Quote:
Originally Posted by
ntrain96 
Before I go any farther on the Kef discussion, lets turn the attn to the RYthmik measurement.
Let's not, as it's out of the scope of the topic. I provided you enough information to find the review, as well as discussion of it in the relevant AVS forum, and answer all your questions.
But back to KEF mains speakers. It's fair to say, I think, that KEF's target has long been flat frequency response on axis with smooth midrange polars due to a tweeter that can play low enough come in where the woofer's directivity has narrowed to the pattern set by the Uni-Q's cone/waveguide. For example, here's Stereophile's horizontal off-axis measurement for their flagship from the mid-1990s, the Reference Four:
Their newer drivers seem to allow them to achieve that goal at considerably lower prices, and with broader treble dispersion, than they could previously. Note that despite having a tweeter 50% larger, the Q900 has broader treble dispersion than the Ref Four. As you can see from the measurements I posted above, the Ref 201/2 and Q900 both follow in the Ref Four's footsteps. While I've not seen any R-Series measurements, given its design one expects the R-Series will as well, with the difference that it will throw a generally broader pattern due to the smaller and shallower waveguide/cone.
However, they also had a series of speakers that had drive-units incapable of meeting those goals, because the tweeter couldn't go low enough to match the midwoofer's pattern. So they had midrange polars more like a typical B&W than the typical KEF. Someone who liked those probably will think the new ones are a step back, and somebody who broadly agrees with KEF's long-held targets will likely find their newer models a welcome reversion to the mean. Even though the old curved ones are more aesthetically pleasing.
Lastly, as to measurement/setup, one thing you wrote above is the following: "And RTA in the right hands can do a phenominal job of tuning in a set of speakers to a room's environment if you know what your doing."
That is broadly speaking true, with the caveat that "know what you're doing" most of the time means
ignoring what the meter says and trusting your ears. Newer measurement techniques do a better job of correlating with how we actually hear. One doesn't even need a dedicated measurement rig today, if one picks the right electronics. Anthem's receivers and processors currently offer a tool called "QuickMeasure" that works quite well to help with initial setup, for instance. And a better-optimized initial setup makes the room correction work better, too.
If every other AVR/processor maker else doesn't have their own variant of Anthem's QuickMeasure two product generations hence, then they're not doing their job.
