killdozzer
Major Contributor
@jackocleebrown I'm sorry if I'm being too indiscreet, is it possible to know the total number of the original LS50s produced? If it's not the company's secret, that is.
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KEF Reference and Blade Meta announced, but where is the R Meta?????
- Thread starter MarkWinston
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bo_knows
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Today I went to a local Best Buy and listen to KEF Blade Meta vs B&W 801 D4. 
I brought my CDs but unfortunately, the KEF Blade system was hooked up to a streamer and was powered by a Devialet amp. The sales guy offered to play a few songs for me on both systems so I could make a comparison. One of the songs was from "Weeknd" and it sounded underwhelmed on both systems. Another song from a different artist wasn't better either but I was able to hear it through each system. Since speakers were not in the same position within the room and were driven by different electronics it was an orange-to-apple comparison. I personally never heard a BIG Blade sounding good so far in any place I auditioned them. It was always too much bass or something else with the setup was not right. This time around, a new position at the Best Buy demo room worked well (positioned against the long wall) and the bass was under control. They created a larger soundstage and better imaging than B&W. I felt like the new Meta version was "ruthlessly" revealing details in the recording. I notice sort of wrap-around and 3D sound effects where B&W didn't create any. I think, in a proper room with great acoustic treatments, Blade Meta would sound fantastic and be the end game speaker. This was not the case at Best Buy but I "saw" potential.
I was able to listen to my CD (Grace Jones, I've seen that face before) on the McIntosh system that was powering B&W. As we played the song, I was focusing mostly on Grace's voice which at the time sounded shouty and there was a noticeable sibilance. Needless to say, I was unable to finish the whole song due to my right ear which is very sensitive to brightness (possibly damaged as well). For whatever it is worth (my subjective opinion), I could hear the difference in a vertical presentation if I moved my head up and down and to some extent side to side on 801 D4. I felt that the midrange (voices) sounded "dry" and the upper frequencies were tilted up. The Bass was good...
Neither systems knock my socks off but it was a rather disappointing performance for Mac and B&W combo which cost approximately $120K. For that kind of money, I want to be in audio heaven.
For fun, see if you guys can guess what was the watt usage on McIntosh monoblock when we played Bowers at 85dB AWG SPL Z weighted at MLP?
I brought my CDs but unfortunately, the KEF Blade system was hooked up to a streamer and was powered by a Devialet amp. The sales guy offered to play a few songs for me on both systems so I could make a comparison. One of the songs was from "Weeknd" and it sounded underwhelmed on both systems. Another song from a different artist wasn't better either but I was able to hear it through each system. Since speakers were not in the same position within the room and were driven by different electronics it was an orange-to-apple comparison. I personally never heard a BIG Blade sounding good so far in any place I auditioned them. It was always too much bass or something else with the setup was not right. This time around, a new position at the Best Buy demo room worked well (positioned against the long wall) and the bass was under control. They created a larger soundstage and better imaging than B&W. I felt like the new Meta version was "ruthlessly" revealing details in the recording. I notice sort of wrap-around and 3D sound effects where B&W didn't create any. I think, in a proper room with great acoustic treatments, Blade Meta would sound fantastic and be the end game speaker. This was not the case at Best Buy but I "saw" potential.
I was able to listen to my CD (Grace Jones, I've seen that face before) on the McIntosh system that was powering B&W. As we played the song, I was focusing mostly on Grace's voice which at the time sounded shouty and there was a noticeable sibilance. Needless to say, I was unable to finish the whole song due to my right ear which is very sensitive to brightness (possibly damaged as well). For whatever it is worth (my subjective opinion), I could hear the difference in a vertical presentation if I moved my head up and down and to some extent side to side on 801 D4. I felt that the midrange (voices) sounded "dry" and the upper frequencies were tilted up. The Bass was good...
Neither systems knock my socks off but it was a rather disappointing performance for Mac and B&W combo which cost approximately $120K. For that kind of money, I want to be in audio heaven.
For fun, see if you guys can guess what was the watt usage on McIntosh monoblock when we played Bowers at 85dB AWG SPL Z weighted at MLP?
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Thanks for sharing!Today I went to a local Best Buy and listen to KEF Blade Meta vs B&W 801 D4.
I brought my CDs but unfortunately, the KEF Blade system was hooked up to a streamer and was powered by a Devialet amp. The sales guy offered to play a few songs for me on both systems so I could make a comparison. One of the songs was from "Weeknd" and it sounded underwhelmed on both systems. Another song from a different artist wasn't better either but I was able to hear it through each system. Since speakers were not in the same position within the room and were driven by different electronics it was an orange-to-apple comparison. I personally never heard a BIG Blade sounding good so far in any place I auditioned them. It was always too much bass or something else with the setup was not right. This time around, a new position at the Best Buy demo room worked well (positioned against the long wall) and the bass was under control. They created a larger soundstage and better imaging than B&W. I felt like the new Meta version was "ruthlessly" revealing details in the recording. I notice sort of wrap-around and 3D sound effects where B&W didn't create any. I think, in a proper room with great acoustic treatments, Blade Meta would sound fantastic and be the end game speaker. This was not the case at Best Buy but I "saw" potential.
I was able to listen to my CD (Grace Jones, I've seen that face before) on the McIntosh system that was powering B&W. As we played the song, I was focusing mostly on Grace's voice which at the time sounded shouty and there was a noticeable sibilance. Needless to say, I was unable to finish the whole song due to my right ear which is very sensitive to brightness (possibly damaged as well). For whatever it is worth (my subjective opinion), I could hear the difference in a vertical presentation if I moved my head up and down and to some extent side to side on 801 D4. I felt that the midrange (voices) sounded "dry" and the upper frequencies were tilted up. The Bass was good...
Neither systems knock my socks off but it was a rather disappointing performance for Mac and B&W combo which cost approximately $120K. For that kind of money, I want to be in audio heaven.
For fun, see if you guys can guess what was the watt usage on McIntosh monoblock when we played Bowers at 85dB AWG SPL Z weighted at MLP?
bo_knows
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Thanks, see if you can guess how many watts (max) were used on McIntosh during the audition.
That sounds like you have hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to loud/certain sounds. Can happen from damage or other conditions (like TMD). It can be mitigated with treatment, which basically involves regular exposure to the sounds that trigger it and adapting yourself to them again.
I wonder what the B&Ws sound like with a little EQ to pull down the showroom treble.
bo_knows
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Hello Lc155,
Thank you for bringing this medical term to my attention. Most likely to some degree. I do not feel a sharp pain though, quite the oposite. It's a numing feeling with some pain in the upper jaw bone. I'm assuming this is what ear fatigue feels like. Usually, I'm good for an hour session twice per week, listening at 85dB awg C or Z weighted. After those sessions I may experiance rining in the ear(s) for a few seconds during the 24 hours (I assume nothing serious). Speaker brightnes creates the feeling like my saliva is going to flow in my mounth (like biting a lemon). As you can tell I'm "damage goods". LOL.
bo_knows
Addicted to Fun and Learning
To conclude, I found B&W speakers to have a "house sound" or sound signature. I'm sure KEF Blade has one as well but it was not as noticable.
Their vertical dispertion (B&W) would require listener to sit in the optimal position in reqards to the tweeter hight.
Toe-in will help with the brightnes. Any sales person, (and they were few on a different ocasions and in different stores) I asked about sound preference between those two, always picked B&W as favored.
Since no one wanted to guess the wattage that was displayed on the McIntosh monoblock, well let's just say that needle on the VU meter never passed 12Watts.
Their vertical dispertion (B&W) would require listener to sit in the optimal position in reqards to the tweeter hight.
Toe-in will help with the brightnes. Any sales person, (and they were few on a different ocasions and in different stores) I asked about sound preference between those two, always picked B&W as favored.
Since no one wanted to guess the wattage that was displayed on the McIntosh monoblock, well let's just say that needle on the VU meter never passed 12Watts.
bo_knows
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Probably excellent. I just don't know how would they match the Blade's soundstage and imaging depth.
And what I mean by a large soundstage, was different sounds (reflections in the studio) that would outline the size of the recording space. KEF Blade created an inclusion of the recording venue more believable. A neat trick that I'm a sucker for.
steve59
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The B&W 801vx are clearly designed to sound as they do. I do trust JA's measurements from stereophile and have learned some of the individual reviewers preferences by comparing their comments to in room response curves. KR remains a mystery to me
The old saying that by the time we can afford a 'hi end' system our hearing will be shot might hold water and B&W customers hear what sounds natural to them. If a company uses measurements as a tool and not a religion it can be quite amazing what some of these guys can do.
My blades are the best so far but they don't have practical limits put on them.
When somebody has say $250 to spend on a pair of speakers some members here will find the ones with the flattest response and pat themselves on the back and call it a day, but there's others that listen to them and decide spl is more important so they buy klipsch or paradigm while some of us want bass so we buy something with a +10db bump at 100 hz. The only wrong answer is if the guy that spent the money isn't happy listening to them.
The old saying that by the time we can afford a 'hi end' system our hearing will be shot might hold water and B&W customers hear what sounds natural to them. If a company uses measurements as a tool and not a religion it can be quite amazing what some of these guys can do.
My blades are the best so far but they don't have practical limits put on them.
When somebody has say $250 to spend on a pair of speakers some members here will find the ones with the flattest response and pat themselves on the back and call it a day, but there's others that listen to them and decide spl is more important so they buy klipsch or paradigm while some of us want bass so we buy something with a +10db bump at 100 hz. The only wrong answer is if the guy that spent the money isn't happy listening to them.
Sometimes, I puzzle myself but the B&Ws have long left my "system." Blade review on the way.The B&W 801vx are clearly designed to sound as they do. I do trust JA's measurements from stereophile and have learned some of the individual reviewers preferences by comparing their comments to in room response curves. KR remains a mystery to me
Vacceo
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Are you sad you had to let them go? Probably that´s the best summary any reviewer could say from a speaker.
If I was, I would not have let them go. That said, if I had the ability to accommodate/store more than one set of speakers in my apartment, I would have preferred a smooth transition. The only speakers that I have been sad to let go are those that were just in for review, that I really loved and, yet, could not afford because of the cost and/or the space, e.g., the BeoLab 90.Are you sad you had to let them go? Probably that´s the best summary any reviewer could say from a speaker.
BeoLab90 are so overpriced!
Sure but I couldn't handle them even at half price.
Neither could I!
D
Deleted member 56284
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Still breaking them in. It’s been a long journey. My original matte black ones had shipping damage and scuffed the finish. They upgraded me to the metas. Had that not happened, I was more than satisfied with the originals. So if you find a great deal on originals, I wouldn’t hesitate! There are noticeable changes between them. I still truly can’t give my total honest opinion because my originals were well listened to for a year. These are only three days old.
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I bet movies sound amazing on those.
D
Deleted member 56284
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Yes they do. I’m running a Panasonic ub9000 stripping the hdmi audio through an Altoona Dolby two channel converter then coax into the dac. Absolutely amazing. I’ve always integrated tv and two channel stereo. Never been much for home theater.
Why is Abbey Road using B&W rather than KEF Blades meta?