KEF Owners Thread - Page 188

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-kef-ls50-s-50th-anniversary-mini-monitors-the-very-definition-of-a-giant-killer-2013-01-21-speakers-07430

speaking of audiogon:)
$1200 for LS50s, try to talk this guy down in price...

I would like to compare the LS50s back to back with my current Paradigm S1s. The S1s have been the perfect mini monitor so far for my setup. The KEFs have me interested though. Anyone compare both yet?

yveletnik, stay away from audiogon about the second week of February. Give someone else (me) a chance to pick up some used Kef's lol.

has anyone heard the r series and ls50? what are the differences?
also has anyone heard either with a tube pre-amp or tube amp? What positive attributes are added to the sound?

Need some help from fellow KEF owners. Current owner of KEF iQ 3's and iQ6c. Love them. Absolutely awesome sound. Fully satisfied with their performance. Anywho, I have just bought a house and wired 4 speakers in the ceiling for the master (not necessarily going to use all 4) and 1 center and two surrounds in the ceiling in the living room. No wall center since it's above fireplace and trust me...it would be impossible. Might just have center speaker on a tv cabinet...not sure.

Any recommendations on what to buy for ceiling speakers (mostly surround audio....maybe some music...but it would be light). I love KEF but they seem to be a ripoff in the new construction in-wall/in-ceiling speaker arena. I'm looking for a clean speaker that has qualities like KEF...and if KEF is the only recommendation then what models are suggested. Remember, in ceiling only!

I have B&W ceiling speakers as surrounds on two systems. Thought they were better than comparitably priced options from Kef.

I can get kef c3 pair from newegg for $197 a pair... is that good? would they work well with the denon RCD-N7

How loud must KEF speakers play before they sound fine? I live in an apartment and have no intention of turning up the volume so loud that my neighbors would get pissed. My HT is in a small area (approx 10' x 15') and I use it for movies most of the time. The way my room is laid out, the speakers would be in direction facing the short distance of the room. Would the Q500 be more than enough (if not overkill) for the fronts? I was thinking Q500 for the fronts, Q200c for center, and Q100 for the rear. I've got a separate sub (which I wouldn't be turning up too loud either).

My experience with Kefs is that they don't need to be loud to sound good, at least with Reference and XQs that I do/have owned. They also do equally well with music and movies. Regarding your appartment, how loud your sub is turned up will have a lot to do with what neighbors can hear. I turn my sub off when I am trying not to disturb.

I've compared my LS50's to Usher BE-718's I know that doesn't help but....I can't say enough good things about the LS50's.

LS50's are less edgy than other KEF's I've heard, my opinion.

It sounds like you've a case of upgrade bug, using perfect in my setup and interested though in the same sentence.

What are the recommended stands for the R300 / R600cHow close to the rear wall can one place them for best performance?

i just looked and didn't find anything lol. I will give the shop i auditioned the r300's at a call and see what they had them set up to

That depends on a few factors. The issue is not the loudspeakers, but the way people perceive different frequency regions (especially bass) at different volumes. Speakers voiced with a more-or-less neutral low end often sound thin at lower volumes, whereas speakers voiced more "ripely" (think, for instance, of the old BBC LS3/5a minimonitor, which had a very high Q closed box and substantial upper-bass rise in its response) sound subjectively better-balanced at lower volumes. But speakers voiced more ripely sound boomy and overwrought at high volumes.

My recommendation generally if perceived sound quality at lower volume is a priority, is to pick up electronics with one of the modern DSP-based loudness compensation programs, such as Dolby Volume's "volume modeling"* or Audyssey DynamicEQ. They seem to be substantially the same. Combine electronics with modern loudness compensation with neutrally-voiced speakers.

Modern KEFs, being generally neutrally balanced, are well-suited for such an approach. In an apartment, Q100's all around strikes me as a better approach than what you've outlined. The sonic benefits of identical front left/center/right speakers are so immense that it is hard to overstate.

*Dolby Volume has two separate components. The volume modeler is a loudness compensation program. The volume leveler is a compressor, similar to Audyssey's Dynamic Volume. The former works well. I've never used the latter (or Dynamic Volume).
Edited by DS-21 - 1/27/13 at 8:27am

+1 At the most I'd consider Q300's LCR with Q100's as surrounds.

xq10 for $700 or r300 $1700? anyone chime in on the differences? I imagine with the uni-q the xq have a large sweet spot but do they have that large lifelike effortless sound to them that the R series does?
Just trying to find alternatives if i end up not being able to afford the R300's. Was even considering an all q series surround system with q100's and a q center. I really love my music and think i could live without my 2 channel for now and just use the home theater set up for music too. Listening to the two different series, you can tell they share the same DNA , but damn, those R series are so seducing and ....i spend to much time thinking about speakers lol. I JUST WANT MY SPEAKERS! (my wife has heard that a couple times a day for over a year and a half now lol)

I have much experience with XQ40s and I own IQ10s but only as heights. Have listened extensively to IQ30s. However, I have not heard the R Series but have corresponded and spoke with those who have XQ and Reference experience to try and describe R Series.
First off speakers are subjective so not everyone will agree with my assessment and rightfully so. XQ being front ported will be easier to place and as such will have better bass response in suboptimal placements. They also have reasonably inert cabinets so good bass but not an overly strong point. Awesome mids and good highs, great detail but the 19mm tweeter lacks a bit of air.
So what does the R series bring? The next generation in Uni-Q driver, I.e. better including 25 mm tweeters for more air. More bass response but also rear ported so may need outer bungs in closer wall placements so may loose that advantage. They are also described as more laid back where the IQ and XQ line were a bit forward. My room is not conducive to rear ported speakers so my 205/2s are excellent as were the XQ40s when they were in there. If I could do two systems from scatch I would use R series for HT (R700 L/R, R600c and R300 surrounds) if not LS50s x 5. Adding on to my Kef Reference would also work for HT, 201/2s or 203/2s for surrounds.

For pure stereo, 2.0, Kef Blades or Revel Ultima Salon2s or perhaps Salk Soundscape.
Edited by jima4a - 1/28/13 at 2:42am

How do the KEF Q300's with the Q600 center sound? I'm looking for an upgrade to my ProMonitor 1000's, and I'd be pushing them with a Marantz SR6005. My system is strictly TV/Movies, so my main priority is very clear dialogue, and a nice front stage. These have got almost my full attention only being distracted by the Ascend CMT-340 SE.. I think I'm liking the KEF better though. Any thoughts?

Mike

Good speakers will sound good even at very low audible volume. And KEF speakers are definitely good speakers.

Thanks. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's probably noted this before but even though using a Q300 for the center is a good idea, it's not easy finding just a single speaker as they usually come in pairs Otherwise I'd have to settle on the Q200c

KEF KUBE-1 8" Powered Subwoofer (Black)

Lightning deal on amazon right now for $199

nice good looks

Well, I'm now a member of the club! I found a dealer who had the Q series in stock and gave the Q300's a good listen. I was not dissapointed! I ordered the walnut that night from A4L.com and received them yesterday. It took about 4 days. I'm super happy with the way they arrived: zero scratches, zero physical defaults, zero mechanical flaws. If I didn't know better, I would swear that they were brand spanking new! I ordered them with a refurb Denon 1612 and it also appears flawless. I've had about 3 hours of break-in time so far and they are sounding not only more detailed and full, but LOUDER, with every minute they're played. They aren't quite as full as the LS50's, but I'm extremely impressed with the quantity and especially the quality of the bass produced! I've just begun my search for a subwoofer that will compliment these in music, but will also be functional with my HT. Too bad that Kube deal is already over!

HSU is nice because you can switch from sealed to ported and adjust the Q. So covers both music and HT

and welcome to the club btw

Congrats! I can't help reflect on this as what will be the HiFi Business Model of the Future. B&M just can not survive, I am not faulting anyone, something new has to sort out. Will you rent demo pairs, take your chance on return shipping or what? 20 years ago you could go several shops and listen, today almost none. I don't have any solutions but I keep trying to think of what could work.

congrats on your purchase!
BTW, i have read suggestions that with headphones, you aren't suppose to play them at loud levels till you get at least 20hrs in on them. Is this the same with speakers?

Agreed it can be a bit of an inconvenience. But FWIW I've found ...
Quite often two bookshelves are the same price as the matching center.
So far I've always been able to easily sell my extra speaker, often on forums like this.
On two occasions I found someone ahead of time who wanted to split a pair, again on a forum like this.
Many ED, and/or higher-end bookshelf speaker can be purchased separately if you ask. (I.e. most dealers will sell a third R series or LS-50. Haven't found that yet on Q's.)

For me the improved front stage has proved worth it ; )

Congrats! I've also bought KEF's from A4L and thought they seemed like new.

FWIW, I'm running a SVS SB12-NSD with my KEF's and it sounds great on both music and HT. The PB12 goes a little deeper (below 20hz) so some folks prefer them for HT, but I liked the smaller size of the SB12. (Haven't heard the HSU subs but the get universally great reviews.)

INCOME TAX IS HERE!! UNFORTUNATELY i can't spend as much as i wanted and buying the R300 is what i really really want to do but i think i might have to go with the xq10 and a sub. Only problem is i'm sure the xq can please me mids wise but it's already been stated the tweeter isn't as good and the highs and the bass were what i found to be exceptional on the R300. What do i do?

had to do it had to do it! Called up the speaker shop and the guy had me sold on some ls50's and a nad receiver but couldn't pass up a floorstander with a grill on it. KEFDIRECT had birdseye maple xq30's for $499 a piece. 2 and a marantz sr5006.

front ported too!