Active Kef LS50

[mourip]

On 9/18/2019 at 8:08 AM, wgb113 said:

Been away for a while - enjoying music and not worrying about gear!  Ran into an issue with my nearly 3yr old LS50Ws this past Monday.  Posted about it a couple of other places but figured I'd add it here as well:

 

First the stats:

• Manufactured 11/2016
• Running latest firmware.
• Approx. 150 - 200 hours on them.

Was listening to albums for about 3 hours on Sunday and everything was perfectly fine. Went to listen to an album Monday night and about half a side in it sounded like the left (slave) speaker’s woofer stopped working.

Played through the rest of the side (was needledropping) and then switched to the Optical input to rule out the Turntable and Phono Preamp as the fault. Used a mono CD and confirmed it was an issue with the speaker.

 

Checked the firmware version, it was up to date.

 

Disconnected and reconnected all source connection and the speaker-to-speaker cable.

 

Performed a Reset which did not work.

 

Unplugged both speaker’s power cords for a minute and reconnected. Everything was working fine again…for about a minute.

 

Unplugged just the slave speaker’s power cord - did not work.

 

Unplugged just the master speaker’s power cord - sound came back as normal…for about a minute.

 

Contacted KEF USA and they requested I send the speakers back which I’m doing today.  I’m obviously well out of the curiously short 1 year warranty at this point which is my reason for updating this post - to see how they deal with out-of-warranty repairs. I agree with the earlier poster that suggested KEF should have simply extended the warranty on all LS50Ws within a given production batch to at least 5 years (the standard warranty on the much-less complex passive speakers). They could have saved a lot of the bad feeling that have resulted as well as the hesitation prospective buyers feel when they come across the issues that are being reported.

 

As a big KEF fan I’m hoping they’re able to fix my pair at no extra charge other than shipping. I love the LS50W as it seems to me to be the fully-realized version of what they intended the LS50 to be (I lived with the passives for close to 4 years). I really don’t want to have to start a new search at this point, even though there are more options now than there were 3 years ago.

I’ll report back in about a month (they quote a 3 week turnaround time to diagnose and repair).

 

Hang in there. I helped a friend set up her LSX's. I believe that KEF powered speakers are one of the best values in audio.

 

I had her download a trial version of Roon and within days she proceeded to purchase the lifetime license. Add in Qobuz and you can explore new music forever without filling your home with CD cases or buying music that you did not know that you did not like!

[mourip]

I broke down and bought a pair of LSX's last week to use as desktop speakers. I bought these from a KEF certified retailer as refurbished for just $800 all in.

 

Really remarkable considering that, especially if you have a Roon server on your network, these make a complete stereo. On my desktop I opted to drive them using their analog input coming from my Schiit Yggdrasil DAC. In my case this obviously does not take advantage of some of their "wireless" features but they sound remarkable. My DAC goes to 24/192 so I am also able to take advantage of a slightly higher resolution over the built-in DAC. I chose to connect them together using the ethernet "interconnect". In a different environment you could get great sound with just one power cable going to each speaker and Wi-Fi connectivity.

 

I wanted to buy the dedicated LSX desktop stands but they are WAY overpriced. Instead I just used some add-on rubber feet to raise the front of the speakers a bit.

 

 

[mourip]

23 hours ago, church_mouse said:

 

Doesn't that mean you are doing 2 lots of conversions? I was told the internal dac cannot be bypassed - so analogue input gets converted to digital to be processed.

 

Is my understanding wrong?

Interesting. I had not heard that. If the connection to the slave speaker is digital then that would make sense. The analog input would be going through an ADC then.

 

The good news is that it still sounds very good but I will hook up a Toslink optical cable direct from my PC to compare.

 

Thanks.

 

Edit: I did just find a review in Stereophile that mentions that each of the four drivers has it's own DAC so this would certainly point to the extra conversion step for the analog input. A second review refers to the transparency of the analog inputs ADC...

 

[mourip]

On 9/25/2020 at 9:57 AM, No Disc said:

I'm considering the Kef LS50 Wireless II, the only thing holding me back is I really like the sound of my Chord DAC and I am not sure the result I would have feeing my Chord into the Analog inputs of the LS50 WII.  From my understanding Kef will convert that signal to digital to be able to use DSP on that.   Anyone with the LS50 Wireless try something like that before, and how did that work out for you?

 

I bought a pair of Mark2's this week and am working to tweak them for best performance, testing various inputs etc..

 

Currently I am using the RCA SPDIF input from my Audiolinux/Mutec USB/Roon front end. Even though the speakers are still settling in they sound very good. I am still looking forward to Roon completing their "Roon Ready" certification so that I can use their RAAT protocol and really simplify my system. 

 

I also have a pair of LSX's that I have owned for a year. They started life as my desktop speakers but got little use so I moved them into our upstairs TV room. When they were on my desk I thought that the best input was the analog using my Yggdrasil DAC. I know that this is counter intuitive since that input goes through an AD converter and then to their own DAC(s). I read other posts online where others had felt the same way.

 

I will give that a try with my MK2's. I have a (probably vain) hope that I will like the RAAT or SPDIF input enough to be able to sell off a lot of my downstream equipment.

 

[mourip]

Does anyone have a pair of the new LS50 mk2's and are using the SPDIF input?

 

Supposedly you can change a setting in KEF Connect called "Second Wake-up Source" so that if the KEFs sense a signal on the RCA SPDIF input(or another input of your choice) they will turn on or come out of sleep. I made that setting change but it does not turn them on when I start music in ROON. Once I power them on manually they pass the signal perfectly.

 

Any suggestions?

[mourip]

5 hours ago, cyayon said:

Hi all,

 

I have LS50Ws for two years, and sometimes (two times in 2 months I have the left (not the main) speaker reboot. It turns off, then turns on again shortly after. The sound cuts for about 7 to 10s (only on the left), the time of the OFF / ON.

 

I noticed this while using the USB input (plugged into an nvidia shield). I don't know if it's related because it really infrequently does. 
The firmware is up to date.

 

Do you know this problem? What would you do in my situation ?

Thank you.

 

Sounds like a power supply or protection circuitry issue, especially if it literally reboots with all lights going off as opposed to just dropping signal for a moment. I would definitely give KEF a call.

 

Good luck!

 

[mourip]

16 minutes ago, cyayon said:

There is no light on slave left speaker, but i could hear the relay on this left speaker (OFF then ON).

I contacted KEF, they just told me to contact local service :-(.

I contacted them, and they have never hear of this type of issue. As it appears not very often, i would be very difficult to found the root issue.

Perhaps it is losing it's connection to the primary. Is it connected wirelessly or wired? If wired then perhaps try a new cable?

[mourip]

Actually I was referring to the cable that connects your primary and secondary speakers.

 

Also you might try doing a factory reset.

[mourip]

On 11/5/2020 at 9:27 AM, cyayon said:

I tried to unplug it, and i do not shutdown the speaker, just the sound. 

I think the issue is not related to this cable.

will try a factory reset .

 

Did you ever get your problem resolved?

[mourip]

I thought that I would give an update on my KEF LS50 Mk2's.

 

The good news is that they do sound very good. They have different qualities than the previous system that they replaced (Yggdrasil/Linear Tube Audio/ Omega Audio). They are very clear with good detail but not as "spooky" clear as the previous system. They are a bit more dynamic and have a broader sound stage. Since they replaced a lot of expensive separates and yards of cable they are a great value. I do still have a pair of SVS subs connected to them.

 

I am using the coax input from my original front end which uses an Audiolinux NUC Roon endpoint to a Mutec USB with REF10 clock plus an EtherRegen. This basically gives me a RAAT front end. I use the HDMI input to take eARC audio out of my Sony Bravia TV. This sounds really great with movies.

 

They market the Mk2 as Roon Ready but it not there yet. They qualify that as "Coming Soon" in another part of their documentation. This is misleading.

 

The short version is that I am enjoying them but they need to finish their tweaking. They did release a new firmware version a couple of days ago. 

 

 

[mourip]

 

 

Encouraging(somewhat) news from the Roon KEF Community forum regarding Roon Ready status of the LS50W Mk2's. Posted by a KEF employee in response to a long, testy, and anxiety ridden thread of Mk2 owners and fellow audiophiliacs warily considering a purchase.

 

"Firstly - just want to confirm that there is no need for any hardware updates - we chose the internals in part for Roon Ready implementation. So there is no need to worry there - seems like a dealer misspoke and meant to say firmware.

In regards to how far down the path we are - we’re getting close. Seems like we’re in the final stages - I have it working on my desktop pair in the office - streaming absolutely spot on, even in this office network environment (you can imagine how many networks we have around the place here). Really now just working alongside Roon to iron out the final bits and pieces.

I know I haven’t given a date - I’d love to, I just don’t have one. But hopefully this small update will give a little bit more clarity."

[mourip]

KEF's UK and HK web pages now say that Roon Ready is coming in April, instead of just saying "Coming Soon".

 

The US page still says "Coming Soon."

 

Family first?

[mourip]

Well April is here. I realize that April is still 30 days long but I am pretty much done with KEF for encouraging buyers with the Roon Ready "Coming Soon" marketing.

 

I contacted the vendor that I purchased from and they have agreed to take my speakers back with a 10% restock and just $12 for shipping the two heavy speakers and the KEF stands. I am way past the company standard return policy and I would have lost a LOT more money if I tried to sell them.

 

Two reasons prompted my decision. First, the vaporware marketing by KEF. It has been over 6 months since their Roon "Coming Soon" product "launch". The second reason is that to me they sound good but not great. I would not call them "Giant Killers" but it depends upon what you are used to.

 

They probably sound better than what your could get in separates for $3200 (streamer/DAC/Preamp/amp/speakers/cables). If you sell off some really good gear you may feel regret. My previous Linear Tube Audio and Omega Audio equipment was much better, although a lot more expensive. I should add that my listening impressions include using the KEF coax input with an expensive Roon(RAAT)front end which most likely exceeds what they will be able to achieve with their Roon firmware and built-in DAC.

 

If you need to downsize or just want to simplify these new LS50s may well suit you but I would suggest waiting until KEF has actually pushed out the Roon Ready firmware update before buying. They could certainly be satisfying for casual listening and for TV.

[mourip]

Kef evidently came in just under the wire and their Mark2 is now Roon Ready. I sent mine back to the vendor well ahead of that and have gladly returned to separates.

 

Does any one have feedback on how they sound now that they are a true Roon endpoint?

[mourip]

7 hours ago, HamSammich said:

Hoo boy. Hate to do it to you, given your choice. But, wow. They sound great. The quiet gets quieter and the highs get cleaner and more articulate. Worth the wait.

 

No problem. Glad to hear that. I would think that the difference in sound quality in one's own system would be dependent on what you had been using to stream. The KEF's do give a lot of bang for the buck.

 

Thanks for the input.