KEF Reference Series

[MobiusMu]

I would love to listen to the KEF Reference 3 or 5's but cannot find anyone that has them on display. I travel every other week for bussines and every place I have been to has the Blade but not the ref's. Is this normal? The place I visited yesterday told me they build them per order. Then how do I hear them first?!

This particular shop had every B&W from the CM10 to the 802's. And only the Blades from KEF.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

I myself have R500 and I have heard the Reference 5. The Reference 5 is a nice speaker but I myself prefer to save the price difference to R500 as they are not so different from each other imo. I myself look forward to hear Philharmonic 3 some day how ever as what I have read about them sounds really nice.

 

[KenM10759]

I've heard Reference 3 and Reference 1 at a dealer an hour northeast of me, Audio Video Therapy of Nashua NH. I own R500 (and others) and have a completely different impression.

I would sell my firstborn son to get a pair of Reference 5! Fortunately for him, there isn't any market for a 34 year old guy.

I think the Reference I've heard are in a completely different league and worth the money. Everything that's good about the R series is extended further. Deeper yet smoother bass. More defining treble, accurate yet never fatiguing. Midrange is so realistic I swore male vocalists were standing in front of me. The Reference 3 in particular just made the hair on the back of my neck stand up with perfect imaging and the most defined soundstage I've heard, short of the B&W 800D3 that cost twice as much.

The finish of the walnut cabinets was better quality than any high end furniture I've seen. There is no doubt I would audition these last when I can go shopping for my "retirement" speaker pair. And likely come home with them.