LS-50 Speakers (Passive)

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.

Hi, I know this is an old thread from last year, but if you still get messages from Audiogon forums, I had a question or two for you in regards to your experiences with the  Audience 1+1's + AHB2's vs the KEF LS50 w/ Nova 150 amp.. If you'd be so kind as to help answer them for me, I'd greatly appreciate it:

1. Did you ever try the KEF LS50 w/ the AHB2's to compare apples to apples with the Audience 1+1's?  If so, how did the former fare?

2. Since the Nova 150 are like $1700 or so, and the AHB2's are nearly double the price, would you say there are diminished returns for the latter (i.e. they are not quite twice as good)?


I got a pair of LS50 (non-wirelss) for $900 and it seems the general rule is to spend the bulk of one's money on speakers and not amplification, so it seems that Nova 150 would be somewhat do-able but AHB2's would be significantly violating that "rule".


Thanks in advance for your reply.

The Quad S and Z series are pretty amazing monitors for the price.Too bad in Canada and the USA there isnt many dealers.Im serious looking at the S2 or the Z2 for my secondary system.Even the UK press is commenting there was a "biased" since Quad was sold to the IAG group but the fit and finish has improved under the new owners and they were impressed with workman ship of the newer releases.I heard both of these speakers at a friends place and Im leaning towards the S2.That ribbon tweeter is so quick,detailed and no colouration.