KEF blades for home theater?

[Johnlo1138]

hi

I'm in the market to upgrade my home theater after 18 years with my system based off paradigm book shelves that I got in grad school.

I would like to do this right. So in looking at diff speakers the best ones I heard at a local store were the Kef blades. However they don't seem to be matched with a center channel or surrounds. Would you recommend I go with these and how would I do,plate a 7.1 system? If not what would you recommend? Thanks all for any suggestions.

For completeness sake I'm buying a marantz 8802 a pre amp and anthem amps. Thx,

 

[Ponzio]

Any of the KEF Reference Series bookshelves/center channel speakers should do the trick, depending on the room size, and I wouldn't go too overboard, price wise, on the surrounds, since they handle so little of the sound. Based on that u can afford the Blades, the KEF R100's would be a good compliment, as surrounds, for starters.

 

[PENG]

With the big Blades or even the Blade Twos, I would save the money and skip the center channel altogether. If you must have one, then go for the Reference 4c or 2c for better match than the R series.

 

[KenM10759]

I spotted a pair of Blade (original) in piano black all over the 'net for $16K and it got me thinking.

For a split second. Not much market for the adult children I'd have to auction off to get them.

 

[PENG]

I spotted a pair of Blade (original) in piano black all over the 'net for $16K and it got me thinking.

For a split second. Not much market for the adult children I'd have to auction off to get them.

If you can really get them for 16K, go for it. I think they are as good as speakers can sound, in the right size of room.

 

[KenM10759]

They're on Audiogon and a few other places. I just don't have the time to sell off the little-used machine shop I have to be able to buy them. Perhaps later this year the shop will be divested and I could afford to waste money on my newer passion. Not now.

I doubt I'd get Blade though. While they sound phenomenal it's just too much for any room I currently have. If I follow through with building a music listening room out of an extra bedroom, it would still be too small for such a large speaker that demands "breathing room."

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Just going to say this, From everything I heard about KEF Blades - they are phenomenal speakers, BUT out of all speakers I did hear (sorry, Blades not in that long list) Salk Sound SoundScape 8's were most impressive by far. Compared to Blades, SS8 could be even called a bargain
Speaking of hi-end speakers, I can't skip Philharmonic 3 - http://philharmonicaudio.com/phil3.html
Never personally heard them - but I won't be surprised at ALL if they sound very VERY similar, since they share crossover design by exactly same person - Dennis Murphy - owner of Philharmonic audio.

I'd also recommend you to do a bit of research about electronics - Marantz pre-pro is probably good choice at this price points, but for amps - you should strongly consider ATI.
I won't be surprised to learn that ATI is the OEM whom making amps for anthem.

 

[shadyJ]

Blades are great speakers, but they would be wasted in a home theater, at least if that home theater wasn't also used to play lots of music. First of all, the highly reflective finish would not be an asset in a room with a projector system. Second, they would need a serious stand-off distance to sound good, so I hope your room has lots of space in the front. Third, as you say, there is no dedicated center channel in that line of speakers. The closest thing would be the REFERENCE 2c or 4c, and at that point you might as well get the Kef REFERENCE 5 speakers instead of Blades. Blades are intended for two channel listening. A similar alternative would be Monitor Audio PL500 II speakers with its corresponding center speaker. I would also be looking at Funk Audio 8.6 speakers, and the Funk subwoofers will wreck anything from KEF or Monitor.

 

[Andrew08]

I agree with shadyJ, i saw real blade around my area, never listened, but without subwoofer and center channel it is a 2.0 standalone system, i think it is better to get reference series, for the sound, i think the reference and blade sounds pretty close for the high, but sounds different for the bass.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would like to do this right.

Doing it right takes a lot of time and patience. It's best if you could take your time and audition as many speakers as possible.

I think the Blades are great, but lacking in the bass.

But if the Blades sound the best to you after you've auditioned many speakers, then you know you did it right with no regrets.

For pre-pro, Marantz, Anthem, & Yamaha all seem great.

For amps, Marantz, Anthem, Yamaha, ATI, Parasound, all seem great.