One for the Brains Trust...............

fayeanddavid

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Upgraditis has bitten hard and I am beginning to think that the Front Left and Right plus Centre are due for an upgrade, and also the sub

I reckon the sub is straightforward by going for a BK Monolith (???), had a e mail chat with them and that was their recommendation however I have questions around the Front Left and Right speakers

Assuming this will be based on either the KEF Q300 or Q500 speakers with a Q200C I have the following to consider;

If the Q300 has a frequency range of 45Hz to 40kHz and the Q500 has a frequency range of 42Hz to 40kHz and that the bass management from my amp will be set at a nominal 80/100Hz to the sub, is there a compelling reason not to use the Q300 as standmounts, would they be "worse" than the Q500 as floor standers, I ask as I am assuming that the sub (be it the new BK or the existing REL) would certainly be the dominant factor/force below 80Hz, therefore would the Q300 be the wise choice or is this a classic case of a good big'un always being better than a good littl'un, assuming that the Q500 is indeed good?

Secondly, is this overkill for a room size of 4m x 4.5m with FLC speakers and TV across the 4m end and a viewing/listening positioned at 3.5m along the 4.5m side

Quite a few questions/considerations however keen to get expert thinking and to get it right.

Thanks
 

chudleighpaul

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You have given some dimensions for your room, but does it have a low or high ceiling. This can effect the total air volume in the room by a fair bit.
 

fayeanddavid

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chudleighpaul:You have given some dimensions for your room, but does it have a low or high ceiling. This can effect the total air volume in the room by a fair bit.

Chudlieghpaul

Standard height I guess, 2.27m, just measured it!!

And at the non tv end is a staircase "across" the back wall as it were

Thanks

Edit, that's Chudleighpaul of course
 

fayeanddavid

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Come along chaps, somebody knows or has had experience of my query

Mr Everard maybe,

chudleighpaul,

the_lhc,

even the charming Ms Newsome

Advice please
 

chudleighpaul

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As you have a Yamaha amp I would go for the floorstanders. Toe them in slightly for the best bass effect. Set the Yammy to output LFE to both front mains and sub. Should be awesome.
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fayeanddavid

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chudleighpaul:As you have a Yamaha amp I would go for the floorstanders. Toe them in slightly for the best bass effect. Set the Yammy to output LFE to both front mains and sub. Should be awesome.
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Thanks Chudleighpaul

That would have been my first call with the Q500s, was just trying to get my head around the sub integration.

Just seen a BK Monolith on another site which I am trying to do a deal with.

Any views at all on the Q200C............?

Thanks again
 

chudleighpaul

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With regard to the centre you may have to audition it, but being Kef it should integrate. I would set up the system without a sub at first. Set the LFE to mains only and fiddle with it until you get the best bass impact. That way you will not have to rely too much on the sub. I have always regarded a sub as the final balance to the system rather than a speaker in its own right. If you get the Kefs set up correctly you may not need a new sub. The Rel Storm may be perfect with the Kefs.
 

Pistol Pete1

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I would imagine the Q200 centre would go slightly better with the Q500's as they have the same size speaker cones. The Q300's are larger, so maybe better with the Q600 centre...

Saying that, why don't you spend an afternoon in your local shop and demo both the Q300's and Q500's and see which you prefer.....(whilst not changing any other variable...)

As your getting a top notch sub, the extra drivers in the Q500's may not be worth it, unless your going to use these speakers on their own for 2 channel....then the Q500 extra bass extension might be worth it...

The last thing to think about is the cost of the addition stands for the Q300's. They RRP at £450, then add £200 for stands and atabites stand filler and it'll cost you similar money to the Q500's....

Finally, my Q500's work superbly in a 14' x 12' room.....
 

fayeanddavid

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Thanks guys

Just the info I was seeking, especially around the integration.

Clearly I will audition but I just needed to get my thinking out on the forum, rather than at the local hi fi shop, just for feedback

@Pistol Pete1

Q500s that good then, that's good to know, have to say they do look the business!
 
A

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pop in to home media and speaker to simon, they had the kefs set up in the HT demo room the other day, im sure he will give you a listen.

I did hear the q700's attached to the naim xs and they did sound very nice, not to keen on the build quality compared to other speaker manufacturers though.
 

fayeanddavid

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On my list of things to do, hopefully tomorrow

Do they have the 500s set up with the 200s do you know, I'll give them a call

Your comment around build quality is well taken, I have the curved Q7s and they are finished well, not sure about going back to nondescript boxes, part of their new design I guess

We'll meet up there one day I reckon
 

chudleighpaul

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Before you order a new sub, try the new speakers with your existing one, you may be pleasantly surprised. The Rel Storm is a cracking sub in its own right. Could save yourself a sizeable wad of dosh.
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Pistol Pete1

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chudleighpaul:Before you order a new sub, try the new speakers with your existing one, you may be pleasantly surprised. The Rel Storm is a cracking sub in its own right. Could save yourself a sizeable wad of dosh.
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Very sensible idea.....
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Pistol Pete1

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fayeanddavid:

@Pistol Pete1

Q500s that good then, that's good to know, have to say they do look the business!

I demo'd them with the MA RX6's, B&W 684's and KEF Q700's. In my opinion, the Q700's were the best speaker in the test. The Q500's had their mid/high presence, but lacked in the bass department in the demo room. I ordered the Q500's due to size and the fact I was happy to use my sub with them.

Got them home to find they have good bass in my room....and now they are run in, no sub is needed for my tastes......

I have been really pleased with the detail and vocal clarity from these speakers so far, and that's hooked up to an AV receiver (albeit a good one...
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).

I suggest you take some Norah jones or something similar to your demo........and watch out for the detail these speakers offer....
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I agree...they really do look the business.....some of the pictures do not do them justice, in my opinion......just wish I could have the grilles off more often!! (dogs!!)
 

fayeanddavid

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Pistol Pete1:
chudleighpaul:Before you order a new sub, try the new speakers with your existing one, you may be pleasantly surprised. The Rel Storm is a cracking sub in its own right. Could save yourself a sizeable wad of dosh.
emotion-1.gif


Very sensible idea.....
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Yep, there is that................

My concern with the Storm is it is now 11 years old and I just feel/don't know that it would have deteriorated, not electronically although there is probobly a new breed of amplification etc, but in terms of cone deterioration etc

Would like to keep it as it has been a cracking piece of kit, just don't know how to assess it's current performance?
 

Pistol Pete1

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Simple.......

Take it along to the test, but before you test the front speakers, compare your sub with something similar in the shop......
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Any saleman should be happy to do this, as it could be another sale.....
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lussen

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i have kef q300 + q200 for small room this is perfect combo
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denon1910+ kefQ300fr +Q200 centre +mordaunt short 903i sr + fr height +velodyne impact12 +sony bdps370
 

fayeanddavid

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Pistol Pete1:
Simple.......

Take it along to the test, but before you test the front speakers, compare your sub with something similar in the shop......
emotion-5.gif


Any saleman should be happy to do this, as it could be another sale.....
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Except it does weigh about 35kgs, so not the easiest!!

Have a good relationship with the guys at Home Media, so may do the reverse with a home demo

Thanks for all the info though
 

fayeanddavid

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lussen:i have kef q300 + q200 for small room this is perfect combo
emotion-2.gif
denon1910+ kefQ300fr +Q200 centre +mordaunt short 903i sr + fr height +velodyne impact12 +sony bdps370

By small you mean................??
 

fayeanddavid

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THESTIG08:
pop in to home media and speaker to simon, they had the kefs set up in the HT demo room the other day, im sure he will give you a listen.

I did hear the q700's attached to the naim xs and they did sound very nice, not to keen on the build quality compared to other speaker manufacturers though.

Spoke to the garden gnome (Martin)...............

Set up for 12.00 noon today for Q500s and Q200C, taking test BluRays (Hurt Locker, Sherlock Holmes) and music DVDs (Dianne Krall, Peter Gabriel)

Will post thoughts later.
 

fayeanddavid

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Pistol Pete1:
Enjoy....
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Look forward to hearing your thoughts later....

Wow, wow and wow, very very impressed!

Listened to 2 x Q500s and the Q200C, with no subwoofer as I wanted to hear clearly what these could do

Such detail and clarity right across the front three, tonal and sonic integration sounded wonderful, almost like a veil or blanket had been removed from the speakers such was the detail

BluRays were

The Hurt Locker, first chapter especially the chase down of the butcher with the mobile phone and then the explosion, then the desert scene with the mercenaries and the shoot out (very moody, very tense)

Kung Fu Panda, opening two chapters when Po is selected as the Dragon Warrior

DVD

Diane Krall in Paris; primarily to check multi channel music, on tracks 6 and 7, Deed I Do onwards, fabulous piano playing and stunning vocals (the woman is a genius!)

The Centre speaker seemed to be right on the button with openess and clarity, all three have beautiful lower midrange and upwards

Bottom end was very good and this would be augmented by a dedicated sub anyway

My thanks to TheStig08 for knowing that the dem room was set up and multiple thanks to Simon and Martin at Home Media for their time and patience (I know.........it's their job, but thanks anyway), although I did have to provide the coffee as theirs is pretty poor!

And now .................. just where did I put that Grand that I will need to buy them??
 

fayeanddavid

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chudleighpaul:
Sounds like you had an enjoyable day.

Any chance of a home audition? They could sound completely different in your home accoustics.

As always Chudleighpaul, they could indeed.

Didn't audition any other speakers as I have liked KEF a lot in past generations, but yes the next step is a home audition if poss.

The listening room I was in is not so very different in size to our lounge, but clearly acoustically very different, ours would have more soft furnishing, curtains/drapes etc which I am thinking could well suit this package. Having used the Q7s for so long I thinking that the more open sound stage and informed mid range could well be a serious upgrade to what we are used too.

Still the problem of a grand but we continue in hope...................
 

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