Are M&K Speakers really that good?

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I wish to buy a speaker package for my recently purchased Arcam DV135 and AVR280 receiver. In a previous post I asked What-Hifi- if anyone could recommend any speakers that would maximize the systems potential.

I had several responses about KEF KHT 3005SE, B&W MT-30 and the Quad L-ite speaker packages. All top rated by What Hi-Fi and the industry alike. I went to my local specialist who demonstrated these and another option I had not heard of, the MK M series. WOW. The difference in depth and crispness to the sound was striking making the 5 star performers sound…well…a bit feeble. Have I been duped with a bit of salesman trickery or are they a fantastic secret?

I can find very little information on M&K or their speakers. Where can I go to find out more?

 

[Anonymous]

m&k speakers have a fantastic reputation,used in quite a few profesional studios(try googling them,miller&kriessler,might have spelt the last name wrong)but as everybody normally tells you always trust your own ears

 

[Anonymous]

Hi A Beginer!

All of the packages that you have tested are very good ones, and i was in a situation where i too heard the M+K (Miller and Kreisel) at my local dealer and i was sold!

I bought a full 7.1 M+K system over a period of time and i can't recommend them highly enough. I have heard the new M series (they are very similar to the K series) at the end of a Denon amp and the sound was brilliant even at low volumes.

M+K were used heavily in recording studios including Lucasfilm, Dolby and DTS labs. I think they went bust a while ago, but since have returned with the help of some Danes back into the consumer speaker audio market.

At the time that i bought my speakers they came with a 10 year warranty too!

I would do as the poster above has suggested...an internet search. I think What Hi Fi? have reviewed quite a lot of M+K systems and subwoofers over the years also...

Regards,

Raihan

 

[Clare Newsome]

Oddly enough we have a new M&K subwoofer in right now - review due Sept 18th issue.

We've rated M&K incredibly highly over the years - they've won Awards in the past, and we've used them as reference kit - but not everyone warms to their rather, shall we say, industrial design.

The company has had difficulties in recent years that mean the products haven't been available in the UK for a while. As mentioned, everything's now back on track and we're just starting to get kit back through our test doors.

 

[Anonymous]

Can anyone point to reviews of these. M&K don't seem to even have a website anymore.

I'm after a competitor to the B&W MT-30. So if they're better, I'm interested! Clare, are they better?

 

[Anonymous]

There are loads of reviews of M&K subs if you just google it and follow links...

btw you've probably found out but the M&K is 'under construction'ÿ

 

[kinda]

I did quite a bit of reviewing, and found the Tannoy Arena better than the MT-30, so that might be worth an audition. It's also cheaper than the MT-30 by quite a bit now, as the MT-30 seems to have retained its original price largely, though some people seem to get deals.

I never auditioned M&K, and I've sometimes wondered if I should have. However, I was looking at about double the price of the Arenas for M&K. The Arenas seemed fine for me, and I didn't think the M&Ks would be approaching being twice as good. Plus I fancied British speakers, didn't like the look of the M&K, the company seemed a bit unstable, and the reviews I'd read weren't glowing.

However, a lot of people rate them, especially for cinema, and if I was buying now, I'd give them an audition, just in case.

 

[kinda]

Oh, BTW, I definitely saw a review of an M&K set in a recent Home Cinema Choice

 

[Anonymous]

I too was in this predicament before opting for the KEF 3005 SEs. The M&Ks sounded clearer on listening comparisons during the first hour and 'wowed' at first. However I found that the sound hardened particularly at higher volumes and or lengthier spells spent listening.

For me, the KEFs offered the better all round sound. Less detailed and frankly less impressive with the type of films that rely on bangs, crashes and explosions but more impressive with dialogue and the majority of films.

Top quality films did sound good with the M&Ks but lets face it, we all listen to a variety of sources with very variable quality. The KEFs were a better rounded package for my needs as I don't constantly watch high octane progrommes. The looks and price differential played a part as well, the KEFs easier to accomodate domestically.

Just my opinion and by no means definitive.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Firstly, here's Miller & Kreisel's web site which has been up and running for almost a year now: http://www.mksoundsystem.com/

A Beginer - the reason you were wowed by the M&K's is that they're designed for a completely different purpose to most 5.1 systems. The average sub/sat package is designed to fit in with decors, look good for the wife, and sound acceptable with music and films. M&K's, as many people will know, produce monitor speakers supplied to movie mixing/mastering studios. Many films like King Kong and Pearl Harbor were mixed on M&K speakers, which do sound different to hi-fi speakers, which sound smoother and more polite. Openness and detail tends to lack through hi-fi speakers, but through the M&K's, movie soundtracks tend to come to life and you find yourself much more involved in what your watching.

There's no trickery, just quality speakers designed to do a specific job. If you spend £200 on a PC printer, and £200 on a PC printer/fax machine/scanner, which do you think will perform better? Anything designed to do more than one job is a compromise. M&K's are designed for movies. Having said that, I feel they actually sound pretty good with music too, giving something like Nirvana the sort of edge it deserves rather than softening them. Each to their own though.

Anybody looking at a quality home cinema system should audition M&K properly. If it's not your cup of tea, fine, at least you gave them a try. Many who tried M&K for the first time were instantly converted, myself included. I have never gone back from M&K, and hopefully will never have to.

M&K isn't just about big bang movies. Even comparing quiet, slow paced films can show the difference that M&K makes. You're just so much more aware of little things you've never heard before. You could argue they're there already, but the fact that the M&K's introduce you to these details says as much as most people need to know.

Anybody looking for music reproduction as well from their AV system should look at the M series, 750 series and 150 series. I've found these sound fuller due to using larger mid drivers, and having a larger cabinet volume. Anybody looking for more discreet systems can look at the Alpha (K Series) or Xenon series.

Cooney, it would be interesting to hear which amplifier was used for the demonstration you attended, whether any Room EQ was used, and whether both sets of speakers were individually set up or whether they used the same settings for both speakers. An EQ'd set of speakers can sound considerably better, so make sure both sets had their own EQ settings used.

I recommend anybody to get themselves along to an M&K dealer and give the BluRay of Cloverfield a spin.........but I'd also recommend you leave your credit card at home too

 

[Anonymous]

FrankHarvey, I'm looking for a sub sat package in white to partner an Onkyo 905. I don't really want anything much over £1500 and was looking at the B&W MT30. Is there an M&K package that would perform better for movies and music?

Needs to be small (same as MT30) and white. Appreciate your advice.

 

[Anonymous]

Go on Frank...sell him the white MT30 s that I didn't know existed until it was too late.

 

[Anonymous]

Do I smell a hint of bitterness Andy? ;-) Mate, such a pain in the proverbial getting the right colours. These are for a big kitchen / breakfast / day room. Need to be white to disappear against the walls (also white).

Heard an M&K system about five or six years ago that was amazing. Blew me away. Had a £1500 sub with it and the speakers were shaped and curved. Can't remember the model number but Xenon or something sounds familiar. Remember it then and thought wow. Maybe one day. How do these ranges sound?

 

[Frank Harvey]

Will Harris:FrankHarvey, I'm looking for a sub sat package in white to partner an Onkyo 905. I don't really want anything much over £1500 and was looking at the B&W MT30. Is there an M&K package that would perform better for movies and music? Needs to be small (same as MT30) and white. Appreciate your advice.There are only certain models available in white, but around your price point there is the M series, which are all available in high gloss white. A package can start from £1495, but the main one to recommend would be the M5 system. This comprises of 3x M5 LCR satellites, 2x rear Tripole M4T satellites, and an SB12 sub which is £1595. If this sub is a little on the large side for you (w15"x h15"x d17"), they will be re-releasing their MX7000 (w18"x h15"x d11"), which may add a little more to it, but has the performance of a big sub from a relatively shallow box, utilising dual 8" long throw drivers instead of the single 12" of the SB12.

This sort of package will leave the MT30's standing for movies, whereas music is a little more personal. As I've said before, I like a little edge to my music, rather than it handed to me sugar coated, so I quite like how they sound with music, and most of our customers are more than happy with their level of music performance. Rumours that they sound awful for music are usually spread by those who have never heard them, so take those with a pinch of salt and have a listen for yourself. They'll handle higher volumes as well as low, but they do like a little juice, which your 905 will provide in spades. Another member here mentioned the package he heard didn't sound too good at higher volumes, but I suspect this is probably due to it being used with an insufficient amplifier which was probably trying to do a little too much work than it was designed for. This sort of problem can easily be demonstrated with 2 channel systems.

 

[Anonymous]

Will Harris:Do I smell a hint of bitterness Andy? ;-) Mate, such a pain in the proverbial getting the right colours. These are for a big kitchen / breakfast / day room. Need to be white to disappear against the walls (also white).

Heard an M&K system about five or six years ago that was amazing. Blew me away. Had a £1500 sub with it and the speakers were shaped and curved. Can't remember the model number but Xenon or something sounds familiar. Remember it then and thought wow. Maybe one day. How do these ranges sound?

Not bitter , just regretful.

If you read the thread re the new cinema system you'll see that SC is sick of his white MT30 system. Might be worth asking him if he wants to sell them ?

 

[Anonymous]

Mate, I'm just ribbing you. SC doesn't like his white MT-30 hey? How come SC? What don't you like about it?

FrankHarvey, thanks for the advice. We will definitely take a listen. I think we're going to need to get a demo of a bunch of M&K speakers, up to the Xenons to compare alongside the B&Ws. May as well let the ears do the decision making. In the end, if a little more is to be spent, it'll need to be justified by the sound quality. We shall see!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, you make a very good point about room EQ. From memory the KEFs were up first (may have been EQ'd) then the M&Ks hooked up. These couldn't have been EQ'd as I can't recall waiting around for the 10 or 15 minutes that this usually takes.

Your point about the M&Ks being specific for movies and others having to be a sort of jack of all trades is valid. If I was in a position to set a room up just for films then I may consider some larger M&Ks or similar. However, as the room has to also cater for freeview TV, I just felt that the KEFs were easier to live with on a day to day basis for my circumstances, particularly voices. I do accept that you

For music I listen to Neat Motiv 2s via a MYRYAD amp - the KEFs would not be anywhere near good enough.

If I decide to change the KEFs at any point I will remember to watch the dealer EQ them.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Will Harris:FrankHarvey, thanks for the advice. We will definitely take a listen. I think we're going to need to get a demo of a bunch of M&K speakers, up to the Xenons to compare alongside the B&Ws. May as well let the ears do the decision making. In the end, if a little more is to be spent, it'll need to be justified by the sound quality. We shall see!No problem - I'm sure you'll find them to your liking if demonstrated properly

Any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Any advancements with your situations? Heard any more setups? Compared any?