Unbalanced RCAs. DAC is LKS MH-DA004 using L2S connection from Singxer SU-1.
The Navis have a bigger and fuller sound, richer in the low end than the LS50W. My main focus is what sounds most pleasing to my ears but secondarily I also like that I can connect an external DAC and turntable to the Navis without those signals then being processed by another internal DAC.
I have the Navis in my room now connected to a turntable and a Schiit Modi Multibit via Roon iMac endpoint. They are only about 10hrs into break in but Iām going to A/B them with the LS50W this week to see which I prefer in my treated room. I find the room to color speakers even with treatment and am wondering if the forwardness of the Kef will suit my room better.
As mentioned I do like that all analog for component upgrade ability but I have to say volume control was a bit tricky coming from the Kef family of Powered Bookshelves. Iām using a schiit Vali 2 in the chain as a volume control for everything right now. Ideally Iād find a legit phono pre/dac/volume control all in one for simplicity hence if the kefās compare favorably I might send the elacs back.
Try the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital, its a combined DAC/preamp and sound pretty good. The Navis + the Pro-Ject DAC also costs about the same combined as the KEF LS-50 Wireless so its a fair comparison.
Thank you again Magnus, Iām playing the Pro-ject classic sb tt so the synergy will work too 
I demoed the Pre Box S2 before I found a good deal on an LKS DAC and I liked it. I agree thatās a good recommendation.
Iām curious how your listening test turns out comparing the Navis and LS50W. Both are great. I found the Navis sounded more like floor standing speakers and the LS60W sounded more like bookshelf speakers. My room is not treated.
Starting A/B today. Iām using isoacoustics desk stands. I did a preliminary brief hookup test yesterday and the LS50W are more lively but the Navis only had about 30hrs break-in at that point. They are at 40ish now. I need to adjust the settings on the Navis to lower the low frequencies a bit. Definitely more bass which is muddying the mids at this point. Iāll get everything as close to my ears as possible and then measure spl while I test. My bias at this point tells me Iām familiar with the LS50W soundprint and prefer it in my setups but Iām hopeful to be able to āsit in the middleā and truly tell a difference or not.
So an updateā¦I ran several different setups with Schiit preās and direct connections from my CA Duo Phono Pre into both the LS50W and the Navis and this is the setup I settled on.
Room is 18x13 with a lot of treatment (new heavy shag carpet, 2 floor to ceiling Corner Traps, absorption behind speakers, and skyline diffusers behind listening area) ceiling is vaulted on both long sides from sides at 4ā to 8ā in center (3rd floor converted attic in 100 year old home)
Peachtree Nova Amp as a Tube Pre (controller for all devices below)
Pro-Ject Classic SB with Blue Point #2
Cambridge Audio Duo Phono Pre
Schiit Modi Multibit Dac (used it for comparison but am taking it out of channel)
Oppo 105 for SACD and as Roon End Point via Ethernet from Apple Router
Mac mini running Roon core downstairs (100K song library + Tidal + Qobuz Beta)
REL T7/i Subwoofer via the High Level input from the Peachtree speaker outs
and the Elac Navis B51 instead of the Kef LS50W and this really came down to the overall sound quality of the two setups. Sound wise the Elacās just have more to work with and since I am getting into vinyl as much as my digital collection the Elacās sound better to me, better in the following ways: Fuller sound (obviously due to 3 drivers) and more range (again 3 drivers) as well as the Soft Dome Tweeter just sounds better (smoother still with great range) with vinyl to me than the Aluminum tweeter from the LS50W and that is the nail in the decision.
As for the convenience differences between them the Kef are more convenient as a all in one box but with the Elacās I can upgrade my DAC from my Schiit Modi Multibit or the Oppo 105 to something else like a PS Audio that I have my eye on!
Final Elac settings are:
Lows +/-0
Mids +1
Highs +1
Xover 60Hz
Hope this helps anyone still looking.
Joe
Fundamentally in my mind the Elac resolves the real or imagined issue of intermodulation distortion with a moving cone sitting in front of the tweeter. Others says the problem is the throat of the tweeterās waveguide changing with excursions from the mid woofer.
On one hand that hasnāt kept the LS50W from getting all the praise it gets or off the Stereophile Class A list (assuming that even means anything).
So I canāt figure out for the life of me if it is a real or imagined problem. But being the āaudiophileā (which imho is a mental disease related to neuroticism) I always need some problem to solve. Some fly in the ointment to tweak out.
From my readings this problem is apparently solved if the mid bass driver is crossed over above 300hz. Products which do this are:
Elac Navis
Genelec āThe Onesā
Technics SB-R1 (at $26k no thank you)
The Elac does solve that āproblemā. However I have to wonder if I really care the analog design leaves open a whole world of audiophile options. Iād much rather some designer who knows how to use DSP to solve problems of driver response, crossover, time correction, impulse correction etc. just resolve all those issues for me. I just want the product to be designed with the latest DSP technology in the hands of a designer who knows how to use it to have all those very important problems taken off the plate. Iām sure Andrew Jones is amazing with his designs and if we didnāt have cheaper more precise ways to deal with issues such as DSP Iām sure it would be state of the art. IMHO the product plays to the strengths of the designer and to appeal to the person for whatever reason wishes to stay analog.
So even if I got it Iād want to open it and see if I can drive the inbuilt amps after doing my own crossovers in acourate.
The Genelec Ones are probably the only real answer at this moment. I would have to nearly triple my budget but these check all the boxes. It might even leave me in a bad state considering there wonāt be anything to tweak since their engineers have used every modern tool at their disposal and have much better ability than if I spent 20 lifetimes trying to figure this out.
The Technics. Another āaudiophileā anachronistic statement product in the same vein as a $27k Swiss watch. Man they are nice to look at but really a $1 chinese watch keeps better time.
Back to KEF LS50W. I got them last week. I already have two subs for them. My mission is to integrate them using REW and Rephase.
But that pesky 300Hz thing I heard about is making wonder if I can build DIY midbass boxes to set them on (with isolation) so that I can crossover the KEFs at 300Hz and let the midbass boxes handle everything down to 60Hz and then cross over again below 60Hz to commercial subwoofers.
Or I can just forget about the 300Hz problem. Or just get those darn Genelecs and quit this silly hobby and try to get into the actual music more.
Great deep dive there SR!
I have made a few incremental changes in the last week or two with some great results to this point. I added a Parasound P6 to the chain as a Pre (the Dac sounds amazing to me - it bests the Brooklyn DAC+ in my system/room that I demoād), disposed of the Oppo 105D, added a Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra between the Mac Mini Roon and the Parasound P6 as a streamer endpoint only. Also swapped the REL 7 for the 9 as suggested by John from REL as a better match to the Navis Arb-51. He was right of course.
In the meantime I ordered a Clearaudio Concept Wood with MC Cartridge too to possibly replace my Pro-Ject Classic SB (most likely unless there is some unresolvable grounding issue with the CA TT) but I can say that the Elac are getting a workout and I am happier with them at this point than I was with the LS50W but the Kef are still the best All-in-One box I have heard for multiple setups. Now Darko has a few items in for 1st quarter reviews that should be interesting as well as his upcoming review of the Argoās. Still holding onto the LS50W though since they are so damn good for all they do.
It was all just my opinion.
The tinkering mind never dies I suppose. I wonder if I got those Genelecs where my mind would travel. Possibly room acoustics.
KEF has a document about how they designed it etc.:
It still doesnāt say much about what happens should the midbass unit have large excursions.
For the time being Iām going to focus my tinkering on the integration of my subs.
The next gen of these speakers would do well to have built in room correction and sub integration with a usb mic. Instructions on how to take the measurements and it just corrects response and integrates the sub. Phase and time corrected.
They better leave something to tinker with though. House curves?
I forgot this the Elac thread.
With the ELAC the advantage is I could choose a DAC which could introduce me to the new DSD formats out there and the software DSD upsamplers.
That 300hz thing though would be the reason to make the change. Genelec crosses over at 390Hz for what thatās worth.
Darkoās review available here:
He killed it in this review of course, best reviews on YouTube for audio equipment right now and itās not really close.
Iād say for anyone interested in them buy from crutchfield and take advantage of the 60 day in home demo Policy.
Thereās no optical input on the Discovery Connect, right? I just think it would be convenient to connect the TV.
Hi @Magnus how would I go about connecting the Navis to the Mojo? Would I need something like this? - https://www.audioquest.com/accessories/splitters-connectors-adaptors/adaptors/flx-mini-rca-adaptor-3-5mm-to-2-female-rca#!/features
Iād be wanting to use the optical input to hook up my TV.
Instead of 3.5mm to RCA female + pair of RCA interconnects, you can just get a single 3.5mm to twin RCA male cable.
BJC make a good quality one:
https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/audio/indexmob.htm
Try to keep the length under 3m if you can. As short as practicably possible is always best.
I know itās a big step up in price but something like Hugo2 is better suited because it not only features RCA outputs but it features a physical remote control.
Remember Navis features no volume control.
Unless youāre using Navis nearfield, then Mojoās volume control is an armās length away.
Hi Sean,
I thought the Navis had single ended RCA output so that cable wouldnt be right?
Excuse me if iām wrong. Hi-Fi newbie here.
When in doubt, just Google Image for the back panel. Pics make everything much easier.
Thatās a female input below, so youāll need a male plug like the photo I already shared aboveā¦
As mentioned above, remember Navis features no volume control. And Mojo features no remote control for volumeā¦
I know Mojo itself has volume control but not remote control like Hugo2 features.
Iām confused the 3.5mm male would go into the Line In female and then the RCAās into where on the Mojo?
If I set the Mojo to my required volume and connected to my TV via optical I could use the TV remote to manage volume from there?
