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Usher Audio BE-718 or Kef LS50

Hi Everybody,

For some reason, I’ve become enamored with the Usher BE-718 Tiny Dancers, even though I’ve never heard them. I own Kef LS50s. I drive the LS50s with a pair of modified ASL DT200 Hurricanes fed by a PS Audio PWD II going through a Dodd battery powered tube preamp. The first question I usually get is “shouldn’t that rig be driving a better pair of speakers?”. Well, maybe. The reason I have LS50s is because I had to downsize my audio room 4 years ago and the Thiel 3.6s wouldn’t work in an 11 x 16 x 10 room. I also had to learn room acoustics and treat the new tiny room. I tried a pair of Golden Ear Triton 2s but I couldn’t tame them. I probably pulled the plug a little early on those but that’s another story. I replaced the GE T2s with the LS50s. Say what you want but the LS50s are a nice speaker for the money and they are dialed in. However, I find myself still wanting…go figure. What I’m trying to do now is find another small speaker that is incrementally better than the LS50 that won’t break the bank. In other words, I’m not financially ready to go buy a pair of Joseph Audio Pulsar’s or even a pair of Aerial Acoustics 5Ts and call it a day.

Enter the Usher BE-718s. I’ve heard good things about these speakers and you can get a used pair for about the price of a new pair of LS50s. I’m looking for some wisdom here. Can anybody tell me about the 718s? Has anybody heard both? And yes, I know that the 718 cost ~ $2600.00 new which is $1100.00 more that the LS50 new, which means that it is supposed to be a better speaker but I also know it doesn’t always work out that way. I’m trying to get some info before I buy an older speaker named Dancer that ends up having two left feet at Christmas! 
utrak
audiothesis
168 posts
 
I’m not sure what was going on with the other setups but the Be-718 are formidable speakers that are well worth their praise. Some rear-ported Usher speakers can sound bloated if not properly placed as that 7" woofer can put out quite a bit of air, but these are front-ported so that might not be the issue.

I’d advise against getting a pair with the Be tweeters, or at the least, planning to upgrade to the Diamonds. There is a world of difference between these two tweeters that really elevates the speaker itself. Like rbstehno mentioned above, the Diamond tweeter is a truly world class tweeter that has great extension without the fatigue. The 718 is a discontinued model due to the Mini X being released a few years ago.

For what its worth, I’d never take the LS50 over the Mini X or Be-718 with Diamond tweeters. I’ve heard them on a few occasions. The LS50W makes it a closer race, but I’d still take the Ushers (with Diamonds) unless DSP was required due to major room/placement issues.

I’ve owned or had in house the following Usher speakers: CP-6311, CP-6381, Mini X, Mini Dancer Two, CP-777, and Be-10.
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,780 posts
 
Audiothesis we were major Usher dealers for quite a number of years and we sold dozens of BE 718 and the DMD 718 versions.

Quite frankly one of the reasons we dropped Usher was the LS 50. 

Yes the 718 has lower bass and sounds a bit bigger overall  it did not outperform the LS 50. 

A properly setup set of LS 50 can sound quite fantastic. 

Today we also have the Quad Z series monitors which sound like a bigger cleaner version of the LS 50 with greater bass then the LS 50.

Quite frankly there a number of fantastic monitors in the $2k-3k the new KEF R 3, the Quads, the Technics are all fantastic monitors we haven't heard any of the Focals in this price range but obviously those and the B&W 700 series are all great contenders.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ


utrak OP
20 posts
 
Thank you very much for this response Troy. This information is much appreciated.
bob7296's avatar
bob7296
35 posts
 
Hi,
I have a pair of the Usher Audio be718’s.
They definetly sound romantic as one of the folks described them.... I find that I prefer a sub with them contrary to some reviews. The beryllium tweeter are among the airiest smoothest natural sounding tweeters that I’ve ever heard.
Im in NJ if you’re local you’re welcome to come give them a listen. I think they’re a little more natural sounding with more bottom end than the Kefs from what I’ve read and heard people say.
I know the Ushers weigh a ton!
id love to hear the Joseph audio Pulsars too. I have floor standing Joseph RM-25XL MKii and they’re awesome I wish they had beryllium tweeters....

steve59's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
steve59
1,760 posts
 
I never owned the ls-50 i have the R107/2 , had the R105/3, Q5 and some c10's. I have heard modern Kef's and they sound similar to Kef of old, not a bad thing. Usher offers warmer sounding speakers. All the rags have anointed the ls-50 as world beaters, I disagree. I find Kef uniq speakers very difficult to match and often they end up sounding lean, sterile, dry, Accurate for sure, soundstaging champs also but the Ushers are no slouches and I think if Usher had the advertising budget Kef had they would get all the accolades kef does. Full disclosure. A pair of BE-20 DMD's grace my listening room.
 Audiotroy, I actually appreciate the free support and help you guys offer up on the forum, touting brands you carry over brands you don't does come off disingenuous despite the otherwise good work ya'll do here. 
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