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LS-50 Speakers (Passive)

No matter where I and a friend reads, most people are raving about the Kef LS-50’s (passive version).   However, sadly, neither one of us have heard them with no local dealer.  The best would be to evaluate them in our respective rooms as the room accounts for about 1/3 of the sound.

Moreover, I recently heard that the new LS-50’s ((passive) are not the same as the originals as Kef tried to save some money.  Is there any truth to this rumor?  I certainly hope not so I thought I throw it out there and see the response I get.

Thanks for your input....
linnie01
phomchick's avatar
phomchick
209 posts
 
ELAC UB5s are 1/3 the price of the LS50s. If you think they are equivalent, that makes the ELACs the bargain of the century.

I have a pair of UB5s, as well as a pair of ~1978 Chartwell LS3/5As. I should compare them some time.
chrisr's avatar
chrisr
543 posts
 
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!
phastm3's avatar
phastm3
88 posts
 
crutchfield sells the LS50's with a 45 day return option...only costs about $10 to give them a try
tutetibiimperes
202 posts
 
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.  
br3098
994 posts
 
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.

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