chicken and egg

[Margin_walker]

I am planning an upgrade to my setup in the new year (i will be running digital audio, turntable and TV through it) and am unable to find a dealer that holds both the speakers and the amp that I am considering. How does everyone else deal with the auditioning process in this instance, the only way i can see to do it is to buy either the speakers or the amp first and then get a home demo of the other element.

I am toying with the idea of a peachtree nova amp driving KEF LS50s vs the LS50W. I am also considering keeping my current amp (Rega Brio R) and trying some Harbeth P3ESR along with a sub to help with the film audio aspect.

 

[Purité Audio]

I had both passive and active LS50 versions here, ( there are some comparative measurements on my site) I preferred the active version, easier to place and punchier bass and really convenient for the whole family to use, Bluetooth,usb local storage etc.
Keith

 

[Margin_walker]

Thanks, Keith. I'm not too far from you so maybe I will come in and audition both of them. My only concern about the wireless versions is the worry of them becoming obsolete. Having a separates system means one component can always be swapped out, but the LS50W are the entire system in one.

 

[Purité Audio]

Yes that is a factor, which you have to weigh against active operation, ( optimised amps and crossover) and the sheer convenience of the active version.
Ultimately there isn’t a huge difference in terms of sound quality, but the boundary filters do help, provision for subwoofer etc.
Keith