Cheap Audio Man is Full of Crap! KEF 50’s Rule! (Maybe)
United States of Analog | March 30, 2024
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
This video is host Bob’s defense of the KEF LS50 Meta speakers against criticism from “Cheap Audio Man” (Randy). Bob is presenting his case in a mock courtroom format, arguing that the KEF speakers are unfairly maligned and deserving of praise.
What gear, products, or brands are discussed?
- KEF LS50 Meta speakers: $1,500-$1,600 retail, described as “little powerhouse bookshelf speaker” with build quality praised as “work of art”
- Sony SS-CS5 three-way speakers: Randy’s preferred speakers, criticized for “generic round port” and “glued on vinyl wrap”
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- KEF LS50 Metas are unfairly criticized by Cheap Audio Man week after week [00:00:58]
- The speakers have excellent professional reviews and should be defended [00:01:47]
- Build quality of KEF is superior with “smooth, rounded, finished edges” and “extra heavy-duty speaker terminals” [00:03:32]
- Sometimes you have to pay for quality: “in this country, quality still stands for something” [00:04:09]
- Color choice affects perception – his warm gray ones have “vibes of warmth and soul” vs Randy’s “cold, frigid blue” [00:04:44]
Were there any strong recommendations or warnings to viewers?
- Strong endorsement of KEF LS50 Meta speakers based on professional reviews and build quality
- Implicit warning that cheap alternatives like Sony may have inferior construction
Were there any notable comparisons between products?
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Sony SS-CS5 [00:03:18]: KEF has superior finish, oval port, heavy-duty terminals vs Sony’s “toilet paper tube” port and vinyl wrap
- Blue vs Gray KEF colors [00:04:32]: Blue described as “neutral, cold, frigid” while gray is “warm” like “flannel pajamas”
Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?
- Mock courtroom presentation calling Randy’s criticism “constant harassment and belittlement” [00:00:02]
- “toilet paper tube inside” description of Sony port [00:03:49]
- Color comparison: blue Metas described as having no personality like the sky [00:04:36]
- Gray Metas compared to “warm pair of flannel pajamas encapsulating this beautiful red aloha Hawaiian sunset” [00:04:55]
Summary
Bob opens this video with an entertaining mock courtroom defense of the KEF LS50 Meta speakers against what he sees as unfair and repeated criticism from fellow YouTuber “Cheap Audio Man” Randy. Despite clarifying that Randy is actually a friend, Bob feels compelled to defend these speakers professionally, noting that Randy has declined his request to appear on his channel to present a counter-argument.
The host presents evidence in the form of glowing professional reviews from publications like What Hi-Fi, Stereofile, and The Absolute Sound, with quotes praising the speakers as “class leader,” “2022 product of the year,” and “one of today’s audio bargains.” He emphasizes the extensive positive coverage these $1,500-$1,600 speakers have received from respected audio publications.
Bob then moves into a detailed comparison of build quality between the KEF LS50 Metas and Randy’s preferred Sony SS-CS5 speakers. He highlights the superior construction of the KEFs, from their finished edges and oval ports to heavy-duty terminals, contrasting this with what he sees as the Sony’s cheaper construction including “toilet paper tube” ports and vinyl wrap finish. He concludes this portion with a somewhat humorous analysis of how speaker color affects perception, arguing that his warm gray KEFs have more soul than Randy’s “cold, frigid blue” version.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this portion?
Speakers tested:
- KEF LS50 Metas [00:07:17]
- Sony SSCS5s [00:07:46]
- Klipsch RP600M generation one [00:05:48]
- Heiko Aurora 300s [00:05:48]
Audio equipment chain:
- Bluesound Node generation three [00:06:51]
- Shelly Labs J2 AKM DAC [00:06:51]
- Technics SUG700 amplifier [00:06:59]
What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?
- KEF LS50 Metas: “pretty good mids, decent depth behind the soundstage” but “vocals recessed” and “bass was there, but not super strong or super well-defined” [00:07:17-00:07:30]
- Sony SSCS5s: “A lot more airiness and separation than the KEF” but “didn’t enjoy the mid-range as much” and bass “not as deep or as rich” [00:07:55-00:08:13]
- Klipsch RP600M: “incredible mid-range speakers” with “impact, clarity, wide soundstage” and “sounded like I had the sub on” [00:08:20-00:08:31]
- Heiko Aurora 300s: “nice bass, beautiful mid-range” described as “mid-range-centric speaker” with “super rich dynamics” [00:08:48-00:09:10]
Were there any listening tests or sound quality observations described?
Test methodology: [00:06:25-00:06:38]
- Single track: Dire Straits “You and Your Friend”
- One source, one DAC, one amp
- Four different pairs of bookshelf speakers
Specific observations:
- KEFs: Could hear “vibration” and “grittiness of the strings and resonance” of what he thinks is a national guitar or Dobro [00:07:30-00:07:41]
- Sony: “very open, very airy, good separation, good instrument placement within that soundstage” [00:08:13-00:08:20]
- Klipsch: Sony “edged it out” in high-end clarity, possibly due to “Sony super tweeter” [00:08:34-00:08:47]
- Heiko: “guitar sound was extremely full” and “recessed vocals” [00:08:52-00:09:06]
Were there any price/value assessments?
[00:09:16-00:09:32]
- Emphasizes “KEFs are many price multiples of some of these speakers”
- Sony SSCS5s: “$129 and $200”
- Klipsch RP600M (new generation): “about $600”
- Heiko Aurora 300s: “usually around $400, but they’re not even available”
Any vinyl records, albums, or music discussed?
Test track: Dire Straits “You and Your Friend” [00:06:39-00:06:51]
- Described as “one of my favorite test tracks, full of dynamics, full of rich guitar”
- Notes presence of “national guitar” and mentions “Great bass, great detail”
Any memorable quotes or strong takes?
- “Members of the jury, I behoove you to enter in my evidence into testimony” [00:05:13]
- “In fact, you might want to check juror number three, I think is asleep” [00:06:25-00:06:29]
- “I feel like I put together a pretty good system for the test” [00:07:04-00:07:07]
- “Now, I’ve used a lot of reviewer terms, and I hope I haven’t confused the members of the jury” [00:09:10-00:09:15]
Summary
The host conducts a formal listening test comparison of four bookshelf speakers using a single Dire Straits track (“You and Your Friend”) through a consistent audio chain consisting of a Bluesound Node, Shelly Labs DAC, and Technics amplifier. The theatrical courtroom presentation style adds humor while maintaining focus on the technical evaluation of the KEF LS50 Metas against three other bookshelf speakers of varying price points.
Each speaker demonstrates distinct characteristics: the KEFs offer good midrange and soundstage depth but with recessed vocals and adequate bass; the Sony SSCS5s excel in airiness and separation but lack richness in midrange and bass; the Klipsch RP600Ms impress with incredible midrange impact and bass response that mimics having a subwoofer; and the Heiko Aurora 300s provide a midrange-centric, laid-back presentation with rich dynamics and full guitar reproduction.
The host emphasizes the significant price disparities between these speakers, noting that the KEFs cost “many price multiples” of the others, with the Sonys ranging from $129-200, the Klipsch at around $600, and the Heikos at $400 (though unavailable). This price context becomes crucial for understanding the value proposition of each speaker’s performance characteristics, setting up what appears to be a broader discussion about whether the premium KEFs justify their higher cost compared to these more affordable alternatives.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion:
- KEF LS50 Meta speakers [09:52]
- Sony SS-CS5 speakers [10:18]
- Klipsch RP600M (first generation) speakers [10:28]
- Heico Aurora 300 speakers ($400) [10:52]
What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion:
[09:52] KEF LS50 Meta described as “probably the most mid-experience” and “does a lot of things okay” but “doesn’t do one thing really super great”
[12:00] Reiterates KEF was “the most mid of that experience”
[12:41] Concludes this was a “trial by fire for the KEF LS50 Metas” that he “wished had turned out different”
[12:41] Acknowledges “the cheap audio man knows his stuff”
Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider:
[10:18] Sony SS-CS5: “Best detail in the class” and “best airiness of the group”
[10:28] Klipsch RP600M: “The most dynamic of the bunch” with “best punch in the group”
[11:09] Heico Aurora 300: “The most pleasant and most listenable of all four pairs”
[12:08] Plans to sell the KEF LS50 Metas due to disappointment
Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers:
[11:44] Notes that long-term listening experience matters
[12:22] Suggests KEF might perform better “with a sub” for more punch
How did the video wrap up:
[12:52] Standard YouTube call-to-action: “If you liked it, please like and subscribe”
[12:55] Promises “more stuff down the road” and “cool stuff to show you”
[13:00] Signs off with “I’ll see you next time in the People’s Court, or the United States of Analog”
[13:16] After recording ends, mentions sending video to Randy (Cheap Audio Man) who promised to link it
Any memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions:
[11:16] “I can listen to those [Aurora 300s] for days, and I can’t say that about the KEF”
[12:08] “I’m probably, if it pleases the court, going to offer them up for sale on the internet”
[12:12] “Randy has crashed the market” but “the man knows what he’s talking about”
[13:23] “He came out smelling like a rose this time, but we’ll get him next time. This is turning into like a Bobby Flay throwdown”
Summary:
In this final portion, the host delivers his surprising verdict from a closed-door listening test comparing four speakers. Despite expecting to favor the KEF LS50 Meta speakers, he found them to be the most disappointing, describing them as delivering a “mid-experience” that does many things adequately but nothing exceptionally well. This clearly pained him to admit, as he had hoped for a different outcome.
The host awards specific categories to the other speakers: the Sony SS-CS5 earned praise for best detail and airiness, the Klipsch RP600M impressed with superior dynamics and punch, while the $400 Heico Aurora 300 speakers won his heart as the most pleasant and listenable for extended sessions. He particularly emphasized the importance of long-term listening comfort, noting he could listen to the Auroras “for days” but couldn’t say the same about the KEFs.
The video concludes with the host planning to sell his KEF speakers due to having “too many great contenders” and acknowledging that “the cheap audio man knows his stuff.” He wraps up with standard YouTube pleasantries and a playful off-camera comment about this becoming like a “Bobby Flay throwdown” with Randy from Cheap Audio Man, suggesting an ongoing friendly rivalry between the channels.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
