Do KEF and Audiolab work well together?

[The_Real_Malcolm_Tucker]

I have a pair of KEF R500 speakers which I adore. However, I have read that although the R series are not difficult to drive, they do get better and better with the more power they are given.

For this reason, I plan on auditioning the R500s with a pair of Audiolab 8200MB monoblocks which pump out 250 watts each.

Has anyone heard this pairing and would it be a good match?

I would be very interested to hear any thoughts on this pairing prior to my audition.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BigH]

As no one else has come back I heard the Kef LS50s with the Audiolab 8200 and I thought it was a good match, maybe a bit more power would have been better but you have that so yes worth trying.

 

[inbox4]

Thanks for the response BigH. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the combination. Which model of 8200 was it?

 

[BigH]

Thanks for the response BigH. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the combination. Which model of 8200 was it?

Sorry it was the 8200A, with the 8200 cd player.

 

[Martinblueboy]

I recently heard the KEF R500's on the end of a 8200CD and 8200A and it sounded very good indeed. Detail was excellent, and the bass was surprisingly strong but well controlled given that some reviews I've read suggest that this might be a weakness of the 8200A. I would imagine that the mono blocks would only improve on that. The downside is that now I want a pair of KEF R500's to go with my Roksan/Audiolab system :wall:

 

[CnoEvil]

The downside is that now I want a pair of KEF R500's to go with my Roksan/Audiolab system :wall:

I'm not surprised.....they're very good.

 

[Frank Harvey]

The Audiolab products do work well with KEF, particularly the power amps.

 

[inbox4]

Thanks David.

Do the MBs stand head and shoulders above the other power amps in the Audiolab range?

Do you think the R500s would benefit from them or would they be overkill?

 

[inbox4]

The Real Malcolm Tucker,

So sorry for hijacking your thread. I mistook it for a very similar thread I posted a while. Sounds like are we are on the same track!

 

[Frank Harvey]

Thanks David.

Do the MBs stand head and shoulders above the other power amps in the Audiolab range?

Do you think the R500s would benefit from them or would they be overkill?

I wouldn't say "head and shoulders", but the R Series will certainly let you know that the MB's are present! The 8200P will be more than enough for most users though, and is more than capable of running something like the R500's on its own.