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KEF Reference 1s or LS50s

I'm planning for a single downsized setup for when we move to a retirement community.  Pretty sure it'll be an Ayre QX-5/20 Roon endpoint and DX-5 DSD disc player as sources, Ayre A7e or AX-5/20 integrated amp, KEF LS50 or Reference 1 speakers with Velodyne HGS-15s subs.  My taste has moved to music by small classical, baroque, and jazz groups.  The question I'm pondering is whether to go with the LS50s or Reference 1s.  Both sound superb.
dbphd

Showing 1 response by helomech

helomech
1,769 posts
 
Those are two vastly different price points. The Reference 1s will be capable of more bass of course. Can't speak for the Reference line but the new R series has been underwhelming to my ears and I feel the treble quality is a regression from that of the LS50s. For a small, near-field environment, I feel the LS50s with high-quality ancillaries are hard to beat for their tone and imaging. 

Otherwise get a pair of Spendor A4s, very hard to go wrong with those.
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