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.
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.
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.
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- 35 posts total
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) |
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. |
I got the EtherRegen delivered today and hooked up. Though have not listened yet. I could be done of a while with this downstairs system. As I said before this system is driven by the limitation in my placement options and the small form factor requirement of any gear I can use. What I have now is a homerun with respect to decent sound and the small form factor of everything I listed above. In the future, when my son is a bit bigger and I can throw some of his toys out I will have more space to place bigger and better speakers in this room. The KEF Reference 1 would fit in the current situation, just not sure I will do that given the quality of the LS50 and the KC62. If I get the Reference 1 I would use it with the KC62. |
- 35 posts total