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KEF LS50 or Wharfedale Reva 2 -- which would you buy?

Hi all,

I am considering upgrading my speakers and am between the KEF LS50 and Wharfedale Reva 2 speakers. I'm not able to hear either one where I am located so am looking for some input.

I am also able to get the Reva 2s for about half the price of the LS50, but if the KEFs are the right move I am ok spending more time saving for them.

Some notes to consider:

- Speakers will be used only for music, not TV/ movies
- Receiver is an older Denon DRA 825R (90 watts/ channel into 8 ohms). Minimum is 6ohms (please don't suggest I get the UB5s).
- Turntable is Pro-ject Carbon Debut
- Room is about 15x17 apartment living room
- I listen to everything from classic rock to jazz to classical. I don't listen to hip hop, house, or modern pop.

I am really just looking for beautiful sounding (and nice looking) speakers at $1k or less (I can get the LS50 for $1k or the Reva 2s for $450). I live in an apartment so the music is never loud, just looking for great sounding speakers.

The reviews on both seem very good. The LS50 is clearly a more popular speaker. I guess the question there is -- is it worth an extra $550 for me?

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
coaster86

Showing 2 responses by rsure

rsure
29 posts
 
In reply to b_limo’s post with regard to the Kef LS50 wireless speakers - my experience has unfortunately not been so positive. While I enjoyed the sound I had significant reliability issues to the extent that after going through 4 replacements within a year, the dealer actually took them back for a full refund! 

I learnt firsthand the downside to such active systems where if anything happens to it you’re out of a system completely. And it doesnt help that the warranty is a miserly 1 year. Also doesn’t give you the option to mix and match components which is an exciting part of this hobby.

I’ve since moved to a pair of Dynaudio Emit M20 speakers with a PS Audio Sprout 100 amplifier and am quite happy with this setup although the highs are no comparison to the Kef LS50 wireless.

Apologies for not addressing the OPs question about the passive LS50s and Wharfedales.
rsure
29 posts
 
@b_limo I had the issues with the KEF LS50 actives just 3 months in (had bought them in March 2017). The first issue was no sound coming from the left speaker. The second problem was a ticking sound from the left tweeter and the last two replacements were because the speakers used to shut-down at higher volumes and would need a restart.

For each of these problems I was given a new replacement unit by the dealer but eventually I told them to just give me a refund. BTW I had also purchased 2 additional years of a dealer warranty but was really fed up of not having a system to listen to so often.

I did met with some regional KEF staff who the dealer had put me onto and they just told me they couldn’t figure out why this was happening and they hadn’t been experiencing such issues elsewhere. 

They did did mention that it could be because of a power supply issue but the dealer did visit my house to check and said that was not a problem and also I haven’t had issues with any other elcectronic devices at my place.

Anyways, I hope you have better luck with your unit and maybe worthwhile to consider adding to your warranty if that’s possible.
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