Senior NEET Engineer
Addicted to Fun and Learning
The on axis is rough, plus the issues with coaxial woofer excursion from bass. I would save up for R3 instead.
The r3 is cheaper though of course you need an amp, dsp and streamer to match the ls50w2The on axis is rough, plus the issues with coaxial woofer excursion from bass. I would save up for R3 instead.
The audiophiles certainly will dump 'em like they were yardsale acquisitions from old Soundesign compact stereos -- especially if any of the reviews of the meta-KEFs include the word "jawdropping".Best thing is there will be lot's of ls50's up for sale soon.
Never mind, I scanned the data.
I have spliced the LF of the ON to the other curves and simulated the directivity, so it's probably not perfect but a reasonable approximation.
The scores are only indicative as the resolution of the scans, although interpolated to a correct 1/20th octave resolution, is most probably too coarse.
I have done the same thing for the Kali LP8 and Presonus Eris 8XT. I'll show that at one point.
View attachment 84396
I ran my optimizer for an EQ, this just for fun... this speaker really likes a slope ( -0.215*log(f) after optimization on the LW) View attachment 84397
View attachment 84395
The regressions: there is a deliberate slope /shelf down to the response.
View attachment 84393
I guess the trough centered around 2kHz is also deliberate, BBC dip?
View attachment 84392
I then made some comparisons with the LS50 data collected by @amirm
first no EQ, there is a definite family resemblance although the new version is a major step in the correct direction.
I am eager to read the subjective reviews/comparisons, are people going to miss the "character" of the original?
View attachment 84403
View attachment 84402
Did the same thing with the LS50 EQed vs the LS50WII no EQ
View attachment 84399
Finally modified the LS50 EQ to roughly match the LS50WII and really see the improvement:
mods to the EQ:
- remove LF boost
- add Highshelf 200Hz, -3dB, Q 0.5 -> deliberate voicing?
- add Peaking 2000Hz, -1.5dB, Q 1.5 -> deliberate voicing?
if one removes what I believe are voicing choices, the EQ version of the LS50 tracks pretty well, we may be onto something ;-)
The biggest improvement seems to be coming from the tweeter section (much smoother thanks to the meta material?) and Xover with a much smoother SPDI
View attachment 84411
View attachment 84410
The new speaker looks like a significant improvement across the board.
The wireless version seems like a no brainer with everything built in.
Good to know!I had the previous version LS50W, eventually found out it came with only 12month warranty for electronics for a reason. Lasted 2 years, needed both boards on both speakers replaced. Preferred the simpler setup, but have now gone back to passives. Keen to hear the new LS50 Meta though.
Funnily enough, I wanted to buy a LS50 Wireless a couple of years ago because I was tired of ruminating all the amp/speaker combos. I called a dealer nearby, and they themselves (a KEF dealer!) said they didn't recommend it because customers were having QA issues.I had the previous version LS50W, eventually found out it came with only 12month warranty for electronics for a reason. Lasted 2 years, needed both boards on both speakers replaced. Preferred the simpler setup, but have now gone back to passives. Keen to hear the new LS50 Meta though.
Never mind, I scanned the data.
I have spliced the LF of the ON to the other curves and simulated the directivity, so it's probably not perfect but a reasonable approximation.
The scores are only indicative as the resolution of the scans, although interpolated to a correct 1/20th octave resolution, is most probably too coarse.
I have done the same thing for the Kali LP8 and Presonus Eris 8XT. I'll show that at one point.
View attachment 84396
I ran my optimizer for an EQ, this just for fun... this speaker really likes a slope ( -0.215*log(f) after optimization on the LW) View attachment 84397
View attachment 84395
The regressions: there is a deliberate slope /shelf down to the response.
View attachment 84393
I guess the trough centered around 2kHz is also deliberate, BBC dip?
View attachment 84392
I then made some comparisons with the LS50 data collected by @amirm
first no EQ, there is a definite family resemblance although the new version is a major step in the correct direction.
I am eager to read the subjective reviews/comparisons, are people going to miss the "character" of the original?
View attachment 84403
View attachment 84402
Did the same thing with the LS50 EQed vs the LS50WII no EQ
View attachment 84399
Finally modified the LS50 EQ to roughly match the LS50WII and really see the improvement:
mods to the EQ:
- remove LF boost
- add Highshelf 200Hz, -3dB, Q 0.5 -> deliberate voicing?
- add Peaking 2000Hz, -1.5dB, Q 1.5 -> deliberate voicing?
if one removes what I believe are voicing choices, the EQ version of the LS50 tracks pretty well, we may be onto something ;-)
The biggest improvement seems to be coming from the tweeter section (much smoother thanks to the meta material?) and Xover with a much smoother SPDI
View attachment 84411
View attachment 84410
The new speaker looks like a significant improvement across the board.
Hi,What is the EQ'd preference score?
Hi,
The score is in the title of the EQed Spinorama, 6.85 but again it is only an approximation.
However you can compare it with the no EQ 6.5.
Thanks for the info
Right, nice graph but this is showing the closed end. Real relevant data would be to see the velocity as seen at the tweeter membrane position.
Otherwise I do not see how are all those tuned resonator are truly able to load the tweeter back cavity between
1) That perpendicular flat area (center of the "maze") offering straight reflection back to the tweeter, basically preventing loading at high frequencies.
2) The unavoidable volume/length added by the mid former tube, limiting how high the stub can be tuned.
Also, if its gain of space is a main criteria, why is this on the back of the magnet, where there is plenty of space available?
But you’ll still need a pair of subs crossed over at 150hz or so.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I would love to see a three way LS50, ideally in the form of a small floor-stander with the UniQ at ear height and side-mounted bass drivers at floor level.
Just to share my experience so far...
I had a chance a couple weeks back to go and hear the passive version at a dealer that is a couple of towns over. He had a CXA81 and CXN V2 which are both components I use. He set them up in a space that I didn't think was ideal and they sounded very cold, etched, clinical. Loads of detail, but I couldn't imagine listening for more than 30 minutes. Very little upper bass as well. The dealer thought this was normal and fine though so who knows. We later went into a room that was treated well and listened to a bunch of B&W stuff that all sounded great. I should have asked him to move the Metas into that room, but it was getting late at that point and we ran out of time.
I forgot about them and then earlier this week my regular dealer responded to my earlier inquiry about them. He offered a really good price (for Taiwan) and I had a credit with him so I just decided to take a flyer despite my previous experience at the other place. Figured I could sell them on pretty easily and was honestly curious if they were really that bad or if it really was the room.
So he brought them over and I spent a little time listening yesterday. So far, tonally, they sound really nice (the dealer, my wife, and myself). Complete 180 from the other demo which my wife also heard and agreed with my take more or less. They sound balanced, but detailed, and actually on the warmer side of neutral to me. I'm playing them through a Vidar using the CX81 as a preamp and the CXN as a source. I've not had a chance to power them with the CX81. They went lower than I expected as well, again ear measurements not objective. I listened to a mix of electronic, pop, rock, singer/songwriter acoustic type stuff.
Anyway, so far so good. I heard the non-meta LS50s at another dealer awhile back, and it was good, not great to my ear. In my home, the Metas make the "sounds great" grade for us. I doubt I'll be selling them any time soon.
Just to share my experience so far...
I had a chance a couple weeks back to go and hear the passive version at a dealer that is a couple of towns over. He had a CXA81 and CXN V2 which are both components I use. He set them up in a space that I didn't think was ideal and they sounded very cold, etched, clinical. Loads of detail, but I couldn't imagine listening for more than 30 minutes. Very little upper bass as well. The dealer thought this was normal and fine though so who knows. We later went into a room that was treated well and listened to a bunch of B&W stuff that all sounded great. I should have asked him to move the Metas into that room, but it was getting late at that point and we ran out of time.
I forgot about them and then earlier this week my regular dealer responded to my earlier inquiry about them. He offered a really good price (for Taiwan) and I had a credit with him so I just decided to take a flyer despite my previous experience at the other place. Figured I could sell them on pretty easily and was honestly curious if they were really that bad or if it really was the room.
So he brought them over and I spent a little time listening yesterday. So far, tonally, they sound really nice (the dealer, my wife, and myself). Complete 180 from the other demo which my wife also heard and agreed with my take more or less. They sound balanced, but detailed, and actually on the warmer side of neutral to me. I'm playing them through a Vidar using the CX81 as a preamp and the CXN as a source. I've not had a chance to power them with the CX81. They went lower than I expected as well, again ear measurements not objective. I listened to a mix of electronic, pop, rock, singer/songwriter acoustic type stuff.
Anyway, so far so good. I heard the non-meta LS50s at another dealer awhile back, and it was good, not great to my ear. In my home, the Metas make the "sounds great" grade for us. I doubt I'll be selling them any time soon.