kef R300 vs B&W 685 S2

[Danny1]

Hi,

I have searched but I cannot find any posts which compares the Kef R300 against B&Ws 685 S2. I would really welcome some opinions please.

thanks

 

[Frank Harvey]

That's probably because the B&W S2 range is very new.

 

[kmlav]

I have heard these and own the r300's.

personally thought they were nice speakers , as was the whole range, but IMHO kef still have the nudge on them. I found them really nice with most of what I heard but slightly uncomfortable when really demanding music was played, however for the money they are probably some of the best I have heard.

 

[Frank Harvey]

The B&W CM series is more comparable to the R series. A fairer comparison would be against the Q300.

 

[ErwinC]

I had them both in my setup and i don't think it is fair to compare them. They sound quite different and are in a different price range. Like said above, the B&W CM (CM5) range should be compared with the Kef R range

I also think you better listen for yourself.

 

[Reijer]

Hi there.

I have the new B&W 685s2.

Before I bought these I've listened to the old 685, KEF Q300 and KEF R300. They where all standing in the same listening area at a local hifi store. They where connected to Rotel hifiset (CD-player, tuner and amp).

In my opinion the 685 are the better moniter of the 4. When I heard them, they were fresh from the box, cold on the shelve, next to the old ones. The vocals sound's on the new one beter, like the artist is standing right in front of you. The sound is quite neutral, witch my wife and I like. The KEF Q300 are, IMHO, the lesser monitor. When we where listening, is looked like the artist was 20 meters away from us, compared to the 685s2. But, like more things in life, it's kind of personal.

In the near future I want to buy a new amp. Now I'm using an old NAD 3020 which cracks a little when starting up. I want to listen to the Rotel RA 12 and the Arcam FMJ A19.

Good luck with your choice and, listen, listen listen.......

 

[ChrisIRL]

Hi there.

I have the new B&W 685s2.

Before I bought these I've listened to the old 685, KEF Q300 and KEF R300. They where all standing in the same listening area at a local hifi store. They where connected to Rotel hifiset (CD-player, tuner and amp).

In my opinion the 685 are the better moniter of the 4. When I heard them, they were fresh from the box, cold on the shelve, next to the old ones. The vocals sound's on the new one beter, like the artist is standing right in front of you. The sound is quite neutral, witch my wife and I like. The KEF Q300 are, IMHO, the lesser monitor. When we where listening, is looked like the artist was 20 meters away from us, compared to the 685s2. But, like more things in life, it's kind of personal.

In the near future I want to buy a new amp. Now I'm using an old NAD 3020 which cracks a little when starting up. I want to listen to the Rotel RA 12 and the Arcam FMJ A19.

Good luck with your choice and, listen, listen listen.......

Highly recommend the Arcam A19 with 685 S2. Nicest sounding combo I've ever heard. Both the speakers and amp need a decent bit of running in to sound their best, a few hours of playing per day for about a week I found. As for the 685 S2, I did a home demo of a well broken pair of Kef LS50's but enjoyed the B&W's far more. Much better for lower volume listening too due to higher sensitivity.

 

[Reijer]

Thanks for the advice, ChrisIRL.

 

[ErwinC]

I own the B&W 685 S2 for some time now and i have tested the KEF R300 in my own setup.

All i can say is that in my setup/room the B&W 685 S2 sounds better than the KEF R300. The B&W sounds more open, has more detail and is more agile. The bass is also tighter and has more punch.

 

[Broner]

In my opinion the 685 are the better moniter of the 4. When I heard them, they were fresh from the box, cold on the shelve, next to the old ones. The vocals sound's on the new one beter, like the artist is standing right in front of you. The sound is quite neutral, witch my wife and I like.

What would Freud say?

 

[Reijer]

[/quote]

What would Freud say?

[/quote]

Probably something about sex.....

 

[GCE]

witch my wife....freudian lapsus ? oke:

 

[Reijer]

Shall we continue the forum topic again, rather than linguistic ******** (of which I'm partly to blame). Seems much more interesting.....

 

[steevi2307]

So, what amp did you take with the B&W 685 S2 ?

Thanks !

 

[Reijer]

Sorry for the very, very, very late reaction but I bought a TEAC AI 501DA class D amp. After auditioning several amp's this was to our (wife to) opinion the best.