Uniti plus KEF wireless as a smart little system?

Posted by: Dan43 on 09 November 2016

Apologies if this has been covered couldn't find anything with a search. I found tonight reviews for the new KEF LS50 wireless speakers that appear to have a pre/DAC built in and can take up to 24/192 files for playback.

Is there a tidy system to be built with these speakers and the new Uniti range due out soon?

What could I be missing with a Uniti streaming to these speakers either via Ethernet/CAT6 or perhaps even wirelessly?

Posted on: 09 November 2016 by Dan43

Adding :

From KEF site - Through expert audio engineering, LS50 Wireless includes an end-to-end 192kHz/24-bit high-resolution digital signal path, dedicated DAC per channel, streaming pre-amplifier, and a 230-watt x2 amplification in a bi-amp dual mono configuration. All factory-optimised.

Add a Uniti Atom for example via switch to speakers and storage of library?

Posted on: 09 November 2016 by spurrier sucks

Other than not being able to use the amp of the Atom there is nothing wrong. I had a similar setup with a Qute2 and Dynaudio XEO 3. It worked great but I felt like I was wasting the Qute and money. I sold the Wute and replaced with an Auralic Aries Mini for a fraction of the cost and it works great.

Posted on: 09 November 2016 by Dan43

Yes Atom has an amp, maybe then Melco N1A connected to KEFs?

Might be being a bit daft here, the Atom could just have a standard pair of LS50s running off the back.

Perhaps though the new wireless KEFs add extra oomph, hmmm having a good think.....

Posted on: 09 November 2016 by ChrisSU

All of the built in electronics in the speaker essentially just duplicate the functions of the Uniti, which seems pointless. Either get the Uniti and regular speakers, or get the KEFs and leave it at that.

Posted on: 10 November 2016 by Dan43

They appear pretty good the new KEFs perhaps they are an end product in themselves, looks like you can hook a laptop to them so yes probably easier to get a Atom with regular KEFs if going that route, was just a thought as I saw a preview yesterday.

Posted on: 10 November 2016 by GregW

In some circles the passive LS50 has been considered a hard to drive speaker. It would be important to demo the Atom and LS50 together to make sure they are a good match.

Posted on: 11 November 2016 by Dan43

I am going to my local Audio T store in Portsmouth (who are excellent) to demo LS50 with Atom.

The last time though I tried LS50 they were very bass heavy, blooming, plugs didn't help, but a new property and room they may perform better.

I preferred the PMC DB1i to LS50, but new kit and new environment could change this a lot so trying again as the new Atom looks like a great second system option.

May try the new wireless KEFs with a Melco N1A see if that brings anything different compared to Atom and standard LS50 set up.

Posted on: 11 November 2016 by ChrisSU

Dan43 posted:
May try the new wireless KEFs with a Melco N1A see if that brings anything different compared to Atom and standard LS50 set up.

If you're itching to buy a Naim box to go with the powered LS50s, a Core would be the one, rather than an Atom, as like the Melco, it would give some added functionality.