KEF X300A - Actives - A new beginning?

[Frank Harvey]

Hmmm. Now I'm thinking we could do with a pair of active LS50's with a built in DAC, pre-amplifier, remote control - how amazing a product would that be?! :rofl:

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[Ajani]

Hmmm. Now I'm thinking we could do with a pair of active LS50's with a built in DAC, pre-amplifier, remote control - how amazing a product would that be?! :rofl:

.........

Actually, that would be a really cool product. It would be interesting to see what price KEF would charge for such a beast.

 

[manicm]

The X300A may sound great but it's a very niche product, unless you'll only ever use your PC as a source.

The X300A is a niche product because it is sold in hi-fi dealerships and because it costs £600 and because few people (outside of serious hi-fi and AV) have heard of KEF. It is not a niche product due to being a PC speaker.

The whole idea of using a computer as a primary source of music - through desktop speakers - is far more common than dedicated music systems (hi-fi, micro/mini/seperates systems). Hi-fi systems are the 'niche' products nowadays.

My daughters play all their music from iTunes or YouTube or internet radio via their computers and things like these and these.

Both of them had little Sony micro systems and CD Walkmans when they were much younger (both in their 20s now) but they will never go back to anything that only plays music from a disk.

Even their laptops and desktop speakers are becoming 'old hat' now they both have iPhones. I have already been asked for advice about good AirPlay/Bluetooth speakers. (They like what I can do with AirPlay and iPhone through my system but want something much more compact without seperate speakers and without wires tethered to a computer.)

PC/PC speakers as a primary source may indeed not be a niche anymore, but I maintain these specific KEF speakers are. As you state your daughters play through iPhones etc etc, these KEFs have no Airplay or Bluetooth capability whatsoever and are primarily limited to USB connectivity,

My B&W MM1s are admittedly similar so, but would never imagine using them for hifi duty - that would be unreasonable when listening from a fair distance.

Many indeed connect full blown hifi speakers to their PCs, but the size and price of these KEFs target a rather narrow audience.

 

[Cypher]

The Kef X300A and the Dali Kubik Free are nice products but I think the price is way too high...............for much less you can buy an amp and speakers and get better results.

 

[steve_1979]

Hmmm. Now I'm thinking we could do with a pair of active LS50's with a built in DAC, pre-amplifier, remote control - how amazing a product would that be?! :rofl:

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Agreed. That'd make a great product. Hopefully if the X300A sell in sufficient numbers they might consider making active versions of some of their other speakers.

It would be great if some of the big speakers companies offered both passive and active versions of their speakers.

 

[The_Lhc]

The Kef X300A and the Dali Kubik Free are nice products but I think the price is way too high...............for much less you can buy an amp and speakers and get better results.

Have you heard the X300As (I haven't, genuine question)? What amp and speakers and USB DAC can you suggest that better them for £600? Thanks.

 

[richardw42]

The Kef X300A and the Dali Kubik Free are nice products but I think the price is way too high...............for much less you can buy an amp and speakers and get better results.

Have you heard the X300As (I haven't, genuine question)? What amp and speakers and USB DAC can you suggest that better them for £600? Thanks.

what LHC said.

Its a little disappointing kef don't give more connections. But maybe it would start taking some sales from their other products. Good on them for offering another option though.

 

[richardw42]

Also, are they too expensive.?

Drivers and other components can be pricey depending on spec.

 

[ID.]

I'd be sold on them if they had an optical connection, but I agree with Chebby, most people I know don't have a hifi and listen to almost all their music from their PC with some desktop speakers. It's how they watch a lot of their movies and TV shows too, so I'm probably the niche audience in wanting optical and other connection options.

 

[chebby]

I'm probably the niche audience in wanting optical and other connection options.

Optical digital connections are rapidly becoming 'old school'. I found this out when looking at new TVs recently. Only the more 'premium' models from manufacturers seemed to offer them as standard and they are frequently ommitted from many other hi-fi/AV/audio devices.

You are much more likely to find HDMI on a new laptop than optical. That's why I was delighted to find the B&W A7 offering optical + mini jack + USB + AirPlay and ethernet and built-in DAC + DSP settings. It is one of the only one-box systems (and the only true active one i think) that would have all the connectivity I need. I am still considering it as a possible option. (Though I don't want to lose the choice of CD and FM because they still work even if the internet went down and I like to have those fall-back options.)

 

[dap33]

whats the bass like

 

[dap33]

whats the bass like

 

[fr0g]

I think it's a double bass.

I'll get my coat.