I've got tinnitus and have lost about 15% percent of hearing as a result, I had a Musical Fidelity and B&W setup and will never forget the initial listening session before buying the setup when younger and had full hearing. Love your reviews and one day will still setup a listening room for my personal preferences no matter how deaf I get!!....i can still appreciate good clean sound staging no matter my disability:)
Got a pair yesterday. Right out of the box they sound fantastic. They sound so alive, I am stunned. Guttenberg can tell it a lot better than I can. Nobody is getting a Christmas present this year 'cos I spent everything on these.
I just adore Kef. I love their subtly forward thinking drive. One of the few audio brands I basically trust to deliver class-leading products across every range, every time. And they're staff are delightful too!
Many complain about the high cost of high-end audio. Those complaints loose sight of the fact now is the best time ever for the quality of hi-fi available at attainable prices. This LS50 META is a prime example.
This video was quite influential in my pulling the trigger on some ls 50 metas a few months ago. Even with a little Sprout 100 amp, the sound can be really incredible with a well-produced song. Thanks for making this video, but on behalf of my wife, damn you for getting me addicted to good sound again...! PS - A REL T/7i sub makes the LS50s even more magical!
If you are looking for a speaker that sounds like you are listening to them from inside a padded cell, then these are it. No, I don't mean you are mad to buy them. I literally mean you are hearing them as though you are in the most perfectly sonically dampened room. But these speakers mean you don't have to be in such a room. No room treatment is necessary at all. That is their little secret. The work has already been done for you. Perfectly dense, no boxiness, no smearing of colours, just sublime blackness. Perfect in every way. I'm speechless. But so glad I found the answer to all my speaker woes.
First time I see commercial applications for acoustic meta materials. Saw Duke University creating those mazes that do wonders with sound a couple of years ago. Thank you for another great review! You have an unmatched way to transfer feelings and information. Cheers!!
Got a pair of LS50 Meta today from my local dealer. I have the old version for the last 6 years. The improvement of the meta is very obvious. The sound is more clear, more transparent. Pretty much similar impression as mentioned in the video. The improvement is not subtle. The salesman and I A/B tested the new version and the old version in the showroom. The new version the speakers feel more “disappear” than the old version and the improvement can easy tell. And the new pair only has 50 hours in it. Update: So I have this meta for 5 days now with about 30 hours in. I’m so amazed every time I listen to it. The sound is soooo clean. I have a small room (10x10). With the previous LS50, I can’t play too loud for too long because of listening fatigue. Certain frequency range feels last longer in the room than what it should be (near field listening + square room). This issue has improved greatly with meta. The pressure to my ear has reduced a lot. My setup for reference: Prima Luna Prologue Premium Schiit gungnir multibit REL T5i x 2 Qobuz source
Every “box” speaker I have owned (with the exception of computer speakers) has been made by KEF. I currently have a pair of LS50’s in one room and R300’s in another. The only other speakers I have owned have been Magnepans. When I had large rooms, I preferred Magnepan. I will upgrade my LS50’s to the new model but I will keep my old ones. I hope to move to a larger apartment soon and I will probably get a new pair of Magneplanar speakers; size depending on the room. These two companies have always had my utmost respect for giving the audiophile the most for their money.
Steve! You did it again! I loved your review of the KEF LS50 Meta speakers. I think we all crave the sound they can produce as you described them. No box, open and clean with excellent range. What’s not to like? My living room speakers are KEF Q300’s that I have had for quite awhile, and your description of the LS50 Beta’s made me drool! Then you get me to thinking about what clean sounding amplifier would would work best with these beauties and I think, “ Here we go again!”. Steve, your unbound enthusiasm is great to see and your review made me grin from ear to ear! Thanks, John
I bought a pair of LS50s a few years ago and I've never looked back...until maybe now. I'll be interested to hear the new Metas in real life when the covid craziness passes. Until then I'll just enjoy the hell out of my LS50s listening to them all day while working from home 😆
bought a pair of these speakers, in large part because of this review. Out of the box they are awesome. Experiencing a few surprises from albums I've owned for 40 years. I was under the misunderstanding that my old speakers were awesome, turns out they were just OK. KEF told me that after the break-in period they will sound even better. These are my first ever brand new speakers and I've been like a kid under the Christmas tree playing with a new favorite toy. Will get through the 60 hour burn in period with a smile. Thanks for the great review.
@@justlookingaround9834 Bass is certainly not lacking, have not felt the need to add a subwoofer. Bass response is deeper than my M&K Monitors and more detailed than my Klipsch towers. My recent play list: Led Zeppelin, Dave Brubek, Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong, Fleetwood Mac, Janis Joplin Pearl, John Coltrane. I will probably experiment with subwoofer after break-in. Using a Peachtree Nova 300 amp and a Rega P3 TT with Ortofon Black MM cart.
@@mhart9279 Thank you for the detailed response, I currently have the Buchardt A500 and may try to get a pair of these before my trial period runs out. My only problem is how to connect the CD player and record deck if I go for the KEF’s. As they aren’t as easy to connect to as the A500’s.
Thanks Steve. You conveyed that excitement of grabbing the next record to hear how it sounds with the Meta. Absolutely love the shirt! What a concept - birth of a song. Greg
Bought a pair of LS50’s (Black Edition) back in May from Accessories4Less for $750. That is a bargain! I love them. I can’t imagine how KEF could improve upon them. Wow. Can’t wait to hear the Meta’s!
I have just bought some black editions to for £630 , they are arriving tomorrow, im still tempted by these though but unsure if they are worth £360 more?
@@hclandscapes LS50 Blacks are wonderful... let them play in and get them on stands and away from the wall if you can. Your feelings about the rest of your gear will be affected by their detail...
@@3lueant347 im currently using them with a audiolab 6000A and it sounds great but im thinking about adding a power amp as the audiolab can be used in pre amp mode. Im either considering the audiolab 8300XP or rotel RB-1582 MkII. What do you think?
@@hclandscapes we now know what speakers you are going for but what speakers are you coming from? Obviously you need a little bit of time but I would love to know what is the biggest noticeable difference coming from your old faithfuls to your lovely new ls50 s ??
Just listen to these in an audio shop and wow! They are extremely clear and the sound is big! If I had eyes closed I would assume they were floor standing speakers they are awesome. They definitely sound like 1500 dollars not all speakers do but these.. oh yeah
I listened to them today. I was blown away and just after listening to ls 50 I heard the blade. I still prefer the ls 50 meta. It was so beautiful it was magic and it moved me
After owning them n experimenting these are my personal thoughts. 1. It has to be at least 25 inches away from the wall. 2. It has to be at least 6.6 feet apart for best soundstage . 3.No toe in is necessary for best imaging 4. The S2 stands filled with sand and secured to spkr for best results with ISO Accoustic Gaia’s or equivalent ( AudioBbastion eg ). 5.I used silver spkr wires for the best results. It is just as Steve described the sound , it is very high quality spkr for a med or small room. Best with a sub placed right next to the listening position. It won’t go above 95db for best sound.
Fantastic review Steve! They sound like real winners, hands down! KEF does it again; a company, always pushing for the next new frontier...I believe the Meta's are going to continue to turn heads. Yeah!
I love my KEF LS50 Meta’s. They’re awesome on my desktop with a 1989 vintage Kyocera R-461 receiver. Then there’s Mel Torme. If you’re a fan of the man, you must seek out the album he made in the late 70’s with the Buddy Rich Big Band called “Together Again for the First Time” on Century Records. I was lucky enough to see Mel and the Buddy Rich band live during that time. One cut, “Blues In the Night” won the Grammy for best jazz number in 1977 or 1978. It’s available in two versions: a regular multi-miked studio release in a purple jacket, and the other is a purist, two-mike recording of the exact same performance recorded Direct to Disc, golden jacket. THAT is an amazing, must-hear, particularly on your new LS50 Metas.
Agreed. And I'm already thinking about how this, or more likely the active version, compare to the Buchardt A500 and their DSP wizardry. Great time to be a music and audiophile fan!
Me too. I'm driving the Metas with a Brio, but can't help but think if I was better going with the Wireless II (I didn't, because I already had the Brio). Would love to hear Steve's thoughts, given he loved the io Meta combination.
I just realized the meaning of your t-shirt and it is epic 😆 thank u for the review, i am sold! I remember the LS50 were launched back in 2012 and i was planning to get them but never happened because i became a father to my first son that very year and now 9 years later i am finally getting my first Hi Fi setup with the LS50 Meta and the KC62 sub with the Hegel H390 at the age of 40 lol.. Thank you 😊
Thank you Steve for calling out the comparisons. This really helps us understand the speaker. How everyday recordings sound, comparison with ELAC UB52, how it's different from the original, and how difficult it is to drive really compliments the standard review items like, looks, price, specs, sound signature, frequency range, etc. So glad to see some truly new technology in speaker design.
I hope you are right, i have ordered them in blue and gold SE and have already sold my LS50 (which I have loved for 3 years) based pretty much on this review!!
I have just bought the black edition ls50's for £600 new, i didn't think the new version would be £400 better, so far i have only had them for a couple of days but they have been playing almost continuously with my audiolab 6000A and the sound is amazing, so smooth but still detailed and the bass is ridiculous for a speaker of this size, Not sure if im going to need a subwoofer at all!
I just love my LS50s... They're an open window, so revealing of all the changes/tuning I've done to my system (which costs many, many, many times as much as a pair of LS50s)... Also they're as perfect for my relatively small listerming room as a pair of speakers can be... But now I can't wait to hear the Metas!!! Thanks for the heads up Steve :-)
@@gustercc I use the Benchmark AHB2 at $3K. I would also consider a Puirifi amp at a lower cost which is almost as good, March Audio and NAD would be my first choices there.
@@billybunter3753 I tend to always try new things when I can afford to make a jump. The ls50's were one of the most neutral speakers I've owned in my opinion. Their soundstage and layers of detail were hard to beat. I swing back and forth between bright and warm sounding speakers. Heading back toward the ls50 direction as of late. So I think this is a nice new option to explore personally✌️
A guy called John Darko has done a comparison with the Buchardt. His music choices are very different from mine, and with speakers of this quality ones preferred music is as big a factor as the equipment. Darko seems to listen to pop/rock groups as far as I can determine. He describes the Kef’s as more ‘precise’ than the Buchardt, but the Buchardt’s more visceral with deeper bass, my take is that if you listen mostly to classical music and singers and want precision and insight then it’s the Kef, ‘ heavier’ music then probably the Buchardt ( which are quite a bit more expensive, and the Buchardt ‘hub’ ( at more cost) is also necessary to enable full functionality and features such as room correction via an app, at the moment only Android I think.
I love the look of these! I have Kef Ref floor standers which I never tire of despite hearing them every single day. I’d still like a pair of these, don’t need em, but I’d like them!
Steve, enjoyed the review. One big change KEF could make is to increase the sensitivity. If they could increase the sensitivity to 92dB/1W/1M this would probably make the LS50 Meta the best small speaker in world.
Hi Steve, great review! 26 Hz is the 'typical in-room bass response'. The -6 dB bass extension spec (anechoic) 'frequency range' provided by KEF in their website is 47 Hz
Funny how with all the new tweeter technology of the last 20 years KEF had done such a nice job with good old Aluminum. (LS50 Wireless owner here.) Again, thanks for the great video on these.
Hello Steven, love to see a review of the active ls50 wireless II version . Is that something you are planning to do? Thanks for bringing these great reviews!
I think I have seen this review multiple times and finally convinced to buy the Kef’s this mth. I have also seen the Audio Science review measurements which are quite exceptional confirming your take on this spkrs. Thanks for all the insights and details. Looking forward to enjoying some great listening sessions. Kudos. It’s all about the sound.
@@ld4974 Yes I bought them. They are accurate and transparent. I paired it with a Klipsch sub placed next to the listening position (as Steve recommended. It really requires a good amp and DAC. I’m using a Sim Audio Moon I5 which is sufficient and a Matrix Audio I Pro3 ( which is ok but a Denafrips Pontus would be a better choice IMO). Also make sure to buy the S2 stands and fill them with sand and get IsoAccoustic for the spikes , the spkr is secured to the stands by 4 screws so it’s very stable.
I want to review this for Amazon. I have a strong feeling this has to be something amazing or it shouldn't even exist! The original was so "right" that I would say for most folks who want to achieve a standard of excellence in home HI-Fi you should just simply buy the original. Forget budget simply because this one was such an over-achiever that it made the cost, over the long-haul, a total non-issue. But...if this really raises the bar then once again this is the standard by which everything in audio should simply accept as "The Bar" of excellence. That is is actually affordable is just icing on the cake.
@@bimmer100timc Electric Warrior was by far their best album. Someone once tried to convince me that the last track "Rip Off" was the first ever rap song. 😁
Mark Flower I agree, I like my Japanese 200g release of this album. Wish it was mint, but darn... they are pricey for a copy that good. But I love this album regardless of it not being the best recording. I’ve only a couple of TREX albums, maybe 4-5. Mostly I listen to unique rare old Japanese jazz fusion from late 1960’s to late 70’s roughly.
Awesome, great review Steve. You first turned me on to these years ago. Finally pulled the trigger on LS 50 Meta royal blue pair for mains. I’m open to suggestions for surrounds, and amplification. Thanks kindly in advance.
Awesome review Steve. I now own the GoldenEar BRX's and labored over the LS50's but if this Meta had been available I fear my labor would have been near impossible. May have to pull the trigger on these for my second system !
I think I’m going to order the LS50 wireless 2. Same improvements as the Meta, but also way more power, and most importantly the app and connectivity is much improved.
Good luck when warranty is over, that's why I always go for sperate components. Especially with LS50 wireless I know many issues, just look around the internet.
kristwi I have the LS50 wireless. They have functioned great for me fortunately, but the app sucks. I’d end up spending a lot more money (and time) most likely getting separates that perform similarly to the LS50W, likely buying multiple amps before I find what works best for my space and tastes. My wife wouldn’t be fond of the process and costs, either. That said the point you are making is 100% true. Once out of warranty the LS50W2 could be an LS50 that is useless if some of the electronics fail and Kef won’t support it, not to mention the costs if they do support it. The amps, dacs, and streamer only work with those speakers, so if I want to go to R3’s later I’ll be starting from scratch. So there is certainly a significant trade off to go with the convenience and great out of the box sound of the LS50W.
Torme hated that nickname which was hung on him when he was very young and a smooth balladeer. But there is no fog on the Red Hill Inn Lp especially on "Love Is Just Around The Corner" or "Mountain Greenery." New fans might begin with the many albums he did with George Shearing. I was thrilled to have met him and told him how much his music meant to me. There are few male jazz singers who are not primarily instrumentalists, but he was the best of them, in my opinion. I think of him and listen to him often, and always with admiration and affection. *Sorry for the length and non-speaker comments. For the record, I have Kef R3s and can't stand them. So there.
Well coordinated marketing communication with KEF on launch day! No doubt, the Meta's will be a huge hit given their historical / legendary reputation. Nonetheless, I am sticking with my beloved, original LS50's and continuing to focus on the music and not spending more money chasing the latest and greatest innovation, despite the improvements. Just what I do as a musicphile first. PS: As you know, KEF has promo-ed the originals for $899 for awhile now. It's a shame they are now discontinued. Just a matter of time until they do the same with the Meta's...probably sometime in 2021 once all the early adoptors / must have's pay full price and the hyped new product demand settles down.
Didn't they start discounting the original LS50's to $899 some time last year? That's when I bought my pair. I believe they held pretty steady at around $1200-1300 for a long long time. So I doubt the new version will drop in price significantly any time soon unless they obviously have other models in the works.
They started promo's at $999 in 2018, mostly from KEF Direct. They will lower the price again, maybe not till 2022 (?), especially if sales forecasts underwhelm management...I have no crystal ball....just saying. In the meantime, they will enjoy full margins.
I have the original LS50's and love them. Read a couple of reviews of the new meta's that seemed quite honest, saw this video in which Steve seems like he's discovered hifi aaand placed my order 🤷🏻♂️😂. Excited is an understatement as I couldn't imagine the LS50's sounding better and have no chance to audition them because I live in Costa Rica. We do have a KEF distributor here but by the time they get these here they'll have a new model out haha.
Bought mine a couple of weeks ago now and absolutely adore them - crystal clear imaging and separation, wonderful soundstage, and plenty of bass extension... in fact more than I'd anticipated - and given I was coming from some floor standing transmission line loudspeakers (TDL RTL3s), that's saying something! Certainly no need to race out and buy a sub to augment them. And of course, aesthetically, they're just stunning. Just sensational loudspeakers.
Hi Steve, I am thinking of buying the Martin Logan Motion 35XTI, because I love the clarity of the sound. Have not had a change to listen to the Kefs, but your video is making me doubt. Could you do a comparison or give me some notes on which is better according to you?
The new Maze reminds me of Westworld:) I've had my LS50's for about 2 years and absolutely love them. After watching Steve's review, now I want to upgrade to the Metas! It probably won't happen unless I can find someone local who want my existing pair.
Just words are not enough. Many people do reviews of audio equipment, DAC, Speakers etc. Until now, I haven't found someone who can rate speakers for different types (genre) of music. Starting from classical music, jazz, pop, techno, opera .... to brutal metal. Everyone listens to certain music and makes a review according to their tastes. It's not fair.
The distinctive Low Bass in both LS50's is product of great engineering combining scientifically advanced "bass reflex" with "intelligent" tuning vent, and "purpose-aligned" multiple parameters (coil wire diameter, coil length, magnet and gap size, surround material, spider material, internal cubic capacity , cone mass and characteristics including free-air resonant frequency, etc.). The engineering design has to be exquisite!
Buchardt A500 vs KEF Wireless II is what I want to know! Hopefully, KEF actually spent some time improving their abysmal app. The inclusion of chromecast support is pretty nice!
Hi Steve, how would you briefly compare these to the R3s? Is it worth the extra money for the larger volume of the R3s or are the Metas simply better in every aspect? Thank you very much!
Considering that works it would be amazing to learn the rationale behind this “meta absorber” it’s a killer speaker for sure. Really like that the tech comes out for the more affordable first.
Doug G -> can you email me for a possible purchase? just send an email to my first name, then add a dot ".", then my last name, and then @gmail.com to contact me ;) You can see my first and last name in my user nickname here on youtube ;)
Steve's enthusiasm is contagious. Just one of the reasons his videos are so popular.
Rea Ality he’s very likable but you have to listen closely to here any criticism.
However the enthusiasm isn't always warranted. That what a shill does.
The thing is he listened to a large range of high end speakers for decades.
I've got tinnitus
and have lost about 15% percent of hearing as a result, I had a Musical Fidelity and B&W setup and will never forget the initial listening session before buying the setup when younger and had full hearing. Love your reviews and one day will still setup a listening room for my personal preferences no matter how deaf I get!!....i can still appreciate good clean sound staging no matter my disability:)
Youth often includes madness if not tempered with a wiser head!
Steve is correct. A phenomenal speaker. As a former LS50 owner, these are a must buy.
Got a pair yesterday. Right out of the box they sound fantastic. They sound so alive, I am stunned. Guttenberg can tell it a lot better than I can. Nobody is getting a Christmas present this year 'cos I spent everything on these.
Please compare B&w 606 s2
Ha ha. No one comes tonight!!
I just adore Kef. I love their subtly forward thinking drive. One of the few audio brands I basically trust to deliver class-leading products across every range, every time. And they're staff are delightful too!
Many complain about the high cost of high-end audio. Those complaints loose sight of the fact now is the best time ever for the quality of hi-fi available at attainable prices. This LS50 META is a prime example.
Sounds like your trying to convince your wife!😊
The Price for a pair of LS50 is truly moderate. The Value is Great, though!
I am not sure if ls50 is really considered high end. They are nice for computer speakers or something but 1500 bucks is not much in hifi.
@@lok777 The sound of the original LS50 is among the most desirable.
Buy the wireless as the passive ones need a €3000 amp.
This video was quite influential in my pulling the trigger on some ls 50 metas a few months ago. Even with a little Sprout 100 amp, the sound can be really incredible with a well-produced song. Thanks for making this video, but on behalf of my wife, damn you for getting me addicted to good sound again...!
PS - A REL T/7i sub makes the LS50s even more magical!
If you are looking for a speaker that sounds like you are listening to them from inside a padded cell, then these are it. No, I don't mean you are mad to buy them.
I literally mean you are hearing them as though you are in the most perfectly sonically dampened room. But these speakers mean you don't have to be in such a room. No room treatment is necessary at all. That is their little secret. The work has already been done for you. Perfectly dense, no boxiness, no smearing of colours, just sublime blackness. Perfect in every way.
I'm speechless.
But so glad I found the answer to all my speaker woes.
First time I see commercial applications for acoustic meta materials. Saw Duke University creating those mazes that do wonders with sound a couple of years ago. Thank you for another great review! You have an unmatched way to transfer feelings and information. Cheers!!
It's because Steve is 'passionate' through and through about his life's calling...
add these to the list of shit I need to buy instead of saving up for a house.
😂😂
A house without a sweet sound system is not a home.
🏡🔊🎼🎶🎵🎷🎹🎸🎺💞💗💓💖❤️
Amen brotha
houses are soooo overrated
WHAT?!? NO NO NO BUY THE HOUSE FIRST.
Got a pair of LS50 Meta today from my local dealer. I have the old version for the last 6 years. The improvement of the meta is very obvious. The sound is more clear, more transparent. Pretty much similar impression as mentioned in the video.
The improvement is not subtle. The salesman and I A/B tested the new version and the old version in the showroom. The new version the speakers feel more “disappear” than the old version and the improvement can easy tell. And the new pair only has 50 hours in it.
Update:
So I have this meta for 5 days now with about 30 hours in. I’m so amazed every time I listen to it. The sound is soooo clean. I have a small room (10x10). With the previous LS50, I can’t play too loud for too long because of listening fatigue. Certain frequency range feels last longer in the room than what it should be (near field listening + square room). This issue has improved greatly with meta. The pressure to my ear has reduced a lot.
My setup for reference:
Prima Luna Prologue Premium
Schiit gungnir multibit
REL T5i x 2
Qobuz source
How does this speaker compare to the sound Artist 5B?
Not familiar with that speaker. But this meta is great !
Was it a massive difference in quality?
Not “massive”... considering the previous version is already a great speaker. But definitely easily noticeable.
@@kelvinhung9434is the bass much better on the newer speakers?
Every “box” speaker I have owned (with the exception of computer speakers) has been made by KEF. I currently have a pair of LS50’s in one room and R300’s in another. The only other speakers I have owned have been Magnepans. When I had large rooms, I preferred Magnepan. I will upgrade my LS50’s to the new model but I will keep my old ones. I hope to move to a larger apartment soon and I will probably get a new pair of Magneplanar speakers; size depending on the room. These two companies have always had my utmost respect for giving the audiophile the most for their money.
Sounds like this is a professional speaker. Very good to know! Great review.
Bought my LS50's in 2014, so this will be a guilt free upgrade for me :^)
Steve! You did it again!
I loved your review of the KEF LS50 Meta speakers. I think we all crave the sound they can produce as you described them. No box, open and clean with excellent range. What’s not to like? My living room speakers are KEF Q300’s that I have had for quite awhile, and your description of the LS50 Beta’s made me drool!
Then you get me to thinking about what clean sounding amplifier would would work best with these beauties and I think, “ Here we go again!”.
Steve, your unbound enthusiasm is great to see and your review made me grin from ear to ear!
Thanks, John
Any thoughts on pairing with audiolab 6000A Play (50W into 8 ohms)? Fits the recommended specs per KEF
I bought a pair of LS50s a few years ago and I've never looked back...until maybe now. I'll be interested to hear the new Metas in real life when the covid craziness passes. Until then I'll just enjoy the hell out of my LS50s listening to them all day while working from home 😆
This is an AWESOME review! I am a Magnepan person and I know what you mean! Loved the great photos and discussion of the cool tweaky amps too!!
bought a pair of these speakers, in large part because of this review. Out of the box they are awesome. Experiencing a few surprises from albums I've owned for 40 years. I was under the misunderstanding that my old speakers were awesome, turns out they were just OK. KEF told me that after the break-in period they will sound even better. These are my first ever brand new speakers and I've been like a kid under the Christmas tree playing with a new favorite toy. Will get through the 60 hour burn in period with a smile. Thanks for the great review.
What is the bass response like.
@@justlookingaround9834 Bass is certainly not lacking, have not felt the need to add a subwoofer. Bass response is deeper than my M&K Monitors and more detailed than my Klipsch towers. My recent play list: Led Zeppelin, Dave Brubek, Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong, Fleetwood Mac, Janis Joplin Pearl, John Coltrane.
I will probably experiment with subwoofer after break-in. Using a Peachtree Nova 300 amp and a Rega P3 TT with Ortofon Black MM cart.
@@mhart9279 Thank you for the detailed response, I currently have the Buchardt A500 and may try to get a pair of these before my trial period runs out. My only problem is how to connect the CD player and record deck if I go for the KEF’s. As they aren’t as easy to connect to as the A500’s.
Thanks Steve. You conveyed that excitement of grabbing the next record to hear how it sounds with the Meta. Absolutely love the shirt! What a concept - birth of a song. Greg
Congratulations on approaching 150K. This was a great review to celebrate the milestone.
Bought a pair of LS50’s (Black Edition) back in May from Accessories4Less for $750. That is a bargain! I love them. I can’t imagine how KEF could improve upon them. Wow. Can’t wait to hear the Meta’s!
I have just bought some black editions to for £630 , they are arriving tomorrow, im still tempted by these though but unsure if they are worth £360 more?
@@hclandscapes LS50 Blacks are wonderful... let them play in and get them on stands and away from the wall if you can. Your feelings about the rest of your gear will be affected by their detail...
@@3lueant347 im currently using them with a audiolab 6000A and it sounds great but im thinking about adding a power amp as the audiolab can be used in pre amp mode.
Im either considering the audiolab 8300XP or rotel RB-1582 MkII.
What do you think?
@@hclandscapes we now know what speakers you are going for but what speakers are you coming from? Obviously you need a little bit of time but I would love to know what is the biggest noticeable difference coming from your old faithfuls to your lovely new ls50 s ??
Steve, so glad your channel is such a success. 150k subscribers is fantastic. You have earned it. You deserve it.
Just listen to these in an audio shop and wow! They are extremely clear and the sound is big! If I had eyes closed I would assume they were floor standing speakers they are awesome. They definitely sound like 1500 dollars not all speakers do but these.. oh yeah
found the JL track... yeah, totally agree!!!! It was amazing. He hated his voice and always distorted it or double tracked it. Great find!
I am thinking this will be my first KEF speakers. Thanks Steve 😎
I listened to them today. I was blown away and just after listening to ls 50 I heard the blade. I still prefer the ls 50 meta. It was so beautiful it was magic and it moved me
I have the LS50 in black, but those new colors are dope, especially the blue.
After owning them n experimenting these are my personal thoughts. 1. It has to be at least 25 inches away from the wall. 2. It has to be at least 6.6 feet apart for best soundstage . 3.No toe in is necessary for best imaging 4. The S2 stands filled with sand and secured to spkr for best results with ISO Accoustic Gaia’s or equivalent ( AudioBbastion eg ). 5.I used silver spkr wires for the best results. It is just as Steve described the sound , it is very high quality spkr for a med or small room. Best with a sub placed right next to the listening position. It won’t go above 95db for best sound.
I have mine toe'd in but my listening room is a garage.
Fantastic review Steve! They sound like real winners, hands down! KEF does it again; a company, always pushing for the next new frontier...I believe the Meta's are going to continue to turn heads. Yeah!
I love my KEF LS50 Meta’s. They’re awesome on my desktop with a 1989 vintage Kyocera R-461 receiver. Then there’s Mel Torme. If you’re a fan of the man, you must seek out the album he made in the late 70’s with the Buddy Rich Big Band called “Together Again for the First Time” on Century Records. I was lucky enough to see Mel and the Buddy Rich band live during that time. One cut, “Blues In the Night” won the Grammy for best jazz number in 1977 or 1978. It’s available in two versions: a regular multi-miked studio release in a purple jacket, and the other is a purist, two-mike recording of the exact same performance recorded Direct to Disc, golden jacket. THAT is an amazing, must-hear, particularly on your new LS50 Metas.
Incredible. Would love to hear about the active version thanks
Agreed. And I'm already thinking about how this, or more likely the active version, compare to the Buchardt A500 and their DSP wizardry. Great time to be a music and audiophile fan!
Darko just posted a review.
Me too. I'm driving the Metas with a Brio, but can't help but think if I was better going with the Wireless II (I didn't, because I already had the Brio). Would love to hear Steve's thoughts, given he loved the io Meta combination.
These are the best Sounding speakers i Have ever heard.
I had some Dali’s that I was really happy with Until I heard the ls50.
Steve I love your passion and style of being present and reviewing hifi equipment ❤️
I just realized the meaning of your t-shirt and it is epic 😆 thank u for the review, i am sold! I remember the LS50 were launched back in 2012 and i was planning to get them but never happened because i became a father to my first son that very year and now 9 years later i am finally getting my first Hi Fi setup with the LS50 Meta and the KC62 sub with the Hegel H390 at the age of 40 lol.. Thank you 😊
I've had my LS50s for less than a year -- and I really love them -- but I want a pair of these metas so bad!
Love the t-shirt Steve! I went looking for it but it's gone now! You find the coolest shirts!
Great review. I have two pairs of LS50s. I guess I'm about to order a new pair.
Thank you Steve for calling out the comparisons. This really helps us understand the speaker. How everyday recordings sound, comparison with ELAC UB52, how it's different from the original, and how difficult it is to drive really compliments the standard review items like, looks, price, specs, sound signature, frequency range, etc. So glad to see some truly new technology in speaker design.
I hope you are right, i have ordered them in blue and gold SE and have already sold my LS50 (which I have loved for 3 years) based pretty much on this review!!
Man your going to be PISSED...not really just kidding, Good Luck!
I have just bought the black edition ls50's for £600 new, i didn't think the new version would be £400 better, so far i have only had them for a couple of days but they have been playing almost continuously with my audiolab 6000A and the sound is amazing, so smooth but still detailed and the bass is ridiculous for a speaker of this size, Not sure if im going to need a subwoofer at all!
Always happy to watch your show everyday Steve! These Kefs look awesome.
Just relocated to my new home in Weston Florida,,,this is on my "To Buy List" when I unpack my receiver and set it up...
I feel the same way Steve, it is one speaker I keep and always go back to with amazement how good it is.
I just love my LS50s... They're an open window, so revealing of all the changes/tuning I've done to my system (which costs many, many, many times as much as a pair of LS50s)... Also they're as perfect for my relatively small listerming room as a pair of speakers can be... But now I can't wait to hear the Metas!!! Thanks for the heads up Steve :-)
What kind of amp did you pair it with? I’ve heard they need lots of clean power if want them to really sing.
What kind of amp did you pair it with? I’ve heard they need lots of clean power if want them to really sing.
@@gustercc Jeff Rowland Model 2... Not a super powerful amp, but stable in to lower impedance loads...
@@gustercc I use the Benchmark AHB2 at $3K. I would also consider a Puirifi amp at a lower cost which is almost as good, March Audio and NAD would be my first choices there.
Thinking of getting these for bedroom/small room set up. Do these work placed only 3 inches from the wall?
Might have to try these being a previous ls50 owner. Great to hear. Thanks for the review Steve
"Previous" ls50 owner? There seems to be a lot of you guys...How good are they not?
@@billybunter3753 I tend to always try new things when I can afford to make a jump. The ls50's were one of the most neutral speakers I've owned in my opinion. Their soundstage and layers of detail were hard to beat. I swing back and forth between bright and warm sounding speakers. Heading back toward the ls50 direction as of late. So I think this is a nice new option to explore personally✌️
@@MrWslindsay Thanks for the reply Shane! Cheers!
Will be interesting to see how the powered version compares to the Buchardt a500
Both are great but Buchardt has this beat in every department. Both are beasts for small city apartments.. perhaps decent for 1,200 sq ft or above.
A guy called John Darko has done a comparison with the Buchardt. His music choices are very different from mine, and with speakers of this quality ones preferred music is as big a factor as the equipment. Darko seems to listen to pop/rock groups as far as I can determine. He describes the Kef’s as more ‘precise’ than the Buchardt, but the Buchardt’s more visceral with deeper bass, my take is that if you listen mostly to classical music and singers and want precision and insight then it’s the Kef, ‘ heavier’ music then probably the Buchardt ( which are quite a bit more expensive, and the Buchardt ‘hub’ ( at more cost) is also necessary to enable full functionality and features such as room correction via an app, at the moment only Android I think.
I love the look of these! I have Kef Ref floor standers which I never tire of despite hearing them every single day. I’d still like a pair of these, don’t need em, but I’d like them!
Steve, enjoyed the review. One big change KEF could make is to increase the sensitivity. If they could increase the sensitivity to 92dB/1W/1M this would probably make the LS50 Meta the best small speaker in world.
man im just half way through i t and im loving it ,great work steve !
You know it's going to be a good video when Steve starts off the review laughing...👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿 Also, I need that shirt!!
You gotta love kef! You mention in this video you're on your way to 150K subscribers, 2/3 of that amount have viewed this one video alone :)
Hi Steve, great review! 26 Hz is the 'typical in-room bass response'. The -6 dB bass extension spec (anechoic) 'frequency range' provided by KEF in their website is 47 Hz
I was thinking that, I just couldn't see it going down to 26 Hz. Now that would be impressive.
Their website is full of it.
Really liking the metaphysics of this. I have the old ones & now I want the new.
Congrats on the milestones! I've always been "LS50 Curious" for 2nd systems, and the Meta looks like a big win. Cheers!
✅
Grats on the success. You have, and are, earning it.
We all want an R3 comparison I think.
poetryonplastic read the whathifi.com review.
Yes
Really? The R have never sounded like the Ls 50...
@@kevinweber5129 Do you trust What HiFi? I take everything they say with a pinch of salt. It’s like reading the news in the Sun or Mirror.
they are great and im lucky to own a pair. with a sub added its a ticket to sound heaven for me
Steve could sell snow to the Eskimos
I am an Eskimo and I already bought snow from him twice
Hahahaha
Snow? I'm thinking ICE!
Best kind
@@billybunter3753 as in class D lol
Funny how with all the new tweeter technology of the last 20 years KEF had done such a nice job with good old Aluminum. (LS50 Wireless owner here.) Again, thanks for the great video on these.
The 'E' stands for 'Engineering'!
I’ve got a feeling a lot of original LS50s will hit the market any second!
Should be some good prices out there!
Yeah that,s cool for those Who are waiting for getting the ls50 cheaper.
The only problem is, none of them will be ls50 metas!
Thanks for bringing the meta to our attention Sir Steve. You are a mighty knight.
Hello Steven, love to see a review of the active ls50 wireless II version . Is that something you are planning to do? Thanks for bringing these great reviews!
I think I have seen this review multiple times and finally convinced to buy the Kef’s this mth. I have also seen the Audio Science review measurements which are quite exceptional confirming your take on this spkrs. Thanks for all the insights and details. Looking forward to enjoying some great listening sessions. Kudos. It’s all about the sound.
Did you buy them? If so, what are your thoughts?
@@ld4974 Yes I bought them. They are accurate and transparent. I paired it with a Klipsch sub placed next to the listening position (as Steve recommended. It really requires a good amp and DAC. I’m using a Sim Audio Moon I5 which is sufficient and a Matrix Audio I Pro3 ( which is ok but a Denafrips Pontus would be a better choice IMO). Also make sure to buy the S2 stands and fill them with sand and get IsoAccoustic for the spikes , the spkr is secured to the stands by 4 screws so it’s very stable.
Please review LS50 Wireless II. Thanks. Great review!
I want to review this for Amazon. I have a strong feeling this has to be something amazing or it shouldn't even exist! The original was so "right" that I would say for most folks who want to achieve a standard of excellence in home HI-Fi you should just simply buy the original. Forget budget simply because this one was such an over-achiever that it made the cost, over the long-haul, a total non-issue. But...if this really raises the bar then once again this is the standard by which everything in audio should simply accept as "The Bar" of excellence. That is is actually affordable is just icing on the cake.
I gave this a 👍 just because Steve listened to Electric Warrior. 😀
TRex!
@@bimmer100timc Electric Warrior was by far their best album. Someone once tried to convince me that the last track "Rip Off" was the first ever rap song. 😁
Mark Flower I agree, I like my Japanese 200g release of this album. Wish it was mint, but darn... they are pricey for a copy that good. But I love this album regardless of it not being the best recording. I’ve only a couple of TREX albums, maybe 4-5. Mostly I listen to unique rare old Japanese jazz fusion from late 1960’s to late 70’s roughly.
Awesome, great review Steve. You first turned me on to these years ago. Finally pulled the trigger on LS 50 Meta royal blue pair for mains. I’m open to suggestions for surrounds, and amplification. Thanks kindly in advance.
KEF should sell a matching Sub that doubles as a speaker stand.
Are you a little person?
Awesome review Steve. I now own the GoldenEar BRX's and labored over the LS50's but if this Meta had been available I fear my labor would have been near impossible. May have to pull the trigger on these for my second system !
I think I’m going to order the LS50 wireless 2. Same improvements as the Meta, but also way more power, and most importantly the app and connectivity is much improved.
Good luck when warranty is over, that's why I always go for sperate components.
Especially with LS50 wireless I know many issues, just look around the internet.
kristwi I have the LS50 wireless. They have functioned great for me fortunately, but the app sucks. I’d end up spending a lot more money (and time) most likely getting separates that perform similarly to the LS50W, likely buying multiple amps before I find what works best for my space and tastes. My wife wouldn’t be fond of the process and costs, either. That said the point you are making is 100% true. Once out of warranty the LS50W2 could be an LS50 that is useless if some of the electronics fail and Kef won’t support it, not to mention the costs if they do support it. The amps, dacs, and streamer only work with those speakers, so if I want to go to R3’s later I’ll be starting from scratch. So there is certainly a significant trade off to go with the convenience and great out of the box sound of the LS50W.
This video is even better the 2nd watch. Amazing 🤩
Anyone that watched Night Court back in the day knew two things.
Marky Post was a knock out
And Mel Torme was the velvet fog.
-✌🏼
Exactly what came to my mind. Night court. I tip my martini to you sir.
Torme hated that nickname which was hung on him when he was very young and a smooth balladeer. But there is no fog on the Red Hill Inn Lp especially on "Love Is Just Around The Corner" or "Mountain Greenery." New fans might begin with the many albums he did with George Shearing. I was thrilled to have met him and told him how much his music meant to me. There are few male jazz singers who are not primarily instrumentalists, but he was the best of them, in my opinion. I think of him and listen to him often, and always with admiration and affection. *Sorry for the length and non-speaker comments. For the record, I have Kef R3s and can't stand them. So there.
Kef is one of my Heros. I love their designs , and I believe they have always been forward thinking. That said, I've never heard one their speakers.
I like your approach, that way they can stay perfect! Thanks for watching.
Well coordinated marketing communication with KEF on launch day! No doubt, the Meta's will be a huge hit given their historical / legendary reputation. Nonetheless, I am sticking with my beloved, original LS50's and continuing to focus on the music and not spending more money chasing the latest and greatest innovation, despite the improvements. Just what I do as a musicphile first.
PS: As you know, KEF has promo-ed the originals for $899 for awhile now. It's a shame they are now discontinued. Just a matter of time until they do the same with the Meta's...probably sometime in 2021 once all the early adoptors / must have's pay full price and the hyped new product demand settles down.
Didn't they start discounting the original LS50's to $899 some time last year? That's when I bought my pair. I believe they held pretty steady at around $1200-1300 for a long long time. So I doubt the new version will drop in price significantly any time soon unless they obviously have other models in the works.
They started promo's at $999 in 2018, mostly from KEF Direct. They will lower the price again, maybe not till 2022 (?), especially if sales forecasts underwhelm management...I have no crystal ball....just saying. In the meantime, they will enjoy full margins.
Price on the metas went up in 2021
About your metrics at the end of this episode: Congrats Steve! You totally deserve it 👍
Ugh, Steve, did you have to mention the Elac UB52 like that? You're killing me.
I have the original LS50's and love them. Read a couple of reviews of the new meta's that seemed quite honest, saw this video in which Steve seems like he's discovered hifi aaand placed my order 🤷🏻♂️😂. Excited is an understatement as I couldn't imagine the LS50's sounding better and have no chance to audition them because I live in Costa Rica. We do have a KEF distributor here but by the time they get these here they'll have a new model out haha.
It sounds wonderful
Stop! I don’t need an excuse to buy another set of speakers! Please stop the temptation! ❤️🎶🎶🎶
Bought mine a couple of weeks ago now and absolutely adore them - crystal clear imaging and separation, wonderful soundstage, and plenty of bass extension... in fact more than I'd anticipated - and given I was coming from some floor standing transmission line loudspeakers (TDL RTL3s), that's saying something! Certainly no need to race out and buy a sub to augment them. And of course, aesthetically, they're just stunning. Just sensational loudspeakers.
I'm sorry, anyone that cares about the lower frequencies will want an articulate subwoofer to compliment the LS50's.
At 5.20 It sounds like an open baffle speaker. Wow. At 16.00 LS50 Meta rated 10 and previous model LS50 rated 6.5.
I sure am glad I put off purchasing my set until now!!! Can’t wait to own these!!!
Hi Steve, I am thinking of buying the Martin Logan Motion 35XTI, because I love the clarity of the sound. Have not had a change to listen to the Kefs, but your video is making me doubt. Could you do a comparison or give me some notes on which is better according to you?
Motion transformer tweeter seals the deal for 35xti over this.
Not usually a fan of metal dome tweeters but definitely will give them a listen!
Thanks for the review/introduction Steve 💯✌🏽
#MusicIsTheBest 🎶
Thanks for that review. Any chance for a comparison with Buchardt Audio A500?
This video is why I'll be purchasing these speakers soon.
don't make the mistake...ahhh
The new Maze reminds me of Westworld:) I've had my LS50's for about 2 years and absolutely love them. After watching Steve's review, now I want to upgrade to the Metas! It probably won't happen unless I can find someone local who want my existing pair.
I just bought my KEF Ls50 in January for $900! Now I have to upgrade? Thanks KEF 🤷♂️
Just enjoy what you have and don't get caught up in all the hype. You bought great, classic speakers!
"It sounds like an open baffle speaker?"
Meet the new boss.
is there a question here? He just explained it.
@@MOWFWDU I believe he's saying that if it manages to sound open baffle that it is the new boss of bookshelf speakers
Sold it to me - open baffle in a box AMAZING!
Just words are not enough. Many people do reviews of audio equipment, DAC, Speakers etc. Until now, I haven't found someone who can rate speakers for different types (genre) of music. Starting from classical music, jazz, pop, techno, opera .... to brutal metal. Everyone listens to certain music and makes a review according to their tastes. It's not fair.
I understand, that's why it's your job to find a reviewer whose tastes a line with yours! You have to keep looking.
The distinctive Low Bass in both LS50's is product of great engineering combining scientifically advanced "bass reflex" with "intelligent" tuning vent, and "purpose-aligned" multiple parameters (coil wire diameter, coil length, magnet and gap size, surround material, spider material, internal cubic capacity , cone mass and characteristics including free-air resonant frequency, etc.). The engineering design has to be exquisite!
That's why they had that insane sale price on the old models. Great lesson moving forward!
Buchardt A500 vs KEF Wireless II is what I want to know! Hopefully, KEF actually spent some time improving their abysmal app. The inclusion of chromecast support is pretty nice!
What is Bucharest in front the kefs haha
@@ATommy-lz4jd Who knows? Neither have been released to the masses yet
Fabulous review. Anxious to hear what they sound like versus my Maggies.
If you like the Maggie sound, no box can compete.
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac i've been living with them for over 20 years so the answer is a resounding I love my Maggie 3.6 R's
Hi Steve, how would you briefly compare these to the R3s? Is it worth the extra money for the larger volume of the R3s or are the Metas simply better in every aspect? Thank you very much!
Great review as always Steve, thanks!
I bought a pair, they arrived from KEF yesterday. I would advise not listening to these unless you have £1000 to spare. They are truly wonderful.
You need to listen to a pair of Magico to hear what youre missing
@@ProfessorJohnSmith Perhaps I wanted to spend my money on a Porsche rather than some speakers. Do you like your pair?
@@chrisbarrett5132 Drive a Miata, It'll make your reconsider spending 100k on a Porsche
@@miguelt.7997 Not quick enough mate.
Considering that works it would be amazing to learn the rationale behind this “meta absorber” it’s a killer speaker for sure. Really like that the tech comes out for the more affordable first.
I wish some British speaker makers do away with the -6db to measure freq response and stick to the -3db standard most speaker measurements reference.
Agreed -6dB is a poor value to use.
Time of an upgrade, I have a LS50 for a number of years now and i have enjoyed every moment of it, I hope the meta would be better in everyway
Gonna be a bunch of used LS 50s for sale:)
Or gift the original LS50 to another good person!
@@carlosbauza1139 yes let's give them all away for free!
Doug G -> can you email me for a possible purchase? just send an email to my first name, then add a dot ".", then my last name, and then @gmail.com to contact me ;) You can see my first and last name in my user nickname here on youtube ;)
Thanks for the KEF update