![]() ![]() ![]() Whilst we’re talking language, those hanging their hat ‘Wireless’ are advised that the LS50 WII’s Ethernet-based 24bit/192kHz interlink is now optional - a 24bit/96kHz wireless interlink is also possible. KEF has given the outmoded ‘master/slave’ terminology the boot. (I’ve always found the LS50 to be too much loudspeaker for a desk). KEF is likely betting that more people will put the LS50 Wireless II either side of a TV set than they will a desktop monitor. On hard-wired connectivity, we note two changes, one significant, the other less so: coaxial and TOSLINK remain but 1) the twin RCAs have been substituted by a 3.5mm analogue input and 2) the USB has been swapped out for HDMI ARC. One upshot is 7Hz greater bass depth the LS50 is rated by KEF down to 47Hz but the LS50 Wireless II down to 40Hz. The LS50 Wireless II then activates the LS50 Meta’s 12th Generation + MAT Uni-Q driver array with a DSP crossover dividing the signal between the mid-bass driver’s new 280 Watt Class D amplifier and the tweeter’s new 100 Watt Class A/B amplifier. The LS50 Meta will be available in four matte finishes – Carbon Black, Titanium Grey, Mineral White plus a Royal Blue Special Edition – and will sell for £1000/€1199/US$1499 per pair. But if those aren't deal breakers and you're looking for loudspeakers with unmatched retro flair, the JBL L82 Classic is about as cool as it gets.For its Meta iteration, KEF has elevated the LS50’s Uni-Q driver to a 12th Generation design that sports a ‘new cone neck decoupler’ and motor system plus the ‘tweeter gap dampener’ first introduced in the 2018 R Series.Īlso inside the cabinet, the LS50 Meta receives an ‘off-set flexible bass port’ designed to reduce midrange colouration and more rigid cross bracing with constrained layer damping. Each speaker weighs almost 14 pounds and is 18 inches tall - much bigger than traditional bookshelf speakers - and they require a big room and a powerful amplifier. The JBL L82 Classic won't be for everybody. That said, it is the looks that seal the deal - the L82 Classic is a dead ringer for the L-100 Classic with the same vintage design, wooden cabinets and what are arguably the most conspicuous speaker grills ever made (available in blue, black or orange). Each speaker has the same tweeter found in the L100 Classic and a smaller 8-inch woofer, but the pair still delivers the accurate, dynamic and powerful sound you'd expect from a legendary speaker. ![]() Released in 2020, the JBL L82 Classic is effectively a smaller, more affordable version of the L100 Classic (which were released in 2018). Also, the Tensegrity stands don't come with the speakers and add a significant ($999) price bump. The Q Acoustics Concept 300 is available in two different finishes: white oak or black rosewood. Paired with the right amplifier, these are end-game loudspeakers that also look the part. The slightly scary-looking Tensegrity tripod stand utilizes cutting-edge acoustic isolation and plays a significant role in the sound of the Concept 300 – image solidity and soundstage depth are first-rate. Low-end performance is surprisingly deep and taut making them adept with all kinds of music and they will never be the weak link in your system. They deliver unrivaled levels of coherency, clarity and presence in a stand-mounted design that can compete with significantly more expensive loudspeakers. Q Acoustics is now pushing hard into the high-end with the Concept 300 stand-mounted full-range bookshelf loudspeakers. The KEF LS50 Meta is available in four colors: carbon black, titanium gray, mineral white and a special edition crimson red. Basically, if you thought KEF's previous speakers sounded good - the new LS50 Collection takes that sound to the next level. They integrated their new proprietary Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), which KEF claims have the ability to "absorb 99% of the unwanted sound radiating from the rear of the driver." KEF also gave them a more refined cabinet, a new rear recessed port, and a new cone neck decoupler and motor system. They're still based around the company's proprietary Uni-Q driver, which housed a 1-inch tweeter inside a 5.25-inch woofer resulting in excellent and accurate sound, but KEF refined them in a number of key ways. ![]() Fast forward to nearly a decade later and the KEF LS50 Meta are true successors to those original loudspeakers. The KEF LS50 quickly became regarded as some of the best-sounding passive speakers when they were released in 2012. Larger than your average bookshelf speakers. ![]()
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