LS-50 Speakers (Passive)

I have both the Elac UB5 and LS50s.  I also have a pair of Totem Hawk as reference.   In my room and with my modest marantz integrated, The UB5s are coming really close to the LS50s in terms of imaging/soundstage, clarity, details.  The LS50s develop more the midrange without being forward, while the UB5s are little less refined and more forward.
The UB5s bass -without the use of equalization or crossovers at mid-bass frequency- are more even and refined.
That's just my take on things!

crutchfield sells the LS50's with a 45 day return option...only costs about $10 to give them a try

I'm pretty sure the passive LS50s were the original version, and the wireless came afterwards.  The wireless are supposed to be better, which makes sense as the designers could incorporate DSP and match amplifiers to the drivers.

I've only demoed the passive ones, and I thought they sounded nice.  I own the Elac UB5s as well, and to my ears they're incredibly close.  The LS50s have a nicer construction and nicer finish, and I think they're a bit darker than the Elacs, but both are excellent speakers.  

The Elac UB5 is a very good speaker for the money, but it IMO it doesn't sound anything like the LS50 passive.  The imaging and dispersion pattern of the dual concentric UniQ driver on the LS50 in entirely different than the UB5, which sounds more "conventional" (not necessarily in a bad way).

While the LS50 is not my personal choice it is a superior and very distinctive speaker.  The UB5 is distinctive mainly for it's performance at it's price.  Again, IMO.

I would only get the LS50’s if you plan to also use a subwoofer (or two). They are great speakers, but they only get to 79Hz +/-3dB (ground plane, so some in room boost).

The Philharmonic “New Philharmonitor” would be my pick if you won’t be using a subwoofer. They are built to order though.

The UB5 (only addressing it as others are recommending it) has a midrange boost, and it’s imaging is pretty good, except in the 3kHz-7kHz region.

The HSU CCB-8 is very similar to the LS50, but a decent bit cheaper, and has a good amount of bass, so subwoofers aren’t a necessity.  
 
 The SVS Ultra bookshelves are also very good. However, I feel they are a bit overpriced. Via their outlet store, you can get the Piano Black finish, one being undamaged for $50 off and one with faint scratches for $100 off, they post pictures of the scratches, so that would be $850 total instead of $1000.