Kef T Series. Not impressed overall

[admin_exported]

Du e to space restraints in my new home I am looking for wall mounted speakers to place either side of my 92" Bemax screen.At present I am using a 1998 vintage Kef THX speaker system witha BK electronics Monolith sub.

As the new Kef's have had many fine reviews I was anxious to hear them.The fine detail and separation was of a high order with a level of clarity superior to my existing set up.The big let down was the impact from the bass department.Since the main units cannot carry any worthwhile bass the sub is being called on to handle a far wider frequency .This to my ears results in plenty of deep bass(as you would expect from a sub)but since there is no upper bass from the main units there seems to be a gap in the sound between the main front units and the sub.

With music the sound is very thin without using the sub.

Another approach which will cost similar money to the Kef's are B&W CWMLCR7 wall mounted speakers.

If anyone has any comments or opinions on the above I would be interested to hear from you.

Thank you

Charles

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

Welcome to the fourm. A few questions about your set up will help point you in the right direction. How big is your room? What amp are you using and do the speakers have to on wall / in wall?

 

[Frank Harvey]

If you're used to the KEF THX speaker system, I wouldn't expect you to be particularly bowled over with the T Series! The THX system might be getting on a bit, but it's still a very good package, and capable of much more than the T Series. And as for the differences in the two subs.... J)

 

[chudleighpaul]

You have a 92" TV and have space constraints?

 

[DandyCobalt]

You have a 92" TV and have space constraints?

Beamax is a projection screen - I've got a similar one that gets brought in and set up at film and pizza time. I have to put it up in front of my floorstanders and centre, as Mrs C won't allow me to reorganise the room, or move house :-(

 

[fayeanddavid]

If you're used to the KEF THX speaker system, I wouldn't expect you to be particularly bowled over with the T Series! The THX system might be getting on a bit, but it's still a very good package, and capable of much more than the T Series. And as for the differences in the two subs.... J)

Agreed, T series are what they are..............

Frequency range 80Hz upwards....................unless your sub is now set to cross over above 80Hz or you have done this in your amp set up there will be a gap/dip/call it what you will, you are comparing flat panel speakers with a bass level of no better than than 80Hz to a THX system, doesn't stack up!!

 

[Anonymous]

Don't THX speakers / standards cross over at 80Hz anyway? granted a full range speaker would have a better mid range capability.

 

[kinda]

Obvioudsly the speakers you have will be a lot better than the Ts, but maybe a different sub with the T satellites would be acceptable for you.

In the past when demoing the KEF style speakers I've found that the sub while OK for films just couldn't cut it with music, and wasn't fast enough to appropriately add the frequencies the speakers coulen't handle.

A different sub made the speakers muvch better for music.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Charles,

I agree the T series won't cut the mustard compared to what you have now. If they have to be flat on the wall consider the Monitor Audio Soundframes, if you are going to go in wall there are loads of other options. Find yourself a local dealer and get to come and have a look.

 

[Anonymous]

Hello Nick

The room that the system will be in has a floor space of app 16X8'6.My equipment is a Onkyo 875 receiver,Pioneer LX52 Blu-Ray,Toshiba HDXE1 HD DVD player(which I find a superior CD spinner to the Pioneer)Panasonic 4000 projector and a 92"Bemax screen.The speakers are Kef THX purchased around 1998 which are being used with a BK Electronics Monolinth Sub.

With the screen in place there will only be around a 9"gap either side for speakers which rules out the Kef THX.Having heard the T series I thought that the sound was more detailed than my present speakers but was lacking impact using the Kef sub.With the use of my Monolith I think that this would improve things.

I am sure that a normal 5.1 speaker system will sound superior but as the right/left speakers would need to be virtually in a corner this would not be ideal which is why I am looking for high sound quality from the space I have with either on wall or in wall speakers.

In Home Cinema Choice a number of people have used B&W CWMLCR7 in wall speakers,but I have not heard of any reviews/opinions of these.Also trying to hear these or any in wall speakers is proving difficult.

Any suggestions and your opinions on the Kef T series or any other wall speakers would be welcomed.

Charles

 

[fayeanddavid]

Hello Nick

The room that the system will be in has a floor space of app 16X8'6.My equipment is a Onkyo 875 receiver,Pioneer LX52 Blu-Ray,Toshiba HDXE1 HD DVD player(which I find a superior CD spinner to the Pioneer)Panasonic 4000 projector and a 92"Bemax screen.The speakers are Kef THX purchased around 1998 which are being used with a BK Electronics Monolinth Sub.

With the screen in place there will only be around a 9"gap either side for speakers which rules out the Kef THX.Having heard the T series I thought that the sound was more detailed than my present speakers but was lacking impact using the Kef sub.With the use of my Monolith I think that this would improve things.

I use the T301s as surrounds, and have heard the complete T301 5.1 set up which, excepting the sub, was pretty darned good.

I see you are using a BK Monolith, which is definitely the flavour of the year so far as subs go, so I don't see any real issues with the set up..................the T series are really very good, you may need just to spend some time to integrate the middle bass approach.

Try and get hold of your KEF dealer (unless you are in the South East then it is worth popping in to KEF in Maidstone), you shouldn't have real issues given the size of your room.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your observations.Due to space limitations either side of the screen(app 9")I cannot use my existing Kef's.I would like to keep the Monolith sub.Any suggestions regarding wall speakers or speakers that could be virtually used in a corner for the front duties would be welcomed.
Charles

 

[Anonymous]

If you're used to the KEF THX speaker system, I wouldn't expect you to be particularly bowled over with the T Series! The THX system might be getting on a bit, but it's still a very good package, and capable of much more than the T Series. And as for the differences in the two subs.... J)

Thank you for your comments.Could you suggest any speaker system(apart from the T series) that I should be considering?Unfortunately I cannot use the existing system due to space limitations either side of the screen so a conventional speaker set up would not be possible as the front speakers would virtually be in the corners.

Charles

 

[Anonymous]

Obvioudsly the speakers you have will be a lot better than the Ts, but maybe a different sub with the T satellites would be acceptable for you.

In the past when demoing the KEF style speakers I've found that the sub while OK for films just couldn't cut it with music, and wasn't fast enough to appropriately add the frequencies the speakers coulen't handle.

A different sub made the speakers muvch better for music.

Thank you for your ideas.I will try my Monolith sub.Are there any speaker systems which you suggest that I should be evaluating apart from the T models?The maximum space I have either side of the screen is 9.5 inches so a on wall or in wall speaker would seem to be the solution.Unfortunately any conventional front speaker system is out of the question since the front channels would be virtually in the corner.

Charles

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Charles,

I agree the T series won't cut the mustard compared to what you have now. If they have to be flat on the wall consider the Monitor Audio Soundframes, if you are going to go in wall there are loads of other options. Find yourself a local dealer and get to come and have a look.

Thank you for your comments.Will have a listen to the Soundframes.Would I be correct in saying that any on or in wall speaker willnot compare favourably to a conventional speaker set up?

Charles

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

You could look at the Dali Lektor LCR for the front three speakers and use some smaller Lekotr 1's or Fazons for the rears. The Dali speaker is deeper than the KEF but will give you a bigger sound and match with your Onkyo.