The R3 is just a couple of years old, they may take a while. Or who knows, they may introduce it next monthHow long before this tech is introduced into other KEF lines? Like R3s etc.
The R3 is just a couple of years old, they may take a while. Or who knows, they may introduce it next monthHow long before this tech is introduced into other KEF lines? Like R3s etc.
How long before this tech is introduced into other KEF lines? Like R3s etc.
KEF often does relatively long product cycles. The R series went eight years between refreshes, and the LS50 longer than that. (The LS50W is an exception, but it makes sense that they need to keep it aligned with the LS50.) I doubt they'll refresh the R3 anytime soon. They share basically the same 12th gen Uni-Q driver anyway, with the exception of the metamaterial back chamber.
That link is not working. Here: https://us.kef.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/ls50/20-KEF-LS50-Collection-WhitePapers.pdfKEF just sent me the whitepaper for the new speakers (it's up on the site now too).
That link is not working. Here: https://us.kef.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/ls50/20-KEF-LS50-Collection-WhitePapers.pdf
KEF just sent me the whitepaper for the new speakers (it's up on the site now too). There are spins! Even Early Reflections components!
It looks a lot like the LS50 frankly, though perhaps refined. On axis is once again a problem, so you'll want to listen off axis. The low mids in particular seem smoother though.
Note the scaling is too wide for my tastes, but kudos to KEF for providing such extensive measurements.
Here's the LS50 Meta:
View attachment 84305
I was hoping the whitepaper would show some kind of measurements, awesome that they actually give a proper CTA-2034 style. Of course the wireless is better because of the filters they can use to smooth the response but the passives seem very good too. I don't see anyone thinking of these as bright like the originals, I expect them to be very smooth. Some PEQ from 200-2k seems to be all that's needed to get these to be even more neutral but as is they should be very smooth and the large peak at 2k is completely gone, very impressive. I look forward to your impressions and measurements.
KEF just sent me the whitepaper for the new speakers (it's up on the site now too). There are spins! Even Early Reflections components!
It looks a lot like the LS50 frankly, though refined. On axis is once again a bit uneven, so you'll want to listen off-axis. The low mids in particular seem smoother and the LW looks quite nice.
Note the scaling is too wide for my tastes, but kudos to KEF for providing such extensive measurements.
Here's the LS50 Meta:
View attachment 84305
Early Reflections components:
View attachment 84306
The LS50 Wireless II however, is the real deal. Other than the on-axis being slightly uneven, It is basically Genelec quality:
View attachment 84307
View attachment 84308
Still need to peruse through the rest of the whitepaper, but thought I'd share this first.
I do wonder if they have considered producing their own convolution file to correct the passive version, Hedd do this, Audeze do it, it seems like a simple bonus feature for buyers.EDIT: Also note that the LS50 Meta and Wireless II have absolutely identical DI curves, so getting the passive version to sound like the active one should be a matter of basic EQ. Basically just needs a 1-2dB lift between 2k and 4k and a slight pulling down around the mids.
Here are those measurements with proper scaling, using the scientifically-determined best spinorama color-scheme:
LS50 Meta:
View attachment 84343
LS50 Wireless 2:
View attachment 84344
For reference, here's how the listening window and ER, the two most important curves, imo, compare to Amir's spin for the Genelec 8341:
View attachment 84348
So very much comparable. Eagle-eyed observes will note the Genelec appears to have ever so slightly better directivity while the LS50W II has an ever so slightly smoother listening window. Probably at the point of being negligible considering the different measurement sources. Though I'm curious how the small woofer will handle higher SPLs, it seems the LS50W will sound excellent in its comfortable range.
EDIT: Also note that the LS50 Meta and Wireless II have absolutely identical DI curves, so getting the passive version to sound like the active one should be a matter of basic EQ. Basically just needs a 1-2dB lift between 2k and 4k and a slight pulling down around the mids.
Here's how the two on-axis graphs compare and the difference between them(offset by 60 dB for display purposes):
View attachment 84353
So the difference is quite subtle overall, though of course the LS50W II has some built in extra EQ via the app.
The new speaker looks like a significant improvement across the board.