The LS50 is dead... fair enough title for the thread, that's always kind of been my impression, I've never found them very engaging.
My experience of them (originals) is relatively limited — I've heard them several times, but only with amplification from Naim or Hegel, and neither combination has ever appealed.
But on the other hand, Herb Reichert, by far my favourite audio writer since the sad loss of Art Dudley, seems to think highly of them, albeit normally with a rather more left-field choice of amplifier. Rogue Audio Sphinx, anyone?
Might be interesting to hear the new versions in the context of a different system with a better amp ( to my tastes) than Naim or Hegel. Wonder what a Sugden Masterclass would make of them?