KEF LS50 Meta

”They deliver music with a fantastic sense of scale – something a lot of standmount speakers struggle with”

So there you have it. It’s been a hard-fought battle and Fyne Audio’s F500SP have put up a valiant fight against the KEFS, but it’s the LS50 Meta that takes the spoils.

To put the F500SP’S performance into perspective, however, we need to remember that the LS50 Meta isn’t just any pair of five-star speakers. They are a two-time What Hi-fi? Product of the Year Award-winner, and in our opinion are currently the ultimate performance-per-pound proposition. It was always going to take something special to really put the KEFS on the ropes. But it isn’t all one-way traffic. For starters, the F500SP have great room presence thanks to that elegant, eye-catching exterior. Fire them up and they sound remarkably big for their size. They deliver music with a fantastic sense of scale – something a lot of standmount speakers struggle with. Listen with your eyes closed and you would swear there were a floorstander in the room, such is the swell of sound they produce.

Those wanting plenty of bass from their bookshelf speakers won’t be disappointed either. There’s weight in spades, they display a fine sense of control and the speakers can delve deep when the music demands. Stereo imaging is also a strong point, the Fynes producing a rock-solid, focused soundstage where every element operates in its own distinct space.

But, when it comes down to the final reckoning, they are not the most refined or subtle of performers when compared with the KEFS. For low-level dynamics you will struggle to find a speaker that communicates delicate shifts and the quieter moments of a tune as beautifully as the KEF LS50 Meta at their price point. They combine subtlety, dynamic finesse and refinement which captivates you and keeps you coming back for more. And that makes them worthy winners.