iceman16
Well-known member
Cno, I know you want the ref3 ever since. And if you won't get them Im pretty sure won't sleep well each and every night*diablo*
insider9 said:
The reason the Refs invoke varying opinions, is they are so revealing. If anything is just a little out of kilter in the chain, or the recording is below power, you will hear it.
If you put them on the end of a cool analytical system, they will sound cool and analytical. If the Source is deficient, a light will be shone on it.....but get it right and you will be rewarded with an engaging and dramatic musical experience.
CNo I should have the GAIA here Tuesday so will get to try them with the REF.
will be interesting
will be interesting
insider9
Well-known member
ellisdj said:
If they were 30kg, then the Daia 111 would work (up to 32kg).
On the webside - it gives the weight as 51.3kg....but underneath, it then says Unit of Measurement - Pair. Given mine weigh 33kg, I assumed these would be heavier.
The weight should be printed on the boxes.
nopiano
Well-known member
V interesting and demand careful reading as the graphs are published in different sequence!CnoEvil said:
insider9
Well-known member
I have got them not tried them yet.
I need to do before recordings and have watched a few movies last few days not watched any in ages.
I have some time planned tomorrow to do the before video / recordings.
If only people knew what I have to do just to setup the amount of stuff I have to move around just to be able to setup
I contacted the other company again for you sorry forgot the name. They said they are very busy and still thinking about it. I have tried
I need to do before recordings and have watched a few movies last few days not watched any in ages.
I have some time planned tomorrow to do the before video / recordings.
If only people knew what I have to do just to setup the amount of stuff I have to move around just to be able to setup
I contacted the other company again for you sorry forgot the name. They said they are very busy and still thinking about it. I have tried
ellisdj said:
At this stage, I still had no idea which way my decision would go.
Anyway, we connected the Ref 3s to the ADSM/Majik and fired them up.
The result was very interesting. They're quite similar in some ways, yet quite different in others. Both produced beatifully sweet treble, with the Kefs being a touch cleaner. They both had a highly detailed and accurate midrange, with the Harbeths being slightly richer and they both had prodigious bass, with the Harbeths going a touch deeper and the Kefs being bit tighter.
I was surprised that the Kefs sounded almost as natural on voices and acoustic instrments, but had a vibrancy that the Harbeths lacked...not bad, given the Harbeths are over 30% more expensive. It just shows how well sorted the UniQ is on them.
So, of the speakers I've heard, I would put them in the following order:
Kef Ref 3
Harbeth 40.2
Kef 205/2
Harbeth SHLS Plus.
.....so I would take the Harbeths over my current speakers, which makes them exceptional. In fact, if I could put them in an 18' x 24' x 11' room, bring them well away from the walls and power them with 12k worth of Accuphase or Luxman, it might easily be a different story.
In the real world, I believe the Ref 3s will sound even better driven by the 35i, in my room of 14' x 22' x 11' and be more suitable, given where they will be placed, than the Harbeths driven by my AVR600....and are substantially cheaper.
Next step is the home dem.
Wow 22' ceiling, did you knock two rooms into one?
I've been waiting for years to tell that joke. I guess I'll be on my way.
I've been waiting for years to tell that joke. I guess I'll be on my way.
JamesMellor said:
Ha Ha *biggrin*
(11ft ceilings - a pain for decorating, but seem to be good for sound). *music2*
JamesMellor said:
Not sure....probably in the next month.
There are several ducks that have to line up first....including the price.
insider9
Well-known member
I admit after that introduction I was certain it would be the Harberths
Great read and I admire how you approach this whole process.
Great read and I admire how you approach this whole process.
insider9 said:
"Writing about music is like dancing about archetecture" - I don't know who said it, but they had a point....so I will do my best to describe the qualities of these two brilliant reference monitors.
First up MDS + AV550 + 40.2s.
We were enveloped with a comforting, fullrange sound. The bass sounded like there was a sub tucked away, the midrange was glorious and there was no fatigue whatsoever. Instruments sounded natural. It produced a sound that I could listen to all day...and it took what I liked about the SLH5+, but elevated it up several notches in every department.
If I was being hyper critical, I still felt I could hear the effect of the cabinet, but to a much lesser extent...and it might have been the AV Amp, or even the size of the room.
Next, I wanted to improve the Source and Amp, to see what happened. So Michael connected an Akurate DSM with a Klimax Power Amp that I'd spotted sitting about. The effect was horrible - highly detailed, but thin and analytical. Unfortunately, I'd bounced him and the Amp hadn't been in use for a week or two and was cold....or at least I hope that was the reason, given its price.
We were so not enjoying this amp, that after about 20 minutes, we changed for a Majik Power Amp - and musicality returned, thank goodness. I preferred ADSM/Majik Amp over MDS/Arcam...which is not really surprising. The Latter sounded cleaner, more detailed and better controlled.
Everthing we played through these Harbeths was engaging and natural and the detail it dug up was truly excellent, living up to its moniker....so how would the Refs do in comparison?....
Blacksabbath25
Well-known member
nice thread I’ve been following it *smile*CnoEvil said:
are the Kef ref 3s still £7500 And have you seen them any cheaper then that ?
Trying to make a choice between 2 such quality speakers, is very difficult....given all the variables.
The demo room looked around 12.5ft square, with normal ceilings...and the listening chairs were close to the back wall.
Ref 3 + AMS35i vs 40.2 + AVR600 in a different room is hard to call.....as I can only report on what I heard today in that room.
The demo room looked around 12.5ft square, with normal ceilings...and the listening chairs were close to the back wall.
Ref 3 + AMS35i vs 40.2 + AVR600 in a different room is hard to call.....as I can only report on what I heard today in that room.
Blacksabbath25 said:
These are the same colour as Ellisdj owns (Black Alu/Copper) and are ex-dem. Mine are still in great nick and worth a bit, so will come down to the price to change.
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