KEF LS50 Meta Passive Bookshelf Speakers

Most Overrated Speaker? Am I Wrong? KEF LS50 Meta - YouTube

What We Loved

• Build qualitythis thing is built like a cinder blockthe bottom of it is very weighty no way this cabinet is is going to be causing any resonance
• Design & aestheticsit's beautifulthe finish the paint on here is kind of a rough texture gorgeousfront baffle is curved absolutely beautiful speaker
• Detail retrievalyou can hear details into the stringsyou can visualize the string vibrating
• Included accessoriesit does come with some foam Port plugs
• Soundstage widththey do Sound Stage in image wellmakes your entire room sound like a sweet spotthey do Sound Stage and image very very well
• Stereo imaging accuracythey do Sound Stage in image wellGreat Sound Stage in imaging

Just Okay

• Amplifier power requirementssensitivity 85 DB so this does on paper require some extra juicerecommended amplifier power 40 to 100 WTSon paper you should be able to drive this off of a variety of amplifiersCambridge audio puts out 150 watts into 8 ohms ... that was enough
• Bass performancehas a frequency response of 79 Hertz up to 28,000 Hertz so that should tell you something about this speaker you really need a subwoofer with itdoesn't make much Basthere is enough base here and even if you don't have a SBO for it's still going to give you a little bit of meat on the bone
• Dynamic headroomthe metas seem a little bit more Dynamic than the first generation it's not Dynamic enough to move the needle for me
• Frequency response balanceI think the mid-range vocals a little bit recessed compared to the previous oneI think this thing is a little bit recessed in the mid-range and even upper troubledare I say the mid-range on the KF ls50 is slightly recessed
• Treble clarityI'm not hearing a ton of sibilance out of this speakerThe Symbols sounds like an illuminum Dome Tweeter ... symbols sound really good ... but it has a bit of bite now don't think that I'm saying this speaker is fatiguing cu I don't think it is
• Voice clarityKurt Cobain's voice was a little bit behind my fireplaceI think the mid-range vocals a little bit recessed
• Wired input availabilityfive-way binding post on the back

Needs Improvement

• Value for moneyI think it's too expensive at a retail price of $1600you my friends are competing with the sonus Faber Lumina 2 ... around $900 then you have speakers that are a third of the price that I think sound very similar

The WAIT is OVER! KEF Speaker Review! KEF LS50 Speakers Meta Review - YouTube

What We Loved

• Bass performancethe metas have bass and i am talking real palpable nuanced bassit may not be subterranean but it is completely satisfying even in larger rooms like oursat no point during our review period did i ever reach for one of our subwoofers in order to augment the meta's bottom end
• Build qualityyou can see the build qualitythey look way nicer than fifteen hundred dollar speakers
• Cohesive presentationthe metas are incredibly coherentthere is virtually no gap between its base mid-range and high frequency responseeverything that comes out of this speaker sounds so incredibly natural and organic
• Design & aestheticsi think they're really really pretty speakers they're super modern i love how small they are
• Detail retrievalif you're a fan of digital for its cleanliness and its attention to absolute detail well the metas have your backsome of the finer details in the mid-range and sound stage became muddy through the crown
• Frequency response balancethey are virtually colorless that is to say that they are neutralthis is not a forward or bright sounding speaker nor is it lush or warm it it's neutral
• Home theater integrationi really liked watching movies through the metas i found them very compelling as home theater speakers
• Setup simplicityi do recommend a fair amount of toein but once you get them dialed in the center image and soundstage definition is first class
• Stereo imaging accuracythe metas are among the best imaging loudspeakers i have ever heardonce you get them dialed in the center image and soundstage definition is first classi would buy these loudspeakers on the strength of the center image and soundstage alone
• Value for moneyat 14.99 a pair us dollars they are cheaperthey're a great deal for what you get they're good value they're a great valueif they wanted to charge more i do think that they are worth moreat fifteen hundred bucks i mean no brainer like just no brainer
• Voice claritythis is on full display when listening to vocals for the meta gets at the emotion and those finer inflection points in an artist's lyrics or an actor's dialogue

Just Okay

• Amplifier power requirementswith a sensitivity of 85 db and an impedance that can dip well below four ohms it's not like the metas are difficult to drive per se but drive them properly it takes some pretty decent amplificationif you want to get the most out of these loudspeakers ... well then you have to bring the proper amplification
• Dynamic headroomdynamics can feel somewhat subdued at timesthey're still not speakers that i would classify as lightning quick agile articulate and detailed yes crack of the whip quick no
• Loudness / maximum volumekef states their maximum output to be 106 dbin the real world i think they play very comfortably up into around 90 to 95 dbthis speaker's butter zone is actually around 75 to say 85 89 db

KEF LS50 Meta Loudspeaker Review

What We Loved

• Bass performancea weighty midbass that provides room-filling energythere’s something remarkable about the impact of the driving and ripping electric basslines, tympani, and kettle drumswhen the Meta is pushed outside its comfort zone, the soundstage foundation loses some of its definition, and low-level bass cues succumb to some compression
• Build qualitythe superb fit and finish of its enclosureCabinet construction, as non-resonant as any knuckle rap will tell you, is all MDF, bolstered by optimized internal bracing and constrained-layer damping
• Design & aestheticsYou simply couldn’t beat the looks of this squarish two-way, bass-reflex design.
• Detail retrievalLow-level details and micro-information were more explicitly resolved.
• Distortion at high volumeeven at moderately high levels, not a whimper.
• Frequency response balancea midrange on the warmish romantic side, and a weighty midbass that provides room-filling energy.
• Loudness / maximum volumehell-raising outputThere are limits, of course
• Setup simplicityPartnering with the room for low-frequency reinforcement is part and parcel of the set-up experience, perhaps most particularly for compact monitors.careful positioning is crucial to achieving wide-spectrum musicality.Fortunately, this difference only required placement a few inches closer to the back wall.
• Soundstage widthSoundstaging and dimensionality were strong suits for the LS50, but Meta was even more convincing at disappearing from the room.
• Stereo imaging accuracyVocal reproduction was especially strong by virtue of the speaker’s unwavering focus and image stabilityThe laser-like focus of the Uni-Q has grown more open, and there’s a new-found clarity and image stability.
• Treble claritythe singer’s sibilance range was less emphatic, her piano more naturalistic.there’s a new-found clarity
• Value for moneyPlus, at $1499 for the pair, KEF held the line on pricing.A winner that only keeps getting better.
• Voice clarityVocal reproduction was especially strong

Just Okay

• Dynamic headroomthe Meta lacked the dynamism and drive in the power range to fully crank up the band’s kickass energy.
• Soundstage heightits unremarkable height replication—the loudspeaker’s ability to allow the acoustics and air of a venue materialize into the room.there seemed to be a ceiling hanging low over the soundstage.

KEF LS50 Meta Speaker Review – The Audio Beatnik

What We Loved

• Bass performanceThe bass response was outstanding, especially given the enclosure’s small size.Low frequencies were linear, even as they descended from 100hz to approximately 40hz.There was no artificial bloat or boost
• Build qualitythe quality of the finish is flawless.At $1,599 I would like to have seen higher quality binding posts and crossover components.
• Cohesive presentationthe LS50 Metas successfully organized each musical element and presented this arresting composition as one cohesive journey.the sound no longer had a disjointed and stiff characteristic.The pleasurable musical cohesiveness, engaging and expansive sound, and solid well-defined bass all served to bring me closer to the music I love.
• Design & aestheticsAesthetically, I think these speakers are gorgeous.the quality of the finish is flawless.The contrasting color of the red driver is striking and demands your attention.Pictures simply don’t do these futuristic-looking speakers any justice.
• Detail retrievalI heard plenty of microdetails and subtletiestransparency and openness improved
• Frequency response balanceLow frequencies were linear, even as they descended from 100hz to approximately 40hz.There was no artificial bloat or boostthe individual elements of sound within the music sounded smoother and more unified.
• Setup simplicityaren’t fussy with placement or setup.
• Soundstage widthThis expansive imaging effect was immediately noticeablethe sound expanded horizontally
• Stereo imaging accuracytangible three-dimensional imaging.center-locked vocals.
• Treble claritythe treble sounded peaky and flat when I raised the volume to 85-90db.The peaky treble and metallic sheen in the midrange had completely subsided.the subtle decay of the guitar strings as they faded away gracefully demonstrated the air and nuance of the LS50 Meta’s tweeters.This was true HiFi sound without being harsh or analytical.
• Value for moneyThey sounded better than I expected upon first listen, especially for the price.Even at $1,200, I would consider them an exceptional value.it’s hard to make an argument against the KEF LS50 Metas.
• Voice claritycenter-locked vocals.

Just Okay

• Distortion at high volumethe treble sounded peaky and flat when I raised the volume to 85-90db.The peaky treble and metallic sheen in the midrange had completely subsided.
• Included accessoriesyou won’t find any real-wood veneers, nor do they ship with grilles.

KEF LS50 Meta review: compact speakers with huge talent | What Hi-Fi?

What We Loved

• Bass performanceIt’s a surprisingly full-bodied presentation with a good degree of authority for such compact speakers.There’s a good degree of punch to the bass.Still, there’s only so deep a 13cm magnesium/aluminium mid/bass unit in a smallish, 30cm-tall cabinet can go.
• Build qualitythe company considered revising that beautifully made enclosure but concluded that little could be improved.continues to make for an impressively rigid and well-controlled foundation for the Uni-Q drive unit array.The rest of the box is made from MDF, which is heavily braced and carefully damped to minimise any resonances.
• Design & aestheticsa combination of sound quality, build and aesthetics that remained highly appealing.The LS50 Meta are available in four finishes – Mineral White, Carbon Black, Titanium Grey and a Royal Blue Special Edition.
• Detail retrievalExceptional sonic transparency.They sound so much more transparent than before and manage to render low-level details, such as instrumental textures, much more convincingly.
• Distortion at high volumeThese are refined and composed performers that rarely sound stressed unless volume levels are high.
• Dynamic headroomLarge-scale dynamics are handled well and there’s a good amount of muscle for a speaker of this size.
• Frequency response balanceThe KEFs sound smooth and balanced while still having enough in the way of high-frequency bite.
• Soundstage widthThe LS50 Meta generate an expansive and tightly focused soundstage where the instruments are layered convincingly.
• Stereo imaging accuracyKEF’s Uni-Q designs tend to image well by their very nature, and these speakers are no different.We’re also impressed by the image’s stability when the music gets demanding.
• Treble clarityThese new KEFs sound so much cleaner and more sophisticated than before, particularly at higher frequencies.The result should be cleaner, less distorted highs.
• Value for moneyThese standmounters continue to set the standard at the price.The LS50 Meta are now the class leader at this level.Buy them with confidence.
• Voice clarityTheir detailed and clear midrange performance makes the most of Cherry’s passionate vocals, delivering dynamic nuances and subtle shifts in timing superbly.

SoundStage! Hi-Fi | SoundStageHiFi.com - KEF LS50 Meta Loudspeakers

What We Loved

• Build qualitya single pair of high-quality binding posts
• Design & aestheticschoice of four matte finishesnew, attractive, more modern-looking finishes
• Detail retrievalThese changes, many of them subtle, were dead easy to hear through the LS50 Metas, even at very low volume levels.
• Distortion at high volumewhen I cranked up the volume for “Dirty Blvd.” … the LS50 Metas’ sound remained strikingly clean
• Frequency response balanceneither speaker strayed far from neutrality throughout the midrange.
• Loudness / maximum volumelacked the last bit of effortlessness that bigger speakers can convey
• Low-volume performanceThese changes, many of them subtle, were dead easy to hear through the LS50 Metas, even at very low volume levels.
• Soundstage widthThe stage extended to just past the cabinets’ outer side panels.soundstages were deliciously spacious
• Stereo imaging accuracythe image of Reed’s voice was positioned rock-solid at front and centerhyper-focused images that few speakers can match.
• Treble claritysounded cleaner, less fuzzya hint of stridency the Metas didn’t have
• Value for moneyfor most other aspects of sound, the LS50 Meta can hold its own against stand-mounted speakers of any price.You owe it to yourself to hear what $1500 can buy in a pair of speakers.
• Voice claritysounding as natural and detailed as I’ve heard itwere reproduced as naturally and as cleanly as I’ve heard them

Just Okay

• Bass performancethe bass was full and fleshed out, with extension that dipped below 50HzThe bass was also a little ill-defined

KEF Just Gave Its Elite Bookshelf Speaker System a Bespoke Upgrade

What We Loved

• Aesthetic design / Finish optionsBoth looked nearly identical to their predecessors, but KEF upgraded each in the looks department.Specifically, you can now buy each in two new finishes.Sand Shell is a shade of off-white or beige. And Moss Green is a deep forest green. Both have a gold Uni-Q driver
• Distortion at high volumeupgraded each with new proprietary technology — Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) — to significantly reduce distortion
• Frequency response balanceto further enhance their overall sound
• Stereo imaging accuracyconsidered some of the best passive ... speaker systems you can buy
• Wired input availabilityThe passive LS50 Meta ... can be integrated into a traditional hi-fi setup

Just Okay

• Setup simplicityThe passive LS50 Meta affords you more flexibility to build out a traditional-style hi-fi system the way you want, but requires external amplification and sources for playback

Needs Improvement

• PriceWhen the LS50 Meta was released in 2020, the set was priced at $1,500. KEF has since increased the price by $100