High output, Controlled Dispersion, excellent construction.

Limited listing area, and restircted low frequency performance (Like ALL THX monitors)

After reading the last review on these speakers, I had to weigh in, as I think they're being unfairly maligned! This is an extremely well built speaker, that features all of the characteristics you'd expect in a THX-certified speaker...controlled dispersion, high output capability, and low distortion. To my ear they sound great for movies, with exellent dialogue intelligibility, and a big, punchy sound that I find very likable. Music listened in two-channel bypass was also enjoyable, with a slight lift through the upper midrange that added some sparkle...whether it was needed or not. Be careful trying to pair this speaker with a bright, or forward-sounding electonics (Like Kenwood's KM-X1 or Z1) as that extra midrange lift might just turn into a nasty bite. Like all THX speakers with vertically stacked tweeters, these sound lousy if you try and lay them horizontally, so don't do it. Also be careful about subwoofer matching. Like all THX monitors, these are designed to roll off below 80 Hz, to allow a capable subwoofer to handle the really low bass. Don't expect some el-cheapo $400 subwoofer to do the trick!

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NHT M5/U2 Snell LCR 500

Neutral sound, no coloration, capable of high output levels, design and construction

Overall - none

These speakers are awesome for the home theater enthusiast. They have a very neutral sound that adds no coloration to soundtracks or music. Use these speakers with a good subwoofer, as they have a highpass crossover at 80Hz. If your main interest is movies, these speakers are hard to beat in this price class. Yes, they even do a fine job on music. I have six units LS-X1F and they use with this sistem: -Receiver Sony STR-DA5ES(main channels) New version 6.1 channels with dts ES 6.1 Dolby Digital EX, and Pro Logic II -Receiver Sony STR-DA555ES(SL/SB/SR), to amplify surround channels. -DVD player Yamaha DVD-S795 -Subwoofer Yamaha YST-SW800

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Jamo THX One and THX Two

very good ,

Home Cinema

Stereo Classical Music

I puchased three of these speakers as a package with matching surrounds, reciever, bass amp and bass bins. O.K. Hi-fi they ain't, but within the whole Kenwood package they work very well for home cinema and heavy rock. Don't consider them for anything else. Outside the complete package, look elsewhere, but within it they are better than my other speakers. It's all a matter of context and matching. Having auditioned other Home Cinema THX systems from Boston and Jamo, I rate Kenwood as value for money, if you can find them.

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Kef R104
Spendor BC1

construction - sound- Home Cinema

overall - none

Great sound very full range after a GOOD LONG break in period I was fairly happy with these hooked to the Kenwood X-1,However, having just hooked them to the Yamaha RX-V1 as rear full spectrum speakers they came alive & showed their true colours!
Perhaps these little gems were produced before their time & amps back then weren't able to fufill their potential.

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sd's, psb's, Dynaco's

This is intended as a word of warning to people considering the purchase of the Kenwood Lucasfilm THX approved LS-X1F speaker system. Beware! I find these speakers are really poor in terms performance and value for money. If you think mass produced speakers are rather bad, here is a surprise - you get worse!! I was lucky to be able to return them after one weekend of listening through the Kenwood X1 poweramp/preamp combo. I was initially considering Mission 732i or B&W 601 or 602's as left and right speakers for my system, but the salesperson at Kenwood offered me a good discount, and me being an impulsive and impatient buyer... made a great mistake. The LS-X1F's appear well built and are not ported. Such designs often offer great trueness of sound but require more power to drive them, which power the X1 or Z1 can no doubt deliver. Don't be fooled by such logic. The speakers have appaling sound, with NO midrange, poor highs and lacking lows. The sound was in fact so poor that I spent hours searching for what I beleived to be a bad connection in the setup. I am well aware of the fact that mass produced (japanese) speakers are of consistently poor sound quality, but really expected something better from Kenwood's top of the range Lucasfilm THX approved line. All I can say is that I'm thankful for the negative experience which ended up not costing me anything extra. I bought a pair of B&W 602's after much research and listening and there is simply no comparison. Except for the price. And to be fair - The B&W 602's are NOT lucasfilm compatible... whatever... I'm sure they will sound better in that setup anyway.
Sorry, Kenwood, one star - for the biuld quality.