Author Topic: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50  (Read 7981 times)

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Offline newbie pa rin

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Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« on: Oct 25, 2017 at 04:45 AM »
What's a good amp to pair for the KEF LS50?
Have a pair for almost a year paired with HK stereo amp.
I feel I am missing a lot if I based what I hear from what I read on reviews regarding this speaker.
Changing amp might do the trick or not.
TIA
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Offline Audionuts

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #1 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 04:17 PM »
Marantz PM6006 or Cambridge CXA60

Offline luis

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #2 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 04:21 PM »
musical fidelity

 ;D

Offline elim

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #3 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 04:31 PM »
shameless plug.... emotiva! bang for buck.
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Offline musika

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #4 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 04:49 PM »
Sim Audio

Offline sgxp

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #5 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 04:49 PM »
Upgrade to the wireless LS50.
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Offline markcrenz

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #6 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 06:09 PM »
Have you tried tweaking the speaker/listener locations, distance from walls, height, toe-in angle, room treatment? I believe those are more worthwhile than an amp "upgrade." And even with a "better" amp you still have to optimize those.
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Offline newbie pa rin

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #7 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 06:32 PM »
Too expensive sir at almost $2200 plus tax and shipping.
Upgrade to the wireless LS50.
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Offline newbie pa rin

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #8 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 06:33 PM »
Any known seller for the 2 amps you mentioned?

Marantz PM6006 or Cambridge CXA60
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Offline newbie pa rin

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #9 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 06:36 PM »
Sir hindi ba power amp lang emotiva? Any idea for how much for 2 channels?

shameless plug.... emotiva! bang for buck.

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Offline Conan

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #10 on: Oct 25, 2017 at 06:48 PM »
Any known seller for the 2 amps you mentioned?

Watts Hifi in Makati Cinema Square carry both.

Your current amp is a Harmon Kardon? I would imagine that the sound from this would be quite warm. The Marantz and Cambridge amp would have a more detailed sound with your LS 50. The Cambridge has a bit more power than the Marantz.
« Last Edit: Oct 26, 2017 at 09:59 AM by Conan »
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Offline Courage

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #11 on: Oct 26, 2017 at 09:51 AM »
Rega ELEX-R
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Offline alvinbaronsia

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #12 on: Oct 26, 2017 at 10:50 AM »
What's your budget and what kind of music are you into?
The lowest priced amp that sounds really good with LS50 is Rotel RA10. Best amp I've heard with it so far is the Schiit Ragnarok.
IMO, regarding reviews saying how good it is, you'll need a really expensive amp to maximize it's potential; are you ready to spend more than 2x the cost of the LS50?
Re: LS50 wireless, don't look at Amazon prices. Get it at DCM. They're a lot cheaper. And at the price, it's well worth it, and no need to keep looking for an amp. you have a class D 200w dedicated to the woofer, and a 30w class AB amp for highs.; and this is for each speaker.  And you have your streamer built in. Compared to 2 Phantom Silvers, I prefer LS50w; can't touch the bass output of the phantoms but better balanced and detailed IMO.

Offline Conan

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #13 on: Oct 26, 2017 at 11:27 AM »
What's your budget and what kind of music are you into?
The lowest priced amp that sounds really good with LS50 is Rotel RA10. Best amp I've heard with it so far is the Schiit Ragnarok.
IMO, regarding reviews saying how good it is, you'll need a really expensive amp to maximize it's potential; are you ready to spend more than 2x the cost of the LS50?
Re: LS50 wireless, don't look at Amazon prices. Get it at DCM. They're a lot cheaper. And at the price, it's well worth it, and no need to keep looking for an amp. you have a class D 200w dedicated to the woofer, and a 30w class AB amp for highs.; and this is for each speaker.  And you have your streamer built in. Compared to 2 Phantom Silvers, I prefer LS50w; can't touch the bass output of the phantoms but better balanced and detailed IMO.

What does DCM stand for?
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Offline alvinbaronsia

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #14 on: Oct 26, 2017 at 11:32 AM »
What does DCM stand for?

Designers Collections something. http://designerscollection-ph.com/

They're the distributor of KEF in the PH.

Offline zram18

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #15 on: Oct 31, 2017 at 02:10 PM »
dcm is an audio video shop in cubao. i notice they are always present in hifi shows offering big discounts but only during hifi show period.if u can wait for it u can save a lot of money.

Offline juanderer

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Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #16 on: Nov 05, 2017 at 10:16 AM »
my basis for amp search before is power rating. looked for amps min of 200wpc. was able to get one here sa board and im done.


some of the amps ive tried with it
 cayin 55A, 100A, 880 mono
triode tube amps*
hegel H300
audio research tube amp*
mcintosh ss amp*

* = forgot model number

yes for a while i thought id prefer tube amps, turns out my speaker and me dont heheh. so i looked for higher rated solid state amps instead.
« Last Edit: Nov 05, 2017 at 10:33 AM by juanderer »

Offline dukesociety

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #17 on: Nov 05, 2017 at 07:07 PM »
heard ls50 with marantz amp, swabe naman ang tunog para sa kin. heard ls50w at hifi show, di ko masyado nagustuhan, parang may kulang or dahil dun sa music na tumutugtog. isali mo sa shortlist mo marantz and hegel sa pag audition.

Offline defcon3

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #18 on: Nov 06, 2017 at 02:33 AM »
Denon Pma 1500 rii...
I recently bought this amp from a friend. Currently tinkering with sub or with power amp to see which is best. IMHO, Power wise, 70 watts per channel is quiet enough for the ls50 At 9oclock position...
I’ve been in a hunt also for the right amp for ls50, I guess I’ve found it  :)
« Last Edit: Nov 06, 2017 at 02:36 AM by defcon3 »

Offline juanderer

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #19 on: Nov 06, 2017 at 12:32 PM »
dalhin mo na lang sir sa mga audio stores yong speaker mo para ma check mo kung alin babagay sa pandinig mo.

ganon ginawa ko dati, that way marami kang marinig na amp.

Offline marudo

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #20 on: Nov 18, 2017 at 04:32 PM »
Naim 5si, Rega Elex R, Onkyo M5000R or  A9070/A9000R..



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Onkyo A9000R, A9070, Sansui 6, Marantz 1072, NA8005, Epos M12, Allo Katana, Digione, Usbridge

Offline marudo

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #21 on: Nov 18, 2017 at 04:33 PM »
heard ls50 with marantz amp, swabe naman ang tunog para sa kin. heard ls50w at hifi show, di ko masyado nagustuhan, parang may kulang or dahil dun sa music na tumutugtog. isali mo sa shortlist mo marantz and hegel sa pag audition.
Reference Amp ng marantz.. ls50 is too demanding..

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Onkyo A9000R, A9070, Sansui 6, Marantz 1072, NA8005, Epos M12, Allo Katana, Digione, Usbridge

Offline Arulco

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #22 on: Nov 18, 2017 at 07:49 PM »
I've been using a lowly NAD C326BEE with my LS50 for a few years now and I never felt it was inadequate or thought that I had the need to upgrade. I do have a sealed SVS sub with my setup though.

Offline dukesociety

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #23 on: Nov 19, 2017 at 01:22 AM »
Reference Amp ng marantz.. ls50 is too demanding..


Heard it with the 600 series, di naman kinapos sa hifi show. Of course, higher wattage is better.

Offline edison

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #24 on: Nov 24, 2017 at 10:29 AM »
Maybe you should ask (PM) some members (friend) to try it in their system (your LS50) if their system is capable to drive your LS50. Trying different capable amps, maybe you can find what sound character performance you are looking for out of your LS50.

Offline Letsride996

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #25 on: Nov 27, 2017 at 08:04 AM »
Emotiva (2) xpa 2 mono mono.....its gooood.
cayin cd17
rega rp3
audio research ls16
emotiva xpa 2
harmonic tech/kimber kable/furutech/
Proac d25

Offline t-bone

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #26 on: Nov 27, 2017 at 09:04 AM »
British Integrated Amp
Samsung 65"
Denon 3808
Apogee speakers

Offline lithium_deuteride

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #27 on: Nov 27, 2017 at 09:12 AM »
Give Melvin Chua of DCM a visit.  He should know what will make that Kef sing - after all, he's the distributor.  I've heard his Kef / Musical Fidelity Class A amp setup (albeit a high end one - the Kef was the flagship Blade) and it is goose-bumps inducing.
Lyra | Nottingham | Musical Fidelity | CEC | SOtM | Chord | Accuphase | Harbeth | REL

Offline t-bone

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #28 on: Nov 27, 2017 at 09:22 AM »
Give Melvin Chua of DCM a visit.  He should know what will make that Kef sing - after all, he's the distributor.  I've heard his Kef / Musical Fidelity Class A amp setup (albeit a high end one - the Kef was the flagship Blade) and it is goose-bumps inducing.


The distributor of KEF is Johnny Cobankiat.

Melvin supplies demo equipment gratis in the KEF showroom......more exposure for the MF line.
« Last Edit: Nov 27, 2017 at 09:29 AM by t-bone »
Samsung 65"
Denon 3808
Apogee speakers

Offline lithium_deuteride

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Re: Recommend a good amp for KEF LS50
« Reply #29 on: Nov 27, 2017 at 09:30 AM »
My bad.  Yeah, I've seen Kef being sold in other stores.  But as a resource person for what will make your LS50 sing, go see Melvin. He knows his stuff.
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