Intro
This is a detailed comparison between two devices I like that are in very similar price point.
These two amazing speakers will definitely be your bang for a buck.
But which one you choose mostly will fit how you listen music, and what you expect from your speakers.
I will first do small review of Kef LS50 meta, and then go in deep dive comparison of both, where I will focus on 4 areas. Looks and materials where I will very subjectively speak about which one I like more physical, Placement and fit how easy it is to accommodate different variety of rooms and stands, compatibility is how well does it play with different type of amps, and lastly Sound where I will again objectively and subjectively explain which sound I think is the best.
KEF LS50 Meta Review
I don’t remember a hype for a speaker, of the magnitude that LS50 meta had, for a long time. Everybody spoke about them, everybody wanted them. And everybody was raving about quality of this speakers. And Kef is not someone comer in the game. Previous LS50 where great success for company, including their Q lineup. Which is in my opinion Q150 and 350 are very underrated speakers.
But this whole new technology of Metamaterial Absorption Technology brought everyone’s attention. It says that it eliminates unwanted sound from the rear of driver,
resulting in a purer, more natural performance.
This kind of gamble of new exciting technology already worked once for them, Uni-Q drivers where big success in past. It is something exciting, something fresh and new that brings peoples ear in direction of Kef. But the best part of all of this is, that it did deliver. LS50 meta sounded better than ever.
The amount of transparency, precision and wildness of soundstage have been ripped from they R series. You can not get this level of transparency at this price range anywhere else.
You will want to hear that vocals on stage, those details of percussion, that E string of a bass. It does help rest of your audio gear to be more open and detailed.
And you want to give it power, so that soundstage can become big and 3demensional. It needs talented amp to back it up, so those instruments can become very detailed and have great precision in reproduction. One thing which is astonishing to me is imaging, it is great, and it is right in the center of your listening area. So listening to pop music, or any music that strongly emphasis vocal is a wonder.
KEF can play with lot of different amps, with different sound signatures. Even thou I think it sounds best when pair with amps, that have a bit muscle and weight to it. Like Arcam, Rega or Cambridge Audio. Some amps that are very neutral and light, sometimes they cannot push this speakers to revel all its charms. It needs a muscle from your amp it needs to help that transparency to come with bigger dynamic response and weight.
But it is not all flowers and rainbows. Kef is difficult to place in a room. Of course if your room is treated well and have enough space it should not be a problem. But it requires space around and in back of device so it can shine. Bass is decent and is back firing, but for it to have attack and detail you will need to move speakers from the wall at least 50cm to 1m.
And I think the fault wit LS50 is, just how crystal clear is, some people might find problem with lack of dynamics and just missing “fun” element that some speakers have. That is that the sound while it is forward it lacks a little bit of weight and punch. It does not hit that response of wonderfully reach lowest lows or highest highs. It stays where firmly in mids, where it is expressive but not dynamic as someone might hope in this price range.
There are couple of speakers that provide better dynamics, agility and punch. But none that brings transparency, expression and imaging like this.
In the end Kef LS50 meta is a wonderful speaker, that brings a lot of features in value in its price range. It is a real audiophile gear, aimed for people with a little bit more serious gear
and ear to truly appreciate all it can offer. It is a big recommendation from me.
But this video is an exercise in comparing two speakers I really like in this price range. And while both of them are superb, they are also very different and aimed at different crowd.
Looks and Materials
I always appreciated KEfs attempt into creating this LS50 to look very modern and unique.
It definitely is a statement piece on your stands.
It is a glossy white or black lacquered looks, that nicely curves and does not show an visible screws. Makes this a great looking piece. Materials are all high quality with Uni-Q drivers and meta technology delivering outstanding features, to have in your cabinet.
But to me Lumina 2 wins in this category. It is prettier speaker out of two, to start with.
That leather, a genuine letter which also feels very amazing to touch, with a real wood finish in walnut and wenge (not a huge fan of all black) looks terrific. And it is out of this two a standard looking speaker, as it has sharp boxy look, with three way design. Having tweeter and woofer and sub all at front. But they are measured, cut and designed to look very balanced and prestige. They are much smaller than KEF, to me that is always a plus, but this all depends from person not person.
Unless like Kef unique technology, Sonus Faber those not booster any special things under its hood. But it does not stop it from sounding amazing, so I don’t know should e consider that a minus.
This category is very subjective and I will leave it like that. To me Sonus Faber Lumina II looks better and fits better large array of different rooms decor.
Placement and Fit.
Kef LS50 meta is a needy little savant. It requires good stands, it requires decent room with enough space for it to expand and show its talents. It requires a meaty amplifier to push all the soundstage out, and to raise the details to exceptional level.
It is a great audiophile gear, but will require investment and planning from its future owner.
If you don’t have a proper mid-level hifi gear, I recommend to first upgrade your gear than this speakers. It works in smaller to mid-size rooms best, but can easily if necessary fill the larger rooms. I tried this in three environments, my listening room which is a small to mid size room, and a large testing area of sound shop I am friend of.
And none did it disappoint. Of course if you have this big saloon apartments , with large living rooms, and high ceiling something like tower speakers might more fit you,
but Listen to Kef there is straight in it to maybe even satisfy you.
Sonus Faber is a shy wonderful talent, that will try to accommodate you and your room easily. It is not so fussy about stands, and also being a front fairing speaker
it is not needy with placement in the room.
Of course don’t put in very near walls, or on bookshelf(which I never recommend) and it will easily open up to you. Now this being a smaller speaker, don’t expect wonders with large rooms. It is best suited for mid to small size rooms.
It has a decent reach, and even thou if your room is not treated it can pull of a lot of fun,
details and clarity.
Which to me unless you plan to listen this in a large room, winner is Lumina 2.
It is easier speaker to place in a room and is far less needy regarding accompanying equipment, stands and room. You have one less worry when you buy this speakers.
Compatibility
Kef while needs talented gear to follow its talents, regarding sound signature it is compatible with wide variety of gears. I always recommend little bit meatier of punchy amps to go with KEF, but will work fine with neutral balanced amps. Its character and nature allow it to work well with different technologies and it will not disappoint.
Lumina 2 is a bit different story, while I recommend for it to go with a bit more powerful amps, even something like brio managed to pull this speakers just fine. The only problem is it does not play well with all the amp types Meatier sound, or very punch amps, does know to little bit muddle to clarity of this speakers. It plays well with more neutral, balanced amps.
I never tried this with something like tube amps, but I think the synergy will not be optimal.
In this regard KEF is more compatible speaker, as you can easily pair it with more variety of different amps. It is not that Sonus Faber is speaker that requires some exotic unique amps,
no it just requires from buyer to think and plan more synergy between devices.
Sounds
And here it is finally the most important aspect when comparing any audiophile gear and that is how it sounds. This is very difficult section to gauge as when you give 1000 plus euros for a device it is going to sound great. But will it fit you and your needs that is the other question.
It is your needs and affinities toward some sonic signatures will be a deciding factor to which one of this two sounds better to you.
KEF is a great speaker for classical music, for pop music and some hip hop and electronic music. It is transparent and clean sound that is able to make everything so rounded and defined. With beautiful imaging you will be astonished how everything gets this new dimension that will fondle you in to this beautiful bliss of sonic charms.
Precision and roundness and scale of soundstage is what those this speaker does best from this two. It does so much in this price level sonically that Kef really did an amazing job lowering it all down from its R series.
Lumina 2 is a different kind of speaker, it is a speaker that does not emphasis clarity, transparency and precision but rather it does emphasis “fun”. It is more rounded for rock music, jazz, electronic music and pop styles. It is a warm weighty sound that makes everything more flowy and gushy, as it forces you to lie in your most comfortable position and just listen to this for hours and hours, while tapping your hand in the rhythm of the song.
It is also more weighty, dynamically open sound that can better control its treble and bass than Kef. Mids are pulsating and musical, so drums, bass anything with drive is going to push foreword. Sonus Faber is very musical and entertaining performer,
to more clinical and anemic Kef.
Vocals will not be so define and expressive, and soundstage and clarity are definitely in favour of Kef. Even thou soundstage, and vocals are great in Lumina 2 if you do not compare it with a king in this category you could easily be really satisfied with it.
Vocals where lovely, with rich timber and dynamics. Soundstage was open and defined. It is just that Kef is amazing in this regard.
While none of them is a bass monsters, they do provide decent bass experience. Kefs bass is a bit bigger and more sprawling, as it has a better kick than Sonus Faber.
But Sonus Faber has a better attack, agility and dynamics of bass. It is more rounded and defined and in my opinion while not being bigger and stronger it was more better experience.
It is a really tight race, but I have to give a slight edge to Kef. It is just that audiophile experience with Kef is unmatched at this level. While sonus is that funky brother with more soul and dynamics.
Conclusion
So in the end, no matter which one of this speakers you choose you are a winner.
And you will happily feel that money was well spent. It all depends from your taste, and what you want from your speakers.
As from me I have to give slight edge to…………………….. KEF LS50 Meta.
It is just that, amount of details, clarity and transparency is pretty unique in this level.
It might not be as fun as Sonus, but it is a pristine audiophile experience. And when I say slight edge I really meant it, I feel while measuring both of this, at many times I would go rather to listen to Sonus Faber as it is more engaging listen. And who know on the long run, maybe Sonus would become my daily drivers instead of KEF.
But in this moment slight edge here goes to KEF, while Sonus still is a fantastic speaker as well.
As I am a new channel, any support Is welcome, so please if you can like and subscribe to help me grow this passion of mine.
All the best, Bye!
Comments