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KEF LS50 Wireless - DAR's Product of the Year 2016

watchnerd

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While I might quibble that a few of the KEF LS50's design choices don't fit my personal preferences (for long analog runs, I would prefer balanced XLR; I'd like another non-USB digital input; gapless playback), I completely agree with DAR that is the future direction of innovative audio engineering (as opposed to nostalgia driven audio or placebophilia).

DAR is correct to name the LS50 Wireless as Product of the Year 2016, especially given the price point.

kef-ls50-wireless_4-580x387.png


Dissenting opinions welcome, even if they're wrong. ;)
 

RayDunzl

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No measurement porn there. I can't get aroused.
 

Thomas savage

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Sexy, I wish my speakers were active with all this technology..

Intresting they use class D for the woofer and A/B for tweeter.

Need measurments, after all the reviewer hails the MicroRentDu as highly recommend.
 
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watchnerd

watchnerd

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Thomas savage

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It should measure mostly the same as the LS50, right?
Should be better if its dsp' etc..

This is from the review (in op) you posted ...,

The KEF LS50 Wireless gives us the equivalent of a dual mono configuration but with a separate amplifier applied to each driver in KEF’s 5.25” concentric (Uni-Q) array: 200wpc of Class D for the mid/bass and 30wpc Class A/B for the tweeter.
 
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watchnerd

watchnerd

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(Uni-Q) array: 200wpc of Class D for the mid/bass and 30wpc Class A/B for the tweeter.

They must think A/B sounds better on the tweeter, and the downsides of A/B at that low power output are small.

Otherwise, it would seem to just complicate the design more. And several other designers go with Class D on the tweeter (Dynaudio, Eve).
 

Purité Audio

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Heard them at the London 'Indulgence' show thought they sounded good and the bass extension was impressive for such a small box, trying to get them here.
Keith
 

Purité Audio

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Some Streamer or other controlled from the chaps phone,standard fare.
Keith
 

RayDunzl

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DAR is correct to name the LS50 Wireless as Product of the Year 2016, especially given the price point.

kef-ls50-wireless_4-580x387.png

Considering it has 4 wires sticking out of it in this picture and room for more, is "wireless" the best they can do for a name?

As I read it, allowing them to ignore the Power cable, the slave isn't wireless, so, duh.

Rename it the KEF LS50 Almost Wireless*

*requires wires
 
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