KEF or Bowers & Wilkins...

[admin_exported]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new on this forum.

The only question that dragged me here was this-

I have auditioned KEF Q500 theater and B&W 684 and 685 theater.

I have a 10 feet x 14 feet room. My use is both music and theater use mainly concerning concerts. I listen to almost all kinds of music but more am inclined towards Rock n Roll.

I am thoroughly confused.

What Hifi has given Q700 a 3 star. And 685 and 684 a 5 star.

I want to buy something out of these that reveals my music the most.

I was happy with the B&W stereo, but was disappointed with the center and surrounds.

But the KEFs were extremely solid and had a transparency higher than the B&Ws, this is what I felt.

I have a Denon AVR-1911, NAD- C515BEE, and Denon DP-200USB turntable.

Please suggest.

-Hone

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new on this forum.

The only question that dragged me here was this-

I have auditioned KEF Q500 theater and B&W 684 and 685 theater.

I have a 10 feet x 14 feet room. My use is both music and theater use mainly concerning concerts. I listen to almost all kinds of music but more am inclined towards Rock n Roll.

I am thoroughly confused.

What Hifi has given Q700 a 3 star. And 685 and 684 a 5 star.

I want to buy something out of these that reveals my music the most.

I was happy with the B&W stereo, but was disappointed with the center and surrounds.

But the KEFs were extremely solid and had a transparency higher than the B&Ws, this is what I felt.

I have a Denon AVR-1911, NAD- C515BEE, and Denon DP-200USB turntable.

Please suggest.

-Hone

Hi hone

Are willing to also consider at other manufacturers?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[professorhat]

Always go with your own judgement. Reviews are there to guide you as to what to audition, but they're not a one size fits all decree, so just because someone else (or even a whole group of people) think one product is better than another, that doesn't mean everyone should. Ultimately it's you that will be listening to this system every day!

 

[Anonymous]

Always go with your own judgement. Reviews are there to guide you as to what to audition, but they're not a one size fits all decree, so just because someone else (or even a whole group of people) think one product is better than another, that doesn't mean everyone should. Ultimately it's you that will be listening to this system every day!

+1 on go with your ears...very few people here would consider a car audio subwoofer in a hifi environment but to my ears the fi q 18's I bought outperformed anything I auditioned. Wasn't really happy with any sub I heard under £1200 in my auditions, even then it didnt go as low or as loud as I'd like. I prefer the ones I built for £150 each.

pretty sure they wouldnt get a favorable review if reviewed by the what hifi team, but I couldn't be happier.

Its YOUR system not theirs...

 

[Frank Harvey]

I think you've answered your own question.

With the 1911 (or any other receiver in this price bracket), I'd usually recommend caution when partnering with speakers that dip to 4ohms like the B&W's - I'd recommend at least the AVR2311 for those as a minimum.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank so much for all your replies everyone,

well, I did consider other brands and heard almost all their models under 1000 pounds. I have a very limited choice where I'm located so, out of all those I heard, I shortlisted these. I almost bought Wharfedale Crystals, but didn't find them that great when I was paying for them, so I chose to wait. I heard the Boston Accoustics C226, the Klipschs, Polk Tsi series, Tannoy, Quad, but they didn't satisfy everything, stereo as well as a 5.1 DTS Master audio concert.

I have only heard stories of the famed B&W. And a friend is willing to get me the entire Q series from KEF. The B&Ws didn't satisfy both really, I thought their center was very weak, so were the surrounds. The music part was good. Some audiophiles here worship B&W because they say they are extremely revealing. I will not like it initially, but that is the truest form of NATURAL SOUND. So I don't know. So that's the dilemma, and also should I really consider brand position and reputation? do those factors also come in? I'm just starting off really.

*( Missing info) I've got Chord's Carnival Siverscreen Cables.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks again, everyone!