Kef R300/R500; but which amp is the best?

[peterpan]

Today i've heard the Kef R500 and i'm in love :cheer: It's is very long ago that i heard so fine speakers with my music (Symfonic metal).But i'm in dubt which in my room is the best; the R300 or the R500. The R300 wasn't there. When the dealer has the R300 he will come at my home for demo the R300 and the R500.

But what are the best amp? Marantz PM Lite? And with the cd 6004 cdp?

 

[peterpan]

Another 2 Speakers on my list to listening; the Dynaudio Focus 160 and Harbeth

 

[BigH]

I would not have thought Harbeth were really suitable for metal.

Do you have a large room?

 

[Bodfish]

I would not have thought Harbeth were really suitable for metal.

Have you heard them then?

 

[BigH]

No not yet.

 

[jerry klinger]

But what are (sic) the best amp? Marantz PM Lite? And with the cd 6004 cdp?

I'd go for the Arcam A19, having heard it with the R300s at the Bristol show.

 

[markiedee]

I can definately second that before i brought my setup i demoed the arcam a19 with the kefs r300s and the sound quality was sublime clarity and power in spades.

 

[peterpan]

Okay. Must be a good match the Arcam and Kef R300. But which amp for the R500? And what with a Rega Brio R or Unison Primo?

And what is a good matching cdp?

 

[ID.]

Today i've heard the Kef R500 and i'm in love :cheer: But what are the best amp?

Well, this might seem like a silly question, but what amp did you hear them with that made you fall in love with the speakers? If it was that good, why not consider puchasing that combination yourself?

 

[empacher]

I would not have thought Harbeth were really suitable for metal.

Have you heard them then?

I have. They're not.

 

[peterpan]

And the dynaudio focus 160? Anyone heard them?

 

[spockfish]

Heard the R500 with a Brio-R. Great combo, and resulted in the R500 being on my 'shortlist'

 

[Vampa]

Hi, currently listening to a pair of R500s driven by the Rega Brio-R. Music produced by a Mac Mini and send to the amp through a Rega DAC. Have listened the Rega Brio-R/DAC with Spendors, Tannoys, Delis, PMCs, Whaferdales, Epos and Castle Nights, all of them in the 500-2000 pounds range and to me the best pair was with the R500s and R700s. Well balanced sound, warm, rich, detailed. I would definetely recommend the KEF R series / Rega Brio/DAC combination.

By the way, my living room is 40 sqm and the R500s do not have problems to fill it, even with the Rega Brio volume at 9.

 

[peterpan]

The dealer hasn't the R300. Soon it is arrives he wil give a demo with the Kef R300 and the R500. Then i can hear which is the best in my room. I can place the speakers 35-45 cm from the wall.

Isn't the Rega Brio R a bright amp? And does someone knows the Unison Primo amp?

 

[peterpan]

How far from the walls?

 

[sakso136]

hello, i heard lately the r300 and i m in love since then,i m interested in a new home cinema system and i choose the yamaha 673 since it s the 2012 winner with audioquest flx slip 14/4 cables,,with boston acoustic pack.Can you please help me to chose cause i heard that yamaha with kef sound too bright???should i go for a/v yamaha or split my system into home cinema a part and hi fi in the other,i m looking for a great sound experiene with the r300. my living room is 100m2.music type electronic,reggae,soul,pop,voacal etccc thkssss

 

[stevebrock]

Isn't the Rega Brio R a bright amp?

I wouldn't say the Brio R is a bright amp, I don't find it so anyway!

Its the typical Rega sound........Musical!

 

[Macspur]

Another 2 Speakers on my list to listening; the Dynaudio Focus 160 and Harbeth

Which Harbeth model do you have in mind? The SHL5 imo can handle all genres pretty well.

Mac

 

[arrabon]

I recently attended a KEF showcase event, a fair number of their speakers were demoed with Marantz components, KI-pearl lite and PM6004 with pretty good results. Given that others have recommended the Arcam A19, I have a feeling that the R series speakers do well with amplifiers that veer towards the side of warmth. I have a hybrid tube amp driving my R300s and am quite happy with the results.

 

[kmlav]

I'm using 2 Cyrus X-Powers in Mono with a Cyrus Pre DAC QX with the R300's and it sounds fantastic. I guess my set is not high end but is fairly good and honestly I cant imagine music could sound any better.

I have also had them set up with my Arcam AVR 400 which sounded good , for a AV amp.

 

[spockfish]

Isn't the Rega Brio R a bright amp?

I wouldn't say the Brio R is a bright amp, I don't find it so anyway!

Its the typical Rega sound........Musical!

The Brio R is certainly not bright, and is a very nice combination with the KEF R300/500. My initial thought would be that the Brio does not have enough power to drive the R500, but my dealer convinced me otherwise. Since then the R500 are on my wishlist.... as is a lot of other 'stuff'

 

[p_m_brown]

Nothing new to add here really but I run my R100s with an Arcam A28 and recently heard them at home with an A19 and both are great combos, with the A19 being slightly more exciting. The 300s and 500s are both fairly easy to drive so I would def have a listen to the combo

 

[peterpan]

Marantz PM Pearl Lite for the KEF R500?

 

[p_m_brown]

I've not heard the Marantz amp unfortunately. Are you able to demo the Kefs with the Marantz and an Arcam or two at the same time?

Out of interest, what amp did you originally hear the Kefs with?

 

[roberto]

I have the pearl lite together with the R500, must say i'm very happy with the combo. The sound is a bit warm, but i like it that way. I usually listen to music all day long and it never gets irritating or harsh to the ears. If i do want a little more presence in the higher frequenties i adjust the tri-tone controls. And off course my girlfriend thinks the speakers are pretty - definately +1 for the kefs.

During the audition i compared the pearl lite with the arcam A18 and they sound almost similar, i bought the pearl lite because it sounded more detailed, with more separation and more punch than the A18.