Calling David@frank harvey

[ErikM]

David since I know of no other dealers that carry both Proac and Kef I was wondering if you could give an opinion of the Kef Ref 3 versus the Proac D30R.. I currently have the D30R and I'm considering a move up to the Kef. Yes I realize the Kef are more expensive but we all know more money isn't always better performance. I'm hoping you can shed some light on the differences.

Thanks!

 

[Philim]

He prefers Betty rather than Harvey....

 

[Frank Harvey]

What amplification are you using Erik?

 

[ErikM]

Hi David,

I'm using a Devialet 200.. which I find to be wonderfull!

 

[Frank Harvey]

I haven't tried the Devialet with ProAc yet, but seeing as the Devialet seems pretty much void of character (I mean that in the positive sense), they should work fine together. I haven't found any speakers yet to not sound good with the Devs. So with the fact that the Devialet won't change the sound of these speakers, we can just compare speakers really.

We have two quite different speakers here. The ProAcs will impart a certain amount of character to the performance, and it must be a positive thing as they're very popular. I've not been overly keen on speakers with ribbon tweeters unless they're accompanied by a dedicated mid driver, but the D20R and D30R seem to be an exception to that rule. Despite ProAc's character, I do find the D20R and D30R models a little more balanced than the standard models, and some of the previous models. How long have you had these? And did you compare them to anything when you bought them? What was your reason for choosing them?

The KEFs are about the same price as the ProAcs really, although a little more once suitable stands are used. Like most speakers there will be a certain amount of character, but you should find them a better speaker in technical terms if you take into account the UniQ driver. Speakers at this sort of level generally play all types of music well, but I feel Reference particularly excel with electronic music, and the ProAcs can really come into their own with real, non amplified instruments (string quartets, classical guitar etc). It'd be interesting to hear how ProAcs would sound when SAM'd, but unfortunately the only floorstanders they have made available for this (D40R) are now discontinued! Hopefully more ProAc models will be available soon.

Which one you prefer is really down to your preferences, and also if SAM is available for them, as this can change the end result by some margin. As it stands, both models aren't, but if SAM appears for the D30R, it would be advantage ProAc - the difference on our Blades was very surprising.

 

[ErikM]

Thanks David.. I bought the D30R because I've always been a Proac fan and I like the way the ribbon cured the slight brightness I've found in the Proac soft dome tweeters. I've also considered an upgrade to the D40R, but as you mentioned they're now discontinued. I'm not so sure what's going on with Proac, a lot was made of the Carbon Fiber drivers and now they seem to be backtracking? I've got to believe the CF drivers are more expensive than the new drivers? So I wonder why change??

In any case I've also been a long time Kef fan, my first highend speakers were 104/2.. and I currently have a pair of the R300 in another system, and think they are excellent.. So I suspect the Reference 3 will be amazing.

Again thanks for your opinion.

 

[Frank Harvey]

They have come away from pure carbon fibre for the bass/mid drivers (which I believe was stamped/compressed CF) as they are now using carbon fibre pulp. They found that this had better midrange performance, sounded tighter and had less overhang on bass notes, along with some other smaller differences. so it's not that there's any issue with the carbon fibre drivers, just that they've found a better performing alternative.

 

[ErikM]

Well it seems a litle strange to me that they would go back to using a similar cone material that they were using 10 years ago? The old Response 2.5 used a Carbon Fiber/Paper Pulp type cone..

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi Erikm

Old yes, but i would say that Response 2.5's and Response 3.8's are some of Proac's finest speakers to date

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[ErikM]

Agreed. Just seems like they spent a lot of time and money to develop these new carbon drivers, just to go back to drivers that "appear" to be similar to their older ones..

 

[Frank Harvey]

There could be any number of reasons. It could be that cost of manufacture has sky rocketed, which then moves them out of their intended price point. As I ay, when the rep is next in, I'll see if he has any information.