Various KEF Speakers on sale as apart of Prime Day. Shame the LSX and LSX IIs are not in stock.
KEF LS50 Meta - $2195
KEF Q350 - $775
KEF Q150 - $529
KEF KC62 - $2695
KEF LS50 Wireless 2 - $3865
etc.
This is tempting; does anyone have any recommendations for suitable amps? Also are they sufficient without an added sub, or should one be considered? I've had a look at various reviews, but have found nothing helpful, so thanks in advance for any input/thoughts
+1 here, it will be best that amps have airplay2 or Bluetooth.
What's your budget?
Also, what is your use case?
Good question, I honestly haven't thought that far through. There's no need to go overboard, but I don't mind spending for quality.
I've currently got a set of Audioengine A2+ that sound good, but they feel like they are lacking, and missing a lot of the range when listening to music. This is the primary use, although they are in the study, so would also be connected to a computer, so would be used when gaming
@Ryanek: You have to use the Line out for that with a PC which can introduce noise depending on the set up.
@ONEMariachi: It doesn't need to be standard - if your PC doesn't have an optical out, then you can use an SPDIF Coax->Optical convertor if you've got an SPDIF-capable headphone port, or you can use an HDMI Audio Extractor to get an optical audio signal from the HDMI port, or you can just plug in a USB soundcard with an SPDIF output.
You defintely don't need to use the analogue output from any PC - there's multiple ways to get the digitial audio stream out !
@RMBC: I'm pretty new to the audiophile world which has been pretty expensive from headphones to my speakers.
I got them for my PC while i play games and work, i've read online you want to budget around 50% on amp and 50% on your speakers, that being said amps are so much more expensive here than overseas like the US. I ended up getting the Cambridge AXA25 from videopro which was open box discounted, when i called up they said they didn't have any open boxes and if i ordered they'd send me a new one. It's probably one of the cheaper ones you can get (I got it for $460 shipped), but it is a bit of a big boy. In terms of connecting, it's pretty simple, just had some copper banana plugs and 3.5mm to RCA UGREEN cable to connect to my pc.
All the best on your journey, I say just work around what your budget is.
@THX: Thanks, I'm certainly finding that there is a lot more to consider than I originally expected. It's certainly a rabbit hole that it is very easy to end up losing oneself in.
I find myself starting off at one point, and next thing I know ending up very far from where I'd originally been looking because each bit gets upgraded. I think it's also tempting to upgrade parts beyond what may be sensible, or even needed.
I'll also assume for PC you want something that is small- what's the space requirements? Does your PC have an optical out? Are you willing to get a DAC and an Amp, as that opens up way more choices? or did you just want an all in one dac/amp?
Personally, I use Yamaha HS7 into a Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 myself (so powered speakers into a DAC). You'd be looking at around to $1800-$2K that combo.
Also, fair warning I have no idea what overboard means to you. I spent $2.5k on an amp for my living room and I wouldn't consider that overboard myself. So maybe a rough range would help here?
If you want an Integrated Amp/DAC all in one, any of the well rated SMSL or Topping options on Amazon will do the job just fine- SMSL AD18/ Topping MX5/ .
Otherwise the below Yamaha mentioned (They're around $600ish). I have the non amp version and it's a great product. I'd probably grab something like the Schitt Modi DAC though to connect that to your pc via USB if you don't have the optical input on your PC, as that will eliminate motherboard noise, and will be a far better DAC than the onboard motherboard.
The Bluesound powernode($8-900ish) can be another step up again from the Yamaha. Both of those can easily connect to a TV as well, if you are like me and have a TV for the PS5 in the office too. Yamaha through the optical cable, Bluesound via HDMI ARC.
@ONEMariachi: Thanks for the questions, and helping me clarify what I'm looking for. Also thanks for the information so far.
Space is certainly a consideration, however the desk/space is quite large. It's a 1600mm x 920mm desk, although there are 2x 32 inch monitors on it, so much of it is taken up. There is some room either side of the desk for speakers, the Audioengine speakers fit on the sides, but anything larger is likely going to need stands, or rearranging of the screens
My PC does have an optical out, although also willing to get separate DAC and amp, I'm really pretty open at this stage, and clearly less considered/educated than perhaps I need to be
For budget I could stretch to $2k, although happy to not spend that much. I suppose initial considerations were in the $1k to $1.5k range.
@RMBC: That Yamaha mentioned above is a good option if you want a "branded" amp - good audio quality, and you can feed it a digital signal with some adaptors as per my post above.
@RMBC: I think based on those answers the Yamaha WXA-50 that Nom suggested will suit what you're looking for quite well then. It has an inbuilt DAC that is quite good for the price range it is in. Has multiple inputs and puts out quite reasonable power.
Also has Airplay/Bluetooth/Spotify/Tidal built in too, as well as their Musicast system. Which I'm a big fan of. Works like Sonos(if you're familiar with that). So you can get one of their other musicast speakers/units and sync them all together wirelessly, if you want music around the house.
They seem to average around the $600 mark(currently $625 at Addicted to Audio), but have been as low as $450 in the last 12 months.
You'd definitely want a subwoofer with those mate - they are good for highs, mids, and lows down to some 100HZ.
This isn't true, the 150's have a frequency response goes down to 51hz. It'll always be better with a sub but it's fairly respectable without it.
LOL ok - always found it curious that the Q350s with their bigger drivers have a 'worse' frequency response than the Q150s.
Just noticed most of those floor standers Q550 and Q750 are priced as "Single Speaker only".
Definitely not the norm in Australia so would hate for anyone to get tricked by it.
Nice point out, definitely would be a steal if it were pair prices
Wish Amazon had the R series
Kube 8b was 580.
Kef q250c centre channel speaker currently the lowest price it's been according to camel. $675
![[Prime] KEF Bookshelf Speakers Q150 $529 (Was $699), Q350 $775 (Was $895) Delivered @ Amazon AU](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/61/712061.jpg?h=1d934312)
Really wanted some Q150s for my office - but my wallet said no :(