LS-50 Speakers (Passive)
Malthuse, the Z series extends everything that is good about the S series. The sound is even more refined the soundstage is even bigger, greater clarity. Honestly the most impressive speakers for the money that we have ever heard. We just demoed for a client the Naim Atom then the Uniti Nova with the Z2 and it sounded like a Radiho but without the hyper detailing presentation, very similar resolution and big open clean and fast reproduction, The Quad ribbon tweeter is one of the finest high frequency drivers we have ever heard, the resolution is unbelievable but the speakers sound rich The Quad's damped ribbon is what makes the speakers so freaking good. Please PM us if you have any further questions. Dave and Troy Audio Doctor NJ |
I have passive LS50 with a Vincent SP-331 (the lower end model around $1300), a Schiit Saga preamp, a Schiit Modi Multibit. The combo sounds very good but I don’t really want to spend thousands on better equipment to pair with the LS50. I was going to incorporate a 2x4 HD mini-DSP and sub but I wonder if I should just sell the passive LS50 and some of the gear and just buy the wireless LS50. Or is what I have equal to what I can get out of the wireless LS50? It’s for a small room 12 x 12. |
I finally got around to comparing my passive KEF LS50’s ($1500) with the Audience ClairAudient 1+1 V2+ loudspeaker ($2345) using the same electronics (my office system). http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audience-clairaudient-11-v2-loudspeaker/ Benchmark DAC3L + AHB2 amp + Audience AU24e interconnect and speaker wire + Sonnare microRendu + isoaccustic speaker stands on a big desktop This is an extremely quiet system. Here is a review of the electronics. https://www.dagogo.com/benchmark-audio-dac3-dx-ahb2-amplifiers-review/ As much as I like my KEF LS50’s I have to say the crossover less Audience speakers are better. The KEF’s are a little easier to position than the Audience. The KEF also have a little bit more bass however, when you listen to the Audience you get the sense that there is no speaker there. It is quite extraordinary how clear and deep I hear into the music. The KEF’s have more of a veil in the sound. I never really noticed it until I got the Audience. I love the LS50’s and will keep this one until it falls apart but for a little more dollars the Audience is a pretty special speaker that not many people are aware off. The bass is clearly lacking with the Audience and you need to be careful about adding a sub because the sub must be fast to keep up (if interested discuss with Audience). I do not mind the missing bass because I use it during work hours in a small room and big bass would be distracting. The Audience is also a bit more problematic in positioning and I had to move them 1 foot from the back wall to get the correct sound. The KEF could be placed about 6 inches closer to the back. In the future I will place the Audience on speaker stands and move them even further from the back wall (I will move soon). They are currently on isoaccustic stands on my office’s second uncluttered desk. I am not a huge heavy metal rock fan but I find myself listening to lots of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, etc.. through the Audience 1+1’s. This is some of the music of my youth but even back then I never listen that much to this type of music. It must be the speed of the speakers that is making this music so enjoyable. I listen to all types of music but the fast stuff is so addictive on the Audience. BTW - I use the excellent PeachTree Nova 150 amp + DAC with the passive KEF LS50 in the bedroom. The office system cost me close to $9k and the bedroom one was $3k retail but I got it for $2500 used on A’gon. Now all I need to do is build out the big rig (with bass) for my living room. |
