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KEF Reference 1s or LS50s

I'm planning for a single downsized setup for when we move to a retirement community.  Pretty sure it'll be an Ayre QX-5/20 Roon endpoint and DX-5 DSD disc player as sources, Ayre A7e or AX-5/20 integrated amp, KEF LS50 or Reference 1 speakers with Velodyne HGS-15s subs.  My taste has moved to music by small classical, baroque, and jazz groups.  The question I'm pondering is whether to go with the LS50s or Reference 1s.  Both sound superb.
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dbphd OP
1,628 posts
 
It's not easy for me to do an AB comparison.  Although I think both speakers sound great, at times I think I prefer the LS50s, and that concerns me.  The pair of servo 15" subs use bass management that provides acoustic room correction, so that to some extent removes the issue of LF extension.
riley804
1,224 posts
 
@ big_greg, kren0006

+1

It's not easy for me to do an AB comparison.

how can it not be easy to do a comparison when you have the speakers already ??
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Don’t be a slave to msrp. If the LS50 sounds better to you then that is the right one regardless of cost. Certainly wouldn’t be first who loved that speaker above costlier ones
avanti1960
1,480 posts
 
My vote goes to the LS50 as the speaker I would rather listen to.  I owned a pair and loved them.  
I spent an afternoon listening to a pair of REF 1s.  Beautiful speaker, disappointing sound.  
yyzsantabarbara
4,873 posts
 
I have heard the Ref 1 sound awful and also brilliant. The difference was the rooms. Actually my LS50 sounded awful in my small room until I got it treated by GIK. In my treated room, the Ref 1 wound be an improvement for my sub less LS50 system.
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