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LavenderKestrel461 53.2K Views
Oct 2, 2022 2:08 PM

KEF LS50 Meta Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Various Colors)

$1,300

$1,600

18% off
+ Free Shippingat Amazon
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Deal Details
Various Retailers have KEF LS50 Meta Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Various Colors) on sale below. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member LavenderKestrel461 for sharing this deal.

Available from:Specs:
  • Design: Two-way bass reflex
  • Drive units:
    • HF: 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminum dome
    • MF/LF: 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminum cone
  • Crossover frequency: 2.1 kHz
  • Frequency range (-6dB): 47 Hz - 45 kHz
  • Typical in-room bass response (-6dB): 26 Hz
  • Frequency response (±3dB): 79 Hz - 28 kHz
  • Harmonic distortion (90dB, 1m):
    • <0.4% 175 Hz - 20 kHz
    • <0.1% 300 Hz - 10 kHz
  • Maximum output: 106 dB
  • Amplifier power (recommended): 40-100 W
  • Nominal impedance: 8 Ω (min. 3,5 Ω)
  • Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 85 dB
  • Dimensions (HWD): 12" x 7.9" x 12.2"
  • Weight: 17.2 lbs.

Editor's Notes

Written by SaltyOne | Staff
  • About this Deal:
    • Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon from over 200 reviews.
    • Rated 5 out of 5 at What Hi-Fi, 9.2 out of 10 at Hi-Fi Trends
    • At the time of this posting, Our research indicates that this is ~$300 lower (19% savings) than the next best available options with prices starting from $1599. -SaltyOne
  • Refer to the forum thread for additional deal discussion.

Original Post

Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Various Retailers have KEF LS50 Meta Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Various Colors) on sale below. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member LavenderKestrel461 for sharing this deal.

Available from:Specs:
  • Design: Two-way bass reflex
  • Drive units:
    • HF: 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminum dome
    • MF/LF: 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminum cone
  • Crossover frequency: 2.1 kHz
  • Frequency range (-6dB): 47 Hz - 45 kHz
  • Typical in-room bass response (-6dB): 26 Hz
  • Frequency response (±3dB): 79 Hz - 28 kHz
  • Harmonic distortion (90dB, 1m):
    • <0.4% 175 Hz - 20 kHz
    • <0.1% 300 Hz - 10 kHz
  • Maximum output: 106 dB
  • Amplifier power (recommended): 40-100 W
  • Nominal impedance: 8 Ω (min. 3,5 Ω)
  • Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 85 dB
  • Dimensions (HWD): 12" x 7.9" x 12.2"
  • Weight: 17.2 lbs.

Editor's Notes

Written by SaltyOne | Staff
  • About this Deal:
    • Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon from over 200 reviews.
    • Rated 5 out of 5 at What Hi-Fi, 9.2 out of 10 at Hi-Fi Trends
    • At the time of this posting, Our research indicates that this is ~$300 lower (19% savings) than the next best available options with prices starting from $1599. -SaltyOne
  • Refer to the forum thread for additional deal discussion.

Original Post

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129 Comments

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Oct 2, 2022 8:06 PM
2.7K Comments
Joined May 2014
Greenworld123Oct 2, 2022 8:06 PM
2.7K Comments
Love mine. Using a 3rd with a center paired with a kef kc62 sub
1
Oct 2, 2022 8:06 PM
695 Comments
Joined Aug 2010
jsuh0Oct 2, 2022 8:06 PM
695 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Love my Metas. I recommend to buy them used, as you can find some great prices (bought mine for $850).
1
Oct 2, 2022 8:08 PM
172 Comments
Joined Nov 2015
sr2002Oct 2, 2022 8:08 PM
172 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

I recently got rid of my LS50s (I know these are metas but I've tried both the difference isn't drastic) after ownership of almost 3 years running them using a mcintosh power amp. Although these speakers in general hit above their price bracket, they definitely have unique sound. To me honestly they were flat but fatiguing to listen to. After 30-40min of listening I'd feel my ears would hurt. They have a bit of "shouty" midrange that can but less desirable for some people. Not to mention its very important that they be run using clean class A or Class AB amps, Class-D amps from receivers and low power amps will make this sound thin and shrill.

All in all, if you are open to experiment, go for them, but if you have doubts, its okay to pass on these till you can audition in person/have the right amplification.
4
3
Oct 2, 2022 8:28 PM
11.2K Comments
Joined Sep 2014
ash78Oct 2, 2022 8:28 PM
11.2K Comments
KEF is gonna rock ya!
5
Original Poster
Oct 2, 2022 8:50 PM
2 Comments
Joined Nov 2020
LavenderKestrel461
Original Poster
Oct 2, 2022 8:50 PM
2 Comments
Quote from Backhome77 View quoted comment :
I'm assuming because OP didn't put the price in the title? Still, seams petty and unproductive to go all mean girls on a deal forum instead of help OP out so they can correct it.
This was my first post. I assumed putting the price the field where it was asked for meant it would get displayed in all the desired places. I updated the title to show the price.
1
Oct 2, 2022 9:04 PM
315 Comments
Joined Mar 2017
Ramukaka4everOct 2, 2022 9:04 PM
315 Comments
Quote from liunit92 View quoted comment :
in 4 5
In 5 6
2
5
Oct 2, 2022 9:26 PM
10.4K Comments
Joined Sep 2013
alxshantiOct 2, 2022 9:26 PM
10.4K Comments
How is the Meta different from the regular LS50s? Genuinely curious.
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Oct 2, 2022 9:43 PM
83 Comments
Joined Aug 2014
KTN13Oct 2, 2022 9:43 PM
83 Comments
Great price. Thanks for posting!
Oct 2, 2022 9:51 PM
345 Comments
Joined Apr 2014
syed117Oct 2, 2022 9:51 PM
345 Comments
Have had these since a little after launch. Fantastic speakers and this is a solid price.
Oct 2, 2022 10:44 PM
187 Comments
Joined May 2006
ankitOct 2, 2022 10:44 PM
187 Comments
Quote from syed117 View quoted comment :
Have had these since a little after launch. Fantastic speakers and this is a solid price.
What amp do you have this paired with?
Oct 2, 2022 10:48 PM
1.2K Comments
Joined Dec 2011
pojoOct 2, 2022 10:48 PM
1.2K Comments
Quote from sr2002 View quoted comment :
I recently got rid of my LS50s (I know these are metas but I've tried both the difference isn't drastic) after ownership of almost 3 years running them using a mcintosh power amp. Although these speakers in general hit above their price bracket, they definitely have unique sound. To me honestly they were flat but fatiguing to listen to. After 30-40min of listening I'd feel my ears would hurt. They have a bit of "shouty" midrange that can but less desirable for some people. Not to mention its very important that they be run using clean class A or Class AB amps, Class-D amps from receivers and low power amps will make this sound thin and shrill.

All in all, if you are open to experiment, go for them, but if you have doubts, its okay to pass on these till you can audition in person/have the right amplification.
I have not heard these on another amp, but they sound excellent on my denon receiver. I've heard harsh and shrill speakers using the same receiver, and these sound great. YMMV.

Edit: standard ls50, not meta.
2
Oct 2, 2022 11:37 PM
247 Comments
Joined Feb 2016
amaraliOct 2, 2022 11:37 PM
247 Comments
Question for the audiophiles. I would be putting these on a wall shelf. Would the rear port be a problem if I crossed over to a subwoofer at 80?
Oct 2, 2022 11:41 PM
48 Comments
Joined May 2017
CitywalkOct 2, 2022 11:41 PM
48 Comments
Quote from MarlboroNjMan View quoted comment :
I see all colors and not just white. Not a bad price. Maybe worth a try, but I'm waiting for R3 to go down in price.
R3 is $500 off, likely getting replaced by next gen.
Oct 3, 2022 12:14 AM
224 Comments
Joined Nov 2013
SamS5291Oct 3, 2022 12:14 AM
224 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from alxshanti View quoted comment :
How is the Meta different from the regular LS50s? Genuinely curious.
meta is for short for "metamaterials". think of metamaterials as absorptive materials with very complex geometry or patterns that help to tune the frequency response of the speakers/headphones with extreme precision. The frequency response graph of the metas is very linear with a downward slope, and the metamaterials play a big part in achieving this

Besides KEF Dan Clark Audio is using them in their Stealth and Expanse headphones to get an almost perfect adherence to the Harman curve (the most pleasing frequency response curve according to Harman's extensive research and double blind testing )
Last edited by SamS5291 October 2, 2022 at 05:18 PM.
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Oct 3, 2022 12:33 AM
224 Comments
Joined Nov 2013
SamS5291Oct 3, 2022 12:33 AM
224 Comments
Quote from amarali View quoted comment :
Question for the audiophiles. I would be putting these on a wall shelf. Would the rear port be a problem if I crossed over to a subwoofer at 80?
Try to get as much distance from the back of the shelf as possible. These are no different from other speakers in that respect. If you have room correction i.e Dirac Live/ Multieq Xt32 then you don't have to worry too much about boominess being a problem.

I don't own these speakers , but looking at the measurements, depending on how loud you want to drive them, I would up the crossover higher, maybe 100 or 120. These speakers don't handle bass well at high volumes and will distort.
1

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