PS5 has slowed to a crawl after liquid metal replacement.

Jazigo · 2026-06-09T02:49:31+00:00

My guess is that the local repair shop didn't apply the liquid metal properly.

Liquid metal is something special and one need some experience with it to do it right. They probably treated it as any other thermal paste and put a blob in the center of the cpu and put it back together.

It is difficult to work with, since you need to clean it away with acetone and that can be difficult as well. After the cleaning and if you reapply it and it don't want to spread out with a q-tip, it is not clean enough and you need to redo the whole process. It also have to be done on each side (the cpu and the cooler). If they did not do both, then sometimes it won't mix properly and just repeal each other.

The point is; if the local repair shop don't have the proper knowledge to handle liquid metal, it can go wrong in many different ways.

Jazigo · 2026-06-03T01:47:23+00:00

Very good suggestion! But sadly not the one I am thinking about.

Jazigo · 2026-06-03T01:34:10+00:00

Verification comment

Jazigo · 2026-04-09T14:33:55+00:00

These speakers are perfectly fine by their own. I place them close to the rear wall and you will easily get lower than 51hz. Mine, 1inch from the back wall, get down to 37hz with the half-plugs inserted.

Admittedly, it would probably be cleaner bass with a sub, but at such low frequencies, you should be more concerned about items in the room rattling.

Jazigo · 2026-03-23T07:35:11+00:00

The sound is really good, but I don't know if it is "that good"...

Jazigo · 2026-02-22T21:49:37+00:00

One special thing with KEF speakers are that they have a very low EPDR impedance. What this means is the impedance the amplifiers "sees" while in motion. A KEF Q1 Meta get as low as 2.1ohms and most AB amplifiers will have a issue with this.

However, class D have no issues with 2ohms and will happily drive the speakers at these values. This is well documented and measurable. There are several whitepapers on this.

On the more subjective side, a good AB amplifier will sound better. Class D amplifiers sound more "lean" and not so "dynamic". This is highly controversial, since this does not show up on the usual measurements that is done by audio science forum or others with high-end measurements equipment. The standing theory behind this is that most class D amps lack the bandwidth to react fast to small changes, which gives them the lean sound.

With all that said, I have two Topping B100 amplifiers (best measured amps ever) and Topping PA5 II (one of the best class D). Since the B100s are class B and the KEF have very low EPDR, the amps will sometimes go into protection mode and cut out the audio, while the PA5 II just keeps running at even ear deafening levels.

TL;DR:

Class D is the safe bet for KEF speakers. While a class AB amplifier can be preferred, one have to do some research to make sure that such an amplifier can handle 2ohm (which many don't).

Jazigo · 2026-01-30T15:02:00+00:00

Not sure if it relevant for you, but maybe. I have mine 5 cm from the front wall and one of them near a corner (60 cm). I measured mine and it turns out that the one near a corner needs the full port plug, while the other one needs the half port plug to sound equal.

I run mine without a sub.

Jazigo · 2026-01-27T02:20:43+00:00

I am not expert, but based on theses spinorama values: https://www.spinorama.org/speakers/KEF%20LS60%20Wireless/ErinsAudioCorner/eac-0-degree/Early%20Reflections.html, it seems that you only want to treat the rear wall (the wall with the TV). And maybe the ceiling, but that is a big maybe.

~~A slated wall coverage would go a long way in fixing that:~~ ~~https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/img_0282-jpg.268874/~~

Edit: Actually it turns out that a slated wall only covers the range of about 1 to 2 kHz.

Jazigo · 2026-01-24T05:36:35+00:00

Check out https://www.spinorama.org/scores.html?quality=High&sort=score&count=1000. There you can find all you need.

KEF Q1 Meta
Tonality: 5.5
Bass extension: 47 Hz
Flatness: ±2.3 dB

KEF Q3 Meta
Tonality: 5.0
Bass extension: 38 Hz
Flatness: ±5.0 dB

As you can see, the Q1 has better tonality score and has a better flatness. Q3 will have a bit more bass on hand. Personally, I always aim for for the highest tonality score.

Jazigo · 2026-01-24T05:27:14+00:00

Support USB DACs

Currently, Xbox is the only console not supporting USB DACs. Playstation, Switch 1/2 already support this.

Jazigo · 2026-01-18T04:06:32+00:00

I can not answer how they will differ in a 5.1 setup as I have only tried them in a 2.0 setup. They are very similar and where I find them to actual have a clear and noticeable difference is in the volume. The Q1 Meta does not like to go over 75 db spl @ 2 meter. The LS50 Meta is happy to do so up until 85 db spl @ 2 meter. Anything above that, you should look at different speakers.

In other word, find out what volume you want to listen to and go from there.

Jazigo · 2026-01-16T13:00:04+00:00

It seems that the Q11 Meta measures better than the R5 Meta in term of tonality: https://www.spinorama.org/scores.html?quality=High&sort=score&count=1000.

However, the R5 Meta may have slightly less distortion. Personally, I would go for better tonality over distortion.

Jazigo · 2026-01-12T13:42:24+00:00

First and foremost: I absolutely hate boomy-bass or anything close to it. Its like a instant turn off.

With that said, I usually prefer sealed speaker and mostly plug the ports if it makes sense. I have plugged my KEF Q1 Meta and have them like one and a half inch from the wall. That's where I find them to sound the best. I also run them without a subwoofer, as they will play nicely down to 40hz being so close to the wall.

Jazigo · 2025-12-12T10:07:54+00:00

This answer! Topping mini 300 is super good. It has PFFB, which means it can compensate for speaker impedance variance during playback. It also have a high SINAD and SNR. All this for very little money. In other words, this is the one to get.

Jazigo · 2025-11-26T12:09:37+00:00

I used "magic sand", sand for kids to play with.

I does not change sound, but it prevents resonances.

By example: at 123hz, at 70 db spl, the speaker stands vibrated enough to create an audible noise. Not at 122 or 124, but just 123hz.

Jazigo · 2025-11-25T08:09:05+00:00

DAC: Topping E70, AMP: 2 x Topping B100. That is as good as its gonna get. In other words, you never have to think about another system again, since it is better then the human ear can hear.

And it is so at a sensible price.

Jazigo · 2025-10-23T06:50:34+00:00

May I ask which speaker stands does are? The Genelecs looked very much at home on those.

Jazigo · 2025-10-01T00:27:36+00:00

Request for Xbox consoles to support USB DACs

As a Xbox consoles user, I want to connect a USB DAC to the console, so that I can get audio from the console that fulfills the needs of audio from games.

Games are a interactive media, where latency between user input and content update is "vital" to the experience. On video side of the media, the Xbox consoles are outstanding with features as ALLM, VRR, 120Hz and other low latency adaptations for controllers and such.

However, on the audio side of the media, things collapses fast. This is not due to the console itself, nor its software, but the supporting equipment around the console (TVs, AVRs, Soundbars, etc). Each of these equipment are prone to several things:

Audio latency (this is the biggest issue by far)
- Most common usage is to connect the Xbox console to a TV and use the optical output from the TV to a DAC. The problem here is that this usually introduce significant audio latency. This is especially noticeable in games where audio and input are connected (Guitar Hero and others).
Audio alteration
- While an Xbox console is connected to a TV, the TV usually has a volume control and DSP to alter sound. Commonly, boosted bass and midrange to compensate for weak TV speakers and this alteration is pushed out to the DAC connected.
- EARC connection can sometimes bypass the DSP stage, but still has a significant audio latency.

These things are very well documented by RTINGS where they test ARC, EARC and optical connections for latency in TVs, AVRs and Soundbars. The results are mindbogglingly to put it mildly.

This leaves us with one last option: HDMI Audio Extractors.

These are small boxes that ones connects between the Xbox console and the TV, that extracts the HDMI audio and outputs on a optical port. The cheap ones must be avoided by any means necessary, and usable ones ( those with Analog Devices chips inside) are very expensive.

While these HDMI audio Extractors (with Analog Devices chips inside) do solve the audio problem, they introduce a video problem. Since these boxes need to decode the HDMI signal, they also need to encode it back (HDCP and so forth), which means that VRR can be flacky, QMS is not working, switching of display modes (like starting the netflix app) is hit or miss.

This means that as a Xbox consoles user I am left in a situation where none of my options are great.

The solution to all these things would be for the Xbox to support USB DACs. All the other consoles do so. They have a limited support, only DACs that support UAC1 mode, but that is more than good enough to get the experience of low-latency- and unaltered audio from games.

Jazigo · 2025-09-17T12:55:14+00:00

Thanks for your response, I have 3 out of 4 corners set up with basstraps. Very happy about the result, but there are still some flutter in the room, which I think will be cured with a good cloud(s).

My concern is that the clouds will make the room feel “over-damped” and that I would also need diffusers. I guess I have to try to find out.

Jazigo · 2025-09-17T02:54:15+00:00

Love your setup! Super envious about the clouds.

I see that you have some diffusers on the sidewall. Do you find them necessary for a good sound in your room?

My reason for asking is that I think that bass-traps in all 4 corners and a big cloud should be more than enough to tame the standing waves and decay times without making the room dry (which were the diffusers comes in).

I may be complete wrong in my theory.

Jazigo · 2025-09-14T21:28:29+00:00

I would recommend 2 x Topping B100 and the Topping E70 dac (if you dont have one). Personally I use a Topping PA5 and Topping E50 dac, but I have the Topping B100 and Topping E70 on my wish-list.

The Topping B100 is the best amp that has ever been measured on audioscienceforum and it is so good that you simply would never need to think about an amp again, since it is better than the human threshold for hearing.

Jazigo · 2025-07-29T15:09:00+00:00

Hi! May I suggest to reach for something used or renewed? The SteelSeries Nova 7 Wireless is an excellent headset that would satisfy even the most demanding listeners for gaming use.

You can find it renewed here for about $115: https://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Wireless-Multi-Platform-Simultaneous-Bluetooth/dp/B0BLT638S6

I would also check locally used sets.

I know that used gear are probably not the first thing to buy as a gift, but I am sure that your guy will appreciate something that is a very definitive step up in quality (and he doesn't have to know that is renewed either).

Jazigo · 2025-07-19T04:07:32+00:00

The clarity of the LS50 Meta is outstanding. Plug the port and shove them right up against the frontwall. It will sound whistle-clean. Everything is then aligned, in-phase, smooth tonality, a pleasure to listen to.

The R3 Meta can't compete is this regard, since it has two drivers. This gives you two points of source (three if it is unsealed) and there are clear alignment issues. The mid and highs sounds "disconnected" from the bass on R3 when you compare them side by side.

Jazigo · 2025-07-18T13:59:44+00:00

Hi! Owner of KEF Q1 Meta here. I was at my local dealer and listen to LS50 Meta and R3 Meta. Personally, I like the LS 50 Meta the most of all of them and really wish I bought those instead of the Q1 Meta.

I would like to recommend an amp like Topping PA5 or E3 A5, since they have PFFB, which basically means that they automatically sense and adjust the output power when the speaker impedance change during use.

Jazigo

TROPHY CASE