Replacing KEF LS50s with Reference 1s

ohlala
I'm considering a pair of used Reference 1s with stands, but you're correct that at best the sale of 5 LS50s will likely cover less than half the cost.

mountainsoung
My experience with KEF Reference speakers is limited to the pair of 107/2s and a 204/2C I now enjoy, but the LS50s are amazing speakers.

I've proposed moving the racing red LS50s to side surround duty in the media room, but my wife wants them to remain in the living room, so Reference 1s may be out.  I think I'll reconnect the HGS-10s and SMS-1 bass-manager, but the Ayre preamp provides no bass management (nor does my Parasound JC 2 BP) so the LS50s will run full range.  I suppose I could insert the SMS-1 between the Ayre preamp and amp, but that would violate the all-Ayre balanced link from source to speaker.

db

You can try fmod attenuators for really cheap. I hear they are fairly transparent. Can buy off amazon. High pass in most frequencies. Would go into the rca input signal in your amp.