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KEF LS50 Meta

This is exciting.

https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/blogging-on-audio/926-kefs-classic-gets-updated-introducing-the-ls50-meta-and-its-new-killer-feature

$1500 same size as original LS50.
yyzsantabarbara
mapman's avatar
mapman
23,621 posts
 
I do think Guttenberg May have gotten the frequency range absorbed wrong in his video.

Still a lot of what goes into detail happens at higher frequencies (overtones) and the new technology is said to offer 90%+ absorption compared to only 60% before and the cabinets on all ls50s are very robust.

For now I will just say the demo was very impressive and leave it at that.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,493 posts
 

And, Guttenberg mentioned the internal bracing is improved in the Meta. It's going to be interesting to see if they measure differently than the original, assuming John Atkinson gets a pair (he loves the original).

I love the matte finish on the Meta, too.

mapman's avatar
mapman
23,621 posts
 
Having heard both now in totally different setups I can say I do think the claims of the new meta’s sounding clearly different from old are likely true but still hard to say. 

Neither is a slouch by any means. 

I started a separate thread that I will post to with my observations regarding the two once the metas arrive. That will be more apples and apples. Stay tuned.
yyzsantabarbara OP
5,569 posts
 
@mapman  If you are going to have both versions in the same room can you test out the following claim.

the LS50 Meta can also be operated close to a wall or in the corner of a room. We literally moved the compact loudspeakers and stands in front of the wall and one after the other used the supplied inserts to reduce and close the bass reflex opening. They effectively compensate for the bass emphasis caused by the setup.

This would a big deal for people with small rooms.
mapman's avatar
mapman
23,621 posts
 
I will try that. I’ve tried my originals both close to wall and a good ways out, not quite near field. They work pretty well either way but soundstage and imaging is better further out as it typically is with most modern speakers.

I do use a sub so that factors in a great deal with the bass. Alone the old ls50 bass tends to benefit from wall reinforcement like most smaller speakers. 
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