Video není dostupné.
Omlouváme se.
$400 Studio Monitors vs $1250 HiFi Wireless Speakers
Vložit
- čas přidán 4. 07. 2020
- Enter win a Presonus Revelator USB microphone painfullyhonesttechcom/contest Contest ends 060221
++++
One set of speakers costs $400 a pait The other costs $1250 Which sounds better, the Adan T5V or the KEF LSX? Let's discuss
Check out my other Versus videos: wwwyoutubecom/playlist?list=PLWrpcd0vRa5T1TUDdPqNSncxVDc8Xe_ks
CHeap ANC vs Beats Studio Wireless: youtube/G2hgTizXi7w
#AdamT5V #KEFLSX #Versus
💥Subscribe: bitly/2FJNZeE
💥Get NEW PHT Merch!: teespringcom/stores/painfully-honest-tech-2
💥Become a channel member: tinyurlcom/thyrzbf
Twitter: @jasontlewisPHT
Email: painfullyhonesttech@gmailcom
PHT Facebook group: bitly/PHTfacebook
+++
💥Try Audible and Get a Free audiobook: wwwaudibletrialcom/painfullyhonesttech
My Music: bitly/StarCityTunes
bitly/SadIronMusic
My Novel: amznto/2FQS9Pt
+++
☑️ This video and description contain affiliate links which means that if you click on one of the product links I’ll receive a small commission
These cross category reviews are pure gold. 99% of reviewers would compare consumer to consumer or monitor to monitor. I don’t care, I want great sound regardless of category or target audience.
But so many are reticent to step into the pro monitor world. Old habits die hard, I guess. Fine cabinetry and slick marketing still has lots of pull - plus there is huge profit margin, especially in passive speakers, where so many brands put in the cheapest of the cheap components, based on the assumption that consumers will never crack them open and know what they are looking at.
Amen to that!
Don’t be sad that the $1250 speakers didn’t meet your expectations, be glad that the $400 ones exceeded them!
Firstly, you put the Adam speakers on desk stands, but the KEFs directly on the desk. You’re supposed to tune the KEFs, using the DSP functionality of the Kef Control app. You don’t say of you did that. Plus the price of the KEFs isn’t for audio quality per se, but the wi fi functionality, the various wifi product support (airplay, tidal, Spotify etc).
you can get all that wifi functionality in $400 swans/edifiers and they'd sound great but they ugly
the $1250 is quality, aesthetic, a lot of brand name and then functionality
@@emmanuelh2304 dude u dont need amp with kef lsx
@@bogdanadzic9305 yea, the swans/edifier are self powered as well
@@emmanuelh2304 ik
@@emmanuelh2304 just sayin cuz with hifi speakers u usualy need tk spend 500$+ for amp
I dont understand so many dislikes. Great genuine review, informative, on point. Thank you. I also like the look of lsx but if it does not deliver that thing which is hard to describe (probably being used to flat studio monitors), it could turn out to be a little disappoitment. But what pair of bookshelf speakers should I get when I know that I will not be sitting in the perfect center (probably 3 meteres away in the kitchen listening to music)? I always start with lower price points and get to ridicilous price tags three or four times more. Could anyone please recommend a stereo pair of bookshelf speakers, that are capable of working with a tv and spotify connect at about more or preferably less than 1000 USD? Thank you very much.
Adam Audio monitors T5v really good. My friend had some in his studio and I was blown away for the price. When I listened to my hifi when I got back I was left cold! Must be his acoustic room I thought, upgraded my cables too and improved my hifi. He then brought the Adams over for me to try in my room. Expected them to be good but outdone by my hifi set up. They easily outclassed my 1600 pound pmc FB1 hifi speakers (15 years old) and musical fidelity amp (also 15). So much clarity, detail and dynamics. At that price (£300) i just had to buy them as i thought I'd be upgrading amps and speakers galore in order to match them. I got the t7s for 40 pound more thinking my room was quite big so would benefit but immediately felt like something was missing. 7s are very good but lack that last bit of midrange clarity and image not as clear. Bass deeper but less clearly defined. Bigger scale to sound but they need a lot of volume to excite. I ended up buying a set of 5s as well! The 7s are now downstairs hooked up to TV and sound very good. The 5s are music not TV speakers as the contrast between loud and quiet is massive (forever need to change volume) and things become interesting. You start hearing stuff like extractor fans, fridges etc, background conversation. Very distracting! In short they are too good. The extra depth of the 7s works well with films too. Despite being very detailed in impressed that the 5s still sound great with stuff like oasis. Once a fact that hifi sounds bad with it that wall of sound is now brilliantly separated and clear. They're not harsh either. I think many people listening to a hifi will be surprised at what a studio monitor can do for a great price. They have reputation for being too analytical, too unforgiving but not these. Could and have listened for hours. Not true with some competitors though. Adams have separate amp for tweeter and woofer. This sort of stuff only available in hifi speakers over 1000
We got the KEF LS Wireless for super cheap, they had a tiny scratch and got them second hand for $350. Had them for almost a year now and we love them!!!!
You comparing a nearfield studio monitor with a HIFI speaker. Also how much to add a dac and a streamer to your Adam's (not Adan's)? How did you connect these to compare? Did you have the KEF's connected to each other? Did you use the app to room correct? If you are going from the headphone out of the ipad you are using the ipads dac not the built in dac on the KEF's.
Tbf both are nearfield..
@@ashneel One is a tuned speaker and one is a flat reference monitor.
That is so funny. I’ve had the Kefs in my amazon wishlist for about a year as well. Great video. After getting some nice JBL studio monitors and studio headphones I’ve started enjoying the flatter sound they give me more than regular speakers or headphones.
Absolutely hyped up for a Sonos One versus Adan T5V comparison!
Chryzy Sonos one is very nice in term of value
The KEF leds are blue which means you are listening over bluetooth. Did you try optical in as bluetooth quality is mediocre at best?
Oh hell yeah. This is awesome! Love seeing you explore more audio stuff. Right up my alley. Keep up the great work Jason.
From my experience which is not THAT much but I have 4 audio setups in my house. All non monitor speakers have to be put at a distance to get this center image. That is also the reason I use at my desktop the Focal Alpha 50 evo monitors, my listing distance is around 4 feet and while some hifis sounded nice, I didnt get the beautiful soundstage and center image. it was blurry.
I literally know nothing about speakers, but your passion for them is very welcome.
Did you use Bluetooth to listen to the Kef LSX? Because the light seems to be blue which means Bluetooth mode. If that’s the case i can sort of understand they don’t sound that good. They sound a lot better on WiFi mode.
I recently bought a pair of Adam Audio T7V. They’re absolutely amazing. Hear sounds in my mixes I’ve never heard before. And they are very affordable.
Great video. It brings up a good point too. I think a-lot of people miss the low-key fact that studio monitors can be excellent "hi-fi" speakers. If your desire is to have a great sound hi-fi and studio monitors are interchangeable really, just marketed to different people.
I wish Painfully Honest Tech would tell us whether they used the dsp on the app or whether he literally ran them bypassing all the app setup etc. They are designed to work with a dsp crossover and you need to input quite a lot of variables. You haven't told us which input you are using? Bluetooth, Optical, 3.5mm, streaming? Also are you using the link cable between the master/ slave?
Without this information your review is limited in it's scope. Are you comparing the best possible setup of the Kef's with the best possible setup of the Adam's?
If you didn't do any of that, didn't use the link cable, didn't set up the sound through the control app etc that's fine but can you let us know so we know that the LSX's may have a bit more in them if the dsp is properly utilised.
Thanks for the review, and it's as I would have expected. Adams are highly regarded as high quality studio monitors, they are 2x bigger in volume, larger drivers, and they are not a brand that could pull off a larger price tag.
A couple of things to also take into account though:
1) their size and looks - I know sound is supposed to be the no.1 factor, but a pair of LSXs would fix in 99% living rooms or any home spaces without getting the looks from the significant other. On the contrary, they look awesome. Adams? Not quite :)
2) Out of the box wireless connectivity/bluetooth (Adam only has XLR input AFAIK). Slightly simpler to setup overall (desk mode, distance from wall/edge and similar stuff).
3) KEFs already provide subwoofer output with configurable DSP crossover, for Adams you'd have to bring it from somewhere else.
4) their internal DSP works much better when used with wireless sources (Spotify connect or at least Bluetooth). If you used the 3.5mm aux in, you weren't getting the best results.
5) KEFs are often discounted to $800 (still 2x the price but still a difference)
Why does DSP work better wireless?
i have the Yamaha HS8 and now the KEF lsx. Both are great. Unfortunately on 50hz - 500hz is very boomy and i regulate with Equalizer APO little bit down. Now the Kef lsx have the same Problem. My room is very clean, no curtians and any rod in room. I think i need a Absorber, Diffusor or somehting. But the Soundquality of Yamaha HS8 and Kef lsx are excellent. The KEF lsx are little and now i like it more, i have more space on my desk.
You have your Adam’s set up wider apart and the tweeter is higher. That may be making a big difference.
With the kefs you're probably paying for wireless technology. Possible that is also a factor as wireless transmission may not be as good in quality as wired
Been a while since you made this comment, but this is undoubtedly what's happening. Wireless tech only has so much bandwidth, and it'll be some time before wireless can touch the fidelity of an analog audio plug-in.
I think I know where you messed up with the lsx. Did you use the dsp functionality through the app? I agree with your sound assessment but only when they are at their default sound. You gotta use its dsp functionality to get the most out of them, and if you haven't the difference is massive
Wait, you use DSP to equalize the broken speaker? Yeeea, maybe for 200 dollars
@@zerooneonetwothree1872 I have no idea what you are talking about...
@@djhmax09 You are using a DSP to alter the frequency response, correct? You click and it sounds different? I dont know what they implemented in their app, but if it messes with the sound, it should be off when testing or comparing, making a speaker and fixing its flaws with software is a sign of money grabbing strategy, because if drivers, all components and design are good, speaker sounds good
@@zerooneonetwothree1872 Every room and every set-up is different. The room tells your speakers how to sound. Speakers cannot overcome the room, thus the built-in DSP is present to compensate for those factors. KEF knows that and even recommends using the DSP in those imperfect situations. This is more of a lifestyle product rather than a straight audiophile speaker, so it is intended to work in various scenarios.
@@djhmax09 Sure that is what the software does, problem is the loss of the information, dynamics, distorsions, with the good driver it would be apparent, which is clearly not the case with these drivers, since people report better sound using a software... Threre are some decent software, but for decent sound, not great or studio or audiophile level... But descent, and i just paid 1200...
Some studios do use room correction dsp, but again, ive heard those studios and those producers usually know very little about mechanical aspects of their equipment.
Surely this was aimed for people with no knowledge of speakers or sound and as such, i am going to trash it right where it belongs... Shitty, money grabbing, but NICE looking products are a tumor of the whole society and i wont justify their existance just because someone likes it. Using that logic, we should all just wait with beaks open, to be fed, and lick every ass that is sucessful.... -No, 10 years ago, you wouldnt find a person that is not audiophile and is willing to spend 500 dollars on headphones... Apple makes 500 headphones and all those people justify it without second thought. Sorry for the rant, but people are easily misslead and we are swimming in shits of their mistakes, so i wont be holding back on it
I would like to hear a comparison between: 2 homepods in stereo vs 2 sonos one in stereo vs kef lsx
Thanks heaps for doing this review.
I've had those KEFs in my "mental cart" for several years now, but like you, I thought they were a bit expensive. I thought they would shine. Those Adams seem great, didn't know much about them.
They are really good.
Thank you so much for this comparison!! I own t5v for 4 years. They are amazing and for free;). I was wondering if these kefs can cope with Adam’s. It’s a pity I see your video now. I ordered lsx this morning - now I know what will happen ;). Thanks again
Yip. Once you learn how much better value studio monitors are over hifi/retail speakers there’s just no going back!
I went down the usual kef/B&W passive, amp route, spending $1000’s, only to learn that replacing all that junk with Yamaha hs8’s and they smash them
Active studio monitors are going to go mainstream i hope…people are wasting so much money on passives, amps and junk wrapped in pretty packaging
I think people do that intentionally as part of their "audiophile journey", constantly looking for the next improvement, or that "ideal amp" to drive their speakers, or better speakers to go with their new amp, in and endless leapfrogging of components. This then becomes their hobby and obsession. When I embarked on this "journey" to replace my high-school system (which was actually really good), I did my homework over several weeks and landed on a pair of Adam Audio S3V monitors, which were on sale for $4500 (used) at my local Guitar Center. Wow!!! The sound of these speakers is phenomenal! All I needed was a DAC and a cable to connect to my smartphone, and I was squarely in the 21st century of audio technology. And my wife loves the lack of junk between the speakers - it's just the fireplace.
@@abboberg i love that actives also keep the wife happier too 😂 if they had their way entirely, the “system” would just be a samsung soundbar
What DAC did you go for?
I find the DAC market extremely under-served, as in there are just not enough products out there
The market desperately needs more DAC’s that can input HDMI, Bluetooth, optical and provide a clean audio output into rca, trs and xlr
I don’t know many receivers that can do that. Any suggestions?
I run a Marantz 8801, its ok but looking to upgrade to newer tech
@@neillevy4087 You are correct about DACs - very limited choices. I am using an S.M.S.L. SU-9N for my Adam Audio S3V monitors, then run my smart phone into it with a USB cable (and essential adaptor) - the USB cable has a "kicker" in the middle of it - a small box to amplify the weak signal from my smart phone. This provides much cleaner sound than using Bluetooth. To really get the sound I want, I have the Poweramp Equalizer app on my phone (which drains the battery really quickly!), then, built into my phone is this DTS:X 3D Sound app. When I flip this on, my speakers sound like what I imagine a high-end Wilson Audio set sounds like (for several hundred K). For some songs, this 3D effect is just too much, for others, it is incredible. The key idea here is that when you start with flat, smooth, accurate sound, and excellent dynamics (like the Adam S3Vs have), you can make them sound like anything you want with modern apps! I think that it is hard for DAC companies to compete with vertically integrated app-makers and smartphone companies. The future may be that you have a dedicated smartphone or laptop piping into a basic DAC for each stereo system in your house, assuming the DAC manufacturers never catch up in the app department.
@@abboberg sorry my delayed reply, didn’t see your reply
Don’t you think your analogy is like saying that camera makers like Canon and Nikon will be pushed out of the camera market by Apple and Samsungs phone cameras?
Yes, 90% of humans no longer buy a separate camera but the remaining 10% will buy a quality camera
You and I are the 10% who want:
1-Great audio quality, lossless
2-a way to connect all our digital devices, including hdmi, optical, maybe Roon, usb from our cell phones
And we want it for well under $2000 😂
$1000 would be swell.
One digital to assorted analog box to rule them all.
Somebody build this thing!!
@@abboberg i had to google smsl, nice link, thanks
In your off-camera testing, I'm sure you probably angled them the same and put them in the same location. In the b-roll, I see the KEF LSX pointed at your chest and on the inside of the Adams, whereas the Adams are pointed up and at the outside of the LSX.
Not that it would change your opinion, but it would affect the center image.
I'm curious how they both would play out if you compared them from a listening position 8ft+ away. I've tested some concentric speakers from ELAC where near-field they didn't sound too good and far-field they sounded excellent. Near-field, I described them like being in the front row of the movie theater or being too close to a screen....hard to focus.
I'm not surprised the Adams sounded better near-field since they're designed with that in mind. They're also larger and are likely to have more bass.
They’re both nearfields. I spent plenty of time with the KEFs and what i heard was consistent with what I had been hearing. The KEFs are surprisingly full for their size.
@@thejasontlewis I'm pretty sure the KEF's were not designed with near-field in mind. Not defending the KEF's. I've heard them before at a local Magnolia and wasn't overly impressed. Seemed a bit overpriced. Just curious to see if they were a bit more impressive further away or not. The reason I say that is because that's where concentric drivers typically shine. The fact that they're point-source means they're automatically time-aligned. That might not be so noticeable near-field, but the further you get, the more noticeable it should be compared to a typical two-way where the woofer and tweeter have some distance between them. You might notice a more rock solid center image or wider soundstage with concentric. I'm a fan of the concentric design.
Are you comparing to the A5 or the T5 (you say both models in the video)?
@Painfully Honest Tech. Nice to have discovered you and your comparison of studio speakers to audiophile speakers. However, what got my attention most and why I listened in on your post was that you compared a speaker that was 1/3rd the cost of another and that other speaker was KEF. You are not alone in your discovery in regards to the KEF being a decent sounding speaker, but it isn't valued at what the company is charging for it. Now, let me rewind a bit. One of the first speakers I had come across that had this effect on many people was the famous LS50 from KEF. There is a reviewer that I hold in high regard and that is Kelvin from Stereo Review X. He is a fellow I listen to as he gives a good insight of audiophile equipment overseas as he is from the UK. Now, for the longest time I had held KEF in high regard and it is a decently built speaker. However, Kelvin was not fond of the concentric speaker design and preferred multiple drivers in a cabinet as it had a tendency to give a "bigger sound" (stage). Then I heard this from others as well that they felt that for what KEF charged for the LS50 ($1500), that there were cheaper speakers that could surpass them. Now, I can tell you from my own experience that, while the belief is that you get what you pay for, that is not always the case with audio. In fact, when it comes to speakers, that is seldom the case. I have seen $6000 speakers that had no better a crossover in it than a $300 set of speakers. I had seen a set of $2200 bookshelf speakers that not only had a cheap crossover, but was made of 5/8" particle board and the tweeter had a horrendously small magnet that was reminiscent of the Radio Shack 3/4" dome tweeter. The speaker was built by a very prominent company in the audiophile realm and at one time, I did like their raw drivers, however, their ready built speakers seem to leave much to be desired. This is not necessarily in terms of the sound they deliver, but the rather poor build quality. In a nutshell, these $2200 speakers shouldn't be selling for more than $450. So I had put this company very high on my list of what I call "Troll" manufacturers or companies. A Troll company is simply a company that takes advantage of the buyer and rakes them across the coals by overcharging for a product, mainly based on the company name. Mind you, this is nothing new and it is isn't isolated to the hi-end audiophile industry. But it seems like it is running VERY rampant in this industry lately, and recently, I been speaking out about it. There should be more people like yourself, and those of the likes of Erin's Audio Corner, Danny's GR Research. These fellows delve deep into how speakers are made, how they measure and even take them apart to show the build quality. There are many many cases in which top rated companies such as Revel and Focal (etc) have a VERY high priced mid four figure speaker and a below $1000 speaker trumps it in terms of build quality and there are many cases in which they are even better in tonal balance. So, sadly, the bottom line is that you really have to do your homework when looking into speakers and see how they are built, how they measure, and finally how they sound before shelling out good money for them.
For myself, I believe in hunting for a good sounding audio component (speakers included), that delivers good sound that doesn't break the bank. When I see a company trying to charge $10,000 or more for speakers and all I see are two 5 inch drivers and a 1 inch soft dome tweeter, I just shake my head. There is NO WAY that that $10k speaker is worth the asking price. But it gets worse. There are 6 figure speakers out there and the other day I came across a turntable that costs $375,000. I saw that it had gold accents on it, but even if those accents were real gold, I just cannot see the justification in how a single audio component can cost as much as house. I can probably assure you that that turntable probably cost less than $1500 to build and the greedy company just hypes it up with snake oil and blowing smoke up a potential buyer's a$$. I mean really, people have to wise up to these trolls and NOT give into their rampant out of control prices.
I don't go to audio shows because I know that I probably would get thrown out almost right away because I would go up and challenge these troll companies and have them show me what it is that makes their $10k speaker worth the price and I bet you in many cases, they cannot justify it. As you see for yourself in your own demonstration, you CAN get more for less. You just have to do your due diligence.
Finally, there is the Law of Diminishing Returns and this is a big one. As you probably surmised, you would think that the speaker that cost 3 times as much as another would sound 3 times as good, right? Well, the sad truth is that you probably would have to buy that $10k speaker to get to that level. You would be lucky to get a 5% increase in your case. But as you see, it turned out your Adam speakers ended up being favored. Since speakers are about sound, that would tell me that the 3 times price increase of the KEFs isn't justified. This differential in price is worse the further up the chain you go, as with amplifiers, they even offer less change the higher in price you go. Turntables are out of control lately and it is, by right, the cartridge that mostly determines the sound. So long as the turntable doesn't introduce noise up the platter, you should be good. Most of the time you are mostly paying for cosmetics. DAC's are a touchy area as there are definitely different sound quality to them, but again, there isn't any reason why any company should be charging more than $1000 for a little black box that sits on your desk. If I see ANY above that price, I don't even want to hear it, I just turn away. Yes, there are some that cost $6000 or more and while it MAY sound better than the $500 DAC, lets put things into perspective here. What are you going to do when that $6k DAC breaks? Hmmmm? To me it is just more trolling.
Well, I am going to rest my case here as I think I have spoken long enough. The bottom line is that a decent sound system SHOULD NOT cost more than $5k and if you have a bit more money, Ok, $10k. We are talking about a sound system here and it shouldn't cost as much as a house, or a car for that matter.
Thanks for the review. I'm planing to get Adam-Audio-T5V or kef Q150 just for casual music listening. Im looking for big and less fatiguing sound. Which one is better do you think?
I have the TV7's and I love them. Easiest best bang for the buck.
Same here! I have mine on stands and isoacoustic pucks - that setup sounds better than most HiFi rigs I've heard.
So pleased that you made this video.
I've had a pair of LSX these past few days and I'm not that impressed.
I've got a pair of Kanto YU6 coming tomorrow and I'll hook up my DAC to them and play around.
I suspect that I'll find what you've already found... that the Kanto YU6 will be better (to my ears)!
Go spdif or direct streaming avoid 3.5mm
Did you like the Kanto more? (Thinking of buying them).
@@bladetrinity87 yes - definitely, better value and with the saved cash I bought the matching sub. Very pleased and highly recommend. Arguably the KEFs have better presence / imaging however in my office that's not what I'm needing... I was after a good audiophile experience whilst working. Hope this helps
@@darrenkutner Tnx!
Do Audio interfaces make a big different in sound quality? as in one audio interface say around $50 compared to one at $300 or is the quality more in the Preamps.
They definitely can. Untrained ears may not hear a difference between $200-300 interfaces but I know many including myself could hear the better quality of an Audient or Motu in that same price range. Bit Focusrite and Presonus are probably very close but so is the price. All should be audibly better sounding than a $40 behringer but the speakers would make a far bigger difference and the quality you get in a $200 audio interface these days is incredible. Audient and Motu preamps would be better than their competitors without question as well as the headphone amp.
I’ve owned a $6,000 apogee symphony kit and I’ve owned $200 interfaces. The speakers make more of a difference. Just like microphones make more of a difference. I got the SSL2 and the difference of the signal quality to my focal twin6 monitor speakers is marginal. Modern AD/DA tech is very good, it’s only a matter of how many inputs you need if for example you’re recording a band.. also, firmware/software is a big pain. But yeah, the answer is no it doesn’t make a huge difference despite what all these self professed experts tell you. Get good speakers, get a decent interface.. not the other way around
I might be late to the party but. Had kef lsx for some time now. Spotify and tidal streaming directly gives you a great sound. Like someone mentioned if you do a 3.5mm be sure to use a better dac as kef will not do justice to that source. Now if you want clearer tones you need to go spdif. Good sound card the sound stage really opens up. Sounds best with spdif. Your analysis on the kef is partly true but best results are through spdif and second is directly streaming. 3.5mm is a big no, trust me. The separation is crappy with 3.5 mm.
This is spot on! Spotify Connect and Optical TV in are superb on my KEFS. You can get the KEF LSX Is for $800 now II have come out...
Adams rock I agree! Great review!!!!!
Yes! Thank you!
Dumb question but did you break in the KEFs first? Sometimes they will require a break in period when they are new. Please give them a chance to break in and let us know.
I'm not really a believer in break in. What most people think is speaker break-in is most likely your ears adjusting to the speakers.
@@thejasontlewis interesting perspective. I'm new to the audio game and some people swear by it so I figure if I ever don't like a speaker I'll at least attempt a break in period. Thanks for the response!
@@thejasontlewis mmm, that's not true. Do you believe your feet get use to new shoes, or do the new shoes also soften up a bit after some usage?
The Thiele/Small parameters change after a speaker is "burnt in". Rare, but I've seen driver (speaker) datasheets that list Thiele/Small parameters for both conditions. It's like a shoe, the spider and sometimes the surrounds are stiff out of the factory and they need sometime to be broken in.
That said, I don't think most of the distinguishing characteristics you commented on would be altered much. It's hard to compete with an AMT tweeter.
(Balanced arm inner ear monitors don't need to be burnt in as the moving part is a metal leaf only. I feel your comment is quite true for headphones though.)
Not really an apples to apples comparison. Not just in price but because you're comparing a studio monitor to speakers. Studio monitors are used for mixing. They will make the mix sound as the studio engineer intended for the song to sound. Speakers are made to enhance the sonic signature. Speakers are not very accurate to the mix of the song.
SA lot of perople claim you can mix on KEF LS-50s, which are the bigger brothers to these.
I agree definitely not apples to apples. Of course you can get a more “basic” set of speakers that sound good. It’s the internal AND the sound from a small speaker that make it costlier.
it's important to note, that KEFs have their own amp already, so basically they are priced the same.. :)) if not even a cheaper option. it would've been interesting to hear the sounds on both. even on a recording like this the difference should be apparent.
I've been using monitors as tools for the last decade.. the kefs are head and shoulders above the adams. If you're on a budget get the t8v
Great honest review!
I also believe, that active speakers are very underestimated by music lovers. The classic Hi-Fi setup is definitely more easy to use (in terms of music source selection easiness and operating with remote control, etc.), but the active speakers are far better in terms of sound and price. Well, I would also say, that I don't believe, that any serious studio sound mixing can be done with so called "studio monitors", but all the music lovers, who prefer single-source audio systems (like laptop + DAC of any kind), will be very pleased by these.
10000%, shame the public has to know the trash they’re buying with traditional retail hifi stuff. Took me years of trial and error to figure out that studio monitor actives was the only affordable way to get great sound
I own a pair of t5v’s and absolutly love the sound that comes out of those puppies!
Me too
Running this comparison using lossy mp3s from iTunes is like racing a Ferrari and a Honda by placing them on top of a hill, putting them both in neutral, and seeing which one gets to the bottom first.
Question for the reviewer…. How long did you let the Kef LSX play for before you did your comparison? You say you had the Kef for 3 weeks. How many hours did they play music? Question is because it can take new speakers 40 to 80 hrs or more of play music before they get broken in and sound their best. Without this break in time info being given I can not trust your review. So do tell. Thxs!
It's great to see a tech video that's not about a bloody phone. I've always wanted to get a decent set of studio speakers to go with my dj mixer but never had the money. I had to settle for a set of Altec Lancing PC speakers with a 4inch sub. Decent sound really seeing as they only cost me £13.70. 😂. But I'm still on the lookout for a studio speaker pair. Was there any kind of lag with the wireless speakers?
These wireless have the most up-to-date specs, so even watching videos on the iPad there was little to no lag. You can get some pretty decent monitors for pretty cheap these days. Check out JBL's offerings.
Monitors are great for stereo home use. Personally I prefer the analytical sound that a monitor gives, it's just a level of clarity 99% of Hi-fi gear just cannot provide given their design is more 'wow' factor.
t5v trebble is great but i a a/b in the shop out of my 10 songs i preferred 8 out of 10 songs on jbl 305 vs t5v so i bought jbl 305, the only downside is hiss audible when listening closer to 80 cm, do you have a n upgrade advice for t5v or 305 owners ?
I just have the Anker Soundcore Boost Bluetooth speaker for my iPhone and iPad. It’s neither the best nor the worst, but it works great for me!😎
I have a pair of. Adam T8V s( 8in woofer) They are wonderful. Open , Airy and punchy. $600 good speakers
I think you will prefer some B&W the bigger ones, they sit somewhere in-between hifi and studio on flatness, B&W's are popular for mastering guys cos of the eq boost in the low end
I've purchased high end system a number of time - I have always been disappointed - they made regular music uninteresting.
Then my wife purchased some cheap Sylvania bluetooth speaker - and the music just came to life. I could hear the cymbals and other highs very clearly... it's not loud as the high end speakers, but it was so much more alive and sounded much clearer in the top range.
What the hell is going on? I don't get it at all...
Which Behringer would you recommend to drive the Adam I will be connecting to my iMac Pro thanks
Ii saw that you were using the Ker’s via Bluetooth which instantly reduces the definition. So does not feel like a fair comparison as the Adama you were using hard wired via your audio interface.. I own a set of the Kefs and when using them hardwired or optical and playing high quality lossless music they are exceptional.
Thanks for this video, I will stick to my Yamaha map. Was planning on kef
Really interesting results, but not completely shocking. As you said, audio is very subjective, but I think you explained it well enough for someone who's not an audiophile, but wants some bang for the buck. Just because something costs more money, it's not necessarily " better."
Audiophile=snake oil. Audiophile cables do not ABX any better than cheap cables.
I think in case of kef you are overpaying for wireless option, looks, connectivity and highly advertised in hi-fi mags UK brand.
I use the LSX in my bathroom with Tidal it’s nice :)
The lsx without sub and eq is meh. Lacks treble and sounds boomy (could be my room). Overall reallly mid forward but not really great
omg you didn't play any of it to us!
that means also kef cannot seperate high and low ?
I’d love to hear KEF vs HomePod
I don't think I can take you seriously after your statement about the KEF not working or being a studio monitor. In this case the "studio monitor" (the T5V) measures significantly worse in flatness of the frequency response than the KEF LSX. Check the measurements from audio science.
Is there a sound difference using the other connections?
Negligible.
I have some ADAM T8V running from an Audient ID22 in my listening room, i have some GENELEC 8040b,s in my studio, i also have some Neat Acoustic Motive SE2's running through a high end Naim hiFi system, older Rock and Classical sound amazing on my Naim HiFi system, but all newer music after 2000 sound amazing on my Adams, so the 6000 Euro HiFi system doesn't compare well to the 900 Euro active monitor system. For the geeks, i have acoustic panels/curtains and bass traps in most places and have all standing waves under 250ms. I love the Naim sound but if you want accuracy get near field or mid field monitors
It's pretty easy to explain the difference between great Hi-Fi speakers and Studio monitors. Hi-Fi speakers are tuned frequency wise to accentuate a low frequency and a higher frequency to make almost everything to sound terrific. Studio monitors are usually flat across the frequency range giving the listener a true representation of what is really there. In other words, the better the source the better the Studio Monitors will sound. When it comes to making lesser audio quality sound better, Hi-Fi speakers are the way to go. That's why you NEVER mix an album on Wi-Fi speakers.
BS and myths, check Amir's and Erin's measurements.
I assume this KEF are based on monitor speakers LS50 model, so it’s only a matter of adjustments to make a monitor speakers from them…
" Studio monitors are usually flat " stop reading marketing BS. Better watch some review with actual measurements and see how many hi-fi speakers are linear.
@@AudriusN That's a lot of anger, I mean, you came back for seconds! To each his own. Cheers!
Yes please, do the sonos one vs kef comparison
Studio monitors are always the best bang for your buck. I love my Tannoy System 800s I got off Craigslist for 100 dollars.
Would you recommend a Tannoy (or any studio monitor) + turntable setup for audiophile listening in a small studio apartment?
@@gpapa31 good question. I certainly like their sound, they are a bit bass lite and I personally use a subwoofer, but that could be an advantage in an apartment. To get the true Tannoy sound you need to get a dual concentric model, and in an apartment I wouldn't get more than a 6 inch woofer. Good luck.
This was a very insightful video, I have the Adam T5V's and your description of it's sound characteristics is correct with regard to it's width, depth and focus. I have been using them with the SSL2 interface mainly for listening to music and I was very satisfied, however it was a few weeks ago when I fully realized the true potential of the T5V. I have purchased a TEAC UD-505 DAC and I hooked it up to the T5V's and I was floored. The TEAC made them it sound 10 times better and it proved to me how much power and potential is hidden within these monitors! Now I am thinking of replacing my Adam's but I have been very undecided if I should upgrade to better monitors or switch to HiFi bookshelf speakers? I'm glad I saw this video, it's making me reconsider my switch to HiFi bookshelf speakers.
The Adam T8V’s came out. I’d love to hear your opinion of those versus the T5V’s
Good idea!
Thanks for the honesty
I like big speakers got some Leak 2060's for £49.99 almost mint, but some speakers which cost £300-400 back in the 70s have a small ceiling price, but my Wharfedale E50 at £10 were the best bargain to date.
It's hard for me to get the center image from mp3s lol I mean it will happen but not anywhere close to a lossless file. So idk but yeah go to a place that has multiple speakers and test them all cuz everyone has different taste. I had a choice of 2 amazing speakers and one was actually cheaper and maybe sounds 10 percent better but God they were ugly. I ended up getting the more expensive once but dam they look good.
I'm very curious about the tweeter difference, no even so much re the Adam, as I've heard their ribbons, but the Kef, with it's metal dome tweeter. I'll bet Focal Alpha's will walk all over both anyway. I can't decide myself.
No, the vocals are in the same ballpark. The Alphas are Focal's low end model. The Adams are the best monitors I've heard in the sub $500/[air market. And yes, I've owned just about every brand out there. Yamaha, KRK, Focal, Mackie, you name it.
That T5v sounds great on some songs... Just not off axis, and little bass.
the kefs might need more time to break in then you may have initally gave them for them to really Bloosom. I know it was true of my pair that I still own which are the kef Q10s which really image well like classic quads or rogers. I Luv em!
amazing review! new here. all the way kefs vs pair of sonos one :)
Just for the record, the KEF´s are coincident, the coaxial speakers are like the automotive speakers, the tweeter above the woofer, the share the same axis
Yup please compare to the Sonos speakers.
can you do a review on the devialet phantom
The kef active LSX suck! Put the Adams vs. Kef ls50’s with seperate or even an integrated amp, and the ls50’s will blow the Adam’s out of the water. The active kef’s were built for convenience not necessarily audio fidelity
I wold have set up those speaker correctly: at ear level. Those KEF are pointing to your chest. Also, would have test the KEF wired and not wireless to even the playing field. I'm pretty sure those two things will make quite a difference. Just my 2 grains of salt.
I spent plenty of time with the KEFs over 3 weeks. The set up you see in the video is my final round of testing and i had the speakers in different positions throughout. Doesn’t make any sense to wire them up because they’re not intended to be used that way.
Put them in your bedroom Jason, Don’t get rid of them. They look a nice piece of kit. You might find a job for them down the road.
I don’t create music or anything like that. I listen to music play games and watch movies.
I do like to try some studio monitors, but they tend to be bigger, and connecting a sub is not as simple as it goes through the sub vs speaker going to sub. Wish they have sub out
A lot of subs can act as switchers for the 2 stereo speakers.
@@thejasontlewis yeah was hoping to use my svs though. But I wanted balanced. I just like interface to speaker to sub better. It’s just nitpicking I know.
You can get the kef LSX for much less than 1250. Should go for the full Kef LS50 wireless at 1500$, they are on a whole nother level to the LSX.
No
I like your video’s and I also mix my produced music on studio monitors. But why would you compare a professional studio monitor to a wireless hifi speaker? It makes no sense. A producer won’t mix on hifi and an average consumer won’t buy a set of studio monitors to listen their favorite music on.
I do, I listen on my studio monitors in my living room.
Thats my point. Maybe they should. Hi-fi might just be another word for too expensive, not enough sound.
@@thejasontlewis I have been saying this exact thing for years. For my home system I have a nice older Denon home theater receiver, a cheap DAC for the optical out of my 4K TV and Tannoy studio monitors and a Yamaha sub. I would put it against any 5000 "audiophile" system, and it cost less than a 10th of that amount. Used and studio gear is the best bang for the buck.
PAINFULLY HONEST TECH I couldn’t agree more. That’s one of the reasons I don’t invest a lot of money on hifi equipment. But for studio gear, I do spend a lot. Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it.
Matthew Rogers Finally someone who gets it! Which monitors are you using?
maybe using soundID Reference with the kef could be much bether
It's an unfair comparison , it's like comparing Airpods Max to a HD 6XX. KEF Q150, would be a fairer comparison, even though that's a passive speaker, (meaning you'd have to also buy an amp) would probably also sound better than the LSX. You're paying for the wireless functionality, which is not trivial.
Test the Vimberg Amea from Vimberg.
did this guy ever mention the adam is way bigger with a bigger driver therefore itll probably sound better?
The title of this video is basically a clickbait. You are comparing apples to oranges here - Adams are just powered speakers - a speaker with two aplifires inside each one. That's it. KEFs in other side are kind of "system in one box" - you have powered speakers, but also you have a PREAMPLIFIR inside (!), a DAC (a good one), streamer, you have an app for your phone to controll all of the music. So to compare them you need to add to the 400$ of Adam's cost a DAC, streamer, preamp, application to control sound - jPlay Femto for example... And suddenly the price will become kind of similar? But with the ADAMs you will have multpiple boxes, KEFs are just a speakers and that's all.
I think better comparison will be to compare KEF LS50 Wireless II vs ADAM S2v (here ADAMs will be almost double the price of KEFs LS50 Wireless II) - and here also ADAMs doesn't have a streamer built in.
Подождите. Убрать у Kef все это, что мы получим по сумме. Думаю, они все равно будут чуть дороже этой серии T Adam. Сравнивают их звук, а не все то, за что приходиться переплачивать .
Um. The KEF LSX isn't a nearfield monitor speaker. It's not even a desktop speaker. It's a compact wireless hifi speaker, designed for sitting on stands in a living room or office or something, but with space behind them (they're rear ported) and about 6-10 feet back from them. You won't hear the bass properly from right in front. Same for any rear-ported bookshelf size speaker.
So it's not the correct type of comparison - this should have been done objectively as "do cheap nearfield monitors outperform compact hifi active speakers for nearfield use"
I think you missed the point of the video.
Still waiting for SONOS vs KEF
Love AMT.
sonos comparison thats interesting
people don't recommended monitors for listening but i like the all natural sound of monitors
Depends on the monitors...
you should get KEF LS50W with isoacoustic or you get ISOacoustic for your LSX.
You should be grateful when your ear preference is happy with just $400 speaker. lol
Very strange comparison. Both are meant for different applications.
Just pulled out my JBL Creature 2 (2.1 channel) speaker set for my Mac mini and Ryzen 5 build to replace my Logitech Z200. I was getting bad reverb through the Z200, I thought it was the set themselves since Logitech is in a lawsuit over them. It has been a year since I got them as well, so I went into my closet where these JBL speakers were resting. I haven’t used these speakers in about 14-16 years. These were bought in the Apple Store in Buffalo around 2003. About one year later, and some dumb experimentation on my part with a surround sound feature on my AWIA stereo unit, JBL had replaced them with a refurbished model. However, I was using a Logitech 2.1, $50 OfficeMax special, which were rocking, so I put them away. They followed me through life without leaving their box since 2004.
Anyway, I had thought the static sound was from the Z200... it wasn’t. The Creature speakers were doing the same thing. Found out that Boom 3D doesn’t play well with external speakers, so I turned it off. However, the fidelity and quality coming out of the JBL speakers was perfect; plus that egg-shaped subwoofer is something of a conversation starter as well. These speakers are circa early 2000s and they sound phenomenal, even from sitting around.
These would not be on par with your speakers, they would blow them out of the water with a small knob turn.
My qualifying driver for headphones and speakers are usually these songs: Eleventh Earl of Mar (Genesis), At the End of the Day (Spock’s Beard), Camera Eye (Rush), 21st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson), Hyperventilate (Frost*), Overture 1928/Strange Deja Vu (Dream Theater), Pale Blue Dot (Sound of Contact), Wherever You Are (Asia), Machine Messiah (Yes), Intruder (Peter Gabriel), Scavengers (In Continuum), Last Glass of Wine (Mystery), Nomads (Steve Hackett) and Caught Somewhere in Time (Iron Maiden). Mood effects too.
I had the kef LSX for two years and decided to sell them because of the lack of transparency in the high region and treble roll off... But I surely will miss the beautiful medium presence.
Studio monitors will always win over hifi crap.
Yeah don't always get what you pay for by spending more. I think with most things that logic works but only to a certain point and then your money is going to things that don't matter.