he was very polite going about it. I was really unimpressed when listening to them, felt like a stepping stone for the salesman to get you to buy something more expensive.
Thank You for your review. I always enjoy Your speaker and headphones reviews. The way You describe sound, and Your rationales for Your conclusions are excellently laid out. I've only recently come across You and will look forward to going through the past, and future reviews of Yours.
Fantastic review. Thank you. I also have LS50 and have been looking at these for some time. I agree with you entirely on the holographic and revealing nature of the LS50. Just spot on.
About the jumpers and the mid and high tones; Always connect the main wires direct to the mid/high section. For the bass line the internal connection is fine 🙌🏼
Thanks for taking the time to share your detailed and clear insights.. Really helpful for me as I get ready to make the decision about buying these R3's
I didn't use jumpers, but I did bi-wire my R900s to my JC1 mono blocks and noticed a significant improvement. I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by the sweeter vocals. Brass and nickel just aren't as good of a conductor as copper. The fit and finish on the R series is top notch, but Kef cut corners on the terminal connectors. At least it is an easy fix. The first time I turned those knobs I was very skeptical of the quality of connections. Thanks for bringing that to light, even though I fixed it by accident. I have other Kef speakers in different systems which aren't bi-wired. Your reviews are like the finish on Kef R series speaker; perfect, top to bottom.
i owned the original LS50s since 2015 and paired them with a single SVS SB2000 sub and they did not lack for low end grunt. I've recently upgraded to the LS50 Metas, and if you think the originals were holographic, you should hear the Metas. The originals are now surrounds, and that's makes for a great stereo and 4.1 surround system as well. Debating whether to get a third Meta and have a center as well. Very fine example of a subjective review. If only TAS, Stereophile, Darko, Guttenberg and the rest would lay off the purple prose and just say what they're hearing (like you do) it would save everyone a lot of time.
I recently set up my LS 50s in a well damped room with a high current A/B channel amp also driving the woofers of Polk RTI A9s, and placed the speakers 2 meters from the wall. The vocals moved way back to the wall. The sound stage became huge and 3 dimensional. Especially in depth, but nothing came forward from where the speakers were placed. The airyness was still there, but moved back where it is never in your face. LS50s sound best 1/3 into the room. I moved them a little bit at a time to see where they sounded best. Most people don't want their speaker 2 meters off the wall, but I care most about sound quality.
The Dynaudio has been upgraded twice and in its latest incarnation as Evoke 10 (which I own) it performs well across the entire frequency range and IMO is the class leader.
I have the original LS50 and had them paired with class D amp (NAD) with good results. But recently I switched to Cambridge Audio CXA81 amp (AB class) and that ended up to be much better pairing with LS50s . I don’t know if the difference was due to differences between class D and class AB, or if it was due to Cambridge Audio’s slight warmer tone, but the combo sounds really great. LS50 always had good sound stage, but even that got bigger with CXA81.
As happy as I am with my R900s and JC1 mono blocks, I have also had my LS50s in the same system and I agree with everything you said about the difference. The LS50s are the most finicky speakers I have owed, but when you get things right they are hard to beat. I am missing that airiness and everything else you mentioned about the LS50s. It's not like the R series don't have air, but when compared to the LS50s you notice the difference. I am thinking about getting a good sub and putting the LS50s back in. Probably a Kef sub with resonance canceling opposed drivers. I have other subs that never seem to be able to meld well and disappear. I need to have a sub that disappears, otherwise I can't listen to it. If you have any good suggestions, please let my know. The JC1 mono blocks can control the bass (3.2 ohm dip) on the LS50s perfectly, which allows them to shine at their best and produce super tight bass at much higher volume (my room is quite large), but I want a little more "grunt". I have a 150 watts/ch high current Parasound amp and it can't properly drive the LS50s (the bass gets muddy which destroys the entire sound). In a big room the LS50s need quite a bit of juice to shine where the bass doesn't start to get muddy. I don't know why Kef rates the LS50s at 8ohm speakers. They are 4ohms and not very efficient, but I think that is a good thing for small speakers so they have the stiffness in the drivers (which compromises efficiency) to stay tight when you push some current into them (more like they suck the current they need at 3.2 ohms). As long as the amp is competent enough to driving such a difficult load. I have a wide variety of decent amps and only my JC1s can properly drive the LS50s. I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from buying LS50s, but they do need at least a decent high current amp to drive them even remotely to their full potential.
Hi, I'd value your opinion of the Buchardt S400 Speaker in comparison to the KEF R3. Im sure many of us who follow your content would be interested to know your views on both these speakers.Your content is very informative. Thanks.
Hello! I confirm the soundstage you mention. I have them for a year now. They're paired with NAC C388. I can't say yet if this amp is doing good or bad in conjunction with them, but they seem to do a decent job together. I haven't got time (I am lazy, I know) to play with their position in the room, but from the little space I have available (they are located between two doors in the room and I can't pull them much in the room's center), but differences were noticed. I can't really say if they are supposed to to be used in direct positioning to ears (triangle) or not. Still testing, but all in all, I am quite happy with the way they sound.
I have two pairs of R3s in a stereo line array configuration, supported by a pair of Martin Logan Dynamo 1100X subs. I am currently powering the R3s with a NAD C388 but I have a Hifi Rose RA520 on order which I anticipate should arrive around end of December in Canada.
I have these and I power them with the Arcam SA20. I love the sound, very real and life like, To get a more refined base make sure you have nice well made stands. That makes a huge difference. I also have the stands on a marble platform. Note I tried a class D amp. And no, this is not a good match. That amp was a primare.
I have the unifi 2.0 ub52 ELAC and although they aren't as pretty as the reference, you get most of the sound characteristic and performance for less than half the cost. Found on sale $479 last month. I'd probably prefer the unifi reference but for $1200 I doubt I'm missing that much performance for almost 2.5x the cost.
@@ajafterparty what are you running now? And have you lived with ls50 for any time? I would be curious to major differences between r3 and ls50. I'm looking ahead but can't decide. I've narrowed it down to about 16 pairs so... getting close 😐
great review for me. I have LS50’s and looking to upgrade and checking out options available where I live which is a bit restrictive, but KEF is accessible so 🙏
Hello! I recently acquired a pair of R3s. I have a Meridian 551 amplifier, but my seller recommended the Hegel that you have. Do you know something about the meridian line to advise me whether to change it? Thank you very much!
Terrific review Professor !! I detect a Russian, Slovish or Polish Accent. But that's no matter because you have nice detail of the English language. Your review is well presented with Flowery comments. I'm thinking to upgrade to either these R3s or LS50 Metas from my KEF Q350 Bookshelf speakers (probably could use them elsewhere in the house or give them to a relative). I have the Q350s connected to an Emotiva A300 Amp (in an IOTA SA3 and PA3 Stack) playing in Finished Basement "studio" or Mancave created during COVID hibernation. In your opinion, how would either KEF upgrade speaker play with the Emotiva? I alos have a pair of Elac Debut 6.2 Bookshelf speakers connected to the IOTA stack. I play them either separately or simultaneously. When played together - which is an Audiophile No-No - it actually enhances the sound to almost Concert Hall levels. Pertaining to KEF speakers in general... I purchased KEF 104/2 s Tower speakers in 1987 for my Living Room system (NAD 1300 & 2600 Stack), with No SWs or EQs - and they play great , with clarity, just the right amount of Bass, excellent Mids and Highs. They have performed w/o any problems for over 35 years !!. FWIW, When I acquired the KEFs at the Stereo HiFi store, I had never heard of them but in the sound room compared them with Polk, Klipsch, JBL, and a few others. They were the Winner in my book. Later that week, in a Sunday NY Times Stereo review section the KEF 104s were being reviewed. They were rated Nimber 3 Speaker in the World! I guess I did thorough shopping and comparing. That me proud and satisfied.
Great review. I have KEF R300s with a Martin Logan sub. I don't understand how LS50 and subs can possibly be an alternative for music. Subs don't reproduce kick drums and bass like regular woofers so aren't you missing that critical piece? I run all my speakers large in my 5.1 to hear the rhythm section for classic rock. Imaging is decent but I'd like hear what ls50 pinpoint is like but in my opinion you can't reproduce that full range floor standing speaker with ls50s and a sub.You can with R3 and a sub I'd think. Sub just fills very bottom end. Can anyone explain how to get drum slam and bass guitar out of a 12 inch sub that sounds clean and tight? These certainly don't sound the same coming from a sub as they do a. bookshelf or floorstanding speaker's mid bass woofer yet I always hear people talking like just adding a sub is the same? Trust me, my KEFs are not nearly as dynamic when I high pass them at 80 vs.50 or run them small. I'm certainly no bass head ( a little too much quickly muddies the music so I keep mine pretty low) but I can't do without fat bass and slamming drums for most rock tracks. If this all just the tradeoff then I guess bookshelfs and subs are ideal middle ground between imaging and dynamics
Perfect analysis. I have the R3. The sound is not open... The dynamics in the orchestral group are missing precision, and there is not enough clarity."
Maybe something for your friend to improve the sound stage of his R3's and then for you to review: Blackice Foz SSX sound stage expander. (Designed by the inventor of Dolby btw).
Thanks for the great analysis. I always enjoy your content. I also appreciate how you manage to review products by trading with audiophile friends. Thanks for saying what iiwi means. I always wondered!
Is it worth it! I didn't know that's what it stands for, cool. I echo the LS50 + sub(s) comment by the way... Subs really set the foundations firm in my system.
In bass yes: but if you want fake bass that is what a car is for. I have a Mosconi amp with a JL W8. And I assure you nothing made for the home will touch it.
@@AntoninPassemardPaintings no but again that is the design. I know bass. Not saying its bad.... its just not what the music is displaying. Please not tring to be demeaning. My car will bass anyone out of the front seat. With One JL audio. in the house, I like real life music. The R3's on the Arcam SA20. Sarah sounds like she in the room, Bono's arrogant's comes though the sound...:) Floor Jensen notes dominate the room. That is why I do not use a sub in the house.
Very good review. I really like what you are doing. I have choosen R300 over LS50 7-8 years ago and i have paired them with arcam dac and amp A19. For me R300 was the better pick because i wanted one speaker to do everything(music, gaming, movies). But I have also found that arcam a19 is not powerful enough and more power will be a good update. Would you suggest hagel if i would like to improve the stage ? I am not a bass addict...Also how R300 compared to R3 i feel like it wont be any significat update for me...
There's another UA-cam channel that I really like, called E Project, and he doesn't do reviews. Instead he does sound samples of a huge assortment of amp and speaker combinations, always using the same set of sample tracks, which makes it very easy to compare different speakers with a single amp or different amps with a single speaker. In my experience with his videos, the R3 is one of the most consistent sounding speakers ever, and always sounds very much the same, whether if it's being driven by an expensive class AB amp, or by a low cost receiver or class D amp. It's one of my favorite speakers of all time
@@streamnoremorse Apparently you can't read! I didn't say that they sounded exactly the same with every amp, but that they maintained their sound signature, and were more consistent with more different amps than most other speakers are.
@@DougMen1 So Ok. But the this consistency can be related to another speaker. I mean LS50 Meta. No? Also with good amp there is great upper bass in R3 that can' t be shown with some amps.
@@iiWiReviews It brought me to a happy place! Hello (from my happy place!) Listening on Keff LS50 Meta too 🤩 (with a sub) Going to sub for more recommendations and watch the rest of your review now.
I choosed my R3 over ls50 2 years ago for the reasons you explained in your (very good) video. What amplifiers did you connected to R3? What Is the best combination in your opinion? Thank you. I'd like to upgrade my amp (Cyrus 6dac)
I listened to them on Hegel H90, H190 and SMSL DA-9 (surprisingly great class D amp, don't mind the price). I also used to own Cyrus 8vs2... So I can say that Cyrus is a great amp, a bit brighter and more raw in its presentation than Hegels for example. It has a lot of energy and bite too, which I also like. If you like that kind of presentation, it's totally fine amp for R3 in my opinion. Something such as Hegel brings bigger soundstage and calmer, blacker background from witch tones emerge better isolated from each-other. All said and done, I personally feel like Hegel amps are somewhat better partners to KEFs than Cyrus (especially goes for analytically inclined LS50, that's why I made a switch eventually). But that's just my taste and you might feel differently. Also, Cyrus amps are probably better match to R3 and it's fuller/sweeter presentation than they are to LS50. In general they are great and often underappreciated amps in my opinion.
@@iiWiReviews did you notice differences between h90 and h190? At apartment volume is h190 better or different? I listened 1 year ago Rost + R3 and It worked well. I think h90 is similar. I choosed Cyrus because the price and the sound with distorted guitars. I was wondering if h190 worts the extra cost
H190 definitely has more authority in the bassline, and soundstage is even cleaner, better organized... With a darker background compared to H90. When you listen to it a bit and go back to H90, it almost feels warm sounding, more mellow, less bite. Now, about the worth, that's the tough one. The price difference is substantial and I can't tell if it's worth it or not. I guess it depends on how OCD someone is about the sound and how deep are your pockets. 🙂
Your comment about the LS50 being more airy and having better sound stage/precision was so on spot. I got the R7s after listening to the LS50s but I still remember LS50s being more lively. Btw, you need a sub with any stand mount, especially the LS50s...
I wanted to use the R3s as surrounds for my home theater using a Yamaha RX-A6a receiver. Does using the receiver versus the Amp you talked about make a difference
Thanks! Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with Quad Z2, but if I stumble upon a fellow audiophile willing to loan them, I would like to share my thoughts. Cheers from Serbia!
Great review. I am planning to buy one or the other between R3 or LS50W II + KC62. I wonder if KC62 will be able to add the grunt that is missing in the 50s.
It does add the grunt and then some more. I have 2 KC62s paired with my LS50W2s and this combo results in a massive soundstage, with excellent dynamics, really wiping the floor with the R3s (as driven by a PeachTree Nova 300)
@@ISETbioDev.Cottaris Noted and thank you for the reply. PeachTree is not locally available here. I had Marantz PM7000N in mind (surprisingly available) for the R3. I am getting LS50W2 + one KC62. My couple of months long research finally came to an end.
Thanks! Would love to try them but I don't know anybody willing to lend and they are out of my budget at the moment. Also, a whole setup should probably be better and more powerful than mine is currently to show what 20i can really do. But one can still dream it could happen soon. 😄
Regarding speaker stand height, what's your opinion on the 'ideal' height (is there such a thing) - is it aligned with the conventional wisdom of tweeter height at ear level? I've watched a few videos and some suggest placing it higher than ear-level, and there's also a small minority that advocate for below ear level. I am looking at the Q150 speakers - and the manual for the Q150 suggests 18" - 24" (45-60cm) speaker stands - that seems awfully low and would be below ear level if I sit on my (or any conventional) couch. But the KEF designers/engineers surely must have put this in the manual for a reason? Does this mean they designed or voiced the Q150s in a way that aligns with 18" - 24" and therefore it would be prudent to strictly stick to getting stands within 18 - 24"? If not, should I go with 28" or 32" inch? 32" would be putting it at or just 1" above ear level I'd say, but given how conservative KEF were in their manual, I was wondering whether 28" would be a better choice too... Any advice here would be so helpful! Thank you.
Excellent professional review with integrity. I find that speaker synergy is so important in matching with amps. I just got a Hegel H190 with love R100 but hates AE 109. Personally love warmer sound for long listening sessions.
I have a Hegel H160 on Focal 807Ws and it works well. The highs which can sound a bit too much on some amps are smoother but remain extended. While not a warm speaker, the bass is well controlled and strong for a standmount. My lower priced Keces E40 also pairs well with the Focals.
Thanks for the well-executed and informative review! Question, please: If I add the KF62 or a Reel Subwoofer to my Kef`s will I archive similar results?..Best Stef
@@carlitomelon4610 Thank you Carlito I wonder if you or others can tell me the "presence"of the Piano with the help of the sub(s) Guitars/Sax/voice are all very well presented(try Satchmo Plays King Oliver by Louis Amstrong) But the live , Specially those Grand Piano concert Hall are very hard to hear. Thank you
@@stefti4527 I'm listening to Emanuel Ax play Beethoven piano concertos 3&4 with the London philharmonic, Andre Previn conducting right now. The subs make all the difference. There's weight, dynamics and substance not only to the piano, but the whole orchestra! The LS50s respond well to good powerful amps, but subs seal the deal! 🎶🤫🎶 PS Kristian Zimmerman too if you like to hear him humming along softly to his playing...hmm?
' larger' ? I come from the classic late '60's > mid 70's.... EPI 100, AR 6 , 'small' Advent , Dynaco 25 - all 20 in tall approx and not considered large. compared to Advents, AR 2 - 3 , JBL 100 on and on. Ahh the good 'ole days. Great review.
Coming soon. Streamers have a lot of functions that need to be checked and tested. I can now share that it does sound better than Pi with Allo DigiOne and Allo Shanti LPS... So, a really good sounding streamer.
Having x2 subs in my system is what changed everything for me, one front left and the second rear right. i have to admit i am using the room calibration from my Denon AVR X7200 WA, but in my room at least with a couple of weeks i did with the mic set up i got a sound i was super happy with, before the LS 50's always seamed to bright, even with one sub.
🤗🤗🤗EXCELLENT REVIEW OF THE KEFS AND 😉 SORRY 😞 TO SAY BUT I AM ON YOUR FRIEND’s side WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOUNDS AND LOOKS 🤩…THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US 😍😍😍
With the LS50 Meta's being slightly more rolled off on the top end, I don't think warmer components are as necessary. 13th Note suggests pairing them with good quality Class D amps such as the Mytek Brooklyn series for more top end detail, especially for electronic music.
Do you think the ls50 metas would be appropriate for a near field desktop setup? I listen to a lot of electronic music as well and would rather not have to integrate a sub if I don’t have to.
I also found the Kef R series to be a lil ho hum (though still great in general). Try terminating it diagonally instead of on top or bottom as well as using spare speaker wires for jumpers(after disconnecting the built-in link). I found that the Kef R series had a more direct and coherent midrange and soundstage when cabled this way.
@@TheJanakev connect the + at the top and - at the bottom. some other speaker manufacturers recommend it this way in their manuals when not using biwire.
I've seen opinions on LS50 + well integrated sub gets you very close to KEF Reference 1. So LS50 Metas should be that much closer. I'm currently having a difficult time getting my R3's positioned well in my small apartment. In a good room R3's have outstanding imaging and soundstage.
Matthew Pool What you said is very interesting, because I have R900 and LS50 and although I prefer the R900 overall, I have a suspicion that the new Kef mini sub was made to pair perfectly with the LS50 and the combination might better my R900. I have tried pairing a few subs to my LS50, but for me if the bass is messed up it destroys everything. The LS50 sound amazing on my JC1 mono blocks, but the bass is lacking unless you want to party and feed them 150 watts from a very competent amp. I need more bass at a lower volume with the LS50 and using tone controls is out of the question for me, because direct sounds so much cleaner.
LS 50 with a sub will have deeper and more convincing bass, but the dynamics will not improve. This is their biggest limit. "The Wall" sounds very good, but it will distort over 90 dB SPL (at three meters distance). And yet somehow in still in love with the LS 50.
I prefer LS50's forward presentation of leading edges and vocals that feel super present. On the other hand, I definitely preferred the way Focus 160 had more authority and control in the bass region, taller soundstage too. To this day I'm not clear on witch one I like more... They are simply both splendid speakers with different set of prominent qualities. I bet that in a few different systems both of these would take a win over the other (Dyns would take the lead with forward sounding gear, while KEFs with warmer sounding gear). But as an objective reviewer, I guess I would give few points more to Focus 160 eventually.
I found the Kef r3 is so smooth and relax that many details of the music are lost ...... compared to my 606s2. In the end, quite a "dull" sound, though punchy for AV.
B&W tends to go with prominent highs and sharp tonality - it's their thing and some people love it, while some complain about it as too aggressive. But if you enjoy 606 S2, it stands to reason that R3 is too smooth and tame for you. Coming from LS50 (that many consider aggressive too, even though it's still smoother than B&W) I kinda understand what you're talking about. Ultimately, it's a matter of taste and good matching too.
@@iiWiReviews Thanks a lot! Any thoughts on upgrading, based on the sound character of 606s2? I found 706s2 or 705s2 is a bit forward for me different from 606s2 .... or something like R3 but with more details in music?
These R3's are bigger than i expected. Excellent review as always. No one can describe sound into words as detailed as you can.
he was very polite going about it. I was really unimpressed when listening to them, felt like a stepping stone for the salesman to get you to buy something more expensive.
like your down to earth evaluations without overly technical aspects. It’s about how it sounds and you tell us that.
Thank you!
You my friend have golden ears. You just describe exactly the sound of the R3. I've been living with these for quite a while and you nailed it
Terrific video, really good analysis and assessment.
Just found out IIWI meaning (is it worth it?) after 2 years subscribed, hahaha LOL. Verry nice review man! Keep up the good work! Thanks.
Thank You for your review. I always enjoy Your speaker and headphones reviews. The way You describe sound, and Your rationales for Your conclusions are excellently laid out.
I've only recently come across You and will look forward to going through the past, and future reviews of Yours.
Excellent review! One of the best regarding the KEF R3! Great job!
Díky!
Fantastic review. Thank you. I also have LS50 and have been looking at these for some time. I agree with you entirely on the holographic and revealing nature of the LS50. Just spot on.
Damn dude, you are beyond detailed with your review. This was unreal, I honestly feel I can order these without even listening to them prior. 😅
About the jumpers and the mid and high tones; Always connect the main wires direct to the mid/high section. For the bass line the internal connection is fine 🙌🏼
1.5x and this review is perfect. great job
Thanks for taking the time to share your detailed and clear insights.. Really helpful for me as I get ready to make the decision about buying these R3's
Excellent review ..I enjoy the way you describe the flavor of sound .
Good comparison and assessment.
I didn't use jumpers, but I did bi-wire my R900s to my JC1 mono blocks and noticed a significant improvement. I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by the sweeter vocals. Brass and nickel just aren't as good of a conductor as copper. The fit and finish on the R series is top notch, but Kef cut corners on the terminal connectors. At least it is an easy fix. The first time I turned those knobs I was very skeptical of the quality of connections. Thanks for bringing that to light, even though I fixed it by accident. I have other Kef speakers in different systems which aren't bi-wired.
Your reviews are like the finish on Kef R series speaker; perfect, top to bottom.
Keep up the excellent reviews!!
Rly good and detailed review! Good job!
i owned the original LS50s since 2015 and paired them with a single SVS SB2000 sub and they did not lack for low end grunt. I've recently upgraded to the LS50 Metas, and if you think the originals were holographic, you should hear the Metas. The originals are now surrounds, and that's makes for a great stereo and 4.1 surround system as well. Debating whether to get a third Meta and have a center as well.
Very fine example of a subjective review. If only TAS, Stereophile, Darko, Guttenberg and the rest would lay off the purple prose and just say what they're hearing (like you do) it would save everyone a lot of time.
What makes u think they are not being honest ?
I recently set up my LS 50s in a well damped room with a high current A/B channel amp also driving the woofers of Polk RTI A9s, and placed the speakers 2 meters from the wall. The vocals moved way back to the wall. The sound stage became huge and 3 dimensional. Especially in depth, but nothing came forward from where the speakers were placed. The airyness was still there, but moved back where it is never in your face. LS50s sound best 1/3 into the room. I moved them a little bit at a time to see where they sounded best. Most people don't want their speaker 2 meters off the wall, but I care most about sound quality.
The Dynaudio has been upgraded twice and in its latest incarnation as Evoke 10 (which I own) it performs well across the entire frequency range and IMO is the class leader.
I have the original LS50 and had them paired with class D amp (NAD) with good results. But recently I switched to Cambridge Audio CXA81 amp (AB class) and that ended up to be much better pairing with LS50s . I don’t know if the difference was due to differences between class D and class AB, or if it was due to Cambridge Audio’s slight warmer tone, but the combo sounds really great. LS50 always had good sound stage, but even that got bigger with CXA81.
Just found your channel. Excellent and well explained review with no bs. Subbed
As happy as I am with my R900s and JC1 mono blocks, I have also had my LS50s in the same system and I agree with everything you said about the difference. The LS50s are the most finicky speakers I have owed, but when you get things right they are hard to beat. I am missing that airiness and everything else you mentioned about the LS50s. It's not like the R series don't have air, but when compared to the LS50s you notice the difference. I am thinking about getting a good sub and putting the LS50s back in. Probably a Kef sub with resonance canceling opposed drivers. I have other subs that never seem to be able to meld well and disappear. I need to have a sub that disappears, otherwise I can't listen to it. If you have any good suggestions, please let my know.
The JC1 mono blocks can control the bass (3.2 ohm dip) on the LS50s perfectly, which allows them to shine at their best and produce super tight bass at much higher volume (my room is quite large), but I want a little more "grunt". I have a 150 watts/ch high current Parasound amp and it can't properly drive the LS50s (the bass gets muddy which destroys the entire sound). In a big room the LS50s need quite a bit of juice to shine where the bass doesn't start to get muddy. I don't know why Kef rates the LS50s at 8ohm speakers. They are 4ohms and not very efficient, but I think that is a good thing for small speakers so they have the stiffness in the drivers (which compromises efficiency) to stay tight when you push some current into them (more like they suck the current they need at 3.2 ohms). As long as the amp is competent enough to driving such a difficult load. I have a wide variety of decent amps and only my JC1s can properly drive the LS50s.
I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from buying LS50s, but they do need at least a decent high current amp to drive them even remotely to their full potential.
Hi,
I'd value your opinion of the Buchardt S400 Speaker in comparison to the KEF R3. Im sure many of us who follow your content would be interested to know your views on both these speakers.Your content is very informative. Thanks.
excellent review, bravo
Hello! I confirm the soundstage you mention. I have them for a year now. They're paired with NAC C388. I can't say yet if this amp is doing good or bad in conjunction with them, but they seem to do a decent job together. I haven't got time (I am lazy, I know) to play with their position in the room, but from the little space I have available (they are located between two doors in the room and I can't pull them much in the room's center), but differences were noticed. I can't really say if they are supposed to to be used in direct positioning to ears (triangle) or not. Still testing, but all in all, I am quite happy with the way they sound.
Great review, as always - and thanks!
What a great review, thanks man
Hi, have a go with LS 50 META, they are simply great and i think they have everything you need! 🤓
What sub?
Great review.
Handsome looking speakers. The grill is nice... like lingerie, you can still see some bits.
Damn, I should've used that analogy for grills. 😄
I have two pairs of R3s in a stereo line array configuration, supported by a pair of Martin Logan Dynamo 1100X subs. I am currently powering the R3s with a NAD C388 but I have a Hifi Rose RA520 on order which I anticipate should arrive around end of December in Canada.
A great and honest review
The most similar speaker to this that leaps to mind is the Elac Uni-Fi Reference - *very* similar driver setup. The price though is $1199 US.
Yeah, I'm really curious about that one. Would like to try it sometimes.
I have these and I power them with the Arcam SA20. I love the sound, very real and life like, To get a more refined base make sure you have nice well made stands. That makes a huge difference. I also have the stands on a marble platform.
Note I tried a class D amp. And no, this is not a good match. That amp was a primare.
I have the unifi 2.0 ub52 ELAC and although they aren't as pretty as the reference, you get most of the sound characteristic and performance for less than half the cost. Found on sale $479 last month.
I'd probably prefer the unifi reference but for $1200 I doubt I'm missing that much performance for almost 2.5x the cost.
i had both of these speakers and the r3's are a step up. The unifi is very good but it lacks refinement, its a bit grainy.
@@ajafterparty what are you running now? And have you lived with ls50 for any time? I would be curious to major differences between r3 and ls50.
I'm looking ahead but can't decide. I've narrowed it down to about 16 pairs so... getting close 😐
Wich amplifier you recommend who not ridiculously expensive...for these speakers?! Thanks
Well done review.
I have been using Kef R300 with Denon 4500 in home cinema and also I listen to music.Tempted to upgrade to R3 now
Great review. Which would you recommend for side and rear surround speakers for a home theater system?
great review for me. I have LS50’s and looking to upgrade and checking out options available where I live which is a bit restrictive, but KEF is accessible so 🙏
Very comprehensive review. Please review the Focal chora 806 if you can get your hands them!
Focal chora 826. Its The best for small room.
Great review. Should ask Buchardt to send you the new S400 mk2 for review ;) would love to hear your thoughts.
Hello! I recently acquired a pair of R3s. I have a Meridian 551 amplifier, but my seller recommended the Hegel that you have. Do you know something about the meridian line to advise me whether to change it? Thank you very much!
Awesome video, my friend!
New subscriber!
Terrific review Professor !! I detect a Russian, Slovish or Polish Accent. But that's no matter because you have nice detail of the English language. Your review is well presented with Flowery comments. I'm thinking to upgrade to either these R3s or LS50 Metas from my KEF Q350 Bookshelf speakers (probably could use them elsewhere in the house or give them to a relative). I have the Q350s connected to an Emotiva A300 Amp (in an IOTA SA3 and PA3 Stack) playing in Finished Basement "studio" or Mancave created during COVID hibernation. In your opinion, how would either KEF upgrade speaker play with the Emotiva? I alos have a pair of Elac Debut 6.2 Bookshelf speakers connected to the IOTA stack. I play them either separately or simultaneously. When played together - which is an Audiophile No-No - it actually enhances the sound to almost Concert Hall levels. Pertaining to KEF speakers in general... I purchased KEF 104/2 s Tower speakers in 1987 for my Living Room system (NAD 1300 & 2600 Stack), with No SWs or EQs - and they play great , with clarity, just the right amount of Bass, excellent Mids and Highs. They have performed w/o any problems for over 35 years !!. FWIW, When I acquired the KEFs at the Stereo HiFi store, I had never heard of them but in the sound room compared them with Polk, Klipsch, JBL, and a few others. They were the Winner in my book. Later that week, in a Sunday NY Times Stereo review section the KEF 104s were being reviewed. They were rated Nimber 3 Speaker in the World! I guess I did thorough shopping and comparing. That me proud and satisfied.
Great review. I have KEF R300s with a Martin Logan sub. I don't understand how LS50 and subs can possibly be an alternative for music. Subs don't reproduce kick drums and bass like regular woofers so aren't you missing that critical piece? I run all my speakers large in my 5.1 to hear the rhythm section for classic rock. Imaging is decent but I'd like hear what ls50 pinpoint is like but in my opinion you can't reproduce that full range floor standing speaker with ls50s and a sub.You can with R3 and a sub I'd think. Sub just fills very bottom end. Can anyone explain how to get drum slam and bass guitar out of a 12 inch sub that sounds clean and tight? These certainly don't sound the same coming from a sub as they do a. bookshelf or floorstanding speaker's mid bass woofer yet I always hear people talking like just adding a sub is the same? Trust me, my KEFs are not nearly as dynamic when I high pass them at 80 vs.50 or run them small. I'm certainly no bass head ( a little too much quickly muddies the music so I keep mine pretty low) but I can't do without fat bass and slamming drums for most rock tracks. If this all just the tradeoff then I guess bookshelfs and subs are ideal middle ground between imaging and dynamics
I just got a pair.
VERY A - NICE!!!
Excellent review... :)
Perfect analysis. I have the R3. The sound is not open... The dynamics in the orchestral group are missing precision, and there is not enough clarity."
electronics problem...
Maybe something for your friend to improve the sound stage of his R3's and then for you to review: Blackice Foz SSX sound stage expander. (Designed by the inventor of Dolby btw).
Thanks for the great analysis. I always enjoy your content. I also appreciate how you manage to review products by trading with audiophile friends. Thanks for saying what iiwi means. I always wondered!
Is it worth it ? Stenheim? TAD ? Great review, well done!
TAD if you can.
Great review! Please review Amphion Argon 1 and 3S.
Awesome review! Is there possible a review of LS50 W II in the works also? :)
Which one do you recommend for movies I’ll be using a subwoofer ls50 or r3?
Hello, What would be KEF's model speaker stands for their R3 speakers and are the speakers bolted to the speaker stands. TIA.
Is it worth it! I didn't know that's what it stands for, cool.
I echo the LS50 + sub(s) comment by the way... Subs really set the foundations firm in my system.
Great! I guess LS50 with a rel t7x will kick the grunt of the R3 :)
In bass yes: but if you want fake bass that is what a car is for. I have a Mosconi amp with a JL W8. And I assure you nothing made for the home will touch it.
@@jasonme3557 rel t7x... fake bass. Did you hear it?
@@AntoninPassemardPaintings no but again that is the design. I know bass. Not saying its bad.... its just not what the music is displaying. Please not tring to be demeaning. My car will bass anyone out of the front seat. With One JL audio. in the house, I like real life music. The R3's on the Arcam SA20. Sarah sounds like she in the room, Bono's arrogant's comes though the sound...:) Floor Jensen notes dominate the room. That is why I do not use a sub in the house.
Should I change my A Klasse for this E Klasse 63 AMG?
Very good review. I really like what you are doing. I have choosen R300 over LS50 7-8 years ago and i have paired them with arcam dac and amp A19. For me R300 was the better pick because i wanted one speaker to do everything(music, gaming, movies). But I have also found that arcam a19 is not powerful enough and more power will be a good update. Would you suggest hagel if i would like to improve the stage ? I am not a bass addict...Also how R300 compared to R3 i feel like it wont be any significat update for me...
What else would you recommend for around the same price? And do you think an Audiolab 6000A Play would be ok with the R3? Or too weak?
This was well done
There's another UA-cam channel that I really like, called E Project, and he doesn't do reviews. Instead he does sound samples of a huge assortment of amp and speaker combinations, always using the same set of sample tracks, which makes it very easy to compare different speakers with a single amp or different amps with a single speaker. In my experience with his videos, the R3 is one of the most consistent sounding speakers ever, and always sounds very much the same, whether if it's being driven by an expensive class AB amp, or by a low cost receiver or class D amp. It's one of my favorite speakers of all time
Not the same!! They sound differently with amps!
@@streamnoremorse Apparently you can't read! I didn't say that they sounded exactly the same with every amp, but that they maintained their sound signature, and were more consistent with more different amps than most other speakers are.
@@DougMen1 So Ok. But the this consistency can be related to another speaker. I mean LS50 Meta. No? Also with good amp there is great upper bass in R3 that can' t be shown with some amps.
Thanks for the Pepe Romero suggestion. He's amazing!
You're welcome, glad you like it. 🙂
@@iiWiReviews It brought me to a happy place! Hello (from my happy place!) Listening on Keff LS50 Meta too 🤩 (with a sub) Going to sub for more recommendations and watch the rest of your review now.
I choosed my R3 over ls50 2 years ago for the reasons you explained in your (very good) video.
What amplifiers did you connected to R3? What Is the best combination in your opinion? Thank you.
I'd like to upgrade my amp (Cyrus 6dac)
I listened to them on Hegel H90, H190 and SMSL DA-9 (surprisingly great class D amp, don't mind the price). I also used to own Cyrus 8vs2... So I can say that Cyrus is a great amp, a bit brighter and more raw in its presentation than Hegels for example. It has a lot of energy and bite too, which I also like. If you like that kind of presentation, it's totally fine amp for R3 in my opinion. Something such as Hegel brings bigger soundstage and calmer, blacker background from witch tones emerge better isolated from each-other. All said and done, I personally feel like Hegel amps are somewhat better partners to KEFs than Cyrus (especially goes for analytically inclined LS50, that's why I made a switch eventually). But that's just my taste and you might feel differently. Also, Cyrus amps are probably better match to R3 and it's fuller/sweeter presentation than they are to LS50. In general they are great and often underappreciated amps in my opinion.
@@iiWiReviews did you notice differences between h90 and h190? At apartment volume is h190 better or different?
I listened 1 year ago Rost + R3 and It worked well. I think h90 is similar. I choosed Cyrus because the price and the sound with distorted guitars. I was wondering if h190 worts the extra cost
H190 definitely has more authority in the bassline, and soundstage is even cleaner, better organized... With a darker background compared to H90. When you listen to it a bit and go back to H90, it almost feels warm sounding, more mellow, less bite.
Now, about the worth, that's the tough one. The price difference is substantial and I can't tell if it's worth it or not. I guess it depends on how OCD someone is about the sound and how deep are your pockets. 🙂
Purifi based models is great. Original modules or NADC298
Your comment about the LS50 being more airy and having better sound stage/precision was so on spot. I got the R7s after listening to the LS50s but I still remember LS50s being more lively.
Btw, you need a sub with any stand mount, especially the LS50s...
Would you ditch your LS50s for these or get a sub to go with the LS50s?
I wanted to use the R3s as surrounds for my home theater using a Yamaha RX-A6a receiver. Does using the receiver versus the Amp you talked about make a difference
Great review!!!!How does it compares with Quad Z2???thanks and cheers
Thanks! Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with Quad Z2, but if I stumble upon a fellow audiophile willing to loan them, I would like to share my thoughts. Cheers from Serbia!
Great review! Maybe add one or two REL`
I’m getting a great deal on a pair of r3s, but only have a Raga IO to drive them. Will my amp work ok with these in your opinion?
It will work, but also you will not get the most out of the speakers that way.
Great review. I am planning to buy one or the other between R3 or LS50W II + KC62. I wonder if KC62 will be able to add the grunt that is missing in the 50s.
It does add the grunt and then some more. I have 2 KC62s paired with my LS50W2s and this combo results in a massive soundstage, with excellent dynamics, really wiping the floor with the R3s (as driven by a PeachTree Nova 300)
@@ISETbioDev.Cottaris Noted and thank you for the reply. PeachTree is not locally available here. I had Marantz PM7000N in mind (surprisingly available) for the R3. I am getting LS50W2 + one KC62. My couple of months long research finally came to an end.
Excellent review. Extremely detailed!
Any plans on reviewing the Dynaudio Contour 20i’s ?
Thanks! Would love to try them but I don't know anybody willing to lend and they are out of my budget at the moment. Also, a whole setup should probably be better and more powerful than mine is currently to show what 20i can really do.
But one can still dream it could happen soon. 😄
Could u pls comment on comparing rs3 vs rs5 and ls50 all with subwoofers is it necessary?
What does "sweet" mean when it comes to treble frequencies?
Regarding speaker stand height, what's your opinion on the 'ideal' height (is there such a thing) - is it aligned with the conventional wisdom of tweeter height at ear level? I've watched a few videos and some suggest placing it higher than ear-level, and there's also a small minority that advocate for below ear level. I am looking at the Q150 speakers - and the manual for the Q150 suggests 18" - 24" (45-60cm) speaker stands - that seems awfully low and would be below ear level if I sit on my (or any conventional) couch. But the KEF designers/engineers surely must have put this in the manual for a reason? Does this mean they designed or voiced the Q150s in a way that aligns with 18" - 24" and therefore it would be prudent to strictly stick to getting stands within 18 - 24"? If not, should I go with 28" or 32" inch? 32" would be putting it at or just 1" above ear level I'd say, but given how conservative KEF were in their manual, I was wondering whether 28" would be a better choice too... Any advice here would be so helpful! Thank you.
Were you comparing to the LS50's or the LS50 meta?
Nice review, I'm surprised I haven't seen your channel before today.
Thanks. Original LS50, those have been my regular speakers for some time now.
Are there any issues with the tweeter having doppler problems, being mounter in the center of another driver?
I know that must be happening but can't say that I'm hearing it in any obvious way.
Excellent professional review with integrity. I find that speaker synergy is so important in matching with amps. I just got a Hegel H190 with love R100 but hates AE 109. Personally love warmer sound for long listening sessions.
I have a Hegel H160 on Focal 807Ws and it works well. The highs which can sound a bit too much on some amps are smoother but remain extended. While not a warm speaker, the bass is well controlled and strong for a standmount. My lower priced Keces E40 also pairs well with the Focals.
Love Hegel i use a H120 with my meta's, perfect match in my opinion 👌
Thanks for the well-executed and informative review! Question, please: If I add the KF62 or a Reel Subwoofer to my Kef`s will I archive similar results?..Best Stef
I hope to test a REL soon so we'll see. 🙂
@@iiWiReviews Sorry I forfot to mention my speakers type (KEF LS 50 W) Again Thank you!
Yes!
I run LS50s and 2 REL subs.
Endgame.
🎶🤫🎶
@@carlitomelon4610
Thank you Carlito
I wonder if you or others can tell me the "presence"of the Piano with the help of the sub(s)
Guitars/Sax/voice are all very well presented(try Satchmo Plays King Oliver by Louis Amstrong)
But the live , Specially those Grand Piano concert Hall are very hard to hear.
Thank you
@@stefti4527
I'm listening to Emanuel Ax play Beethoven piano concertos 3&4 with the London philharmonic, Andre Previn conducting right now. The subs make all the difference. There's weight, dynamics and substance not only to the piano, but the whole orchestra!
The LS50s respond well to good powerful amps, but subs seal the deal!
🎶🤫🎶
PS Kristian Zimmerman too if you like to hear him humming along softly to his playing...hmm?
It’s not the ls50s that need replacing it’s the amplifier. These baby’s sing with the right power behind them.
' larger' ? I come from the classic late '60's > mid 70's.... EPI 100, AR 6 , 'small' Advent , Dynaco 25 - all 20 in tall approx and not considered large. compared to Advents, AR 2 - 3 , JBL 100 on and on. Ahh the good 'ole days. Great review.
When we can expect review of SMSL SD-9? Do you recommend to change raspberry pi with digi+ pro for SMSL SD-9?
Coming soon. Streamers have a lot of functions that need to be checked and tested. I can now share that it does sound better than Pi with Allo DigiOne and Allo Shanti LPS... So, a really good sounding streamer.
LS50 + sub(s), is essential.
I'm looking at getting a REL sub to compliment my META's. Which sub are you using?
That's my next stop. Will share the experience as usual.
Having x2 subs in my system is what changed everything for me, one front left and the second rear right. i have to admit i am using the room calibration from my Denon AVR X7200 WA, but in my room at least with a couple of weeks i did with the mic set up i got a sound i was super happy with, before the LS 50's always seamed to bright, even with one sub.
Im not so sure, in small rooms the Meta's produce a surprising amount of bass, although i would like to listen to the KC62 paired with the Meta's
What do you think of pairing ls50 and r3 or r5 with Adcom 554 and 555 amp and preamp?
No R5. R5 is out of line. Only R7 is counted or LS50 Meta or R3
🤗🤗🤗EXCELLENT REVIEW OF THE KEFS AND 😉 SORRY 😞 TO SAY BUT I AM ON YOUR FRIEND’s side WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOUNDS AND LOOKS 🤩…THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US 😍😍😍
Random question, what is the name of your rack? Looks really nice!
I made it myself and if you're interested in deteils, I have a video about it too: ua-cam.com/video/Snsj6jrNNmg/v-deo.htmlsi=eMkd4GLCpK1i1Gpx
@@iiWiReviews Awesome - thank you!
"2.5-way because of the crossover and things like that"? Oh me oh my.
Do you think it is possible to use this speaker as a near field monitor similar to the LS50meta?
I haven't tried them in such arrangement, these are quite big standmounters and it didn't cross my mind that someone would want to use them that way.
With the LS50 Meta's being slightly more rolled off on the top end, I don't think warmer components are as necessary. 13th Note suggests pairing them with good quality Class D amps such as the Mytek Brooklyn series for more top end detail, especially for electronic music.
Do you think the ls50 metas would be appropriate for a near field desktop setup? I listen to a lot of electronic music as well and would rather not have to integrate a sub if I don’t have to.
@@unklecorky2181 Absolutely, in fact, that's an ideal scenario.
Great review ☺️
Whay you didn't compare it to ls50 meta?
Thanks. I have old LS50 and have yet to try new Meta ones... But I do plan to purchase them when the budget allows since I'm a huge LS50 fan. :)
@@iiWiReviews
Ls 50 meta are amazing spekears, and I notice that good dac making the speaker a lot better, especially with imaging and detail
I got the r300 and are great!
me too,do you think I get any upgrade in quality if I change to R3 ,as the R3 price in UK now 899£
I also found the Kef R series to be a lil ho hum (though still great in general). Try terminating it diagonally instead of on top or bottom as well as using spare speaker wires for jumpers(after disconnecting the built-in link). I found that the Kef R series had a more direct and coherent midrange and soundstage when cabled this way.
Connect diagonally? I guess these are bi wire or tri wire. You mean to connect hi and low frequency drivers out of phase?
@@TheJanakev connect the + at the top and - at the bottom. some other speaker manufacturers recommend it this way in their manuals when not using biwire.
I've seen opinions on LS50 + well integrated sub gets you very close to KEF Reference 1. So LS50 Metas should be that much closer. I'm currently having a difficult time getting my R3's positioned well in my small apartment.
In a good room R3's have outstanding imaging and soundstage.
Matthew Pool What you said is very interesting, because I have R900 and LS50 and although I prefer the R900 overall, I have a suspicion that the new Kef mini sub was made to pair perfectly with the LS50 and the combination might better my R900. I have tried pairing a few subs to my LS50, but for me if the bass is messed up it destroys everything. The LS50 sound amazing on my JC1 mono blocks, but the bass is lacking unless you want to party and feed them 150 watts from a very competent amp. I need more bass at a lower volume with the LS50 and using tone controls is out of the question for me, because direct sounds so much cleaner.
LS 50 with a sub will have deeper and more convincing bass, but the dynamics will not improve. This is their biggest limit. "The Wall" sounds very good, but it will distort over 90 dB SPL (at three meters distance). And yet somehow in still in love with the LS 50.
Perhaps if they are crossed over at 80hz that would prevent the speaker from working hard and allow the LS50 to increase in dynamics.
What sub?
Your description of these speakers makes me want to eat them! Excellent job brother.
Please could you review some Quad S-2 speakers? :)
Great review. New sub here :)
Will they work good with class-d amps ?
Yes, they worked just fine with SMSL DA-9 with Infineon D-class modules.
What is that speaker behind you?
If you don't run at least 80-100 watts then you're not doing these things justice. These sound incredible at high volume after they break in.
Do you prefer Kef LS50 over Dynaudio Focus 160?
I prefer LS50's forward presentation of leading edges and vocals that feel super present. On the other hand, I definitely preferred the way Focus 160 had more authority and control in the bass region, taller soundstage too. To this day I'm not clear on witch one I like more... They are simply both splendid speakers with different set of prominent qualities.
I bet that in a few different systems both of these would take a win over the other (Dyns would take the lead with forward sounding gear, while KEFs with warmer sounding gear).
But as an objective reviewer, I guess I would give few points more to Focus 160 eventually.
I found the Kef r3 is so smooth and relax that many details of the music are lost ...... compared to my 606s2. In the end, quite a "dull" sound, though punchy for AV.
B&W tends to go with prominent highs and sharp tonality - it's their thing and some people love it, while some complain about it as too aggressive. But if you enjoy 606 S2, it stands to reason that R3 is too smooth and tame for you. Coming from LS50 (that many consider aggressive too, even though it's still smoother than B&W) I kinda understand what you're talking about. Ultimately, it's a matter of taste and good matching too.
@@iiWiReviews Thanks a lot! Any thoughts on upgrading, based on the sound character of 606s2? I found 706s2 or 705s2 is a bit forward for me different from 606s2 .... or something like R3 but with more details in music?
anything will sound dull compared to bowers... They are unnaturally bright lol.
@@ajafterparty maybe with their bookshelf speakers? I don't find the towers that I have are bright.
@@RennieAsh the towers have bigger woofers or more of them so the lows kind of balance the top. I did like the nautilus towers.