KEF LS50 Vs. B&W 707 S2 Comparison Review
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- Bowers & Wilkins 707 S2 Speakers
Price: $1200 (July, 2019)
Overall Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ¾
Only Mini Monitor In The Price Range That Outperformed KEF LS50 Speakers In Pretty Much Every Regards with Musical Sound Signature.
Pros: Accurate Sound, Clean and Transparent Highs, Great Midrange, Class Leading Bass Performance.
Cons: Can Get Bright With Some Music.
Build Quality: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
Highs:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️½
Midrange: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bass: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Sound Stage:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Price: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
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KEF LS50 Black Edition Speakers
Price: $1299.99 Pair. (July, 2019)
Overall Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Pros:High Quality Sound,Bass Performance,Best Midrange Under $5k.
Cons: None At This Price.
Highs:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
Mid-Range: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
Bass: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Sound Stage:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Price: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
Associated Equipments & Affiliated Links, If you use these links to purchase any items from Amazon or eBay(No Extra Cost To You), I get a small percentage which help support my work xxx
PSB Alpha P5 Speakers: amzn.to/2T7SCCm
B&W 607 Speakers: ebay.to/2J7CxcE
KEF LS50; amzn.to/2LV7TEF
JBL Studio 590; ebay.to/2wQKOMk
Music by Grace Mahya; amzn.to/2ukRyRG
Denon PMA-2000IVR Integrated: amzn.to/2QfcbZx
Marantz UD7007: amzn.to/21E6WSe
Canare 4S11 Speaker Cables: amzn.to/2ElpxzG
AudioQuest Big Sur RCA Cables: amzn.to/2TeeRKK
AudioQuest Type 4 Cables: amzn.to/2GSEtq2
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Great review! I appreciate the honesty and effort you put into everything you do. When I was shopping for a mini monitor I almost picked up the B&W 686 S2 but after I heard the LS50s I never looked back.
Appreciate your honest review! Despite those many bashings of Bowers Wilkins 7 series, I enjoy them a lot more than the ls50s.
I always found B&W (along with Dynaudio) to have some of the best tweeters around and to have a rich sound that leans on the warm side of neutral. The last few times I've auditioned the LS50s I found them, depending on pairing, to be either thin or shouty. On the same system the Totem Skys, which are by no means what I consider warm, sounded rounder. I do however vaguely remember the first time I heard the LS50s on an all Rega system many years ago to sound well balanced. Considering all the fuss that's surrounded them I really need to give them one last proper audition to set the record straight.
Mike Cees ls50s need a lot of power, otherwise they will sound shouty when played relatively loud. An amp that can deliver 100w in 8 ohms and 200w in 4 ohm will be a good match.
I came for the review and stayed for the ASMR. Amazing.
I have some BW speakers and recently bought a pair of Fyne Audio 502. Now I found the BW does make your ears tired with its bright tweeters. My listening sessions are much longer, the only thing stopping me is the clock approaching mid night.
Thank you for your thoughtful review.
More sound demo between Kef LS50 and B&W 707 s2 Male and Female vocal to be able to determine which speaker is top.
Very happy with my B&W 702 Signatures, which have the same carbon tweeter as far as I know, except it's housed externally. While I like the treble, I find the mid range even better. Never heard voices so clear and detailed before. I don't find the bright nature very fatiguing either; I'm the kind of guy who always cranked up the treble wheel with almost all my previous speakers.
The 3x 6 1/2" woofers also provide a healthy amount of bass, especially after I got a couple of expensive bass traps that removed all audible bass resonances past 50hz and really tightened up the soundstage. Anyway, these are my first B&W speakers, and I'm pretty much sold on the brand now. I understand it's not for everyone though.
Very nice review. Very clear info about sound! Thank you.
On the demo my impression was different about the the 707 highs. Sounded not nuetral with my earphones, so good to have your detailed opinion after the demo.
What is the other speaker option? Give us at least a hint! :)
Try listening to Dynaudio Emit M10 or M20. The tweeter is very detailed but not tiring to listen to since they are soft dome.
"...all these monitors require bifi power supply in your amplifier , they will not sound the best with the average AV receivers..."
Please clarify this, I dont understand it and I donno what is bifi. How can I check that what kind of PS is in my AV receiver ? Its not in the description.
For example Marantz SR5013 or Denon AVR-S950H are average therefore not recommended or they will do ? Or what kind of AV receiver do you recommend, what did you test with B&W 706 ?
beefy = powerful. They need big power output to be driven properly.
Try a IOTA VX SA3 is only 45w and the LS50 sounds great with this amp
@@AndyPhotoShop Thanks Sleep, but this is an old thing, I bought 150W Denon X2600H since that and B&W 705 S2. Everything has changed and decided.
Thanks for the reviewing them. Have you seen the new KEF LS50 Meta?
I have just ordered a pair, unsure if i should just buy the older ls50 for about £400 less ....
What's is better on Yamaha r-n 803d?
I would go with LS50.
Great Review! I have a Sony STR-DN1080 amplifier. Would both speakers (707 or LS50) work great with it? Would both sound great in a 26m2 room?
If the amp is stable for 4ohm load it should be fine, you will need a sub for best sound quality in your room.
@@Tharbamar Thank you!
@@Tharbamar Any sub you would recommand?
B&W 707 S2 это аналог СМ 1 S2 только без " Кевлара", но весьма удачная серия 700 S2, с Exposure 3010 S 2 👍
You mentioned the average AV receiver didn’t really bring out the potential of the 707, what receiver or stereo amp would you recommend to accompany them?
Any amp with good power supply for 2.0 set up but if you're crossing over with AV amp and SUB it should sound great as well.
Aidan Reap
Rotel is a good match and Quad is a good match for B&W
They are finicky
I was wondering which of those two bookshelf would work better with a NAD C368.
I paired my nad c368 to the 707 s2 speakers and a psb 150 sub series. The room is 15 mts2 it really fills the whole room with sound and I can say it far exceeds the volume level that you might be comfortable listening to if you turn the volume up. The sound is really detailed and musically, you will be surprised by the quality of the highs and bass this little speakers are able to deliver. The only drawback I noticed is that you may have to push a little bit the bass level of your amp in order to get a full midrange response, otherwise you can find the mids a little thin. I would strongly recommend this speakers to be paired to a sub, although the bass response is awesome for the size of the speakers... a sub will fulfill the whole range of the low frequencies and you will get even bigger sound scenary. I run the speakers in full range mode without using the hpf of the amp, and the system sounds better for me in my room... anyhow you can always give it a try every room has its own and unique acoustic.
B&W for me, they sound great and are audiophile classy looking in a room.You cant go wrong with either one. If your a Star Wars fan, than KEF-LS50 look like they are from Darth Vader's living room.
GregD
Hilarious
What are your thoughts on the Kef Q550?
Keep the B&W and buy a Schiit Loki to tame the highs.
TwangThang57
Why tame them, just buy what sounds less fatiguing
I wonder if the 705 s2 is that much better based on the price difference with 707. If you’re already so impressed by the 707 the tube tweeter might be even better.
I’ve compared 805 D3 to LS50s. I’ve had $50,000 speakers before. As a musician, the LS50s are my favorite.
But what about ls50’s for €600 brand new? I got them at that price during bf :)
Great buy!
Anyone know how the 606 compares to the 707s2?
Good presentation! Tell me what do you think of the Yamaha AS-801 receiver for pairing it with the LS-50 speakers? Thank you
George Papadopoulos I have no experience with AS801 but I really like AS1100 with LS50, thanks
@@Tharbamar I have the 501 and was looking update to the Bowers but can't find a local stereo store that has both items so I can audition them
I have a Yamaha AS-801 and a pair of ls50 meta, you going to like it at the beginning but then you are going to start looking for a better amp lol that’s how this hobby works. The good thing about the ls50 metas it’s that they could sound better and better with a better amp
@@AndyPhotoShop I found that a good pair would be the hegel h95....
@@sparrow2a that’s what I want a Hegel but Hegel don’t sell it directly and I was looking outside USA but the ones from UK don’t have a switch for using it on 110 voltage, instead I got an Arcam AS20 from bestbuy and I’m very happy with it, I like it more than the Yamaha, same warm sound but more detailed
Really like my LS50s. They have great synergy with my Hegel integrated amplifier. So much so, I will not change it.
Great review as usual. I appreciate your honest reviews! I'm tempted to buy B&W after listening to your review.
Bought the ls 50 for 666 eur brand new. 😁love them. And they look soooo nice.
Keep both, KEF is more musical . B&W is superior in fidelity
Not in my experience, and I’m a musician.
joshua wang
Disagree
Very different sounding speakers
I dislike B&W though.
I really want you to try the Quad S-2
Tharbamar Thanks for the video which I enjoyed. However the notes underneath the video say that the B&Ws outperformed the Kefs in pretty much every aspect but your ratings lower down are pretty much the same or even better for Kefs. How is this ?
Overall rating on LS50 is higher because highs on 707S2 is a little too forward for my taste but sonically 707S2 is superior and much easier to pair with SUB, thanks
@@Tharbamar I suppose some people may like the highs on the B & Ws ? Thanks for reply, it is appreciated.
I’ve compared 805 D3 to LS50s. I’ve had $50,000 speakers before. As a musician, the LS50s are my favorite.
Nice review !! Your doing a great job I know what can calm them B&M top end peaking is a good vintage amp like the Onkyo Integra M-504 60 pound heavy weight with 335-watts and 400 watt dynamic watts from 1 watt to 335 watts at .0003 THD 8 large capacitors 2 large transformers it's a game changer about to review it I call it the HULK !! Got for a steal thanks again appreciate the honestly , would you mind if I brought up your utube channel name for a recommended audio channel to watch on utube ? I got a few reviewers that I'd like to let my subscribers to know about ?
Onkyo M504 is very nice powerful amp.
sharing and recommendation is highly appreciated, Thanks Tee-Jay.
Tharbamar thank you for taking the time to share your same passion I have but don't you love new speakers and listening to your favorite music all over again lol
707 has the best tweeter ? really ? What about B&W diamond tweeter in their super expensive D range ? and also if it is the best should you be getting tired of it ? Well after this you were raving about the 706, then 805 D3 (too much money) It's never ending.
Yes one of the best in the price range.
Second hand B&W bought from web site? Could you provide the link
I bought it locally.
The kefs are better.
Keff really ugly in my opinion sorry so plastic, I choice for B&W 705s with NAD 10 worth of money, buy quality for lifetime, cheaper but not worth, just waste the money for nothing
LALAT_IDJO
Not ugly at all, very sturdy solid speakers and they are KEF not KEFF
LALAT_IDJO your English fantastico, mucho impresso.
Try Melanie Di Biasio - No Deal......
They may both be listed as 5.25 inch woofers, but side by side the KEF woofers look bigger. The B&W just also look hopelessly dated next to the KEF. Never been a fan of B&W sound, but obviously it's all subjective, everyone should buy what they enjoy.
Kef r3 are much better speakers. You have to try with your denon. It's very great sound. Please just test much better then r300
I will try when I have chance, thanks
Yes r3 is sounding much cleaner/ better bass response less slow. And also sweeter/warmer like the ls50's midrange. But keep in mind that you have to play them in +200 hours. Because in the beginning there sounding a little darker.
Del Boca Vista r3’s character are a country mile better then the others just try and you will notice
Del Boca Vista the amplifier is important with kef. Try the hegel , arcam, denon, nad
For me the hegel h90 is the perfect solution soundwise price versus quality
To get the best sound out of your speakers one should be using an amplifier "good quality" not a receiver.
Ok thanks for the tip. I was going to use it with Yamaha a3080 but it would be a bad idea if I don't use it with expensive amp which I don't have the money for.
@@HenryTheBoilermaker3rdYear you don't need to spend a lot of money. There is a lot of good used gear out there. You can find a very capable used Amp for $400-500, checkout Adcom 555II.
@@JuanLegaI'm not buying used without warranty. I live in Australia so most your recommended pre amps won't be in Australia. Can you recommend me one from: www.digitalcinema.com.au/av-receivers-amplifiers/home-theatre-power-amp-pre-amp?dir=asc&order=price#/page/1
Audiophile myth.
KEF is big name in the HI-FI industry, but to me is just "aluminium sound".
Another case of a visual audiophile.
@@fdude555 I'm not audiophile. I'm music lover and ex drummer.
I’ve compared 805 D3 to LS50s. I’ve had $50,000 speakers before. As a musician, the LS50s are my favorite.
@@omgwtfpwnd Enjoy the great aluminium sound of ls50s.
mystique Have you even tried the KEF R300 or LS50 in a proper room with proper treatment?
Eew! Etched bw sound no thanks.
Wrong ! B&W tweeter is amazing.
KEF sounds dry , thin, colorless and not inviting. Clinical and cold.
No KEF for me .
What kind of music is not musical? How can a speaker make music more musical