When I first got into high-end audio, I learned that the best imaging was produced by a single point source. Thus, small stand-mount speakers were said to have the best potential imaging because they approached a point source.
The KEF LS50 at least looks like or approximates a point source speaker.
All other factors not withstanding, does it have really good imaging?
For imaging I prefer the Harbeth P3esr stand mounted. I depends on the type of music you listen to, amplification, room size and acoustics. When I auditioned the KEF LS50 meta I preferred the Vandersteen CLR-CT, Harbeth P3esr, and the Aerial Acoustics 5T. Purchased the latter speakers, no regrets. This is in a secondary system. IME best to audition and then try at home versus trial by proxy.
IMO, the “point source is best” theory and audio reality are at odds. Yes, a point source driver can have excellent imaging but so can multi driver arrays. It takes design skills to engineer a speaker with excellent multi driver integration but I haven’t heard a point source speaker yet that is superior to a well designed multi driver speaker as far as imaging (assuming proper listening distance from the speakers.) I will say that my KEF R500’s do have exceptional imaging and the Uni-Q and woofers are very well integrated.
A friend lent me his R3’s and after having the LS50 Meta’s for a month back at Christmas time, the R3’s for and extra $500 is the better deal IMHO.
Edited
Yes.
Is it magically better than P3’s for instance, in this single respect - simply by virtue of the design? Not necessarily. But the two speakers sound different in other ways that may or may not be important to you, and the P3’s are now nearly twice the price.
My first studio monitors around 40 years ago were Tannoy concentrics, and when I moved on from them, I found I was relieved to move on from the notion that concentric was in itself an absolute good. The means of making that (to me) seemingly impossible feat work properly has advanced in the meantime though. As have drivers generally, and means of better integrating non-concentric driver designs.
I love both the Metas and the P3’s (especially with a sub or two). I’ve been listening to the Metas a lot lately, and I think they’re a screamin’ deal. And this is coming from someone who never really liked KEFs before.
