Better but is it worth $1500 ? 🤔 - KEF LS50 Meta Speaker Review

KEF LS50 speakers have been incredible speakers both in my journey and many of my audiophile friends'. Now the KEF LS50 Meta is the new and improved version of the original and it is clearly better but is it worth it?

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[Jayiyagi]

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[Mad.Maxx.]

I had a pair of original LS50. Loved but sold them when I bought the original LS50 Wireless. After 10 months, the left channel amps failed (common problem with 1st gen LS50W). After repair, I sold my LS50W and bought a pair of the LS50 Meta. About the only difference I notice between the three sets is the Metas are less bright on the high end after 50-ish hours. That's a good thing! I'm sticking with these for a few years. Make sure you drive them with a powerful amp (I use an Avantone Pro CLA-200) and you'll like what you hear.

[Michael-xznk]

I paid $980 for my brand new LS50’s in 2019…I love them so I’m good. Good, honest review.

[LuxAudio]

I bought the Kef LS50 Wireless ii with Meta as a secondary system because the passive LS 50s are hard to drive and I didn't want the Hassel of finding an amp or integrated for them. I also bought two T5I's for them, and in my opinion the wireless II are fantastic. I like using a secondary cd player I have with them. They sound better with it than with Tidal.

[AdamsBrew]

I’ve had a Cambridge CXA81 amp and q350s for the last couple weeks and absolutely love my first experience with KEF speakers. It’s just magical, 3D like sound with many recordings. Got em paired with a SVS sb-1000 pro sealed sub.

I’m currently on the fence about returning my speakers and getting LS50 Meta instead. Its twice as expensive for maybe a 10% marginal improvement — and since these are my first decent speakers, it’s hard to know whether it’ll be worth it.

[djhmax]

Great video Jay! Though I couldn't stop laughing at those dramatic hand movements. 😂

[spankadelik]

Sounds like the majority of the issues you have with the original speaker can be resolved with tonal controls or an EQ as well.

[newsboyaudio]

I appreciate your rants buddy. Keep them up. :) Thanks for your inspiration. I'll be doing a LS50 review and Meta Reviews soon. And wanted to spy on my favorite compition. Thanks for all your amazing videos. Love all of what you produced, and have made purchases based on your recommendations. I rarely see things that are wrong.

[aussierob]

Hi Jay. To get the best out of the speakers, amplifier matching is critical. Also sound absorbent material around the speakers is necessary. For analogue i am using the Eastern Electric Minimax phono stage pre-amp. The Audiolab 8200Q line level preamplifier and the Rotel RB-1582MK2 Stereo power amplifier (200 watts /channel continuous into 8 ohms.) My room is 26 feet long by 15 feet wide by 8 feet high. I have no problem filling the room with very loud music from the Metas.

[Philear]

So it is great that Kef offers the Meta at the same price as the LS 50. 👍

[HatHudders]

Would these or the older ones work with a tube amp like the Wellsenton R8?

[bobe]

These speakers sound great and good advice!!

[ProfoundProductions]

Good lighting and clean video. You should do a video on your camera and lighting setup.

[ibdam]

Nice video. I’m putting the LS50s on my list.

[FireTriode]

Thanks for saving me some coin!💰
I drive my original LS-50's with a 200 watt OTL tube amp, and they're stunning. Think I'll keep 'em.
So, obviously you don't agree with Steve Guttenberg that they're *much* better. ;-)

[watermelon]

I love how you say that the differences are small unlike some reviewers who act like it's a night and day difference.... You say the upper mid range is less sharp, but does that mean it's more laid back? I like good upper mid range energy

[zztgr]

Jay, do you prefer these over Elac Carina???

[vivianokeswa]

Ooh I see the link you shared above. Thank you

[redrobbosworkshop]

All jury is out on 'meta' being responsible for the changes. They changed the crossover to drop the upper mids and lift the tweeter by around 2dB - they are now voiced closer to R Series.
Personally I found that more 'hi-fi' and less real. All the things that audiophiles love - enhanced detail, shimmer, air - yes you'll get more but I think the original is more true.

[Freedom]

Did Kef change the crossover? Yes, they did. And now the Meta’s are what the LS50 should be, a real successor of the LS 3/5a. Forget the LS50 and buy the LS50 Meta. This is the one that you can live with.