Set up 5.1 system using Kef LS50W as main speakers

[JohnCL]

Complete newbie to home theater but I am into music and currently use a Naim pre/power and Concept 40s as my main hifi but changes in the house mean it's got to go.

I plan to set up a dedicated 5.1 and stereo system in another room using Kef LS50Ws as the main speakers and I'm struggling to work out if it can be done.

I need to be able to use the Kefs in stereo mode (mainly Tidal over the Lan port) but when I switch to the TV I'd like to use an AV amp for the rear, centre and sub speakers but use the Kefs as the front L&R speakers.

It might seem a strange way to go about it but musical replay is very important to me and the room it's going in is long and narrow which I think will be fine for surround sound but I know from past experience it's a huge compromise for music. I've had the LS50Ws on demo and the in-built DSP allows them to work really well in there so that's why I'd like to use them for both AV and stereo.

I think what I need is an AV amp that has a 'line out' for the front speakers, does such a thing exist? Will using two amps cause problems with time sync etc?

Thanks for looking, hopefully this all makes sense........

 

[PENG]

Complete newbie to home theater but I am into music and currently use a Naim pre/power and Concept 40s as my main hifi but changes in the house mean it's got to go.

I plan to set up a dedicated 5.1 and stereo system in another room using Kef LS50Ws as the main speakers and I'm struggling to work out if it can be done.

I need to be able to use the Kefs in stereo mode (mainly Tidal over the Lan port) but when I switch to the TV I'd like to use an AV amp for the rear, centre and sub speakers but use the Kefs as the front L&R speakers.

It might seem a strange way to go about it but musical replay is very important to me and the room it's going in is long and narrow which I think will be fine for surround sound but I know from past experience it's a huge compromise for music. I've had the LS50Ws on demo and the in-built DSP allows them to work really well in there so that's why I'd like to use them for both AV and stereo.

I think what I need is an AV amp that has a 'line out' for the front speakers, does such a thing exist? Will using two amps cause problems with time sync etc?

Thanks for looking, hopefully this all makes sense........

Most newer model AV receivers that has pre-outs are for 7.1 or more channels. If you use one that has some sort of REQ system, such as Yamaha, Onkyo, D&M's you shouldn't have to worry about time sync as such.

I don't expect the LS50W to play at reference level unless you are in a small room and sit close to them.

 

[JohnCL]

I guess 7.1 is doable so that's good news thanks.

As for the LS50Ws......by reference levels do you mean sound quality? I didn't expect them to be as good as my Naim gear but I can tell you they actually sound extremely good in my room and are not as much of a compromise as you may think.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I guess 7.1 is doable so that's good news thanks.

As for the LS50Ws......by reference levels do you mean sound quality? I didn't expect them to be as good as my Naim gear but I can tell you they actually sound extremely good in my room and are not as much of a compromise as you may think.

http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/2013314thx-reference-level/
This is what @PENG means. As great as the ls50’s are, they’re just not made to be very loud.

 

[Leemix]

I guess 7.1 is doable so that's good news thanks.

You can still run just 5.1 if you prefer, you will just get a few extra amps inside the reciever that dont do anything. And less work for the powersupply.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[JohnCL]

It appears my post count is too low to link to a post so:
@PENG and @William Lemmerhirt
It makes sense to a point but aren't there plenty of 5.1 speaker systems around that use standard hifi speakers? I don't get what the difference is unless you're saying they are all compromised when it comes to how loud they can play. The fact is the room is small and I doubt I'll be getting anywhere near the "reference" levels of volume you are referring to.

@Leemix
Thanks for the info.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

It appears my post count is too low to link to a post so:
@PENG and @William Lemmerhirt
It makes sense to a point but aren't there plenty of 5.1 speaker systems around that use standard hifi speakers? I don't get what the difference is unless you're saying they are all compromised when it comes to how loud they can play. The fact is the room is small and I doubt I'll be getting anywhere near the "reference" levels of volume you are referring to.

@Leemix
Thanks for the info.

Hi John! Indeed all speakers are “compromised” to a point when we talk about how loud they can go. I was kinda just dropping in for peng to try and give an idea of what he meant. Under moderate use, the ls50’s might be the best sounding speaker ever, but in a room like mine that’s 16’ wide, 25’ long attached to my kitchen with a 12’ ceiling and foyer, they would run into distortion before they could get very loud and definitely wouldn’t be able to provide any low end in that big of a space. I’ve seen a lot of print saying that those were designed for near field listening, and I believe that’s where @PENG was going. How big is the room? You mentioned small but I can’t recall any numbers. If it is small, I’d say it should be easy to do what you’re trying to do.
Good luck!

 

[JohnCL]

Apologies, the room is is 2.7m x 5m and because there is a door in the centre of each long wall the system has to fire down the length of the room.

It is a brick built extension on the side of the property so with the door into the property shut I can play music at pretty decent volumes without disturbing the rest of the house.

The LS50Ws are an amazing system and they work really well in there and from what you guys have said I should be able to set up exactly what I was hoping for. First steps are to sell the current system and get the LS50Ws installed. Once that's done I'll be asking for specific advice re an AV amp. Many thanks for all the help.

 

[PENG]

Apologies, the room is is 2.7m x 5m and because there is a door in the centre of each long wall the system has to fire down the length of the room.

It is a brick built extension on the side of the property so with the door into the property shut I can play music at pretty decent volumes without disturbing the rest of the house.

The LS50Ws are an amazing system and they work really well in there and from what you guys have said I should be able to set up exactly what I was hoping for. First steps are to sell the current system and get the LS50Ws installed. Once that's done I'll be asking for specific advice re an AV amp. Many thanks for all the help.

You should be good to go then, and can expect superb sound quality from those speakers.

Thanks to William for answering some questions for me yesterday. Some of us would typically give guarded responses such as by cautioning about the room size, sitting distance, required sound pressure level (how loud) etc., especially when the speakers in question are near field monitors such as the LS50/LS50W.

If you don't sit too far from the speakers, say less than 10 ft, you could actually approach "reference level" but it sounds like you don't listen that loud anyway, so again, you will be fine. Below is a link to an online peak spl calculator you can play with, and a screen shot that shows the spl you can expect from the LS50, sitting 10 ft them them.

You can use that calculator to size the AVR, or prepro/power amp you need for the remaining 3 speakers.
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

 

[JohnCL]

The calculator looks extremely useful so once the Kef's are in I'll definitely have a play.

Thanks again to all for taking the time to respond, it really has helped me make my decision.