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Magico A1 vs KEF Reference 1 (META) vs KEF LS50 + KEF KC62

I want to get a monitor speaker for a room that is 17'W x 22'L x 24'H and shared with my sons toys. The room actually opens up some more to a living room and a balcony on the second floor. So there is some volume to fill. I also need to use a monitor and not a more appropriate floor stander. I am limited to where I can place a speaker. It MUST be placed on a bookshelf that is 2 inches from the front wall and has the following dimensions.  

Depth: 17 3/8 "
Height: 20 1/2 "

I am currently using KEF LS50's (passive) on the bookshelf. It works well but I would like more bass and a bigger sound.

I was thinking of the Magico A1 since it is sealed and can be comfortably placed on a bookshelf. Magico even sells 5 degree angled bookshelf stands for the A1. However, the price seems very high for a 2 way speaker. 

The KEF Reference 1 is a speaker I always liked (heard it many times). However, I always heard it away from the front wall. I have been trying to get some info out of KEF on the Meta stuff and also placement of the REFERENCE 1 monitor.  However, no feedback yet. The Reference 1 is rear ported and maybe not too good close to a wall. I would also wait for the META stuff to appear on the Reference 1.

The other option is using my existing KEF LS50's + KEF KC62 subwoofer (placed on bookshelf). Though I am not sure if this combo is strong enough for my space.

I am using a KRELL K-300i integrated for this system. It would work well with the Magico and both KEF's.

So my questions are as follows:

1) Is the Magico A1 strong enough for the space? I assume it is a bit more detailed than both KEF's. I have demoed the A3.
2) Can the KEF Reference 1 be placed very close to the front wall? Would the META help in placement close to a wall?
3) Is the  KEF LS50's + KEF KC62 subwoofer combo strong enough for my room?

I guess I could also use the  KEF KC62 subwoofer with the Magico A1 and also the KEF Reference 1.

BTW -  I am seriously thinking of getting the Yamaha NS5000 that is classified as a bookshelf speaker. I have recently learned that it can be placed close to a front wall without catastrophic results. My only issue is that it is a relatively large speaker compared to other monitors and I am tight on space. This one should really be placed on the stands that Yamaha provides for it. This would make the space tighter than I would like. I think the other 3 speakers are actually more appropriate given my space restrictions.

I am looking for answers to my 3 questions and some opinions on my 3 choices.
yyzsantabarbara
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,790 posts
 
yyzsantanarbara,

The new KC62 has received great reviews.  The only con I’ve seen is some of the reviewers think it’s a bit expensive.  I think your thoughts about getting the Ref 1’s to go with the KC62, should make you very happy. Elite Enterprises  in St. Charles, MO that sells KEF and I have already warned them that I want to hear the LS50 Metas, the Ref 1,  and players to be named later. I’m planning on making an appointment next week.

All the best.

JD
hshifi
572 posts
 
Hello,
You might not need the sub once the KEF Reference 1 meta comes out in the space you intend to put them. These are one of my favorite speakers of all time and I am considering these for myself due to already having a killer subwoofer setup. I love the piano black with the copper color. I might even pop for the matching stands. At $2k they are expensive. Sound Anchor has a nice setup for these as well for half the price. I am waiting for a new front end to do a final test in my house. I love that they are a true three way speaker. On the Ayre EX-8 these speakers were so clean and detailed. Plus, they sounded like the had a subwoofer attached. That’s amazing. I also love the Reference 3s but they cost $6k more or $4k more if you add the stands to the Reference 1s. This store in the Chicagoland area lets you try in your hone before you buy. https://holmaudio.com/
I am lucky they are a KEF dealer so I can make the best decision for me and my room. I hate having buyers remorse. 
yyzsantabarbara OP
4,908 posts
 
You are right that I may not need the sub. However, it may be a while before the META is released for the Reference 1. Since the LS50 META did not have a price hike with the META I do not expect a hike on the Reference. So getting the sub should hold me until then. Since I will not be selling my LS50s I can always keep the sub around with them if they are nit needed with the Reference 1. I do have a lot of volume to fill in my living room so I expect the sub to likely be needed.


yyzsantabarbara OP
4,908 posts
 
I now have the KC62 setup with my passive LS50. I am extremely impressed. I have the LS50's potentially a little too close together and will be getting 10 foot speaker cable on Thursday to space the speakers about 8 1/2 feet apart. The KC62 is resting on the same Ikea toy cabinet that the LS50's are and at the same level. It sound pretty good but I think raising the LS50's a foot and spacing them out will make it better. I will know on Thursday. I am starting to think the LS50 + KC62 = same amount of happiness as the KEF Reference 1. 

My 5 year old son was very impressed by the sub. He was like the primates in 2001 Space Odyssey when the monolith arrived. KEF could sell a lot of the subs if they made a commercial with my son's reaction to the sub.

I set the crossover on the sub to 80 Hz and dialed in the volume to only 33% of max on the sub. It sounds nicely integrated and deep. I definitely do not need 2 of these.

Setup:

Topping pre90 preamp
Topping D90SE DAC
Sony XDR tuner (modded  Welcome - About - Contact (xdrguy.com))
Benchmark AHB2 mono amp
Benchmark speaker cable
Audience AU24 SE XLR and RCA cables
Audience Forte power conditioner 
KEF LS50 (passive)
KEF KC62 subwoofer
Sonore microRendu
EtherRegen (ordered)
Ag insider logo xs@2x
dbphd
1,630 posts
 
yyzsantabarbara, re KEF Reference 1s with sub woofer:
I agree the KEFs have good bass extension, but I found that adding a pair of Velodyne HGS-15s with SMS-1 bass management crossed at 80 Hz, 24 dB/octave really increased the size of the soundstage. I adjust the level of the subs so that I’m usually unaware of them, except for the blue light that indicates when they are active, until a pedal note is played or a canon fired off in a movie. The KEFs are driven by an Ayre KX-5/20 preamp and VX-5/20 amp. A Marchand passive balanced high-pass at 80 Hz, 24 dB sits between the preamp and amp.
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