If space is the issue definitely ls60 route.
If not the other option becomes more practical.
Both are good options. Size does matter. So does aesthetics and features. You get to decide.
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@mapman thank you! Which system do you think will sound better? |
Hard to say. I’ve heard ls60 and R11 meta both sans sub. Have never heard Hegel. I would expect either with sub set up right to sound very good. The kef ls60 is a fantastic product in that it does it all and is designed to maximize what can be done with a product its size. If I had to choose I’d go ls60 in that it does it all pretty much all for you especially with the powered sub properly in the mix I currently have multiple setups in multiple rooms including ls50 meta + powered sub and even that holds up very well versus most any thing else I have heard in the smaller room it is in (12x12). In a larger room I would be more likely to go with larger model kef meta speakers. The entire line is consistently top notch at each price level, including ls60. You just have to find the ones that work best for you
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we are a kef dealer and we sell both the ls60s and full r series
the passives plus amplifier will sound better, the amplifiers in the ls 60s will never have the resolution of a stare of the art external amplifier, also remember with the passives you can upgrade to an even better pair of speakers later.
dave and Troy Audio intellect NJ Kef dealers |
I would go for the latter, passive+amp. I would hold off on adding a sub right away and wait until the speakers are fully run in and optimally positioned which takes some time. Keep in mind that Hegel just replaced the H390 with the H400. I did an A/B in my house of the H590 vs. H600 and the H600 was a BIG step up in SQ. Better preamp section and better DAC. |
@audiotroy Thanks for the advice. You would think the LS60s would have a better sound given the fact the amps are matched with the drivers. |
Since space is an issue, why don’t you go the R3 Meta route + sub? You won’t be missing bass as you’ll have a sub and many people prefer bookshelf speakers for their better imaging/disappearing act. This solution makes the most sense to me, will be easier on your wallet, and will allow you to upgrade speakers in the future if you wish. |
I have a H390 and while it is a wonderful integrated amp, it’s way more than you probably need, but if you go the LS 60 route, you’re going to need something to feed a signal to them and you might not get the same quality of sound. Might I offer another suggestion? Check out the Hegel H190 and the KEF R7’s or the R7 Meta’s. Since Hegel came out with the new H190V, the price of the original H190 has dropped a lot! All the best. |
@curiousjim I would be using an external music server hooked directly to the ls60. I have all my hi res files ripped to the drive. |
I have LS60 + two KC62 subs, Marantz SA-10 SACD player, Manley Chinook phonostage, Yamaha PF-800 turntable with upgraded Analysis Plus Silver Apex cabling in my secondary system. My primary has Revel Salon Ultima 2, Parasound JC2+ monoblocks, McIntosh C1100 preamp, D1100 DAC, McIntosh MCT450 transport, SME20/3 turntable with HANA Red cart and Manley SteelHead phonostage. Bottom line: I have never found KEF LS60 lacking in resolution, missing bass (even with subs off) and/or not musical comparing with the primary system. Phenomenal speakers - and not just in their price range! I can happily live with this system as a primary one. Internal amps, speakers, paired woofers, cabinets, internal DAC, and DSP are designed to work together - which cannot be achieved with the separates in the similar price range. P.S. I had some issues during initial setup - but the resolution is simple: one needs to make Google Chrome a default browser in your Android phone settings (omission in the manual). |
@krell303 Do you think the ls60s keep up with your separate system? I really like the simplicity of the ls60s and the sub together. How are you connecting your SACD player? I have a nice rega cd player. |
Then by all means go for the LS60’s!
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Concidering 50 times price difference between two systems, yes - I can live with LS60-based one. It does NOTHING wrong - for sure, it doesn't throw such an enormous and deep sounstage, nor such an explosive dynamics (well, Parasound JC1+ amps have 800 watts power), line level connection options are a bit limited ( I'm using Shiit SYS passive input switch). I lived with this system for two years before finishing dedicated listening roon and reassembling back my primary one - but I still using both. All my previous separates in $10k range were not even close to LS60. And, big and - DSP allows you to simplify positioning and room interferenc I also had LS50s - but found that in my medium sized room I like LS60 better. P.S. I'm listening primarily jazz and large scale symphony music, some blues and progressive rock. LS60 does it all. If you like upgrading components all the time - LS60 might not be for you though. Get one (Music Direct has 60 days return policy, I think), listen to it for 3-4 weeks in your room - and then decide. Good luck!
P.S. Room treatment is more important than one step up component upgrade. I've got 4 StilPoints Aperture panels for my primary listening room and found that I don't need McIntosh MEN220 room equalizer anymore- negligible difference. |
Most will say the separates i.e. passive set up. But the advantage of the active system is you get a tuned amp-speaker combo that's been optimized for the drivers and cabinet combo. If done right that can out perform passive set ups. you just loose the ability to tune your sound via amps and speaker wires. As for someone's comment that the amps in the LS60's wont be a resolving as an out board amp is not really true in my experience, testing equal quality speakers/amps and active speakers. I have some very good active speakers in my office that do things my main system can't dream of at a fraction of the cost. If done right, I'm assuming kef did this right, you may be surprised how good actives can be. |
@krell303 Well said! I think I will pull the move on the ls60s and add a sub. |
@dbphd Do you feel like you're missing anything? |
@audiotroy I would be connecting my server via Coaxial. I use Audivana to play my hi res files. |
You cannot avoid/bypass the LS60’s internal DAC implementation because of KEF’s terrible decision. Throwing a DAC/streamer inside a powered speaker’s cabinet is a terrible idea. Get the Elac Navis ARF-51 by Andrew Jones, which is on killer closeout sale at the moment. It is sonically superior to the LS60 on all counts. Run a good external DAC+streamer to its analog input (no dacs or digital inputs on this speaker).
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