There is only one argument that should appeal to you.
It comes from your own ears.
It comes from your own ears.
Gripped By Upgrade Fever
I’m sure that 99 percent of the people reading this have suffered from the same syndrome before. So please show some empathy.
I’m two months into my ownership of KEF LS50s. Only a fool would be in a hurry to replace those speakers. I am that fool. It’s just that now that I’ve had a taste of what’s possible . . .
This is a long term plan. First, of course, is a new apartment so that a decent listening position is possible. Next, I spend about $5,000 on speakers and I make the big jump from bookshelves to floorstanders. Because this is all so hypothetical, I won’t mention any specific models and I’m not looking for advice on that point. Instead, let me start somewhere more basic.
A lot of of tower speakers, even the relatively small ones you get for 5K, cram a flotilla of drivers into the available space. Not unusual at all to see a tweeter, two mids, and three woofers. Not hard to find more. Right now, with the LS50, I’m looking at a single apparent source that’s five inches wide. All these drivers look like trouble to me. More crossovers, more timing issues, more phase issues, more I-don’t-know-what.
Is this fear rational? Am I crazy? I notice that at the 5K price point, KEF only uses 2.5 drivers—one Uni-Q and one woofer. Everything else is a passive radiator. While I don’t know what passive radiators actually do, I know that they are not independent sources of sound, that they are somehow just passing along energy from the woofer. Lots of other companies—Tannoy and Zu among them—claim virtues from one or two drivers that cover the entire audio spectrum or at least a big chunk of it, arguing that the simpler approach avoids the problems inherent in having lots of drivers trying to do the same thing.
For some reason, without any listening experience or technical knowledge, that argument appeals to me. Is my fear justified? Are speaker makers beyond such paltry concerns? Thoughts/comments/criticism?
I’m two months into my ownership of KEF LS50s. Only a fool would be in a hurry to replace those speakers. I am that fool. It’s just that now that I’ve had a taste of what’s possible . . .
This is a long term plan. First, of course, is a new apartment so that a decent listening position is possible. Next, I spend about $5,000 on speakers and I make the big jump from bookshelves to floorstanders. Because this is all so hypothetical, I won’t mention any specific models and I’m not looking for advice on that point. Instead, let me start somewhere more basic.
A lot of of tower speakers, even the relatively small ones you get for 5K, cram a flotilla of drivers into the available space. Not unusual at all to see a tweeter, two mids, and three woofers. Not hard to find more. Right now, with the LS50, I’m looking at a single apparent source that’s five inches wide. All these drivers look like trouble to me. More crossovers, more timing issues, more phase issues, more I-don’t-know-what.
Is this fear rational? Am I crazy? I notice that at the 5K price point, KEF only uses 2.5 drivers—one Uni-Q and one woofer. Everything else is a passive radiator. While I don’t know what passive radiators actually do, I know that they are not independent sources of sound, that they are somehow just passing along energy from the woofer. Lots of other companies—Tannoy and Zu among them—claim virtues from one or two drivers that cover the entire audio spectrum or at least a big chunk of it, arguing that the simpler approach avoids the problems inherent in having lots of drivers trying to do the same thing.
For some reason, without any listening experience or technical knowledge, that argument appeals to me. Is my fear justified? Are speaker makers beyond such paltry concerns? Thoughts/comments/criticism?
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- 34 posts total
missioncoonery- Comments from actual listeners. Read em and weep: The imaging was so good that I felt like the vocalist was performing right in front of me and that I could reach out and touch them. Again, actual listener comments. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 |
@spenav +1 on the AudioKinesis Swarm! @paul6001 I have experienced significant improvements all around in multiple rooms (a 10' x 12' minus closets and a 11' x 14' living room at the old place/ 13' x 17' office and 15' x 19' living room in the new place) using the Swarm with my LS50s. Fuller, tighter, clearer and faster bass. The soundstage depth, width and height noticeably increased. Similar outstanding results as well with my Harbeth SHL5+40ths, Magnepan LRS and most noticeably on a pair of 15 ohm Rogers LS3/5As from the late 70s. It really is impressive what a well thought out and implemented subwoofer system can do. Even more so with smaller monitors. If upgrade fever is unavoidable, at least consider a subwoofer system as an initial first step. Also, don't be intimidated by having ''several'' subs in your listening area. I managed four subs (2 facing the ceiling up on a high shelf, 2 on the floor) in a tiny room. Not sure what size listening room you have but ironically multiple subs have a greater percentage improvement in smaller rooms. Best of luck in your upgrade quest! |
I agree with the comments on adding a sub to what you have now. I have been running LS50's for the last 4-5 years and have them paired with a REL 7i sub and it completes the picture for my small listening room. If tuned well, it will blend perfectly. Then focus on the gear driving them as the LS50's will reward you with any improvements you make in the stack. |
- 34 posts total