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KEF LS50 Meta vs KEF R3
- Thread starter Descartes
- Start date
I have the LS50 OG, the R3s and recently borrowed a LS50 meta from a pal. Have compared the three extensively in my rooms. I cant hear much of a delta between the LS50 versions except that new metas are a little less bright but still as clear as the OGs. The R3s are darker/neutral and shine in large rooms at louder volumes and the bass is awesome. Personally I prefer the looks of the LS50s, the only speakers that beat it (and the R3s) are the B&W 805s at 4-5x the cost!
- Thread Starter
- #443
Yes I like the look of the LS50 meta as well the R3 just look like ordinary box speakers unfortunately!
But it doesn’t have the creative write up of the metas. “Confused and ham fisted”. With words like that I’d pay to upgrade. All of a sudden one of the best speakers in the world is now “confused and ham-fisted”. If I didn’t grow up with decades of reading this kind of tripe I’d believe it too.
Also meta is the new “i”. Just like 10 years ago everyone wanted to put a lowercase “i” in front of their product name now it’s “meta” everything. Entire companies are changing their name to it.
- Thread Starter
- #445
Where did you get that quote from? “confused and ham-fisted”
In KEF’s advertising or marketing material
What hi-fi wrote it. It’s in the OP’s post. It bothered me when I read it. I wanted to say “just eq your existing LS50s”. However when a man is on a mission to spend money you can’t really stop him. Those kind of words get money out of wallets quickly.
Two things.
1. Whathifi is complete garbage and only lay people take them seriously (most people)
2. You can eq the ls50 but it will never be the same as the metas. Take a look at the directivity index.
Okay just looked: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/ls50-meta-vs-ls50-with-eq.26217/page-3
I would care and if the urge to buy new product exists I would go for it. I don’t think it’s that unreasonable.
If I didn’t have the urge and I were using it for 2 channel stereo I would arrange to be within 20 degrees of on axis at my listening position and eq as needed.
For home theater and multiple seats I would do the upgrade. If I cared that much about movie soundtracks. Some people do and I can see why they would upgrade. The new driver is indeed better.
I would care and if the urge to buy new product exists I would go for it. I don’t think it’s that unreasonable.
If I didn’t have the urge and I were using it for 2 channel stereo I would arrange to be within 20 degrees of on axis at my listening position and eq as needed.
For home theater and multiple seats I would do the upgrade. If I cared that much about movie soundtracks. Some people do and I can see why they would upgrade. The new driver is indeed better.
- Thread Starter
- #449
Yes I care about Home Theater
Just be careful in thinking that directivity represents the listening angle. It does but it's not the real issue.
When you listen to a loudspeaker, approx 40% is direct sound (listening angle), 40% is due to 1st reflections, and the remaining 20% is the total of all reflections. These numbers are approximate and will vary depending on how absorbant your room is.
You can have a flat direct response, but the sidewall reflections will alter the response at the listening position.
horizontal directivity and listening window are king.
Think I have heard that before ...
... in October 2021.
My guess: Not gonna happen any time soon as there's absolutely no need to. BTW: At least in Germany list prices have gone up along the introduction of Reference Meta and Blade Meta. For all models, including R series and LS50. This is not just KEF, though.
yes indeed. I am thinking of buying another pair at the sale prices. Ideally I wanted a good front ported speaker (e.g. B&W 805) but can't find a white one.
Steve Dallas
Major Contributor
I am curious as to why you want a front ported speaker? What is your application?
Easier to place?
Also I find my KEF R3 to be a little darker than the B&W 805 ....
Steve Dallas
Major Contributor
Nearly everything is darker than B&Ws made after ~year 2000.
B&W 805 D4 Listening Window from Soundstage! Network and NRC:
This turns out it could be a very common myth. About a year ago, I posted a shootout between my front ported Revel F206s and my rear ported Philharmonic BMRs. Effect on room modes was essentially identical according to my in-room measurements. Rear ported speakers at least give you the opportunity absorb any port noise with broadband panels. This usually only matters if you listen loud.
Where I have measured a difference is when placing bookshelf speakers in actual bookshelves with shelving surrounding them. DSP can probably help with that, but I did not have it available at the time, so I settled on front ported speakers in that room.
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Thx for the thread and the interesting observations. My bookshelves are on 24" wooden bookshelves (hence no stands needed) but are only about 9" from the wall. Hence was thinking front ported.Nearly everything is darker than B&Ws made after ~year 2000.
This turns out it could be a very common myth. About a year ago, I posted a shootout between my front ported Revel F206s and my rear ported Philharmonic BMRs. Effect on room modes was essentially identical according to my in-room measurements. Rear ported speakers at least give you the opportunity absorb any port noise with broadband panels. This usually only matters if you listen loud.
Where I have measured a difference is when placing bookshelf speakers in actual bookshelves with shelving surrounding them. DSP can probably help with that, but I did not have it available at the time, so I settled on front ported speakers in that room.
I thought the B&Ws are bright and have a more "airy" sounding midrange esp for jazz/vocals. If I can EQ/DSP and get similar frequency response, I can be happy with white KEFs. Need to find some REW configs that someone more knowledgeable than myself has figure out that I can use with my new miniDSP flex that I need to setup.
- Thread Starter
- #458
I don’t listen above 85db I want to protect my hearing!
That's how most of listen, in that case there isn't much reason to go for the R3, they play louder with lower distortion but the LS50 Meta with a 100Hz 2nd order high pass will play as loud as you need and do everything else better in my opinion.
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