMI arc and if so has it been a solid connection method?

 

The aim here is ease of use with auto on / off and one remote over using optical for connectivity.

 

Thankyou

[Pete D]

1 hour ago, barbz127 said:

Im considering a set of ls50w for my living room with the main source been the tv.

 

There's a few old posts around the web of audio cutting out when using HDMI arc.

 

Is anyone using these via HDMI arc and if so has it been a solid connection method?

 

The aim here is ease of use with auto on / off and one remote over using optical for connectivity.

 

Thankyou

I have had the LS50 wireless II with a Rel T7x for about 5 months and have had zero dropouts or problems with HDMI or any other inputs.

[Flash]

1 hour ago, Richard Tremain said:

The LS50W being Active would be a reason to buy them not one against. Solves all voicing and amp matching problems in a compact package - good for you?

Then again a Triode Valve Amp is exactly that you may possibly miss it.

For 22w you do not want speakers that drop below 4ohms anywhere in the 20hz to 20khz range.

Apologies, I should have addressed the tube issue initially. Yeh, I’m pretty much married to keeping my tube amp. It’d need to be something special for me to change, at least at the moment. I certainly wouldn’t entertain it without a thorough audition. 
On the impedance issue. There is a 4ohm tap, so shouldn’t be too much of an issue, although if it comes to it, I may contact Cayin prior just to be certain. The VAF I90s are 6ohm nominal, and I’ve not ever run into any issues with them. 
 

Thanks though. I’ll not dismiss any of it out of hand. 

[Flash]

1 hour ago, Marc said:

 

Understood entirely. In that case, I'd suggest the same but perhaps substitute the LS50 W for LS50 Meta. Keep your subs, but if you wanted minimalist, and a perfect match I would still replace the subs with KC62 at some point perhaps down the track if you do try and downsize.

 

Just trying to work my advice in here with what it seemed you were trying to achieve. I think certain retailers also have a no questions asked trial at home program, which might suit you well.

I have looked at the complete Meta range, including the Blade in black with gloss front, and satin sides (LOOK being the operative word, haha). I certainly haven’t struck them off. That said, they would probably be even closer in performance to my current speakers than the r3s, which would make the change less justifiable. 
 

Complete minimalism isn’t an absolute necessity. The reason I altered my plan from floorstand to stand mount, is that although the r3 has a similar footprint to the r5, the lower section isn’t as visually intrusive. At this point they would sit on the same Gecko stands (and possibly Isoacoustics Apertas) as my i90s, with a possible change in the future to Solidsteel SS-6s. 
If I had a dedicated listening room, I may have chosen differently.
 

Thanks again. I appreciate your input

[sfdoddsy]

On 24/05/2022 at 6:30 PM, rowanr said:

Why not? Because of the woofers?

Much like the LSX and LS50W, and indeed the Kii and 8c mentioned earlier, the response of the LS60 is only possible through fully active DSP.

 

You could EQ a passive version part way there by using something like a DEQX, but all the speakers mentioned shape the frequency response and dispersion of each driver through digital trickery.

 

For many years I had fully active  DSP Eqed DIY speakers and it is definitely the way to get the maximum out of a design. But it is a real ***** to implement well.

 

After spending those years constantly fiddling and chasing real or imaginary improvements I stepped back la couple of years and now have a hybrid system with passive crossovers and active EQ. It sounds great, but I know it could be greater.

 

The increasing number of manufacturers taking advantage of active DSP is the only real advance I've seen in commercial speaker design in decades.

 

For proof of concept check out the newish and cheapish Klipsch The Five. It has the same kind of drivers that Klipsch has been unable or unwilling to coax into neutrality but uses active DSP to strong arm them into KEF-like technical performance.

 

Likewise I've just picked up a cheap pair of LSX for the bedroom. Having owned LS50, R3 and Reference KEF's in recent years I'm 100% sure their performance would not be possible without digital amps, crossovers and EQ.

 

Undoubtedly this is also true of the LS60.

 

I just KEF have improved their abysmal software performance.

 

 

[cafe67]

Unboxibg 30 years NIB KEF ref 107 

 

 

[tuanngoc109]

I was looking for a pair of used LS50 meta for a while but not many people selling it :((

[ICUToo]

Anyone going to the KEF "big reveal" of a new product at SydneyHiFI Castle Hill next month? Any idea what the surprise is?

[pmac04]

I just got a pair of KEF LSX II and I'm over the moon. These are my first true foray into the world of speakers coming from headphones. I'm really happy with them on my desk for near field listening. I plan on adding a KC62 subwoofer to them next year when I move to them to the TV set up. 

 

Im impressed by the features + sound + aesthetics for the price.

Edited April 29, 2023 by pmac04

[AudioGeek]

Just saw EAC has posted measurement/review of LS60 for those intdrested.

 

Anyone else notice the price of LS60 had dropped from $11k to $9k!

[StereoNET]

Oh my. I use a pair of LSX II on my desktop - mounted horizontally for audio mixing/monitoring. They've been good, perfectly acceptable for their size and the nearfield application. However, I just added a KC62 subwoofer this evening to make up for what's been missing. I say it again, Oh My! 

 

But setting the crossover points and adding the sub elevates the LSX to a whole new level!

KEF really have outdone themselves with that sub.

[blizzard76]

Anyone have any experience in the new Q Meta series? I’m considering the Concerto Meta and Q6 for primarily home theatre usage. 

[blizzard76]

I have placed an order for a Q6 Meta centre and the Q Concerto Metas, but will likely be January when I get them. Will share my thoughts then!

[tone_al]

Hi kef owners.

Just joined the club I ordered a pair of Reference 1 meta 

[blizzard76]

 

After a bit of a wait since ordering, I received my Q Concerto Meta and Q6 Meta yesterday. First impressions, especially with Top Gun Maverick UHD, are really good. The speakers create a very immersive soundstage and for the first time I feel like my home theatre has a ‘cinematic’ sound. They seem to pair well with my Tonewinner D6000 subwoofers. 

 

I haven’t done any room correction yet and the Concertos are probably a bit closer to the wall than ideal, given they are rear ported. Bass was surprisingly decent when listening to music but there is some boominess that I will need to address through either positioning or EQ.

 

My previous speakers were B&W 685 Left/Right/Surround and the HTM62 centre, as well as a couple of Polk dipoles for rear surround and a SVS PB-10 ISD. I’ve had the B&Ws for close to 20 years at this point and not really sure why I didn’t upgrade earlier. They’ve been paired with various projectors but I never really felt they produced a sound that suited a projector setup. Physically the Q6 is much larger than the HTM62. 

 

I had nearly bit the bullet with the previous Q series but so far I’m glad I waited for the Meta. The centre in particular is 3-way instead of 2.5 and the RRP is lower than the Q650C. 

 

The next question is what I do with surrounds. I’m thinking the Q4s for surround left and right, as that model is side ported which will allow me to have them close to or on the wall.  They’re a bit pricey though as they are sold individually. 

 

But for the rears, I’m not sure whether to go with the Q1s, Q3s or Q4s. 

 

Curious to hear if anyone else here has purchased the new Q Meta series? 

[emulator]

On 11/01/2025 at 9:38 PM, tone_al said:

Hi kef owners.

Just joined the club I ordered a pair of Reference 1 meta 

very nice! love to hear your reports and comparison to other speakers you know

[tone_al]

6 minutes ago, emulator said:

very nice! love to hear your reports and comparison to other speakers you know

Hi why I choose KEF because they had a very natural sound and neutrality, secondly they seemy to be very transparent and detailed and thirdly they are well built and at a reasonable price (yeah 15k is expensive but what you are getting is worth it)

I listened to some dynaudio Contour 20is the highs seemed veiled 

I listened to some b$w 805 the opposite happened the highs where too elevated.

Kef seemed to be more clearer and have more dynamic than both and the soundstage was incredible