I agree about KEF - I found the last two models I had, the Q750 and R500, to have incredibly wide dispersion - the widest I've ever experienced at home (especially the R500).
Again, I think it's so hugely dependent on the environment. Recently, at AudioScienceReview they measured the R3 (amazing) but the reviewer
hated the sound compared to the M16 Revel. Later, unimpressed in a subsequent Revel floor stander review the guy had the sudden epiphany that the
room might actually have something to do with the sound! [audience gasp]. Talk about not being able to see the forest for the trees. So knowing and accounting for this, the R3 suddenly sounded good! He used Roon EQ to adjust
of course, can't be moving stuff around or using diffusion/absorption methods. LOL. Whatever.
I think those of us who have had to fumble our way through this hobby - before the benefit of the internet or technology - found out that moving a speaker 2 inches one way or another could make a huge difference. That symmetry is not always optimal. That sometimes, having
one speaker forward or backward from the other a bit sounded better, or even rotating everything a few degrees changed the reflections for the better. Of course, having a helpful friend helps a lot!
I actually (and still am) toying with the R500 just because they're
almost free at A4L, or the R700. It was the R500's I heard before, and honestly was surprised at what those diminutive things could do. Too bad that shop is long gone. If the new R series is as improved as they say, no doubt I'd be impressed. That's why the R5/7's are on the short list. However, I
didn't know what to listen for previously, I'd never heard a concentric speaker like that, save for the Tannoys which have a very different approach. Some people just don't like the concentric drivers, or the aluminum, or both.
And exactly on the KEF, I've read people rave about their soundstage, writing about how they disappear, right now the KEF Q150's on sale for $300 for the pair, I know they are not the 350's or the $800 LS50's but maybe the 150 can fill a small room, it would be awesome if I could get away with a bookshelf over a tower.
In my humble experience, I've found too large a speaker sounds a lot worse than a small one in a given space. One thing that seems to be agreed upon from what I've read is the concentric type speakers are great for near-field listening. Of course, one man's small room is another man's castle. I'm always amazed when I see somebody say small room, and it's bigger than my living room! I guess in CA you just get used to smaller spaces. My
living room is a little over 12 x 16 x 10. But effectively, with one wall mostly open to the entry, which is open to the dining room, it's 16 x 32. Family room opens to
everything but usable area roughly 16 x 18 x 20.
The living is setup for home theater, and with a surround it's less critical. I'm almost tempted to set up my 2 channel in a small upstairs bed (12 x 11 x 9) and use stand mounts. Very few floor standers I've heard have the ability to completely vanish like a good bookshelf.
The Q350 is $500/pr at A4L (refurb) 150 is $300 (refurb) or $600 new. If you can find new ones for the refurb price, I don't see how you can go wrong. I used to turn my nose up at KEF TBH. But, as I've gotten older, I've found the value in a Toyota over a Porsche. I've heard some great stories about customer support from KEF, rivaling (and sometimes exceeding) custom makers. About the only other speaker I've seen that has that kind of bang-for-the-buck is the 5 series JBL when it was half off recently.
