KEF ls50 meta’s are on the way

No idea about if the app will be able to work with the old version but they added airplay and the new ones will only have one app, I guess the old version there were two you could use? 

I've read multiple negative comments about the apps for the KEF LS50W (version 1). Do we know yet whether the improved version 2 app will be able to be used with V1?

You’re right Kenjit, they’re horrible speakers, we get it.  You may be excused now.

Exciting stuff!  A weak point for the Passive LS50’s are the lack of low bass and dynamics.  
The new metas look to be like some incredible speakers.  I can’t wait to see some reviews on the Wireless version Hopefully they got the app figured out.

These look to be very interesting...

You cant absorb down to just 600hz and call it a day. What abut the range from 600hz to 50hz? Why is it okay for that to be ignored?

   Interested in hearing the Metas. A close friend had a pair of LS 50s in his office, Exposure components upstream. I really enjoyed them. If the Metas are appreciably better, they will probably set a new standard in their price class. 

The white paper covers the implementation pretty well. If you have questions best to ask the experts ie the engineers at KEF. I suspect you would get a response if you inquire.

the attenuation is down to 620hz not just the range of the tweeter

How do you attach the absorber to the drive unit so that it stops absorbing below 620hz? I dont see how that works.

Kenjit if you read the white paper, which is very well written, you will see the attenuation is down to 620hz not just the range of the tweeter and there are measurement charts that show it. Also that there is a lot of science and expertise that went into the technology to enable its high performance.

The back to the speaker listener position is how I listen to my LS50s in my 12x11x9 room. I kind of like it, not looking at a speaker makes me just listen. I have no choice in this positioning. Speaker does not completely disappear like some others ($$$) but it is pretty good.

The KEF Ref 1 is what to hear in my small room with this Meta stuff.

@arafiq

i have auditioned Harbeth 40.2, but never the P3ESR. Based on my first audition today, I think the new KEFs share some attributes of those Harbeth, which I liked very much, but on a smaller scale of course. The setup was more modest though and associated soundstage and imaging was much different so really not an apples/apples comparison.

At the audition today,  first listen was from about 6-7 feet in front of the speakers which were on stands a few feet out from the rear wall.   That was a very good first impression but what struck me special was when I backed up further the soundstage and imaging really kicked in.   It sounded very right top to bottom and when I turned around to look at some gear along the opposite wall the impression of the music just being there and totally disassociating from the speakers kicked in.  Also this was in a very sizable open area yet the bass extension seemed to be there.  I would agree with Guttenburg’s assessment that the sound was very much like no box involved like open baffle speakers.  I am not a fan of box speakers in general so that was a big plus. The older ls50s are pretty good in that regard but these did seem to take it to another level. 

@mapman  Very interested in your review. I have Harbeth P3esr's which someone will have to pry out of my cold dead fingers, but I'm tempted to sell my current LS50 wireless and get the new ones (non-wireless). 

V nice 

Thanks @needfreestuff

The audition I had today was certainly in line with what I have seen written about the ls50 Meta. It was certainly enough to convince me to purchase the upgrade. 

All you need to absorb the tweeter backwaves is a bit of foam. It is not rocket science. 

Congrats to you Mapman I’ve heard nothing but good things about those speakers. I understand they change the drivers and they did some work to the crossovers not To mention the absorption material that cuts down the backwaves Resulting in a much cleaner sound make sure to get back to us in a couple of months and let us Know how they are working out. All the best 

Kenjit you should write and tell them to get with it maybe. Or who knows Just audition the new ls50. Maybe it can float your boat finally  with all that latest whiz bang technology. Let us know your impressions if you do.

The problem with the KEFs is that they dont sound good to me. Ive heard the ls50, ref1 and blade. The blade was the only one that was tolerable.The engineers at KEF have a lot more work to do before they can impress a master audiophile such as myself.

w3e are breaking ours in ver impressive for 1500

I found the old ls50s best suited for smaller rooms. They are small after all so ability to go very loud and dynamic especially in larger rooms is a widely acknowledged limitation though they do fine in the 12x12 room I use them in. Within their constraints and in that room though I particularly love what they do.

Looks very good in the listening window but probably will get distortion in the bass when pushing them a bit but it is a bookshelf so that's to be expected. Nice improvement on the old model especially the wireless. 

 This should really drop the used pricing on the original LS50. It will be interesting to see how low they will go in the next year. 

The white paper says the new technology absorbs down to 620hz which is very impressive. I think that is what I heard in S. Guttenburg’s review so apparently he was correct. Would seem to be effective beyond just the range of the tweeter then.

Good stuff. The Detailed information presented in the  white paper on the original ls50s very much helped to convince me to try them.   

Maybe you've seen this but here's KEF white paper on both the meta and wireless.

https://us.kef.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/ls50/20-KEF-LS50-Collection-WhitePapers.pdf

The bass did actually seem more extended with the metas and this was in a very large room several feet away from rear wall. . Kef says -6db into the 20s. We will see about that. 

No harshness in that demo. Demo amp was one of the new “high end” Yamaha integrated amps.

The demo got really interesting when I turned my back to the speakers.......just music no speakers seemingly.

Technology is always improving and I am always on the lookout for innovations that can make a difference. So who knows what might be in a few years. We will see. Meanwhile the chase for perfection continues in a still imperfect world. I’m pretty sure most will only be able to afford it in smaller packages. Oh well.

When they arrive and you set them up, just remember that the pesky backwaves are still there just as they were in the original LS50 and that it wont be long before you hear those nasty backwaves!

You will be looking for another upgrade in a year. I guarantee you mapman. These nasty LS50 never had much bass anyway. And that nasty cone material they use can sound a bit harsh!