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KEF LS50 Need Help

I have been auditioning the KEF LS50 for a week now. Very nice speaker overall and clearly understand why it is so well reviewed. The speaker sounded very poor out of the box and loosened up after about 2 hours and finally started to sing. I have 25+ hours on them now (of course KEF says 100-200 needed????).

The bottom line for me is that they do not have enough bottom end for my taste, and the vocals an high pitch violin, etc. can seem too loud and a bit harsh at times. My gut feeling is the speakers will not change much more from now? This is a reference type speaker in my opinion. I guess there is always a thin line between perfect detail and rich soulful sound. I am looking for both (like most people) with a slant towards the rich and soulful side for me. I am upgrading my dedicated listening system from Klipsch KG4. (not a bad speaker by the way, different league of course)

I am considering two options going forward. ($3,000 budget max and prefer closer to $2,000) I kinda knew I would need a sub when I decided to try the LS50.

1.Try a sub (and soon) before my return window expires. SVS SB it most probable to due generous demo policy. The KEF R400 would be nice to try but cost more than the speakers?? I would consider it if gave me the results I want.

2.Return LS50 and find a suitable floor standing that will not need a sub, like Salk Song Tower ($160 shipping each way- bummer), or possibly KEF R line, or other??

I guess I am hoping for some input from those with similar experiences and the choices you ended up making.

My set-up
McIntosh MC 2150 solid state
Parasound Halo P5 pre-amp
Airport express via Toslink to Preamp DAC
Rotel CD player via digital coax to Preamp DAC

I currently use Tributary A1 Silver RCA cables and Tributary 12AWG Speaker wires. Blue jeans digital cables 14 x 19 room carpeted 75% or the area
torxx
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,911 posts
 
I would have expected ls50 + sub set up well to be competitive with most anything myself.

That would be assuming subs and mains levels are well integrated. That setup and integration is often tricky to get right case by case whenever a sub is involved and may actually be a detriment in some ways until integrated optimally.

ITs not an easy thing to do. Sometimes its best to just let the speaker designer design the sound in total and just go with it.

I heard the ls50s in a large and small room in my house.

Bass extension and overall presentation was not good in the larger room.

In the smaller room, Bingo!

Subs would have alleviated the issue in the larger room I think, but never tried, so can't say for sure other than that is usually the case when monitors and subs are married happily.
torxx OP
29 posts
 
I had the subs flanking each speaker which eliminates most integration issues. Also worth noting, I detest boomy bass so I would set the crossover and sub gains quite low. The integration was good, but not perfect, however, that was not much of an issue with me as my desire to acquire a speaker that brings me closer to the music, which will cost you more $$. The 805D with or without subs will do that in spades better than the LS50 with subs, IMO.
torxx OP
29 posts
 
I should’ve updated this along time ago but forgot. it turns out the noise I was experiencing was from room issues that was solved with room treatments, sound traps, etc. took care of it. It was Not at all related to the speakers.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Torxx, It is easier to integrate subs if you use a higher crossover point. This only works if you have two subs. Any good sub should be able to run up to 125 Hz w/o getting boomy. Put the subs just to the inside of the LS 50s turn them sideways so that they are facing each other and push them right back against the wall. I would appreciate you telling me what you think!!
torxx OP
29 posts
 

Hey mij, thank for the suggestions. The LS50’s did not make the cut back then and got returned. I have upgraded considerably from that system and now have much better equipment running B&W 805ds and a single REL S/5. Conceptually I like the speakon connection that REL uses and it works to my liking, i.e., I don’t know the sub is there until it gets turned off. I took a look a JL before I bought the REL and it was boomy to my ears. I’m sure better set up would have helped, but, it was a high end shop that prepared for me to come listen to the sub, so didn't question that.

 I set up my sub to sound the way I like it based on the on the bassiest of music I typically listen to and then just leave it alone. Rock is always lean on bass. Jazz, techno, and electronica typically sound awesome.

Two subs are better than one of course, however, I will live with one sub for as long as I can as two required more money, more space and more cables.

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