![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/MD-8991_20150721162526_8c03a1d3aa5782ad.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nThat shouldn\u2019t matter \u2013 the LS50 remains a blindingly good speaker for the money.<\/p>\n
Specs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\nThe drive unit complement is the latest evolution of KEF\u2019s trademark Uni-Q array. The Uni-Q may look like a single unit, but it\u2019s really a 25mm aluminium dome tweeter in the centre of a 13cm magnesium\/aluminium\u2013coned mid\/bass. The idea is to improve the way the speaker disperses sound and help integration.<\/p>\n
What looks like a grille in front of the tweeter is in fact a waveguide that improves its high-frequency performance. Even without that opinion-dividing colour \u2013 KEF calls it Rose Gold \u2013 this is one distinctive driver complement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/KEFLS50-272x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe engineers have worked hard on the cabinet. That curved front panel is made of DMC (Dough Moulding Compound: a polyester resin combined with glass fibre and calcium carbonate). DMC was chosen for its mass and inertness.<\/p>\n
The rest of the enclosure is made from MDF. It\u2019s heavily braced and strongly damped to minimise any resonances.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t tend to go on too much about reflex ports. The elliptical one used to tune the bass on the LS50 is unusual, though. Put your fingers inside and you\u2019ll feel that it\u2019s flexible. This helps to reduce any unwanted midrange distortions.<\/p>\n
Sound<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\nGiven a little space to breathe and mounted on a pair of solid stands these monitors sound terrific. The first thing that strikes us is the quality of the bass performance.<\/p>\n
For boxes that stand just 30cm high, these speakers deliver deep, agile and powerful lows from the likes of Massive Attack\u2019s\u00a0Flat of the Blade<\/em>. But, unlike most small speakers that deliver big bass, the LS50s don\u2019t over-egg things \u2013 everything sounds balanced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/KEF_LS50c-266x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMove up the frequency range and these KEFs continue to impress. Kate Bush\u2019s vocals on\u00a050 Words For Snow<\/em>\u00a0are as clear and articulate as you could wish for. These speakers communicate the energy and drive in a piece of music brilliantly.<\/p>\nWe\u2019re impressed by the speaker\u2019s seamless integration too, as we are by the way it sets up a huge stereo image populated by securely focused sounds.<\/p>\n
And, perhaps most importantly, these speakers are fun to listen to. It\u2019s not something (we think) KEF has always managed with its products. Here it has.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\nVerdict<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\nOf course, the LS50\u2019s innate transparency means that any flaws in the partnering kit will be apparent. But get it right and you have what is one of the best standmounters below \u00a31000, and easily one of KEF\u2019s most musical efforts in years.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the way to celebrate half a century.<\/p>\n
Read more at:<\/strong>\u00a0https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/kef\/ls50\/review<\/a><\/p>\n
The drive unit complement is the latest evolution of KEF\u2019s trademark Uni-Q array. The Uni-Q may look like a single unit, but it\u2019s really a 25mm aluminium dome tweeter in the centre of a 13cm magnesium\/aluminium\u2013coned mid\/bass. The idea is to improve the way the speaker disperses sound and help integration.<\/p>\n
What looks like a grille in front of the tweeter is in fact a waveguide that improves its high-frequency performance. Even without that opinion-dividing colour \u2013 KEF calls it Rose Gold \u2013 this is one distinctive driver complement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The engineers have worked hard on the cabinet. That curved front panel is made of DMC (Dough Moulding Compound: a polyester resin combined with glass fibre and calcium carbonate). DMC was chosen for its mass and inertness.<\/p>\n The rest of the enclosure is made from MDF. It\u2019s heavily braced and strongly damped to minimise any resonances.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t tend to go on too much about reflex ports. The elliptical one used to tune the bass on the LS50 is unusual, though. Put your fingers inside and you\u2019ll feel that it\u2019s flexible. This helps to reduce any unwanted midrange distortions.<\/p>\n Given a little space to breathe and mounted on a pair of solid stands these monitors sound terrific. The first thing that strikes us is the quality of the bass performance.<\/p>\n For boxes that stand just 30cm high, these speakers deliver deep, agile and powerful lows from the likes of Massive Attack\u2019s\u00a0Flat of the Blade<\/em>. But, unlike most small speakers that deliver big bass, the LS50s don\u2019t over-egg things \u2013 everything sounds balanced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Move up the frequency range and these KEFs continue to impress. Kate Bush\u2019s vocals on\u00a050 Words For Snow<\/em>\u00a0are as clear and articulate as you could wish for. These speakers communicate the energy and drive in a piece of music brilliantly.<\/p>\n We\u2019re impressed by the speaker\u2019s seamless integration too, as we are by the way it sets up a huge stereo image populated by securely focused sounds.<\/p>\n And, perhaps most importantly, these speakers are fun to listen to. It\u2019s not something (we think) KEF has always managed with its products. Here it has.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Of course, the LS50\u2019s innate transparency means that any flaws in the partnering kit will be apparent. But get it right and you have what is one of the best standmounters below \u00a31000, and easily one of KEF\u2019s most musical efforts in years.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the way to celebrate half a century.<\/p>\n Read more at:<\/strong>\u00a0https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/kef\/ls50\/review<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nSound<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nVerdict<\/h3>\n