Question on KEF Active speakers

Amon86

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Yep... definite there are some really good active speakers.

Key question is -- many people buy active speaker with an objective in mind ~ cost becomes biggest priority, ie. to be cheaper than separates (dac+opamp/amp+passive speaker) - of-course you will manufacturer serves this demand well - cutting corners.

Furthermore: most if not ALL Active Speakers design uses Class D amp (which 1# takes an analog signal ~ say from Laptop/Mobile headphone/DVD player RCA, converts it to PWM, amplifies it, and converts back to analog at the output; or which surprises me:

Why today music lovers din consider direct digital amplification (ie. Full digital path), ie. amplifier that takes a digital signal (SPDIF/PCM - a square wave) converts it to PWM (another square wave), amplifies it, and converts it to analog at the output --- my presumption since the large majority of today music lovers are already having digital music source (mp3,wav,DSD,network,internet streaming) to begin with! Of-course there are remnants of analog music source lovers - Vinyl records paired up with Class A/AB amps -- good for you -- full analog path (dont mind slightly more measures for audiophile reasons)

Note: Network active speaker does makes sense - such as Sonos, etc. I presume it would be foolish if they dint use direct digital amplification, since they are design with internet streaming in mind.

Some ppl don't like full digital due to it will sound more electronic sounding just like the past ipod using wolfson dac vs Cirrus Logic dac chip wolfson sound more warm and natural as compare to cirrus logic....that why there are products like ifi itube 2 which can add like more tube warm sounding if your system sound too clinical...
 

drumma

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how are u guys powering the LS 50 wireless? power socket to speaker or using a power extension with surge protector?
 

forests_gump

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Some ppl don't like full digital due to it will sound more electronic sounding just like the past ipod using wolfson dac vs Cirrus Logic dac chip wolfson sound more warm and natural as compare to cirrus logic....that why there are products like ifi itube 2 which can add like more tube warm sounding if your system sound too clinical...

Well, maybe going digital does makes music sound clinical/electronic, but

wolfson warm & natural than cirrus logic --- both are DAC
(100% digital processing inside Digital Analog Converter)

--- Why is there widespread acceptance of digital music source today?
So maybe hindrance due to ignorance, placebo or build-quality of digital?
 
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Gymrat76

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how are u guys powering the LS 50 wireless? power socket to speaker or using a power extension with surge protector?

Either way works. Singapore has stable power supply, if want added insurance put a surge protector in-between lor

Mine I use a Belkin surge-protector not because I need it, but because i had a spare just sitting there In the store, so might as well use lol
 

drumma

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Either way works. Singapore has stable power supply, if want added insurance put a surge protector in-between lor

Mine I use a Belkin surge-protector not because I need it, but because i had a spare just sitting there In the store, so might as well use lol

thanks.. dont want my KEF speakers to end up hissing.. haha.. but not just KEFspeakers, anyone has encountered hissing speakers? my scandyna speakers are hissing..
 

wwenze

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Normally hissing isn't solved by surge protectors or power conditioners; because normally hissing is not due to AC supply noise.

Grounding conditions do cause hissing but that's an issue that is separate and different solution from power supply. Sometimes getting a surge protector solves it but that is usually due to better connectors and people putting all the devices onto the same surge protector after buying a new surge protector instead of previously spreading the devices on multiple sockets.

Then we have hissing generated by the amplifier itself. Surge protectors don't solve that either. All speakers/amplifiers have them to some extent, but most decent products are inaudible at 1m and only audible with ear next to tweeter.

And, if the speakers weren't previously hissing but are hissing now, first see whether your connections have changed from previously and check the quality of the connection. Once you ruled that out, it's the speaker power supply old liao.
 
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Amon86

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thanks.. dont want my KEF speakers to end up hissing.. haha.. but not just KEFspeakers, anyone has encountered hissing speakers? my scandyna speakers are hissing..

If you have cheap socket wall plug sharing with your speakers buying a power conditioner also will not help you much unless you brought those power conditioner that each plug is individual separated from inside so noise from one doesn't go through plug to plug

 

KoChi

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u guys got your ls50w from GP, Robinson or Tangs?
any recommendation for stand? beside the original stand at 799
 

cravenz

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Thinking of picking this up but not in a rush until my house reno is done. Wondering if it ever goes on sale?

Also, thinking of using this as a home theatre setup as well. Read that I won't be able to get any subwoofer rumble without a preprocessor?

Priority is audio but having a nice home theatre setup is mmm...
 

wwenze

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Think it went below $3,000 once.

Normally for HT, people use AVR with passive speakers. (Or they use Soundbar which is functionally pretty much an AVR) But I guess you're aiming to use a pair of active speakers. In this case you should get either a subwoofer with line out or a speakers with subwoofer out. Fortunately LS50 wireless does have a subwoofer out.
 

drumma

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should the internal amplifier go kaput, are we able to bypass it with external Amp? just thinking..
 

drumma

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Thinking of picking this up but not in a rush until my house reno is done. Wondering if it ever goes on sale?

Also, thinking of using this as a home theatre setup as well. Read that I won't be able to get any subwoofer rumble without a preprocessor?

Priority is audio but having a nice home theatre setup is mmm...

as with all electronics, prices will drop. if not in a hurry, just wait lor.. but i love this pair of speakers man!
 

Amon86

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u guys got your ls50w from GP, Robinson or Tangs?
any recommendation for stand? beside the original stand at 799

For LS50 stand i used before Custom Design RS303 price i think around $550.00 which is 3-4 years ago consist of 3 cones for you to add sand dust

Look like this
rs303_24in_blk-blk_s_1-large.jpg


My past setup with those stand
75MgiwM.jpg


Now those stand i used it for Dynaudio Special 40 but with isoacoustic panel added to place aperta on it so i can angle my speaker....so i can suggest you buying a cheaper stand place aperta you will get good result as well

bFJGe5j.jpg

GuFzN6c.jpg
 

weixiang80

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For LS50 stand i used before Custom Design RS303 price i think around $550.00 which is 3-4 years ago consist of 3 cones for you to add sand dust

Look like this
rs303_24in_blk-blk_s_1-large.jpg


My past setup with those stand


Now those stand i used it for Dynaudio Special 40 but with isoacoustic panel added to place aperta on it so i can angle my speaker....so i can suggest you buying a cheaper stand place aperta you will get good result as well

am using RS300 from custom design. so far still good.
 

wwenze

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should the internal amplifier go kaput, are we able to bypass it with external Amp? just thinking..

Very hard since the speaker is bi-amped with active crossover and DSP.
 

cravenz

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as with all electronics, prices will drop. if not in a hurry, just wait lor.. but i love this pair of speakers man!

Yup. Just not sure where to watch. I'm not in a rush at the moment. Tangs has rebates. Krisflyer still seems the cheapest.
 

KoChi

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iYAu0rd.jpg


Finally! Now looking for stand!
 
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