I have the LS50w (active), placement and treatments most definitely play a big part. KEF touts them as being able to be placed anywhere, and while they will sound good. To get them to sound great you need proper placement, despite the DSP built in.
In a difficult room, open concept with a large glass window in one of the walls, and a decent sub Dayton audio 10" hf in a 1.6cu ft enclosure they sound really good about 1ft away from the back wall. But pull them out another foot and the soundstage really expands in depth without loosing the slam and energy.
However in room that I've been using with Primaluna Integrated and Focal 1008be2 ( and really happy with), placed in the same spot they just didn't have much depth to the soundstage. I re-arranged a few pieces of furniture, carefully measured placement according to Cardas calculator and they definitely opened up.
Just my 2¢
mdr
In a difficult room, open concept with a large glass window in one of the walls, and a decent sub Dayton audio 10" hf in a 1.6cu ft enclosure they sound really good about 1ft away from the back wall. But pull them out another foot and the soundstage really expands in depth without loosing the slam and energy.
However in room that I've been using with Primaluna Integrated and Focal 1008be2 ( and really happy with), placed in the same spot they just didn't have much depth to the soundstage. I re-arranged a few pieces of furniture, carefully measured placement according to Cardas calculator and they definitely opened up.
Just my 2¢
mdr