Just a note that I do not get paid to mention about Centre Hifi or if you buy from them. But would be nice if you let them know you visited their store due to this video. First youtube clip below is the Live version of Skylar Grey performing Stand by me. Just listen to the first 15 seconds after the vocal kicks in and then 15 seconds to the official one and you will see the difference. The Official one feels like the LSX (Processed) while the Live one feels like other speakers I compared to.(Normal) My cell phone autofocus keeps on hunting so I figure I will use my DSLR for now. Sorry if it was a bit shaky. ruclips.net/video/GvufXNkVijQ/видео.html ruclips.net/video/T2bcUxUOUQg/видео.html&start_radio=1
Your now going to be able to put out a lot of incredible content using the stores resources! Heck, its cheap advertising for them! Glad the room changed your perspective! With the volume levels you listen at, it's very important to have a treated room! Imagine going back, I beat you can't!😎🤗
@@vicg5323 it was the as1100 I think. I heard it with the kef r11. Sounded ok. We did feel it was slightly underpower for such a big speaker and big space but overall we thought it was pleasant.
Thomas & Stereo big room and big speakers ....not a good match for that amp but with a small room and smaller 8 ohm speakers and a Sacd source it is my reference. I do look forward to seeing your final setup so that I can upgrade.
"It's whatever sounds good to me. That's what counts!" ..... that right there is why I find myself returning again and again to your channel. You are a rare item in the audio world, a reviewer that helps us to see past all of the cliches and hype and leads us to what really matters. Your videos have helped me to be a better listener and to understand exactly what it is that I want my audio gear to do. You are performing a very valued service for all of us.
Thanks Dennis, appreciate the kind words. Although I do have the priviledge to listen and own many gear from different price range, I am very down to earth in real life.
Thanks Thomas. Enjoyed this and your LS50W review. Alex is spot on below, we can all read the spec, it`s an informed opinion we`re after and I also like the way you constantly remind us of individual taste.
Great review as usually. I have the Kef LSX and use them as my Pc speaker for a smaller room. They sound great and for the size and price I think finding better active speaker would be difficult. For me the Kef LSX speakers have been a ‘gateway drug’ and now I am considering the Kef LS50W or one of the other great speakers you have recommend for the living room. As others have pointed out : Kef LSX for smaller to medium sizes rooms is ideal and something like the Kef LS50W for the living room. (Especially for the price and features)
Yeah, I can imagine they work great in a smaller room. My room is 11x16x7 (maybe 8) and I felt it was ok. Perhaps my room is treated so it works well with any speaker I try in it now, either big or small.
Same situation - LSX was my gateway drug ultimately to the LS50W. Moved the LSX into the study then tried pair of passive LS50s in the living room powered with a Denon AVR. For two channel stereo didn't like that nearly as much as the LSX so replaced the passives with the actives and been very happy since then.
@@mfgillia7606 That sounds interesting. I have difficulty deciding. I have a Denon AVR-4200W Atmos Home Cinema with KEF 3005 7.1 with 2 fronts, 2 back and 2 upwards for Atmos. I want to replace the two front KEF's for the LS50 Wireless or the LSX. Then I can enjoy great HiFi and integrated these in better front sound in my home cinema. But I might be better off with the LS50 non-wireless... as I am not sure if this will work out. The wireless versions have no speaker in; only a aux-in. So will this work in a Home cinema setup? (without delays etc) Anyone has experience with this? + Also did you find LS50w better than the LS50?
@@EdPOD Your receiver has a full set of pre-outs so it will work for you just like it does for me. Just connect the left & right front pre-outs on the receiver to the Aux inputs on the LS50 wireless - aux is effectively analog speaker inputs. Will also work for the LSX but then you'll need a two into one RCA cable as the LSX aux doesn't have separate left & right inputs. Common issues / trade-offs myself and others report having with this setup are the usual usability issues with the LS50Ws (e.g., KEF apps don't work consistently, remote is subpar, can't tell which input is on unless use the app, assuming its working, or physically get up and go look on the display), very slight buzzing sound from LS50Ws when in home theater mode and having to turn on /off the speakers separately from Denon AVR although I get around this by programming my Logitech remote to turn both on/off together. Value to sound quality wise, this combination is probably very difficult to beat despite the issues noted above. When you want to listen to just 2 channel stereo you can put the Denon in direct / pure mode or alternatively turn it off entirely and just use the LS50Ws by themselves. If I had to do it over again I might go with more separates adding an integrated amp between the Denon and LS50s (or alternatively KEF floor standers) for the front left and right channels but no doubt I would then be spending much more money.
Dude. You simply nailed it for a good review. I'm your fan now. This is how reviews should project like rather than reading out the spec sheet and the branding propaganda the manufacturer rolled out :-) Cheers Bro
Audiophiles do what they do because intetentional or not, they are catching a wave to connect them to the universe. This is why there is progress and effort towards perfection. Never achieved, but always sought. Go Thomas! Thank you for the work you've done and the passion you have shared.
I was late to this channel but thanks, ur the one who actually talk the true, not only good, but bad as well. I own both ls50w and lsx and I can 100% sure u are telling us the true, with deep honest. Never heard such a review that is so pure with neutral stands. Please keep up with the great work.
I've been waiting for many years to find good quality speakers for my desk. I think getting two LSX would fit perfectly on my desk. Should get them delivered by tomorrow... Thank Thomas for your review, almost bought the LS50W until I saw their size in the store. But they were just too big to put on my desk!
Thanks for the video Thomas. Really cool of them to let you borrow them. These are really interesting speakers. And hey. I agree with you on what good sound is. Does it make you smile? Then it's good sound. That's it. Your room is looking great too BTW. Amazing!
Thanks, I think the room is the biggest upgrade I have done. ANYTHING sounds great now in my room! Yeah, I really appreciate that store for lending me a pair.
@@ThomasAndStereo Yea I've got to try something in my room. I'm very limited in space, and what I can do though. Where did you get the bass traps? Are they expensive? I really haven't looked into it enough, but some of the prices I've seen are a bit crazy sometimes. I need to find something that works. That doesn't cost a fortune. Even if I have to DIY. I guess I just have to do more research on it. I need something though, maybe even room correction, because I have the dreaded square room. And it's small. So it effects my bass.
Bass trap are expensive but I think it is the biggest improvement in my room happened after I put the bass trap in, I say just built your own, does not cost much and I am sure there are tons of tutorial out there. Only thing is to pay attention to the material you are going to put inside as it has to be efficient against low frequency. Bass is the most difficult part to deal with. Also, if you built your bass trap to be too asorbing, then your room will be too dead. My basstrap actually reflects high frequency in the front.
I don''t because it was kind of a DIY bass trap built by a studio. The studio upgraded their basstrap and this was leftover. Someone I knew did the upgrade for that studio and took these home. I luck out I know him and he sold it to me at a crazy low price.
Having heard both KEF actives. It's a case of you pay for, what you get. Yes, the LS50W are sonically better, as one should expect when considering that they are twice the price and larger. I seriously can't think of a modern small form active speaker, with similar features, that come close to these as an overall package. My wife and son, would have these (or the LS50W) in their rooms in a heartbeat and make me get rid of the other systems that I have dotted around the house. They heard them and love them, enough said, full stop. Family harmony is paramount.
Haha, family harmony is number one. I think the KEF LSX main advantage is it's size. Sure, there are better sounding similar speakers out there but I can't think of any for the size.
really good and down to earth video . you're spot on with the "does it sound good to me? do i like it?" i like these videos much better than the ones where you seem to be suggesting different types of interconnect cables and speaker wires will make any real world audible difference in the sound..
Wow what a great review!I took the time to listen to both "stand by me" versions (I was only familiar with the Ben e. king version) and totally understood what you were talking about! nothing better than a good example (perhaps only a great example-as was the case here). thank you!
This is spot on... it all comes done to what the user likes... everyone has different taste. At the same time we all cant spend 20k to 100k for a sound system. I wish... but for what its worth its all within your ability to afford what you like to enjoy.
I just put my deposit on a pair of LSX @ Centre HiFi. They're not my type of audio store but I have no choice. They are the only certified KEF dealer in the Greater Montreal area. And now the price is $1000 CAN, you can't beat that. I did mention your channel and the manager there was clueless. I guess you deal with the 10-30 location as this is the one you show at the beginning? I could be wrong. Cheers. Good work on your videos.
Mitch, which location did you purchase your speaker from? Centre HiFi locations have a ranking system from entry to regular all the way up to flagship. Entry location will have mostly Q series. Mid or regular location will have some LS series and the flagship locations will have R series, Blade and much better amplification.
Dear Thomas, thank you for this review. Telling us about your taste makes it easier to understand how you perceive sound. I am very curious to see and listen to your upcoming Totem Kin Play review. If possible please mention your thoughts on how they sound compared to the LS50W. Best regards from Munich
Thanks, originally I was going to compare the LS50w to the kinplay in the Kinplay review video but it's too long that video so I will probably make a separate video on it.
Thomas & Stereo Thomas & Stereo I wonder if two speakers really can sound the same if one is aktive and one is passive. Their power and signal path is different, so is their inside an back construction. I visited the Munich HighEnd show and asked Vince Bruzzese. He said the signal travels with the speed of light from the master to the slave so there is no perceivable delay. But isn‘t the crossover different? I missed the chance to ask him further questions. Lucy Lentini said the second patch of the KinPlays will be able to switch of the light that indicates the chosen input. Thats inportant to me while watching movies.
Well I think the crossover might be placed differently in the chain when comparing active and passive. The totem kinplay, I assume you heard it at the show, what do you think?
Thomas & Stereo Yes, I had the chance to listen to them. Unfortunately I only had the chance to stream Spotify via Bluetooth and my iPhone does not support aptx-HD. I wish that were possible but Apple... To judge their sound (at least to my liking) I have to listen to them at home in my living room, where I am used to the sound properties of the room. Next friday I will have a better listen to them in a store called MySound. He is the only one in Munich who sells Totem speakers. Btw he said the Tribe Towers are his bestsellers. For me the comparison to the LS50W and furthermore the upcoming Kanto TUK will be very interesting. The latter are Aktive/Passive too and they come with an AMT and USB-DAC next to aptx-HD and an phono preamp for only 799. I will definitely have a listen to them too. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Best regards from Munich
I agree with what you said in the video as i have heard both in store. For a small to medium room listening, lsx is a better fit. One may need to turn up the volume of ls50w (big speakers) a lot more to hear at its best, at which point is a little overbearing for small to medium room. I chose lsx for my room which is 11ftx11ft. I encourage everyone to have a listen at both first before making the purchase.
Spot on Thomas with the example videos! The second one is colored and very slightly echoy by comparison to the live, which has more immediacy. These speakers would perhaps suite people living in smallish apartments with a nice but minimal set up of amplification and sources. I would imagine anyone with higher aspirations about a more elaborate system would rather go for the LS50s or the equivalent wireless. Well done both, with the room treatment AND the store 'deal' to borrow stuff for evaluation. As long as you are not under obligation to give everything a 'thumps up' since they lend it to you. We should then expect many more products under your scrutiny! Well done!
Thanks, the store made it clear I have zero obligation so no need to worry. Usually I would only talk about stuff I like so you will not see a bad review from me. Partially is if I find something bad, it could be my gear, my taste that does not work well with the gear, so I would just not review it. Many times something that does not sound good at my place, sounds great at my friend's place. So because of that,I keep an open mind when something don't sound good.
@@ThomasAndStereo Oh yes, I know! The room 'syndrome' Of course, speakers interact differently with different rooms and, unfortunately, there's no 'solid' reference point with which you can compare your findings. I suppose Thomas, a totally anechoic room i.e. a room with no reflections at all such as some recording studios would be the only place to test something and be certain what you hear is the item under scrutiny and not the room. I think, the specs many manufacturers give about their products, refer to test under this type of condition (unechoic chamber). Anyway, it's always good to see / hear your findings on RUclips. Looking forward to the next one!
Good review and objective compared to all the online tremendous reviews online... I bought them expecting them to replace floor standing + amps to gain space, result (you bet) was HUGE disappointment !!!! I threw them in my room to replace my Sonos (good improvement here) and bought Kanta 2 (wow!) after for my living room. Thanks posting your videos, I’m following your channel and get clear advices on audiophile gear!
I got those speakers from Centre Hifi last month. They were on sale for two third of the normal retail price. I use them in a small apartment I have for work. In a word, they handle everything i throw at them with ease. No, this is not a hifi dream but for the price, the size, the fact they are a all inclusive package, their sound is way beyond my initial expectations. The apps to control them are a mess; I go around that using my pc and a Dragonfly dongle to feed them, MQA decoding solved this way too!
I promise this will not be a stream of opinions as nauseum but wanted to add a final not to say that I moved the speakers on S1 stand into my study that is not being used (work in progress) with lots of clutter on the floor but it is very damped which you can tell just walking into it. It is also half the size of my living room (which is not large) so playing at about 70 on the KEF app is plenty. I have no equipment there so only Airplay and KEF Streaming protocol. However I have always so far used the Ethernet to connect the speakers. I have realised that for these speakers wireless means wireless. Streaming using the KEF protocol using Roon is very special and for me the small damped room is an icing on the cake. I tried numerous connectivity options including with an Audioquest Cinnamon. I would say that these speakers come into their own using KEF’s streaming which is still not gapless for me. However I have now changed my mind about their use case and don’t expect more than they can offer. I got them at £749 instead of £999 open box from Peter Tyson with their own five year warranty. They were in as new condition including the strips around the cables definitely never been used. Got the stands £40 off cos white seems to be less fashionable but work great for me as my background is white and silver Atacama hifi rack. Think I will now risk atabites after which the stands won’t be returnable! I am on a tight budget being registered disabled since 2004. I think the LSXes will be keepers as they deliver a lot for size and convenience and my Macs pick them up an AirPlay after firmware updates so no need for cabling there.
I love all your videos Thomas and i watched them all. It alsk proves different people have differe t ears. I feel lsx is lacking the high frequencies or rolled off treble. Violins don't sound very rralistic due to the lack of high frequencg energy. But man, the sound is put together so nicely! They would be the perfect speakers for me if the treble is less rolled off.
I have been watching your video since the very beginning and I think you are the best speaker reviewer on RUclips. Thanks for all your high quality videos! I would love to hear your opinion on ascend acoustic speakers. As an audiophile you need to audition these speakers. I think they sound amazing. Really wondering what you think??
Thanks Mike and appreciate you sticking for long. We don't get Ascend here but I took a look at the site and I can understand why you regard them highly, Good components like SEAS drivers and RAAL True Ribbon tweeter, infact, they are not expensive at all. I would guess they sound good and they might be undercharging.
Finally got these to work. One of the Apps with this speaker in its support list doesn’t work. Found the correct App. Hey do sound pretty good. I have these in my plans for rough mix studio monitors. And to stream, and play external hard wired sources. But I just came across a link showing the LSXII with an HDMI connection. Release date?
Another honest, insightful review Thomas. I'd be interested to hear them against the Elac Navis with it's analogue amps. Or maybe their bigger brother is more of a comparison in price and size.
Thanks James, I think the Navis would be better compared to the LS50w as their price is closer. I heard it at the Montreal audio show and the Navis bass was quite impressive.
Always a fan of your videos. Well said how “you like to listen to it” I am running S400’s with a CXA-81, some say not matched well. I simply do not agree. I think they help the S400’s sound better at low listening.
would you recommend this to me if I listen to classical music? I‘m looking for a big soundstage but I‘ve found a good deal on these.. so im now deciding between q150 and these
I have adam a7x for about a week now and I found something very interesting, their tweeters are very detailed and airy yet so soft, I would love to see you review a speaker with ribbon tweeters in the future as I like to see how they compare to the other types. I don't know a better person to describe tweeters.
I was looking at their website and it seems they got a few good reviews. Price seems reasonable and it's great you enjoy them. Perhaps in the future I will, right now, I have 2 other active speaker to review.
@Thomas & Stereo sorry for hijacking the comments :).i would like to hear your impressions. for a 10 qm room I am currently using klipsch the fives + subwoofer. i was always wondering kef ls50 wireless or the lsx would be a better choice. since you heard to all of them, I would like to here your opinion on this. thank you! thomas
@@0x21co Well LS50, you are listening to 'high end' audio where things like soundstage, instrument separation, layering is good. However, not everyone cares about that. If you are enjoying THE Fives, you will be disappointed in the LS50 in the sense you will feel it lack bass and dynamics. However, from an audiophile point of view, nuance bass is more important than punchy bass. So you have to know which kind of audiophile you are.
@@ThomasAndStereo i guess for me soundstage and separation is far more important. if I need more bass, I can add a sub in any cases ;). thank you for your answer! btw I disabled the dynamic bass eq on the fives because I think it is sometimes to much
There aren’t a whole lot of speakers that have a front port to lend them to desktop listening.Many speakers are not voiced for near field.But what can you expect at this price point?The Audioengine A2+!is great (I oneness then) and I read that Edifierr and Swan at 400 are a good bet.But you can’t expect these speakers to equal the size difference with the LS50 which might be to big for many desks.And you can’t expect LS50 to equal say a Harbeth PS3R with a $1K amp or perhaps a $2-3K amplifued monitor like the $2K Focal 6 or a PMC Fact 6 both of which I hear deliver the goods.But this looks like a size,performance utilitarian winner for many folks
Hi Thomas, what's a better set up to listen to kef lsx through your phone via dragonfly cobalt to kef lsx via aux cable or purchase m11 pro connect to kef via aux. If the kef has its own DAC do I need an external DAC? I listen with RUclips music premiem! Thanks
I would say try using the internal DAC first. Even if you use an external DAC, the improvement might be very small unless you go with an expensive DAC. I remember reading everything goes thru its DSP, I am not too sure but you might want to email and ask them. I no longer have this unit so I can't really test it.
Thank you for Review, just purchased these for my desktop setup, can I please ask which Subwoofer would you recomend to add for Kef LSX ? My room is 13m2. Appreciate your answer Thanks
@@Protiling I also have the LSX and now Im looking for a sub. How is the Rel t7? is it overkill for the LSX? Im afraid of buying a sub thats too big for these small speakers. (they arriving this satuday) Thank you!!
Hi, thanls for your review, i bought these speakers 6 months ago and i really like it :) I think these speakers are more to listen quietly at home as a audiophile Guy... For me these speakers lack a bit of spatialization. Sometimes when you have some friends at home, you want a sound suitable to a lounge atmosphere, i'm wondering if i should add a subwoofer to have more bass for this atmosphere wanted ? What do you think ? ( sorry i'm french my english isn't well)
Adding a sub will add depth to your soundstage and make the system sound bigger. Have you tried using the DSP software with these speakers. I do speak French too.
If those who want a pair wireless active bookshelf speaker without paying heaps try Edifier S2000Pro cheap and sounds really good for the price about US$375.
Thanks for the review. Would you suggest LS50W or LSX as desktop speakers? I am also looking at Dynaudio Xeo 10, Neumann KH 80 DSP and Acoustic Energy AE1. Thanks.
In your opinion, how do these speakers compare to KEFs Q series (if you are familiar with them)? I have the Q100s, if I buy the LSX shouldnt I expect them to outperform my current speakers on every level given their price tag? From some reviews and sound demos ive heard it seems like they might not.
Not really, in the sense that you want stronger bass or soundstage to really feel the difference. So for you to really level up, LS50w or Tower speakers.
I have thought about getting the KEF Q-350, but I’m hearing a lot of mixed opinions about it, but I’m hearing the LS-50’s are amazing from a lot of people, but much more expensive!
D V the Edifier S3000 Pro’s are an active speaker which is handy, but I’d rather use my own power amplifier to power my speakers. They look pretty nice though.
I have the original Q300's and a pair of LS50's. If you can, I would recommend skipping the Q-350's and going straight to the LS50's. It's a big step up in sound and definitely worth the extra money. I have the LS50's paired with a SVS SB-1000 sub and it's turned out to be the perfect system for me.
D V right now I’m using a Yamaha 7.1ch receiver and Sherwood bookshelf speakers and I’m not liking my set up at all. Eventually I want to go back to a 2ch HiFi set up, and get a decent amplifier. I have 4 bookshelf speakers on my list, the KEF Q350, Bronze Audio, Klipsch RP-600M and the Elac B6.2. Still undecided about which amplifier I want to go with, so many ways I can go with that.
Diatonic5th I have heard the KEF Q350’s and the stereo imaging is incredible, better than anything else I have heard so far, having said that I haven’t heard the other 3 speakers on my list yet. Would love to see what the LS-50’s are capable of doing as far as bass, clarity, detail, soundstage and imaging.
Yes it's sounding nice in your room not too dead not too lively, how is that made you think about speakers you've heard before now listening to them in your new room, I bet some of them sound great now if you've had the chance especially bright speakers? What are the bass traps did you make them yourself what is the padding rockwool natural lambswool?
I got those bass trap off someone I know who got them when helping update a recording studio. He told me he will get me some info on them since people are asking. Yeah, none of my speakers are bright now...I have the opposite problem and that is why I took away the carpet.
@@ThomasAndStereo well if they're from a studio I hazard a guess would say they're rockwool you can tell because it's a hard material but looks like fibreglass that should tell you. If you want to bring the brightness partially back again. Have a gap where the tweeter would be the panels next to the speakers on the side walls give yourself about 12" gap tween the panel in the vertical plane or have no panel above the top of the speaker. You have different sizes of speaker they should be roughly the same height tho! maybe cutting a panel up and have it velcroed so you can remove it easily four different types of speaker different types of woofer drivers will have a bearing. Try like this first taking the other panels away just leave the ones next to the speakers ones next to your sitting position do away with the rest on the side walls maybe just a small panel where the woofer would be to leave the wall above the woofer open for the treble to Bounce if this make sense. Basically you got to do some tweaking start off with what I just said and the other panels put them back but maybe smaller ones shifting around in different positions. not sure I'm convinced by this mirror technique people use is that what you used? especially the panels next to your sitting position you're looking for double reflection not singular reflection hear! not the direct reflection from the speaker so move this panel back may be level with your feet but don't extend it any further forward then that see how you get on let us know. if you have two mirrors when you're sitting in your perfect position put one mirror between the speaker and the chair exactly cente,. on the opposite wall move the other mirror till you can see the opposite mirror should be roughly in line with your seat or slightly ahead of it might be where you need to place deflection better or panels but of course different frequencies have different length so you could be exhausting the low frequencies quite easily but you want the high frequencies to miss these points or mid-range frequencies. that's why it's not a perfect science and tweaking it forward and backwards and not going overboard
So I just found out they have 2 types of fiberboard in them, basically they perform well because of there size and air gaps and they only trap below 300 cycles because of the membrane. Right now, the brightness and liveliness is actually perfect. It depends on the speaker too. If I have bright speakers, I might want to add the carpet back but so far I don't need to. I am waiting for one more pair of panel for the back of the room but so far, I feel it sounds good so I will wait a bit later before tweaking them. It's interesting with the 2 mirroir technic, I never thought about it. I treated the first reflection point Also, just the way my room is setup, I end up having that gap you mentioned in how I position my panels. I will slowly tweak them.
@Thomas what do you about the KEF Egg for a desktop speaker? I am thinking of getting the KEF Egg and hook them up to my Macbook pro mainly for music and movies etc... Do you recommend?
See my comment above/below, I own the Egg and I really like them! Having said that I am a average audio guy and the Egg replaced some 'acceptable' 2.1 speaker system, so I lack some proper 1to1 quality comparison, but from listening (at a friend or in a shop) to bigger tower speakers and other (pricier) active systems I think they are very good price/quality wise. Just don't expect the most bass and highest volumes, it is more about clearity. As you find online a lot of good (sometimes paid and exaggerated) reviews I can confirm the quality and clear sound, I hear things I never heard before and I listen to much lower volumes now due to clearity, dynamic range, etc. Personally I wished I bought the LSX, because I use the Egg with a subwoofer for my TV and on occasion I want a bit higher volume. My advice for your use, close listening - only with pc, safe the money buy the Egg and maybe add a subwoofer (personal preference).
@@trilosima9952 Thank you for your response. I will mainly use it for my laptop close range listening for music and movies etc... I also like the LSX though it is pricy but i thing the LSX is more of a bookshelf speaker and could be an overkill for a desktop use! If the price was a bit lower then possibly and also would be better if they add a USP port too! The clarity is very important for vocals, musical instruments and cinematic sound! I believe and as you mentioned the Egg should achieve that in a close range listening. I was hoping KEF do an upgrade to the EGG to match the LSX power range and wireless streaming etc... cheers
My panels are these www.avshop.ca/recording-acoustic-treatment/primacoustic-london-10-studio-kit-grey?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5J_mBRDVARIsAGqGLZA4uTCAuAjB9ROSe1R5Usp5zQ9WenAGwVnOZavV5w45XUE9PTHFEQIaAq7rEALw_wcB The diffusers are vicoustics Bass trap is something I got from a studio thanks to someone I know when they were renovating the place. If you are in Montreal, I can connect you with that person if you are looking for panels.
Please, Thomas! Review the Edifier Airpulse A300. People who heard these speakers say that they sound like if they cost from 2 to 5 times more then they actually are! Can you confirm or deny this claim?
I personally go with sealed port sub if my priority is music. Small enough to keep up with the speed of the LSX. Having said that, I am no expert at sub so might not be the best person to give advice.
Dear Thomas, may I seek your professional advice to compare KEF LSX and Klipsch "the five". The sound quality and features you find positive about them? Appreciate any inputs.
@@ThomasAndStereo very few review on the net I must say. Just the 80th anniversary one's. They definitely looks retro and well build. By the way thks for replying and I must say I compliment ur all videos, good job Thomas.
Hello Thomas, thank you I was waiting for your honest opinion about the LSX. I have question, do you have experience with the KEF Egg active speaker. I ask you this because just before the LSX were released I bought the KEF Egg 🤦. The LSX are ~3x more expensive but have the same size uni-q ( although the egg doesn't have the reinforcement ribs in the cone) and the LSX have twice the power. I use the Egg with my old Bob Carver Sunfire Junior subwoofer. What are your thoughts, would the LSX be a big improvement, or is is mostly the bass that sets the LSX apart from the Egg? Thank you! I always enjoyed you honest no nonsense opinion without any vague 'audiophile' terms, keep up the good work!
Hey, I actually never heard a KEF Eff active speaker, I did not even know they exist. I knew the passive ones but sadly I never heard them too. If I were to guess, if you want a big jump, you have to go to KEF LS50w. Sure, the LSX should be better in theory but there is a limit to it's bass improvement due to size. If I ever get to hear the EGG, I will let you know, right now I am just guessing out of the blue so don't take my word seriously. Thanks
I would like to watch that also? I am looking for some active bookshelf speakers and I can not choose between the kef lsx, the kanto tuk and the klipsch sixes... which one would you pick?
@@ThomasAndStereo I want to buy active speakers for my bedroom, I listen to a lot of Indian music prefer something that is not too heavy on bass and looking for absolute clarity both on lower and higher volumes. Which one would you recommend
If you don’t need build in DAC or streaming. The new Tannoy Gold 5 Active Monitors sound better to my ears, more detailed and extended at the top, at half the price.
In your opinion what would be the limit of speaker separation and listening distance for the LSX in your room. Often I see reviewers' experience is really about from desktop, rather than smaller TV sitting distances 6 ft or greater. Thank you.
@@ThomasAndStereo It's just that I have been thinking about if the KEF LS50W really is better than the KEF LSX. I own the KEF LSX and a REL S/3 SHO. The LSX really struggles in a lot of songs when you turn up the volume, and a lot of songs need volume so you can experience all of that dynamic range. At high volumes it is as if the bass steals its midrange performance. However, when I set the REL to play up to 100 hz and the LSX up from 100 hz, the LSX is kind of free to sing/do its thing.
Nice video . can you please compare the LSX to LS50W i want to buy one but i have small room and dont got room treated. Is the ls50w worth the double price i heard that it can produce sound like 20k systems ?
Hi Seban, I made a video comparing the LSW50 vs the LS50, check that out where I talk about the 20k system comparison question. The LS50w is not just a question of size, it's smoother and I feel like I am listening to a decent 'high end' speaker and the LSX is more like a super good computer speaker. Having said that, it depends on the people, if I take 100 people on the street, they probably will feel the LS50w sounds like a big speaker with stronger bass only. For audiophiles like us who have the hearing of a bat, the gap is very big.
@@ThomasAndStereo thank you Thomas for detailed answer. My big trouble i was always used headphones my reference is hd800S with hdv820 balanced with silver cables. I know it is apple and orange but i cant decide if i should buy the Sennheiser Hd800 and a realy good headphone amp and dac maybe chord hugo 2 or buy Kef LS50W . i am total newbie to speaker world but i know what is realy good balanced detailed sound. You know they says i can reach reference sound with headphones much less cost than speakers. But i dont have 20k for system. So the big question is that LS50w can provide as detailed as holograpic soundstage like a properly driven hd800 headphone ? Sorry for my newbiness
I see, I don't use headphones so I would have no idea. If I were to guess, headphone will have the advantage of creating a big holographic soundstage while speakers, if done properly can create a more realistic holographic soundstage where you feel the singer in front of you. Can headphone create that illusion where the singer is infront of you? I have no idea so my comment is really not helpful when comparing both. Sorry.
Hey Thomas I really like Bluetooth a lot more now than I use to I bought a 799.00 Pioneer elite sx-n30 class AB HI-Res Reciever/ Intergrated amp And it has spotify intergration and sounds as good as my cds it's crazy !! So I had to open it up and the digital side has 73 mini compasitors and hell of built in Dac I was wondering Do you think they'll ever build a DSD Bluetooth ? just amazed by it ! I've owned a lot of audio in the last 30 years and i think Bluetooth is the future of music play back And me not a fan of DSP wish you and Sean could come hangout and hear my refurbished vintage HPM 100s I got 400 bucks in just the cross over upgrades why haven't you ever uploaded more vintage speakers the hpm 100s 4way 4 speaker 75 pounds each they 'll surprise ya ! just curious thanks again for video
Yeah, it would be nice for us to drop by and hang out. I do have local subscribers dropping by to listen actually. I am pretty easy going. I think the problem with DSD bluetooth is bandwidth. It can barely handle 48k I think right now with Aptx HD bluetooth? Perhaps one day.
i would second that, i just got a used spendor, the Spendor SA1 from 2009. its quite amazing, especially nearfield. now finally i hear a difference from my metal tweeters. and that sealed cabinets does wonders to the sound :) the new classic lineup only has sealed in first and last speaker, so its not easy to get, but once you go sealed you never go back.
@@sudd3660 I would care less about port noise and problem, can easily solve with some kitchen paper rolls, in a well treated room the port most probably help bass to be more powerful than without port, I'm eyeing on Classic 3/1 :P, here's the link ruclips.net/video/_Qaw4X-xI9c/видео.html, looks great and seem to be safe bet to me?
Just a note that I do not get paid to mention about Centre Hifi or if you buy from them. But would be nice if you let them know you visited their store due to this video.
First youtube clip below is the Live version of Skylar Grey performing Stand by me. Just listen to the first 15 seconds after the vocal kicks in and then 15 seconds to the official one and you will see the difference.
The Official one feels like the LSX (Processed) while the Live one feels like other speakers I compared to.(Normal)
My cell phone autofocus keeps on hunting so I figure I will use my DSLR for now. Sorry if it was a bit shaky.
ruclips.net/video/GvufXNkVijQ/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/T2bcUxUOUQg/видео.html&start_radio=1
Your now going to be able to put out a lot of incredible content using the stores resources! Heck, its cheap advertising for them! Glad the room changed your perspective! With the volume levels you listen at, it's very important to have a treated room! Imagine going back, I beat you can't!😎🤗
Thomas did you listen to the Yamaha AS2100 . It was at end of this video,?
@@vicg5323 it was the as1100 I think. I heard it with the kef r11. Sounded ok. We did feel it was slightly underpower for such a big speaker and big space but overall we thought it was pleasant.
Thomas & Stereo big room and big speakers ....not a good match for that amp but with a small room and smaller 8 ohm speakers and a Sacd source it is my reference. I do look forward to seeing your final setup so that I can upgrade.
REMAINDER: "If you will have time,ELAC FS 249 review or sound demo, please" ! THANK'S !!!
"It's whatever sounds good to me. That's what counts!"
..... that right there is why I find myself returning again and again to your channel.
You are a rare item in the audio world, a reviewer that helps us to see past all of the cliches and hype and leads us to what really matters.
Your videos have helped me to be a better listener and to understand exactly what it is that I want my audio gear to do.
You are performing a very valued service for all of us.
Thanks Dennis, appreciate the kind words. Although I do have the priviledge to listen and own many gear from different price range, I am very down to earth in real life.
Stepped up your production game! Good job bro!
Thanks for your great contribution to the hifi loving community via all your informative videos Thomas.
Your comparison of the live song vs the other made me smile, such an amazing comparison!
Thanks Thomas. Enjoyed this and your LS50W review. Alex is spot on below, we can all read the spec, it`s an informed opinion we`re after and I also like the way you constantly remind us of individual taste.
Thank you Thomas for the great review. I really like the way you explain how the LSX speakers sound. Very easy to understand.
Great review as usually. I have the Kef LSX and use them as my Pc speaker for a smaller room. They sound great and for the size and price I think finding better active speaker would be difficult.
For me the Kef LSX speakers have been a ‘gateway drug’ and now I am considering the Kef LS50W or one of the other great speakers you have recommend for the living room.
As others have pointed out : Kef LSX for smaller to medium sizes rooms is ideal and something like the Kef LS50W for the living room. (Especially for the price and features)
Yeah, I can imagine they work great in a smaller room. My room is 11x16x7 (maybe 8) and I felt it was ok. Perhaps my room is treated so it works well with any speaker I try in it now, either big or small.
Same situation - LSX was my gateway drug ultimately to the LS50W. Moved the LSX into the study then tried pair of passive LS50s in the living room powered with a Denon AVR. For two channel stereo didn't like that nearly as much as the LSX so replaced the passives with the actives and been very happy since then.
@@mfgillia7606 That sounds interesting. I have difficulty deciding. I have a Denon AVR-4200W Atmos Home Cinema with KEF 3005 7.1 with 2 fronts, 2 back and 2 upwards for Atmos. I want to replace the two front KEF's for the LS50 Wireless or the LSX. Then I can enjoy great HiFi and integrated these in better front sound in my home cinema. But I might be better off with the LS50 non-wireless... as I am not sure if this will work out. The wireless versions have no speaker in; only a aux-in. So will this work in a Home cinema setup? (without delays etc) Anyone has experience with this? + Also did you find LS50w better than the LS50?
@@EdPOD Your receiver has a full set of pre-outs so it will work for you just like it does for me. Just connect the left & right front pre-outs on the receiver to the Aux inputs on the LS50 wireless - aux is effectively analog speaker inputs. Will also work for the LSX but then you'll need a two into one RCA cable as the LSX aux doesn't have separate left & right inputs.
Common issues / trade-offs myself and others report having with this setup are the usual usability issues with the LS50Ws (e.g., KEF apps don't work consistently, remote is subpar, can't tell which input is on unless use the app, assuming its working, or physically get up and go look on the display), very slight buzzing sound from LS50Ws when in home theater mode and having to turn on /off the speakers separately from Denon AVR although I get around this by programming my Logitech remote to turn both on/off together.
Value to sound quality wise, this combination is probably very difficult to beat despite the issues noted above. When you want to listen to just 2 channel stereo you can put the Denon in direct / pure mode or alternatively turn it off entirely and just use the LS50Ws by themselves. If I had to do it over again I might go with more separates adding an integrated amp between the Denon and LS50s (or alternatively KEF floor standers) for the front left and right channels but no doubt I would then be spending much more money.
Dude. You simply nailed it for a good review. I'm your fan now. This is how reviews should project like rather than reading out the spec sheet and the branding propaganda the manufacturer rolled out :-) Cheers Bro
Audiophiles do what they do because intetentional or not, they are catching a wave to connect them to the universe. This is why there is progress and effort towards perfection. Never achieved, but always sought. Go Thomas! Thank you for the work you've done and the passion you have shared.
Thanks! Good to hear from you.
Love the room update Thomas. Thanks for another great video..
Thanks for giving your opinion on this, many revierwers just read the spec sheets, this is what a review is meant to be ✌️
I was late to this channel but thanks, ur the one who actually talk the true, not only good, but bad as well. I own both ls50w and lsx and I can 100% sure u are telling us the true, with deep honest. Never heard such a review that is so pure with neutral stands. Please keep up with the great work.
Thanks, glad you have the same experience as me.
"I own both ls50w and lsx"
So which one do you prefer, would you be able to live with LSX if you had to choose one?
I've been waiting for many years to find good quality speakers for my desk. I think getting two LSX would fit perfectly on my desk. Should get them delivered by tomorrow... Thank Thomas for your review, almost bought the LS50W until I saw their size in the store. But they were just too big to put on my desk!
Let us know what you think about the LSX.
how did you find the lsx bro?
Thanks for the video Thomas. Really cool of them to let you borrow them. These are really interesting speakers. And hey. I agree with you on what good sound is. Does it make you smile? Then it's good sound. That's it. Your room is looking great too BTW. Amazing!
Thanks, I think the room is the biggest upgrade I have done. ANYTHING sounds great now in my room! Yeah, I really appreciate that store for lending me a pair.
@@ThomasAndStereo Yea I've got to try something in my room. I'm very limited in space, and what I can do though. Where did you get the bass traps? Are they expensive?
I really haven't looked into it enough, but some of the prices I've seen are a bit crazy sometimes. I need to find something that works. That doesn't cost a fortune. Even if I have to DIY. I guess I just have to do more research on it. I need something though, maybe even room correction, because I have the dreaded square room. And it's small. So it effects my bass.
Bass trap are expensive but I think it is the biggest improvement in my room happened after I put the bass trap in, I say just built your own, does not cost much and I am sure there are tons of tutorial out there. Only thing is to pay attention to the material you are going to put inside as it has to be efficient against low frequency. Bass is the most difficult part to deal with. Also, if you built your bass trap to be too asorbing, then your room will be too dead. My basstrap actually reflects high frequency in the front.
@@ThomasAndStereo Do you have a website link to the one's you have?
I don''t because it was kind of a DIY bass trap built by a studio. The studio upgraded their basstrap and this was leftover. Someone I knew did the upgrade for that studio and took these home. I luck out I know him and he sold it to me at a crazy low price.
Having heard both KEF actives. It's a case of you pay for, what you get. Yes, the LS50W are sonically better, as one should expect when considering that they are twice the price and larger. I seriously can't think of a modern small form active speaker, with similar features, that come close to these as an overall package.
My wife and son, would have these (or the LS50W) in their rooms in a heartbeat and make me get rid of the other systems that I have dotted around the house. They heard them and love them, enough said, full stop. Family harmony is paramount.
Haha, family harmony is number one. I think the KEF LSX main advantage is it's size. Sure, there are better sounding similar speakers out there but I can't think of any for the size.
Have the lsx since a few days and I'm absolutely loving it!
Great to hear!
really good and down to earth video . you're spot on with the "does it sound good to me? do i like it?"
i like these videos much better than the ones where you seem to be suggesting different types of interconnect cables and speaker wires will make any real world audible difference in the sound..
Wow what a great review!I took the time to listen to both "stand by me" versions (I was only familiar with the Ben e. king version) and totally understood what you were talking about! nothing better than a good example (perhaps only a great example-as was the case here). thank you!
This is spot on... it all comes done to what the user likes... everyone has different taste. At the same time we all cant spend 20k to 100k for a sound system. I wish... but for what its worth its all within your ability to afford what you like to enjoy.
I just put my deposit on a pair of LSX @ Centre HiFi. They're not my type of audio store but I have no choice. They are the only certified KEF dealer in the Greater Montreal area. And now the price is $1000 CAN, you can't beat that. I did mention your channel and the manager there was clueless. I guess you deal with the 10-30 location as this is the one you show at the beginning? I could be wrong. Cheers. Good work on your videos.
Thanks for letting me know, appreciate it.
Mitch, which location did you purchase your speaker from? Centre HiFi locations have a ranking system from entry to regular all the way up to flagship. Entry location will have mostly Q series. Mid or regular location will have some LS series and the flagship locations will have R series, Blade and much better amplification.
nice.that store is lucky enough to be reviewed their stuffs by an honest reviewer like you and it will help boost their sales.
Dear Thomas, thank you for this review. Telling us about your taste makes it easier to understand how you perceive sound. I am very curious to see and listen to your upcoming Totem Kin Play review. If possible please mention your thoughts on how they sound compared to the LS50W. Best regards from Munich
Thanks, originally I was going to compare the LS50w to the kinplay in the Kinplay review video but it's too long that video so I will probably make a separate video on it.
Thomas & Stereo Please!!! 🎶😍🎶
Thomas & Stereo Thomas & Stereo I wonder if two speakers really can sound the same if one is aktive and one is passive. Their power and signal path is different, so is their inside an back construction. I visited the Munich HighEnd show and asked Vince Bruzzese. He said the signal travels with the speed of light from the master to the slave so there is no perceivable delay. But isn‘t the crossover different? I missed the chance to ask him further questions. Lucy Lentini said the second patch of the KinPlays will be able to switch of the light that indicates the chosen input. Thats inportant to me while watching movies.
Well I think the crossover might be placed differently in the chain when comparing active and passive. The totem kinplay, I assume you heard it at the show, what do you think?
Thomas & Stereo Yes, I had the chance to listen to them. Unfortunately I only had the chance to stream Spotify via Bluetooth and my iPhone does not support aptx-HD. I wish that were possible but Apple...
To judge their sound (at least to my liking) I have to listen to them at home in my living room, where I am used to the sound properties of the room.
Next friday I will have a better listen to them in a store called MySound. He is the only one in Munich who sells Totem speakers. Btw he said the Tribe Towers are his bestsellers.
For me the comparison to the LS50W and furthermore the upcoming Kanto TUK will be very interesting. The latter are Aktive/Passive too and they come with an AMT and USB-DAC next to aptx-HD and an phono preamp for only 799. I will definitely have a listen to them too. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Best regards from Munich
I agree with what you said in the video as i have heard both in store. For a small to medium room listening, lsx is a better fit. One may need to turn up the volume of ls50w (big speakers) a lot more to hear at its best, at which point is a little overbearing for small to medium room. I chose lsx for my room which is 11ftx11ft. I encourage everyone to have a listen at both first before making the purchase.
Actually I have both and ls50ws sound more revealing to my ears at low volumes when compared to lsx.
great review i bought LSX and its fabulous.
Awesome, love your metaphors!
Spot on Thomas with the example videos!
The second one is colored and very slightly echoy by comparison to the live, which has more immediacy.
These speakers would perhaps suite people living in smallish apartments with a nice but minimal set up of amplification and sources.
I would imagine anyone with higher aspirations about a more elaborate system would rather go for the LS50s or the equivalent wireless.
Well done both, with the room treatment AND the store 'deal' to borrow stuff for evaluation. As long as you are not under obligation to
give everything a 'thumps up' since they lend it to you.
We should then expect many more products under your scrutiny! Well done!
Thanks, the store made it clear I have zero obligation so no need to worry. Usually I would only talk about stuff I like so you will not see a bad review from me. Partially is if I find something bad, it could be my gear, my taste that does not work well with the gear, so I would just not review it. Many times something that does not sound good at my place, sounds great at my friend's place. So because of that,I keep an open mind when something don't sound good.
@@ThomasAndStereo
Oh yes, I know! The room 'syndrome'
Of course, speakers interact differently with different rooms and, unfortunately, there's no 'solid' reference point with which you can compare your findings.
I suppose Thomas, a totally anechoic room i.e. a room with no reflections at all such as some recording studios would be the only place to test something and be certain
what you hear is the item under scrutiny and not the room.
I think, the specs many manufacturers give about their products, refer to test under this type of condition (unechoic chamber).
Anyway, it's always good to see / hear your findings on RUclips. Looking forward to the next one!
Good review and objective compared to all the online tremendous reviews online... I bought them expecting them to replace floor standing + amps to gain space, result (you bet) was HUGE disappointment !!!!
I threw them in my room to replace my Sonos (good improvement here) and bought Kanta 2 (wow!) after for my living room.
Thanks posting your videos, I’m following your channel and get clear advices on audiophile gear!
Thanks! 👍
I got those speakers from Centre Hifi last month. They were on sale for two third of the normal retail price. I use them in a small apartment I have for work. In a word, they handle everything i throw at them with ease. No, this is not a hifi dream but for the price, the size, the fact they are a all inclusive package, their sound is way beyond my initial expectations. The apps to control them are a mess; I go around that using my pc and a Dragonfly dongle to feed them, MQA decoding solved this way too!
Nice, thanks for sharing!
I promise this will not be a stream of opinions as nauseum but wanted to add a final not to say that I moved the speakers on S1 stand into my study that is not being used (work in progress) with lots of clutter on the floor but it is very damped which you can tell just walking into it. It is also half the size of my living room (which is not large) so playing at about 70 on the KEF app is plenty. I have no equipment there so only Airplay and KEF Streaming protocol. However I have always so far used the Ethernet to connect the speakers. I have realised that for these speakers wireless means wireless. Streaming using the KEF protocol using Roon is very special and for me the small damped room is an icing on the cake. I tried numerous connectivity options including with an Audioquest Cinnamon. I would say that these speakers come into their own using KEF’s streaming which is still not gapless for me. However I have now changed my mind about their use case and don’t expect more than they can offer. I got them at £749 instead of £999 open box from Peter Tyson with their own five year warranty. They were in as new condition including the strips around the cables definitely never been used. Got the stands £40 off cos white seems to be less fashionable but work great for me as my background is white and silver Atacama hifi rack. Think I will now risk atabites after which the stands won’t be returnable! I am on a tight budget being registered disabled since 2004. I think the LSXes will be keepers as they deliver a lot for size and convenience and my Macs pick them up an AirPlay after firmware updates so no need for cabling there.
I love all your videos Thomas and i watched them all. It alsk proves different people have differe t ears. I feel lsx is lacking the high frequencies or rolled off treble. Violins don't sound very rralistic due to the lack of high frequencg energy. But man, the sound is put together so nicely! They would be the perfect speakers for me if the treble is less rolled off.
I have been watching your video since the very beginning and I think you are the best speaker reviewer on RUclips. Thanks for all your high quality videos!
I would love to hear your opinion on ascend acoustic speakers. As an audiophile you need to audition these speakers. I think they sound amazing. Really wondering what you think??
Thanks Mike and appreciate you sticking for long.
We don't get Ascend here but I took a look at the site and I can understand why you regard them highly, Good components like SEAS drivers and RAAL True Ribbon tweeter, infact, they are not expensive at all. I would guess they sound good and they might be undercharging.
@@ThomasAndStereo People have also compared them to the Focal 936 ;). I really wish one day you will get to hear them.
Great review! Thanks for posting.
Awesome video, great explanation by examples :)
Great food analogy BTW.
Finally got these to work. One of the Apps with this speaker in its support list doesn’t work. Found the correct App. Hey do sound pretty good. I have these in my plans for rough mix studio monitors.
And to stream, and play external hard wired sources. But I just came across a link showing the LSXII with an HDMI connection. Release date?
Another honest, insightful review Thomas. I'd be interested to hear them against the Elac Navis with it's analogue amps. Or maybe their bigger brother is more of a comparison in price and size.
Thanks James, I think the Navis would be better compared to the LS50w as their price is closer. I heard it at the Montreal audio show and the Navis bass was quite impressive.
Heck yeah building my 12by15 also almost perfect square can't wait till it's done !
For me the biggest difference was the bass trap. Good luck.
Always a fan of your videos. Well said how “you like to listen to it” I am running S400’s with a CXA-81, some say not matched well. I simply do not agree. I think they help the S400’s sound better at low listening.
Great video Thomas! When they say "the chef recommends no soy sauce" then I respond "Well the chef aint eating it!"
Haha, well said.
Oh, found the video I'm looking for. I wonder what you think of LSX against the Klipsch the Fives?
I have these in white, hooked into my mac mini through AUX BUT, through a dragon fly usb. In a few days im hooking up a kube 10 :)
Personally I've never been a fan of KEF speakers, however the LS series along the Reference 3 and Reference 5 are definitely impressive. Great review.
Dutch & Dutch 8c active DSP speakers will blow your mind (preamp, amp, Room correction and sub in a monitor)
would you recommend this to me if I listen to classical music? I‘m looking for a big soundstage but I‘ve found a good deal on these..
so im now deciding between q150 and these
For classical music, don't you want the sense of scale? If yes, these probably will sound 'small' for you.
@@ThomasAndStereo
you could say I want to be immersed as much as possible.
thx for the answer
I have adam a7x for about a week now and I found something very interesting, their tweeters are very detailed and airy yet so soft, I would love to see you review a speaker with ribbon tweeters in the future as I like to see how they compare to the other types. I don't know a better person to describe tweeters.
I was looking at their website and it seems they got a few good reviews. Price seems reasonable and it's great you enjoy them. Perhaps in the future I will, right now, I have 2 other active speaker to review.
For a moment I thought you were going to treat us with a karaoke session 😎
may i ask whats the song at 8:15? thanks in advance
ruclips.net/video/eRbOdWkgGNk/видео.html
Do these sound better than Bose revolve plus? Please help me decide!
Sorry, never heard Bose Revolve.
@@ThomasAndStereo its this one. ruclips.net/video/nBYIcVkgels/видео.html
Just bought these and suing as my computer speakers via AUX. Could you please advise if a DAC can improve the sound a lot?
Room is looking great with the treatments. Nice and tidy in there now as well. Any chance for a review on the Totem Sky Tower?
Thanks!
I have the Sky bookshelf, might review that one instead.
i agree dont be bulled by audio snobs its what sounds good to you after all its you listening to the system mostly
@Thomas & Stereo sorry for hijacking the comments :).i would like to hear your impressions. for a 10 qm room I am currently using klipsch the fives + subwoofer. i was always wondering kef ls50 wireless or the lsx would be a better choice. since you heard to all of them, I would like to here your opinion on this. thank you! thomas
LS50 sounds more like an audiophile speaker with more refined top and balance bass. LSX, feels like a small speaker.
@@ThomasAndStereo thank you for answering. and how would you rate the ls50 to the klipsch? btw I am listening nearly only to vinyl
@@0x21co Well LS50, you are listening to 'high end' audio where things like soundstage, instrument separation, layering is good. However, not everyone cares about that. If you are enjoying THE Fives, you will be disappointed in the LS50 in the sense you will feel it lack bass and dynamics. However, from an audiophile point of view, nuance bass is more important than punchy bass. So you have to know which kind of audiophile you are.
@@ThomasAndStereo i guess for me soundstage and separation is far more important. if I need more bass, I can add a sub in any cases ;). thank you for your answer! btw I disabled the dynamic bass eq on the fives because I think it is sometimes to much
There aren’t a whole lot of speakers that have a front port to lend them to desktop listening.Many speakers are not voiced for near field.But what can you expect at this price point?The Audioengine A2+!is great (I oneness then) and I read that Edifierr and Swan at 400 are a good bet.But you can’t expect these speakers to equal the size difference with the LS50 which might be to big for many desks.And you can’t expect LS50 to equal say a Harbeth PS3R with a $1K amp or perhaps a $2-3K amplifued monitor like the $2K Focal 6 or a PMC Fact 6 both of which I hear deliver the goods.But this looks like a size,performance utilitarian winner for many folks
yes, the size is what makes this speaker special. I have other active that sounds better but at way bigger size.
I don't always agree with you , but I always trust you .
Thank you! Great compliment, thanks.
How about LSX compared to Vanatoo t0 for desktop using ?
I cannot connect my two LSX AIRPLAY to the (my home) application and I cannot find the 8-digit homekit code on the speakers 🙁
You should call their tech support.
Hi Thomas, what's a better set up to listen to kef lsx through your phone via dragonfly cobalt to kef lsx via aux cable or purchase m11 pro connect to kef via aux.
If the kef has its own DAC do I need an external DAC? I listen with RUclips music premiem! Thanks
I would say try using the internal DAC first. Even if you use an external DAC, the improvement might be very small unless you go with an expensive DAC. I remember reading everything goes thru its DSP, I am not too sure but you might want to email and ask them. I no longer have this unit so I can't really test it.
Thank you for Review, just purchased these for my desktop setup, can I please ask which Subwoofer would you recomend to add for Kef LSX ? My room is 13m2. Appreciate your answer
Thanks
Thanks, I don't have a lot of experience with subs that I think are price appropriate for these speakers. I would say sealed subs are more for music.
Thank you Thomas! Appreciate your answer, I purchased rel t7 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
@@Protiling I also have the LSX and now Im looking for a sub. How is the Rel t7? is it overkill for the LSX? Im afraid of buying a sub thats too big for these small speakers. (they arriving this satuday) Thank you!!
Hi, thanls for your review, i bought these speakers 6 months ago and i really like it :) I think these speakers are more to listen quietly at home as a audiophile Guy... For me these speakers lack a bit of spatialization. Sometimes when you have some friends at home, you want a sound suitable to a lounge atmosphere, i'm wondering if i should add a subwoofer to have more bass for this atmosphere wanted ? What do you think ? ( sorry i'm french my english isn't well)
Adding a sub will add depth to your soundstage and make the system sound bigger. Have you tried using the DSP software with these speakers. I do speak French too.
Thomas & Stereo Thanks, which DSP speaker ? Do you mean Kef Control App ?
If those who want a pair wireless active bookshelf speaker without paying heaps try Edifier S2000Pro cheap and sounds really good for the price about US$375.
I was told the Fluance is pretty good to at $299 too. Never tried it but the I trust the person who told me.
Is what the LSX are better than a samsung HW-Q80 for use on my TV ? Do I need a subwoofer with LSX ?
Thanks
I never heard the samsung. Sorry.
Thanks for the review. Would you suggest LS50W or LSX as desktop speakers? I am also looking at Dynaudio Xeo 10, Neumann KH 80 DSP and Acoustic Energy AE1. Thanks.
In your opinion, how do these speakers compare to KEFs Q series (if you are familiar with them)? I have the Q100s, if I buy the LSX shouldnt I expect them to outperform my current speakers on every level given their price tag? From some reviews and sound demos ive heard it seems like they might not.
Not really, in the sense that you want stronger bass or soundstage to really feel the difference. So for you to really level up, LS50w or Tower speakers.
Hello friend!
Have you tried the dynaudio xeo 10?
How dose they compare to the LSX?
No I have not.
I would like a pair for my working table. The joy!
Better than the Klipsh Fives?
Not better or worst.
@@ThomasAndStereo :)
Would you recommend LSX or the original LS50wireless ?
I have thought about getting the KEF Q-350, but I’m hearing a lot of mixed opinions about it, but I’m hearing the LS-50’s are amazing from a lot of people, but much more expensive!
D V the Edifier S3000 Pro’s are an active speaker which is handy, but I’d rather use my own power amplifier to power my speakers. They look pretty nice though.
I have the original Q300's and a pair of LS50's. If you can, I would recommend skipping the Q-350's and going straight to the LS50's. It's a big step up in sound and definitely worth the extra money. I have the LS50's paired with a SVS SB-1000 sub and it's turned out to be the perfect system for me.
D V right now I’m using a Yamaha 7.1ch receiver and Sherwood bookshelf speakers and I’m not liking my set up at all. Eventually I want to go back to a 2ch HiFi set up, and get a decent amplifier. I have 4 bookshelf speakers on my list, the KEF Q350, Bronze Audio, Klipsch RP-600M and the Elac B6.2. Still undecided about which amplifier I want to go with, so many ways I can go with that.
Diatonic5th I have heard the KEF Q350’s and the stereo imaging is incredible, better than anything else I have heard so far, having said that I haven’t heard the other 3 speakers on my list yet. Would love to see what the LS-50’s are capable of doing as far as bass, clarity, detail, soundstage and imaging.
I know 3 of those speakers and I can tell you they sound drastically different. Try audition them before jumping in.
Yes it's sounding nice in your room not too dead not too lively, how is that made you think about speakers you've heard before now listening to them in your new room, I bet some of them sound great now if you've had the chance especially bright speakers?
What are the bass traps did you make them yourself what is the padding rockwool natural lambswool?
I got those bass trap off someone I know who got them when helping update a recording studio. He told me he will get me some info on them since people are asking. Yeah, none of my speakers are bright now...I have the opposite problem and that is why I took away the carpet.
@@ThomasAndStereo well if they're from a studio I hazard a guess would say they're rockwool you can tell because it's a hard material but looks like fibreglass that should tell you. If you want to bring the brightness partially back again. Have a gap where the tweeter would be the panels next to the speakers on the side walls give yourself about 12" gap tween the panel in the vertical plane or have no panel above the top of the speaker. You have different sizes of speaker they should be roughly the same height tho! maybe cutting a panel up and have it velcroed so you can remove it easily four different types of speaker different types of woofer drivers will have a bearing. Try like this first taking the other panels away just leave the ones next to the speakers ones next to your sitting position do away with the rest on the side walls maybe just a small panel where the woofer would be to leave the wall above the woofer open for the treble to Bounce if this make sense. Basically you got to do some tweaking start off with what I just said and the other panels put them back but maybe smaller ones shifting around in different positions. not sure I'm convinced by this mirror technique people use is that what you used? especially the panels next to your sitting position you're looking for double reflection not singular reflection hear! not the direct reflection from the speaker so move this panel back may be level with your feet but don't extend it any further forward then that see how you get on let us know.
if you have two mirrors when you're sitting in your perfect position put one mirror between the speaker and the chair exactly cente,. on the opposite wall move the other mirror till you can see the opposite mirror should be roughly in line with your seat or slightly ahead of it might be where you need to place deflection better or panels but of course different frequencies have different length so you could be exhausting the low frequencies quite easily but you want the high frequencies to miss these points or mid-range frequencies. that's why it's not a perfect science and tweaking it forward and backwards and not going overboard
So I just found out they have 2 types of fiberboard in them, basically they perform well because of there size and air gaps and they only trap below 300 cycles because of the membrane.
Right now, the brightness and liveliness is actually perfect. It depends on the speaker too. If I have bright speakers, I might want to add the carpet back but so far I don't need to. I am waiting for one more pair of panel for the back of the room but so far, I feel it sounds good so I will wait a bit later before tweaking them. It's interesting with the 2 mirroir technic, I never thought about it. I treated the first reflection point Also, just the way my room is setup, I end up having that gap you mentioned in how I position my panels. I will slowly tweak them.
@Thomas what do you about the KEF Egg for a desktop speaker? I am thinking of getting the KEF Egg and hook them up to my Macbook pro mainly for music and movies etc... Do you recommend?
See my comment above/below, I own the Egg and I really like them! Having said that I am a average audio guy and the Egg replaced some 'acceptable' 2.1 speaker system, so I lack some proper 1to1 quality comparison, but from listening (at a friend or in a shop) to bigger tower speakers and other (pricier) active systems I think they are very good price/quality wise. Just don't expect the most bass and highest volumes, it is more about clearity. As you find online a lot of good (sometimes paid and exaggerated) reviews I can confirm the quality and clear sound, I hear things I never heard before and I listen to much lower volumes now due to clearity, dynamic range, etc.
Personally I wished I bought the LSX, because I use the Egg with a subwoofer for my TV and on occasion I want a bit higher volume.
My advice for your use, close listening - only with pc, safe the money buy the Egg and maybe add a subwoofer (personal preference).
@@trilosima9952 Thank you for your response. I will mainly use it for my laptop close range listening for music and movies etc... I also like the LSX though it is pricy but i thing the LSX is more of a bookshelf speaker and could be an overkill for a desktop use! If the price was a bit lower then possibly and also would be better if they add a USP port too! The clarity is very important for vocals, musical instruments and cinematic sound! I believe and as you mentioned the Egg should achieve that in a close range listening. I was hoping KEF do an upgrade to the EGG to match the LSX power range and wireless streaming etc... cheers
Thanks a lot for the review!
Would you mind telling what type/brand of corner traps, absorbing panels and diffusers have you used to treat your room?
Yes that would make an interesting video.
My panels are these
www.avshop.ca/recording-acoustic-treatment/primacoustic-london-10-studio-kit-grey?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5J_mBRDVARIsAGqGLZA4uTCAuAjB9ROSe1R5Usp5zQ9WenAGwVnOZavV5w45XUE9PTHFEQIaAq7rEALw_wcB
The diffusers are vicoustics
Bass trap is something I got from a studio thanks to someone I know when they were renovating the place.
If you are in Montreal, I can connect you with that person if you are looking for panels.
Great review
*subscribes*
Nice review! Looks like a good desktop solution, perhaps? Love your room.
Thanks, yes it is good for desktop because in the app, you can optimize it for desktop.
Hi, have you ever tried Genelecs? Im interested in G4
If you know, are Genelecs better than KEF for music?
Sorry, I have never tried.
@@ThomasAndStereo Okay, thanks anyway
Does the kef lsx have a built in DAC? Thanks
Yes but double check if you can use it with usb.
Please, Thomas! Review the Edifier Airpulse A300. People who heard these speakers say that they sound like if they cost from 2 to 5 times more then they actually are! Can you confirm or deny this claim?
Looks interesting, Hopefully one day I can get one to try.
Hello thanks for this video
Witch subwoofer will be grest to usd with the lsx thanks
I personally go with sealed port sub if my priority is music. Small enough to keep up with the speed of the LSX. Having said that, I am no expert at sub so might not be the best person to give advice.
Dear Thomas, may I seek your professional advice to compare KEF LSX and Klipsch "the five".
The sound quality and features you find positive about them?
Appreciate any inputs.
I have to test the FIVE, soon I will post a video on it but I have not spent a lot of time with them yet.
Hi there Thomas can u do whaferdale Denton 85th anniversary speakers.?
I don't know those speakers, have to find out how I can get a pair. Are they really good?
@@ThomasAndStereo very few review on the net I must say. Just the 80th anniversary one's. They definitely looks retro and well build. By the way thks for replying and I must say I compliment ur all videos, good job Thomas.
Hello Thomas, thank you I was waiting for your honest opinion about the LSX. I have question, do you have experience with the KEF Egg active speaker. I ask you this because just before the LSX were released I bought the KEF Egg 🤦. The LSX are ~3x more expensive but have the same size uni-q ( although the egg doesn't have the reinforcement ribs in the cone) and the LSX have twice the power. I use the Egg with my old Bob Carver Sunfire Junior subwoofer. What are your thoughts, would the LSX be a big improvement, or is is mostly the bass that sets the LSX apart from the Egg?
Thank you! I always enjoyed you honest no nonsense opinion without any vague 'audiophile' terms, keep up the good work!
Hey, I actually never heard a KEF Eff active speaker, I did not even know they exist. I knew the passive ones but sadly I never heard them too. If I were to guess, if you want a big jump, you have to go to KEF LS50w. Sure, the LSX should be better in theory but there is a limit to it's bass improvement due to size. If I ever get to hear the EGG, I will let you know, right now I am just guessing out of the blue so don't take my word seriously. Thanks
@@ThomasAndStereo Thank you for your reply! The LS50 would be the way to go, but for now a bit to pricey for me.
Hello, would you be able to review the new Kanto TUK and compare it with the LSX?
Sorry I no longer have the kef lsx
I would like to watch that also? I am looking for some active bookshelf speakers and I can not choose between the kef lsx, the kanto tuk and the klipsch sixes... which one would you pick?
Hi Thomas, will you be reviewing Devialet Reactor 600 or 900?
No, unless they send me one.
@@ThomasAndStereo I want to buy active speakers for my bedroom, I listen to a lot of Indian music prefer something that is not too heavy on bass and looking for absolute clarity both on lower and higher volumes. Which one would you recommend
If you don’t need build in DAC or streaming. The new Tannoy Gold 5 Active Monitors sound better to my ears, more detailed and extended at the top, at half the price.
They look pretty! Guess they get marks for that. Thanks for your review.
Hi, I've just purchased this speaker. Should I buy a subwoofer? If yes which one for a small room. Thanks
Do you find bass missing? If you are ok with it's current bass then no need. I myself use 8 inch closed port subs for music.
Smart hooking up with a retailer!😉🤓🤗😬
Hi Thomas is soundstage speaker @ vision electronic any good
Sorry, never heard it before so I would not know. Seems like they are having a special now.
Here for the same reason, the LS50s are on sale for 1000...just need an amp.
great video perfect explanation
In your opinion what would be the limit of speaker separation and listening distance for the LSX in your room. Often I see reviewers' experience is really about from desktop, rather than smaller TV sitting distances 6 ft or greater. Thank you.
I had them about 6 to 7 feet apart and I was sitting 6 feet away.
Did you test the KEF LSX with a subwoofer?
It has been a while and I don't remember. Knowing myself, I should.
@@ThomasAndStereo It's just that I have been thinking about if the KEF LS50W really is better than the KEF LSX. I own the KEF LSX and a REL S/3 SHO. The LSX really struggles in a lot of songs when you turn up the volume, and a lot of songs need volume so you can experience all of that dynamic range. At high volumes it is as if the bass steals its midrange performance. However, when I set the REL to play up to 100 hz and the LSX up from 100 hz, the LSX is kind of free to sing/do its thing.
Here is my sound demo. (A lot of reflections from my lively room...) ruclips.net/video/tMPLfwYXkw0/видео.html
Hi, do you need a music player like fiio m11 to stream music through Bluetooth? Or is my Samsung galaxy s9 + good enough? Thanks
From what I remember, it was from my friends iphone and my galaxy A5. It was very easy to connect and stream via bluetooth.
if i want to use for desktop speaker is the LSX better than the ls50??
Sorry, I never tried it on the desk. Having said that both have dsp so I would assume you can adjust both to work ok on the desk.
You mention that it’s not that bright which means that it’s not going to cause fatigue when listening for extended periods right?
Yes, the treble does not feel like it's overly tilted up.
much respect bro
Nice video . can you please compare the LSX to LS50W i want to buy one but i have small room and dont got room treated. Is the ls50w worth the double price i heard that it can produce sound like 20k systems ?
He says at the end of the video they don't compare. 8:44
@@commanderrussels2612 but he did not compared them. Maybe that means lsx is not in that league to even compare ls50w
Hi Seban, I made a video comparing the LSW50 vs the LS50, check that out where I talk about the 20k system comparison question.
The LS50w is not just a question of size, it's smoother and I feel like I am listening to a decent 'high end' speaker and the LSX is more like a super good computer speaker. Having said that, it depends on the people, if I take 100 people on the street, they probably will feel the LS50w sounds like a big speaker with stronger bass only. For audiophiles like us who have the hearing of a bat, the gap is very big.
@@ThomasAndStereo thank you Thomas for detailed answer. My big trouble i was always used headphones my reference is hd800S with hdv820 balanced with silver cables. I know it is apple and orange but i cant decide if i should buy the Sennheiser Hd800 and a realy good headphone amp and dac maybe chord hugo 2 or buy Kef LS50W . i am total newbie to speaker world but i know what is realy good balanced detailed sound. You know they says i can reach reference sound with headphones much less cost than speakers. But i dont have 20k for system. So the big question is that LS50w can provide as detailed as holograpic soundstage like a properly driven hd800 headphone ? Sorry for my newbiness
I see, I don't use headphones so I would have no idea. If I were to guess, headphone will have the advantage of creating a big holographic soundstage while speakers, if done properly can create a more realistic holographic soundstage where you feel the singer in front of you. Can headphone create that illusion where the singer is infront of you? I have no idea so my comment is really not helpful when comparing both. Sorry.
Hey Thomas I really like Bluetooth a lot more now than I use to I bought a 799.00 Pioneer elite sx-n30 class AB HI-Res Reciever/ Intergrated amp And it has spotify intergration and sounds as good as my cds it's crazy !! So I had to open it up and the digital side has 73 mini compasitors and hell of built in Dac I was wondering Do you think they'll ever build a DSD Bluetooth ? just amazed by it ! I've owned a lot of audio in the last 30 years and i think Bluetooth is the future of music play back And me not a fan of DSP wish you and Sean could come hangout and hear my refurbished vintage HPM 100s I got 400 bucks in just the cross over upgrades why haven't you ever uploaded more vintage speakers the hpm 100s 4way 4 speaker 75 pounds each they 'll surprise ya ! just curious thanks again for video
Yeah, it would be nice for us to drop by and hang out. I do have local subscribers dropping by to listen actually. I am pretty easy going. I think the problem with DSD bluetooth is bandwidth. It can barely handle 48k I think right now with Aptx HD bluetooth? Perhaps one day.
Thomas & Stereo thanks Thomas you do s great job ive learnef alot from you really appreciate it
Great review, Thomas could you review the Kef R3 and possibly compare them with the R300, LS50/W?
It would be a while before I take any more gear in, I don't have a R300 but I probably can get a R3. In a few months maybe.
Spendor Classic line would be next great audition.
i would second that, i just got a used spendor, the Spendor SA1 from 2009. its quite amazing, especially nearfield.
now finally i hear a difference from my metal tweeters. and that sealed cabinets does wonders to the sound :)
the new classic lineup only has sealed in first and last speaker, so its not easy to get, but once you go sealed you never go back.
@@sudd3660 I would care less about port noise and problem, can easily solve with some kitchen paper rolls, in a well treated room the port most probably help bass to be more powerful than without port, I'm eyeing on Classic 3/1 :P, here's the link ruclips.net/video/_Qaw4X-xI9c/видео.html, looks great and seem to be safe bet to me?
another good vid thanks tom