KEF Owners Thread - Page 174

Check the boxes again. The plinths are at the bottom in a separate box. I went through this when I got my IQ90s from Vanns. Almost through away the damn boxes with them still in there.

Thanks all for your answers! I was searching on KEF site and it looks that the base is not on sale as an accessory (neither in the manuals is showed as an accessory).

I sent email to Corey so I hope I can get help from KEF to get them.

R series driver

I just bought a pair from Vanns.com, the base is on the bottom in separate box

Gave some thought to bi-wire with iQ10, but my system cross-over point is at 110 hz to quality servo-based sealed sub-woofer. I didn't see the need for bi-wire,

BTW, I just unhooked iQ10 and inserted iQ30 in it's place. No system re-configuration was done. Much better SQ now.

Of course with sub connected...
I just did it while I had from my previous speaker already set that way and double wires = double gauge...

Thanks for an answer.

I didn't demo R300, just bought them to do "home audition".

I was listening in 'Pure Direct'.

I think the issue was in my ears as I was listening to SongTowers for 4 month, those have a forward mid-range and by comparison to R300s they are bright.

At the end I ran the Audyssey which opened up the highs. After listening to R300s for a week or so I find Audyssey too bright as well. But it's still useful for laid back recordings.
So it must have been just a "user adjustment" to a more relaxed speaker.

Another interesting thing is when I ran R300s loud (-5 on my receiver) all of the sudden they sounded so much better, they opened up and stayed relaxed, I dunno if it make any sense. My usual volume lvl is -30 to -20.

I'm taking my R300s to a dealer to A/B with Q900, so I will know for sure if anything is wrong with my R300s. But I don't think there is.

btw, If you had to choose between Q900 and R500 what would you pick?


thanks.

Heard the R300 and R900 at the T.H.E. Show in Newport Beach yesterday.

Same room, same gear...both sounded great, but I felt the R300 was a tad "warmer".

hmm, you are not the first person that sad the R300 is warmer than the others, weird.

Duuude... You were right. In fact, the box has instructions about how to open it at the bottom and it shows there the base too. Weird that on Vann's web page it says does the base plinths are not included.

Thanks a lot to all!

The reason I asked about the banana connections is because it almost sounded like you had "unlinked" the high and lo pass sections of the XO, whether accidentally or by a faulty unit. Improbable but still a possibility that would explain what it seemed you were describing. I'll assume you eliminated that possibility.
The R300 and Songtower MTM will have very different off axis/polar and power response. That said, there really shouldn't have been such a night and day difference as you were describing, just because of the physical format, unless you room is relatively small, "lively" and you don't use much/any toe-in of the speakers.
Disclosure: haven't heard the R series and if I heard the Songtowers, I can't remember.


Probably the Q900, because it has the basic ingredients where I could modify the heck out of it to sound better (to me) than the 500, for what I value and my tastes in music. IOW, completely irrelevant to what you should choose based on your own criteria.
The 900 is bigger, will go louder+deeper than the R500, which will probably be a bit more refined. One thing I don't like it the tweeter height, which for me, must be at or above ear level when seated. Always best to pick yourself based on your music needs.

cheers,

AJ

There is a 'why' to the madness:

I originally had a 6.1 system in an awkward room.

Finally got a 'perfect' sound room. Dark, 18x12 only one door. Wood floors, 7'8" high (low).

I cannot find another iq5 (discontinued, none on ebay etc)

ALSO - I READ LONG DISSERTATION ON WHY A VERTICAL ARRAY SHOULD BE SUPERIOR ON A CENTER AND my new setup allows the iq5 to stand perfectly DIRECTLY under 51' Samsung 3d Plasma. About 3" directly below.

So I can still get a second iq60c - I AM THINKING the shape would make nice dispersion effect for rear surrounds ???

Thoughts?

The 7.1 system:
svs 10" cylinder (almost 4 feet tall) !!! killer
kef iq90 front
kef iq5 center
kef iq7 sides (or rear)

SURROUNDS tbd (but I have ONE iq60c & can buy 2nd)

Yamaha 671 with preouts (7.1, 3d, 1.4hdmi etc) (also Marantz 5300)
2 channel 'old sckool' Kenwood Basic M1 amp


Many thanks for your ideas

PS WHAT (if any) ACOUSTIC TREATMENTS should I get for bare room. No windows. except 30' glass door to patio.

- area rug?
- foam? if so where?

PS I am also unveiling a [size="7"]"WALL OF SOUND"[/SIZE

w. FOUR Bose 901s - configuration tbd - but I am thinking of using Marantz 5300 and will take suggestions on amping it.

I hear 901s like bare walls.

Did someone audition already KEF LS50? Just impressions please if yes, while in the near future I might order this one.. If I have enough funds for it...

Here is what I find so far about KEF LS50. I'm also very interested in this mini monitor.

Note: I can't post any link until I have three posts. So you will have to google it with the giving search words

youtube: KEF @ High End Show Munich, 3-6 May 2012

soundstageglobal: KEF's Killer Compact Monitor: The LS50

HiFi News Review: search LS50_HFN_0712.pdf

Another interesting mini monitor similar to KEF LS50 is the Amphion Ion+ with flat frequency but also musical. 6moons have part one of the review up.

search: 6moons audio reviews: Amphion Ion+

youtube: Bruce Swedien listening to Amphion Ion+

I read already those review's about KEF LS50, there is link on the KEF page... Amphion Ion+ looks like a nice speaker set...

Currently using 2 iQ9-silvers at the moment. Couldn't be happier with them. Its so great to be able to turn them up loud, or really quiet and still not have much sound quality loss. I thought about changing at some point, but at the moment these suit my needs. Perhaps, I'll need a different set when I buy a new amp. (Hi by the way, new to this forum-this is my first post)

That is actually something I look at with speakers, myself. I've heard some that sound great at near reference level, but at low background music in the office volumes, they just sort of lose all of their gusto and personality and just sound washed out.
My 104/2s do not suffer from this issue either, thankfully. Even at very low volume, they are still crystal clear, and full and warm.

On a related note, I have a pair of Q1 near field monitors on their way to me. I'll be very interested to audition them and see how they sound and perform.
Edited by GlassWolf - 6/7/12 at 8:08pm

Yeah, it makes a ton of difference huh? Especially if you're an office worker, and have music on in the background. I definitely can't cope with music loud all day long, just to keep the clarity.

Always wanted to try out some Q1's. I might visit my local hifi shop later next week and have a look around. Been fancying a new kit for a while now. Always takes me forever to decide, and the minute I get my eye on something, something better comes out.

Hello there,

does someone here have the x-over schematics for KEF XQ20 or the service manual and are willing to share?
If you are concern about your privacy please send me an PM and I will send you my private email address...

Thx.

NTRAIN96 - Can you please confirm if the XQ20 x-over has separate x-overs for the HF and LF?

I just recently moved and sold all my old audio stuff so I am starting over, just got some Kef Q300s will be adding more Kefs to my setup soon I love them so far. Quality is great, sound is awesome, cant wait to have a full 5.1 setup going.

Would the KEF Q1 be considered a near field monitor, or just a point-source monitor?

To me, they seem just a bit on the large side to be a near field monitor.

Are you talking about the original Q1 speakers?
http://homeofhifi.com/itemDetail.aspx?reference=95

I have them (using them as surrounds right now). There is no reason they wouldn't work as a near field monitor if you have room to put them in your listening spot.

Yup, those. I picked up a pair used, and just put a pair of Bell'O SP-200 stands under them (speakers and stands in black)
Now I just need to finish re-capping the XO in one and it's all good to go.

got em in, now need to put them somewhere.

AJinFLA,
How would you modify the Q900 speakers to sound better.

The rubber around the top driver/tweeter(uniQ) is cracking, I bought these new about 7-8 months ago and I probable dont even have 100 hours on them. They are never in the sun, I am in Illinois so the humidity could be a factor. I'm interested to see if any other owners of Q900 700 or 500 see this issue, look close!

That should not be happening regardless of humidity or anything else...

Hi, would appreciate it if any of you could offer advice on the differences between kef reference 203 and the 203/2? I've searched the net and pretty limited detail available?

I have seen quite a difference in the price of used models, with the earlier versions tracking at roughly between 1/2 and 2/3 the price of the 203/2's - would you think that is indicative of the speakers condition rather than "bang for buck" or quality? Essentially would going for series 1 mean you'd be disappointed

Advice appreciated

Thanks

For anyone thinking of some iQ90's - I just purchased a set along with the iQ60 center from Vanns at a great price. Today however, I read a few pages back that using promo code "audio" reduces the 90's another $100. I called Vanns customer support this morning and they honored that promo on my existing order (after the fact).

That is great service I'd say. Super nice person I spoke with to boot. I will certainly be a return customer.

This month:
Marantz 6006 - check
iQ90's - check
iQ60 - check
PL-200 sub - check

Along with my existing surrounds, can't wait to get everything setup.