Atohm GT1 SE vs KEF LS50

@bennyz78 

You're right the KEF LS50W are nowhere near as good as the Atohms. I found the KEFs to be suitable to a desktop setup but don't do enough in a larger area. But I actually had so many reliability issues with them and after going through 2 replacements in a year the dealer actually took them back and refunded my money!

I have my Atohm GT1s connected to a Naim Uniti Atom & a Naim 250 AMP and the sound is excellent. I have 2 JL Audio E110 subs on order and can't wait to hear the Atohms with the added subs.

Stumbled across this posting as I recently bought KEF LS50 Wireless based solely on the raving reviews all over the web/industry publications/podcasts/etc. Being familiar with the GT1 HD, I was hoping for something similar in a convenient all-in-one package with the LS50W. Boy, what a disappointment. Completely underwhelmed with the LS50W, personally. I guess if you've never experienced great sound, they're better than average...but they're a far cry from the GT1 HD. I'm now going to sell the LS50W and "complicate" my goal with the GT1 HD and an Atoll integrated/streamer...one more piece of equipment, and yes, more money...but...LS50W leaves me waning in a big way.

 I'm very surprised they're not more popular

All a question of very limited distribution in the U.S.  Look at how many dealers there are nation-wide.

I had a chance to audition the Atom GT1 Special Editions (Devialet) and I must say they are absolutely fantastic speakers.  I was really impressed with their clarity, sense of space, imaging and their "full" sound in my medium sized room.  They really are awesome speakers and I'm very surprised they're not more popular.  

I own a pair of the KEF LS50 wireless speakers which I've found to be quite good and which are also supposedly better than the passive ones (though I haven't heard the passives), but the KEFs are not in the same league as the Atohm GT1s.  They are much smaller sounding with a thinner sound and much inferior in terms of imaging.  

I have a really hard decision on whether to buy the Atohms now or wait and buy a full range floor stander which was my original plan (until I heard the Atohms)!

@no noise, yes those small speakers from Atohm are pretty good. Hands down they beat the KEF LS50.

I heard the smaller Atohm monitors a couple of years ago and fell quite hard for them. It was the price that kept me from buying them. I know this is not a fair comparison but after hearing the KEF Ls50 monitors some years later, I'd still take the Atohms over the KEFs if money were not a concern. They offer so much more that I like.

All the best,
Nonoise

@twoleftears ,
Did you get a chance to heard the Atohm? Their higher priced speakers are really good and yes, looks like they are sleepers indeed.

Atohm is a real sleeper brand that would benefit from much wider distribution in the U.S.

I pick Atohm GT1 SE by a wide margin.

I had them partnered with a Devialet and they sounded both were made for each other. I have heard Devialet sounded much worse with even higher end speakers.
 

Dougsat,

We had both speakers side by side same system, and the Athoms smoked the LS 50 in every way.

Really wasn't close, Athom is one of those secret brands in audio that makes surprisingly good loudspeakers. 

The Athoms had a bigger sound with a fuller midrange, and more bass.

The question as to value is a different one, The LS 50 is a very special loudspeaker that has a clairty that reminds us of  a good electrostatic loudspeaker. 

With that being said the Athom was better $3,000.00 better is a tough call these days, as you now have the Elac Adantes at $2,500.00 and that is a lot of performance for twice the price.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

Rsure the Atohms are way better speakers in everyway.

They should be at $4500 a pair vs $1299 for the Ls 50.

@audiotroy  would you mind sharing your views on the Atohm GT1 speakers? Do they compare well with other bookshelf speakers in the similar price range. TAS has a review of them and liked them very much but found the low end to be a weakness (of sorts). Is that your experience as well? 

Have a look at the Quested H108 its a few steps above both speakers you mentioned above. I have had the Kef for over 3 years and sold it off. The Quested are reasonable priced and perform more like a large 3 way but in a small form size.

I live outside of US, I would love to audition them myself otherwise. 
That is why I am posting here to ask people who listened to both. 

Eventually, they are great value for the quality they offer. I am looking for their sound signature to understand which one fulfills my taste. 

We have both speakers please give us a call to discuss. 

Troy and Dave
Audio Doctor
877 428 2873

Devialet has custom eq for both speakers 

Plus, Devialet has a custom eq for the GT1 that you can download from their website that is supposed to make them sound even better. 

Heard both of these at AXPONA this year, in 2 separate rooms. The KEFs were in a HUGE room and sounded alright. But the Atohms were in a normal room. when I entered the room, I thought the floor standers were playing. I was told that the GT1s were playing. I went up to the speakers to make sure. And found out that indeed the GT1s were playing and there was no sub-woofer anywhere. Of the 2 I would pick the Atohms. They sounded like a pair of mid-sized floorstanders and made some impressive music.