KEF 104/2 Successor?

[kod4krome]

I'm not sure how many people have heard a pair of KEF 104/2's here. I was fortunate enough to grow up listening to my dad's pair. Unfortunately when I came home for Christmas they were gone, sold for a bargain price! He didn't understand my distress since they were 'over 20years old'.

Anyway, I figured I would register on Audioholics and ask: anyone who heard a pair of KEF 104/2's (or still has a pair), have you found any compelling upgrades/comparables that sound as natural and effortless? I believe the original price of these was ~$3k/pair so maybe a cap of $3.5k is in order...

KEF appears to have faded to irrelevance since then and do not have a true successor. Part of me wants to think 20+/years of R&D has produced better speakers at a lower price point, but those speakers were so damn good

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm not sure how many people have heard a pair of KEF 104/2's here. I was fortunate enough to grow up listening to my dad's pair. Unfortunately when I came home for Christmas they were gone, sold for a bargain price! He didn't understand my distress since they were 'over 20years old'.

Anyway, I figured I would register on Audioholics and ask: anyone who heard a pair of KEF 104/2's (or still has a pair), have you found any compelling upgrades/comparables that sound as natural and effortless? I believe the original price of these was ~$3k/pair so maybe a cap of $3.5k is in order...

KEF appears to have faded to irrelevance since then and do not have a true successor. Part of me wants to think 20+/years of R&D has produced better speakers at a lower price point, but those speakers were so damn good

I can tell you what 20 years has done. It has caused the company to be under Chinese masters for 18 years. They became part of Gold Peak industries out of Hong Kong in 1992. KEF is but a shadow of its former self.

The speakers you mentioned had a second order coupled cavity bass unit. That had a vogue for a while in the eighties.

The 104/2 was actually quite a good speaker. It will take more than your speaker budget to best them.

 

[kod4krome]

Thats what I was afraid of. TLS do you have any suggestions where I might start looking at something even comparable? In or above that price range? Thanks for the info on the demise of KEF.

 

[PENG]

Anyway, I figured I would register on Audioholics and ask: anyone who heard a pair of KEF 104/2's (or still has a pair), have you found any compelling upgrades/comparables that sound as natural and effortless? I believe the original price of these was ~$3k/pair so maybe a cap of $3.5k is in order...

I found the 104 and 105 series do not do too well with bass but other than that I like them a lot. As for comparables, the 205/2 look and weight similar to the 104/2. Or you may consider the more affordable books shelf models such as the 201/2.

KEF appears to have faded to irrelevance since then and do not have a true successor. Part of me wants to think 20+/years of R&D has produced better speakers at a lower price point, but those speakers were so damn good

I doubt that is the case and I don't know why people say that, perhaps KEF's strategy of also going after the low end markets back fires? They are still getting some attentions from respected audio magazines and there are no shortage of nice reviews. Regardless, my next pair of L/R speakers for the 2 channel system will be either B&W 800 diamond series or comparable KEF referecne series.

http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/775/

http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/708kef/

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/speakers/2537/kef-reference-2072-stereo-speakers.html

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/two-channel-speakers/315-a-secrets-speaker-review.html?start=2

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/kef_2012.htm

 

[AJinFLA]

KEF appears to have faded to irrelevance since then and do not have a true successor. Part of me wants to think 20+/years of R&D has produced better speakers at a lower price point, but those speakers were so damn good

Huh? KEF has made and continues to make superbly designed and therefore excellent sounding loudspeakers. The 20+ yrs has done exactly that. Their current line up is worlds better than 20yrs ago, measurably and audibly.
The links provided by the post above include measurements, not just "some guys" opinion.

who heard a pair of KEF 104/2's (or still has a pair), have you found any compelling upgrades/comparables that sound as natural and effortless? I believe the original price of these was ~$3k/pair so maybe a cap of $3.5k is in order...

I've owned KEF in the past and heard most, including the 104/2. The newer models are superior, the equivalent price wise being the XQ30 (@ $3k/pr). Add a $500 sub for very LF and not break your cap.
Now does this mean that you will prefer the sound of the newer models vs the old?
No.
To the person in love with a '72 mustang, it will matter little that the 2010 out performs it measurably in every way, the "nostalgia" will not be there, so the '72 will "drive" and/or "feel" better. That's the nature of subjectivity. Same applies to the KEF. "Natural" and "effortless" can mean anything you want them to mean, despite polar response, linear distortion, thermal compression effects, etc., etc.
You may simply want the sound of the 104/2 itself, in which case, the used/nostalgia market is your friend.

cheers,

AJ

 

[kod4krome]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I may have been misinformed about the state of KEF as the few opinions I had heard were similar to TLS Guy's. I certainly have some nostalgia about the 104/2's but overall my aim was to get some direction as to some current comparable speakers. I believe I can discern a difference between speakers, at least in my own subjective way, and the sale of the KEFs reinvigorated my interest. I appreciate the feedback... now I need to go out and do some listening. Thanks again to everyone.