Only difference in Anniversary edition are the words Anniversary Edition is on the front speaker surround.
I auditioned the LS50s for over two months with and without dual subs. Very nice speaker for the money as I think anyone would agree. I would add to the comments regarding their failure to handle complex musical arrangements as well as some higher priced speakers such as the B&W 805D which I spent some time listening too. Example: industrial music like Nine Inch Nails can tend to sound like random, obnoxious noise at times with many speakers including the LS50 while the B&Ws made sense of the chaos in a coherent, enjoyable way. To my ears the B&Ws excelled at everything I threw at them and made me feel like I was in the same room as the musicians in a much more pronounced way. Comparing the two, the LS50 is like listening to a concert from the cheap seats while the B&W will put you on the floor five rows from the stage. Of course I am comparing a $1,500 speaker to $5,000. If $1,500 was max budget, the LS50 would be difficult to beat.
I auditioned the LS50s for over two months with and without dual subs. Very nice speaker for the money as I think anyone would agree. I would add to the comments regarding their failure to handle complex musical arrangements as well as some higher priced speakers such as the B&W 805D which I spent some time listening too. Example: industrial music like Nine Inch Nails can tend to sound like random, obnoxious noise at times with many speakers including the LS50 while the B&Ws made sense of the chaos in a coherent, enjoyable way. To my ears the B&Ws excelled at everything I threw at them and made me feel like I was in the same room as the musicians in a much more pronounced way. Comparing the two, the LS50 is like listening to a concert from the cheap seats while the B&W will put you on the floor five rows from the stage. Of course I am comparing a $1,500 speaker to $5,000. If $1,500 was max budget, the LS50 would be difficult to beat.