KEF Owners Thread - Page 178

I suspect that Onkyos always have processing on that tries to time align the frequencies which destroys the sound of the more energetic music. It's like everything is distorted and out of phase. It can't be disabled. I've heard the same effect on the NR1009 and NR3009. My pioneer had something called "phase control" that made music sound artificial.

May I ask why you're listening to music in anything other than direct/pure audio, or stereo modes? Music is recorded and mastered for 2-channel audio, unless you're using a SACD or DVD-A as your source. I really never liked any DSP mode for music in the first place. All those modes do is pollute the source signal. Anyway, every receiver I own is either an Onkyo or an Integra (and I have 5 or 6 AVRs and pre/pro/amp setups at present) and most of my speakers are KEF Reference series. I haven't had any problem with them, even on my 2-channel setup, and when using my HT system to listen to music (which is always in 2 channel mode, unless it's in all channel stereo, which is just for background music if I have people over of something)

I've heard the R's at two audio shows, and while they were nice, they didn't come off any better than what I hear at home with the Q900's. However, I suspect my room lends itself better than either show room did. That said, I personally didn't feel the need to upgrade to the new R's.

The harshness exists either in multichannel or stereo (w/sub) but not direct (no sub). I have never been a fan of DSP either but I was hoping not to need an Analog Preamp w/HT bypass. More expense and more cables.

Hey guys, just graduated and about to move out of my apartment and into a new house. The living room in the new house is 17'x20' with 10' ceilings. Currently this is my setup:

- Energy C-500's
- Energy CC-100
- Energy C-100's
- PA 120 sub
- Yamaha 663

We watch movies quite a bit, but also listen to music quite often too. I hate the old "out of 100%, what percentage is movies and what is music?" because I believe it should reproduce each accurately. Music is my main concern though because if it can do music well, I'm sure it can do movies well. Currently I stream all my music from an optical from my built PC to the 663 in lossless format. At some point I'll pick up a DAC and possibly an external amp for the fronts, but that will likely be last and only if I really feel bored lol. Not quite sure of the budget, but I'd say around $700-1,200 for the front is reasonable. Been looking at:


KEF Q (900, 700, 500, 300) {will be auditioning these, the R's and possibly the 201/2's, etc soon!}
B&W CM8 & respective monitors
Energy RC-70's (should these even be in the same field?)
...and a few others.


Just getting back into the swing of things in Home Audio. Been in car audio for awhile and the car sounds absolutely incredible now!! Anyways, I'll ask for purposes of seeing replies on the topic of "bookshelves/sub or floorstanders/with sub most likely?"?? It's a large area to fill, but the main point is MORE CONE AREA = LESS DISTORTION with all else being equal (and it usually is within the same speaker line). Anywho, anyone have any suggestions of other manuf. to look at, rough estimate for what I should be asking for the C-series stuff or anything else??

Thanks guys! smile.gif

I am getting the itch to upgrade the IQ90s. Really considering saving up for the Reference 203/2. Also considering the Focal Electra 1028 Be. I will probably go listen to them once I am closer to my goal but I was just wondering if anyone compared these two.

That just seems really weird to me. It may be a DSP board issue with your receiver/controller specifically. I've never experienced that issue, myself. I have tried out the various DSP modes on my Onkyos/Integras, but never had them come across as 'harsh' in any mode, although I did have my old DS797 serviced under warranty years back when I bought it, due to a bad DSP board causing a clicking in the left channels in any DSP mode.

In trying to sort out exactly what I was hearing I tried to compare Direct to Stereo with no sub in the configuration. Level matched Stereo had more harshness and Sibilance but was more full, i.e more bass. Discovered Audyssey Dynamic EQ was on and then ran out of time to evaluate the impact of that change. Quick listen did seem better but need to redo the comparison.

Oh yeah, forgot about Audyssey. That can make a big difference. That's especially true depending on your environmental variables.

Just bought two iq70 towers and a matching iq60c from newegg from their one day sale.

249 per tower and 249 for the center.

Hope it was a good deal. Pairing this with a kilpsch rw12d.

About to buy either a denon 3312ci or possibly 2312ci.

Any feedback on which receiver will best power the speakers?

This is going in a really large room in my new townhome.

Thx, can't wait for my kef's!

iQ70 are $200 each w/promo code!!! WHY did I let me wife talk me into not buying them. I've wanted to try some KEF towers for some time now. But, alas, the voice of reason chimed in

Hope someone else takes advantage of this deal!!!!

Congrats on your new Kefs! 3312ci would be quite good with those.

Slowly building my system. I currently have KEF XQ40 for fronts (two chl), HK 990 amp.,Onkyo 3010 avr, all still in box. Have older DEF Tech 15" sub & ctr. speaker. Also older Advent Prodigy 2 spkrs. I'm about out of disposable $$$$. Will the Advents, or Def Techs detract much from the rest? If so, what would be noticbly better ?

Depending on how neutral the center speaker is it may work fine. Try it first. If you are only using it for HT and not multichannel music it may not be an issue.

Again, for HT surrounds are less important so what you hVe should work. Multichannel music they all become more important to match in timbre.
Edited by jima4a - 8/23/12 at 11:14am

Could I ask some help from some forum members who own the Q900 speakers ?

I recently purchased a used set with a bum driver. I noticed when checking it out the passive radiators have more of a modern rubber surround found on most drivers today. But my UniQ drivers and "Active" woofer drivers have more of a weak old school foam surround. Can anyone check theirs and see if they have the same setup ? These speakers now have me wondering what is going on.

I ordered some replacement woofers to fix these and the new ones came with rubber foam surrounds just like the passive radiators. I thought this was very odd and maybe they changed over to rubber at some point.

Anyone who can check their speakers I would really appreciate it so I can put my curiosity to rest that someone re-foamed these at some point or something. Very odd.

Mine are all rubber. The top and third drivers have less stiffer feeling surrounds than the second and fourth (from the top).
Edited by Jive Turkey - 8/26/12 at 5:22pm

Mine have the same thinner but it is very thin and doesn't feel like rubber to me.

I have a lot of experience putting new surrounds on speakers and these look and feel more like foam than rubber.

Thanks for the input, it is very odd that they sent me a LF driver that has the same stiffer rubber surround as the passive radiators. Not like the LF drivers that came with the speakers.

Just ordered a set of iq70's and an iq60c center! Can't wait to get them set up! Anyone using these 3 up front also? How do you like them? Mostly movie watching here.

did u get them from newegg?

thats where i got mine, they had amazing deals. 249 for each one

i havent set mine up yet because my new house isnt done yet, but i will be running mine with an onkyo 809 and planning on bi-amping the iq70s...

let us know how it goes when you hook them up? what avr are you using?

thx man, cant wait to hook em up.

i ended up getting a great deal on a new onkyo nr809 from the local frys, so i plan on running that.

i was planning on bi-amping the fronts since i will only be using 5.1, not 7.1. any thouhgts on that?

I recently purchased KEF C-series 5.1, which includes: C7, C3, C4, C6LCR
I was offered a sweet deal on a Denon 1713 at a local Best Buy.
Now that I connected both the reciever and only the 2x C7s, and they sound great so far, I have yet to wire the rest.
I have 2 more weeks left to return the reciever, and am a bit concerned with the lack of power on the Denon AVR-1713.
My current situation:
I moved into a new apartment. It's in a small building and not very much sound proofing in the walls. I don't want to piss of the neighbours. My living room is a fairly large open concept space that also is part of the kitchen. It sounds very hollow for the time being until I purchase/move in more furniture/stuff.

Will the Denon AVR-1713 be enough? Currently on standard reciever settings I can hear dialog at volume set at 50-60, which seems farily high.

Hi all -

Been struggling to find that perfect 5.1 set up to work with a family room renovation that we are doing. Like everyone else, trying to combine performance with cost and something that will not stick out like a sore thumb. My wife would say that cost is the main factor, I'd vote performance.. but we both agree they need to work with the room design. Room is a 20x25 room with no back wall (it's an open floor plan, into the kitchen)... and the entire front wall (where the TV, centers and fronts will go) will be shelving. So floor standing speakers are out. And in reality... the main viewing area doesn't use the last 10 feet... so it's more like a 20x15 space, I suppose.

I've been looking at the KEF-KHT3005BL set. Or at least at all the reviews. I haven't read the whole 178 page thread yet, but can someone speak from personal experience on these? Are they powerful enough to really serve that space? We watch a lot of movies, but we will also listen to music... and I don't want to skimp... I want to do this right. I'll be getting a new receiver to go along with it... but for now I'm trying to settle on speakers so I can integrate that into the final plans.

Any input on this set, or perhaps some comparables to look at, would be great.

Thanks,
Frank

Just using denon avr591 right now. Couldn't afford it all up front. Hopefully the 75 watts can work them well!

Yeah newegg all 3 for $650!

Maybe I'll get a good deal around black Friday on a new receiver. Not planning on 7.1 but maybe bi-amping even though from what I've seen on here there's not much use in that.

Anyways for now, the avr591 and hopefully it'll be good

Frank I have almost the same room dimensions as you. Also open to kitchen and 15" ceilings. I'll let you know how my setup goes next week

I have these set up in an 11x14 room and went nuts and also purchased the Energy S10.3 sub and the iQ10's for the rears. Still playing with the sub xover, but the combo is great for movies, multi-channel SA CD's, and stereo CD's. so far I'm not having any trouble driving them with a Pio 1021. I haven't figured out which is better for the xover, 50 or 80 Hz with speakers set to small, or setting the speakers to large and just letting the sub handle the LFE channel. It's fun testing and tweaking though.

is it impossible to find iq90 in walnut? i see the 70 in black on newegg, but would love to find iq90 and iq60c in walnut

Look forward to hearing about it! Our ceilings are much lower, though. Only 8 feet.

I posted this as a new thread but thought to post it in KEF owners thread. Where can I but KEF T205 speaker wires. I have the speakers but dont have the cables

Just picked up the IQ70's and IQ60c - looking for rear speakers - any suggestions?

Your front three all have 5 1/4" Uni-Qs so the IQ10s would make a nice match. Congrats on your new Kefs!