KEF Reference

[DenPureSound]

Sean and I have exchanged PMs before. I live < 30 miles from Norman. One of these days Sean and I will just have to audition each others' speakers.

Hi ADTG -- can we ADD the new KEF "R Series" to this thread, as I hear/read they are almost as good as the Reference Series?

You might need to get Two R900 Towers there also...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hi ADTG -- can we ADD the new KEF "R Series" to this thread, as I hear/read they are almost as good as the Reference Series?

You might need to get Two R900 Towers there also...

Sure we can add the R900 to this Reference KEF thread.

There is only a $1K difference between the R900 and 201/2.

They probably sound the same.

 

[PENG]

Sure we can add the R900 to this Reference KEF thread.

There is only a $1K difference between the R900 and 201/2.

They probably sound the same.

They don't look the same though.. I like curve shapes better.

 

[GranteedEV]

Hi ADTG -- can we ADD the new KEF "R Series" to this thread, as I hear/read they are almost as good as the Reference Series?

You might need to get Two R900 Towers there also...

There was a thread for the r's that i made a couple months ago:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/75876-kef-r.html

They appear to be a good design but I'd expect that the low diffraction round cabinet of the reference series is still a good step up... That's why the ultra high end stuff (Gedlee/KEF Refernce/Revel Salon/Salk SS) tends to have very roundish surfaces off of which sound will travel.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

They don't look the same though.. I like curve shapes better.

I know. I love the KEF Reference cabinets. So sexy. So cool.

DenPureSound could get a pair of 201/2 for $3K brand new. Then add dual Rythmiks or HSU, but he has to get towers, and the 203/2 would cost him $5000/pr.

 

[GranteedEV]

I know. I love the KEF Reference cabinets. So sexy. So cool.

DenPureSound could get a pair of 201/2 for $3K brand new. Then add dual Rythmiks or HSU, but he has to get towers, and the 203/2 would cost him $5000/pr.

I wouldn't get the 201/2s either

wimpy little 6 inch drivers

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I wouldn't get the 201/2s either

wimpy little 6 inch drivers

The reason I bought them, the real reason, is because my 9 yr old daughter thinks they look so cute and adorable.

 

[cpp]

The reason I bought them, the real reason, is because my 9 yr old daughter thinks they look so cute and adorable

it's getting really deep here. your 9 yr old most likely likes little pony's too, and soon she will like cute cars so be darn careful

 

[DenPureSound]

There was a thread for the r's that i made a couple months ago:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/75876-kef-r.html

They appear to be a good design but I'd expect that the low diffraction round cabinet of the reference series is still a good step up... That's why the ultra high end stuff (Gedlee/KEF Refernce/Revel Salon/Salk SS) tends to have very roundish surfaces off of which sound will travel.

UtO... competition w/ ADTG and Grant Grant, will check out your KEF thread also, thanks.

Agree the curves are nice and great to look at (Keep your Mind on Audio) Look at the Blade and Muon, now that is Curves of the finest proportion -- they curve for acoustical reasons for sure.

Just remember, Curves Cost a Man more $$...

 

[DenPureSound]

I know. I love the KEF Reference cabinets. So sexy. So cool.

DenPureSound could get a pair of 201/2 for $3K brand new. Then add dual Rythmiks or HSU, but he has to get towers, and the 203/2 would cost him $5000/pr.

With the 201/2 Ref. Series books, I would need to buy stands that are 30.1" high to get to the same height as the R900's, so the stands would be almost twice as high as what the speaker would be sitting on them - like the leaning tower of Pizza.

I like Big, Bold, and Powerful Looking Front Towers - they give you the impression "Sit Back, Kick Back, the SHOW is Starting and the Place is Going to Rock".

The R900's have those nice Big 8" Dual Woofers that are not close to the ground causing all those Floor Bounce issues (like the PSB Sync. Ones), and a slightly modified Blade UniQ. After talking with the UniQ Research Engr. and comparing it to other models, and comparing all the specs the R Series to me is the greatest Bang for the Buck, but in the end our Ears/Wallet will do the talking.

 

[PENG]

it's getting really deep here. your 9 yr old most likely likes little pony's too, and soon she will like cute cars so be darn careful

He needs to keep her away from seeing one of those cute little wimpy looking 25W Luxman class A amp or tube amps that goes for a little under 5K.

 

[PENG]

The reason I bought them, the real reason, is because my 9 yr old daughter thinks they look so cute and adorable.

Actually you has got a point as they do remind me of that cute little guy on Star war named something like R2D2.

 

[GranteedEV]

The R900's have those nice Big 8" Dual Woofers that are not close to the ground causing all those Floor Bounce issues (like the PSB Sync. Ones)

...erm...

the closer you get to the ground, the more you minimize floor bounce.

 

[PENG]

With the 201/2 Ref. Series books, I would need to buy stands that are 30.1" high to get to the same height as the R900's, so the stands would be almost twice as high as what the speaker would be sitting on them - like the leaning tower of Pizza.

I like Big, Bold, and Powerful Looking Front Towers - they give you the impression "Sit Back, Kick Back, the SHOW is Starting and the Place is Going to Rock".

The R900's have those nice Big 8" Dual Woofers that are not close to the ground causing all those Floor Bounce issues (like the PSB Sync. Ones), and a slightly modified Blade UniQ. After talking with the UniQ Research Engr. and comparing it to other models, and comparing all the specs the R Series to me is the greatest Bang for the Buck, but in the end our Ears/Wallet will do the talking.

I think you will end up regretting if you didn't get the 203/2. If you can cut down on non life threatening expenses for a period of time would you be able to stretch to 5K. Also, have a garage sale, eBay your big Klipsch. The Klipsch RF series are actually quite popular thanks to the big box sales teams who have been preaching to their customers for years. Show your wife pictures of the 203 and the R900. Wives typically have better taste when it comes to looks.

One more point, your big XPA is telling you the same, they want to feed those shapely ones.

 

[DenPureSound]

I think you will end up regretting if you didn't get the 203/2. If you can cut down on non life threatening expenses for a period of time would you be able to stretch to 5K. Also, have a garage sale, eBay your big Klipsch. The Klipsch RF series are actually quite popular thanks to the big box sales teams who have been preaching to their customers for years. Show your wife pictures of the 203 and the R900. Wives typically have better taste when it comes to looks.

One more point, your big XPA is telling you the same, they want to feed those shapely ones.

Wouldn't it be nice to hear both the R900 and the 203/2's in the same room. What makes you think the 203/2's would be better, their price tag?
Ya I know, Reference Series vs. R Series.

Where are the 203/2's Plots at?

I do not like the Woofer(s) at the bottom of the Cabinet like Grant does as he likes Floor bounce and a lot of JBL Bass... no way Jose, get the woofs up off the Floor, like the R's, 203/2, Phil 3's, Salk HT2-TL, etc. !!

Why hasn't PSB done anything new with the Synchronys Ones since 2007?? How about a Sync. One (2012) Model?

Notice the KEF R Series has NO PHASE Plugs - certainly cleaner looking like the Magico Q5's... awesome look, BIG/BOLD/A STATEMENT ++ for KEF !!

 

[cschang]

Notice the KEF R Series has NO PHASE Plugs

Do you view that as a good or bad? Why?

If you can't find measurements for the 203/2, what makes you think they will be available for the R900?

 

[GranteedEV]

I do not like the Woofer(s) at the bottom of the Cabinet like Grant does as he likes Floor bounce and a lot of JBL Bass... no way Jose, get the woofs up off the Floor, like the R's, 203/2, Phil 3's, Salk HT2-TL, etc. !

I'm really not sure what you're talking about. The reason those speakers have woofers off the floor is to maintain tight CtC spacing in the crossover region. There will always be a floor bounce no matter where you place the driver - only its frequency will change. Floor bounce is inevitable if there is a floor. Luckily our ears aren't very good at recognizing floor bounce so most speakers most certainly have it including each of the ones you measured.

The advantage of putting a woofer near the floor is that you get boundary gain which reduces the amount of BSC needed. The more relevant advantage is that the floor bounce frequency will differ from that of any woofers near the tweeter - smoothing out response and ;;;minimizing;;; floor bounce.

Also i'm not sure what you mean by 'likes a lot of JBL bass'. Are you implying that the LSR 6332s are not accurate?? This isn't 1975.

 

[DenPureSound]

Do you view that as a good or bad? Why?

If you can't find measurements for the 203/2, what makes you think they will be available for the R900?

Seems in this business, you just have to know someone on the inside.

Kind of like the Stock Market if you want to Day trade.

 

[cschang]

Seems in this business, you just have to know someone on the inside.

Kind of like the Stock Market if you want to Day trade.

In other words, you really don't know for yourself.

What do you think about phase plugs?

 

[DenPureSound]

In other words, you really don't know for yourself.

What do you think about phase plugs?

Personally, I am not in love with Phase Plugs. When I look at the Magico Q5 I do not see any, KEF R Series also ... NONE.. and many other high-end speakers, why is that?

What do you think of them, and why?