The Kef Reference thread

[lpv]

Any thoughts on the new Reference?

- They look the polar opposide of current ones....so need to see them in the flesh.

- Maybe not as easy to place (rear ported / no boundary compensation)

- Need to widen the gap between R Series and Refs (and close the gap with the Blade).

The R Series hasn't been as bad to position as would be expected considering the range's bass output. If the new Reference is in any way similar, they may surprise. A rear port is generally considered to be better for sound quality over a front port.

As for widening gaps, it could be said that the new Reference will close the gap between R Series and Reference in the sense that they will be tonally more like R Series than the outgoing Reference range, despite being better. And we don't want the new Reference closing up on Blade, otherwise Blade would become obsolete...

 

[lpv]

Any thoughts on the new Reference?

- They look the polar opposide of current ones....so need to see them in the flesh.

- Maybe not as easy to place (rear ported / no boundary compensation)

- Need to widen the gap between R Series and Refs (and close the gap with the Blade).

The R Series hasn't been as bad to position as would be expected considering the range's bass output. If the new Reference is in any way similar, they may surprise. A rear port is generally considered to be better for sound quality over a front port.

As for widening gaps, it could be said that the new Reference will close the gap between R Series and Reference in the sense that they will be tonally more like R Series than the outgoing Reference range, despite being better. And we don't want the new Reference closing up on Blade, otherwise Blade would become obsolete...

of course we want that... people always want better for less and they don't care Blades could become obsolete...

 

[Frank Harvey]

of course we want that... people always want better for less and they don't care Blades could become obsolete...

The technology trickles down to everything below, so the end user does get a lot of the qualities that Blade has. With the addition of the Blade 2, it is now a range in its own right, so for the foreseeable future, we'll not see Reference closely emulate the driver layout or cabinet shape. I was hoping we might see the Blade driver layout in the new square cabinets, but I'm glad we haven't now - the Reference still sound amazing anyway, and Blade is still out there on its own and relevant.

 

[Jima4a]

David,

what are the ETAs for the Reference 5 and Blade2s? Very interested in your impressions including upstream electronics and source material. The Magico S3s have me extremely interested but realize they are very dependent on the associated electronics and would love to know if those new Kefs can compete with the S3s. And are the as fussy on related equipment?

Jim

 

[Frank Harvey]

David,

what are the ETAs for the Reference 5 and Blade2s? Very interested in your impressions including upstream electronics and source material. The Magico S3s have me extremely interested but realize they are very dependent on the associated electronics and would love to know if those new Kefs can compete with the S3s. And are the as fussy on related equipment?

Jim

Hi Jim

The Reference range should be available by the end of this month, and the Blade 2s later in the year.

The Blades, Reference, and R Series are all quite similar tonally. Although the R Series does improve in quality with respect to partnering equipment, they're not particularly fussy, and I can imagine that the new Reference will be much easier to partner than the outgoing Reference.

I haven't heard the Magicos, although I'd like to - it's the only other speaker, along with some of the high end Sonus Faber models, that I'd like to hear.

Edit: Actually not sure which new Reference you are getting in or if you will get the Blade2s. Still very much looking forward to any impressions.

We are getting the full Reference range in on launch.

 

[Jima4a]

David,

Thanks! Looking forward to your impressions. I know of one Blade owner used the R600c as his center. Hopefully the new Reference Centre will better match sonically the Blade or Blade2 if they need a center speaker

 

[Frank Harvey]

David,

Thanks! Looking forward to your impressions. I know of one Blade owner used the R600c as his center. Hopefully the new Reference Centre will better match sonically the Blade or Blade2 if they need a center speaker

It certainly will be

 

[KidKomet]

David,

what are the ETAs for the Reference 5 and Blade2s? Very interested in your impressions including upstream electronics and source material. The Magico S3s have me extremely interested but realize they are very dependent on the associated electronics and would love to know if those new Kefs can compete with the S3s. And are the as fussy on related equipment?

Jim

Hi Jim

The Reference range should be available by the end of this month, and the Blade 2s later in the year.

The Blades, Reference, and R Series are all quite similar tonally. Although the R Series does improve in quality with respect to partnering equipment, they're not particularly fussy, and I can imagine that the new Reference will be much easier to partner than the outgoing Reference.

I haven't heard the Magicos, although I'd like to - it's the only other speaker, along with some of the high end Sonus Faber models, that I'd like to hear.

Edit: Actually not sure which new Reference you are getting in or if you will get the Blade2s. Still very much looking forward to any impressions.

We are getting the full Reference range in on launch.

Seeing as I live not 15 minutes from Frank Harvey's, this is splendid news to me. Will they be setup to demo and if so with what partnering equipment?

 

[Frank Harvey]

Seeing as I live not 15 minutes from Frank Harvey's, this is splendid news to me. Will they be setup to demo and if so with what partnering equipment?

Obviously we will need to run them in, so the Reference 5s will probably be set up where the Blades are on the top floor and running daily (on the end of a Devialet 200), and the demo room will probably alternate between the 1s and 3s, probably be on the end of a Chord CPM2650 amp.

 

[Jima4a]

Obviously we will need to run them in, so the Reference 5s will probably be set up where the Blades are on the top floor and running daily (on the end of a Devialet 200), and the demo room will probably alternate between the 1s and 3s, probably be on the end of a Chord CPM2650 amp.

So have they arrived?

 

[Frank Harvey]

Not yet I'm afraid - I have a sneaky feeling they'll arrive while I'm away next week!

 

[Jima4a]

Well the first set of 5s have made it to Kef US. They are destined to go to San Francisco for Audio Vision SF's grand opening. Hopefully some feedback will start coming in soon.

 

[Jima4a]

So David, are you back yet and have you had a chance to listen to the new line yet?

 

[Frank Harvey]

So David, are you back yet and have you had a chance to listen to the new line yet?

I'm back! But they're not here yet...

 

[nopiano]

I may be a bit slow here, and regulars know I'm not a Reference expert, but I see there is a review of the new Ref 5 in October's Hi Fi News. Pictured on the cover too.

I've already seen one review extracted (Krell's £9.5k power amp, which only puts out 1.32kW into 2 ohms!) so I'm assuming when I get home there will be my copy waiting on the mat.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi nopiano

Which Krell amplifier please?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[nopiano]

Hi nopiano

Which Krell amplifier please?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hi Rick

It is the Duo 300, so notionally a 300wpc stereo power amp. Can consume 1.58kW from the mains at rated power, and weighs 32 kilos, so not for the faint-hearted!

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi nopiano

Thanks. Good amps

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[nopiano]

The Reference 5 are ten and a half grand, which is more than I had expected. They get a great review and are also the EISA High-End Audio winner.

Not sure where the mini Blades will fit price-wise now.

 

[CnoEvil]

The Reference 5 are ten and a half grand, which is more than I had expected. They get a great review and are also the EISA High-End Audio winner.

Not sure where the mini Blades will fit price-wise now.

The Mini Blades are priced half way between the Ref 5 and the Blades.

 

[Frank Harvey]

The Reference 5 are ten and a half grand, which is more than I had expected. They get a great review and are also the EISA High-End Audio winner.

Not sure where the mini Blades will fit price-wise now.

Provisionally around the £15,000 mark.

 

[Jima4a]

So David, are you back yet and have you had a chance to listen to the new line yet?

I'm back! But they're not here yet...

You must be unpacking them as I write this, yes?

 

[Frank Harvey]

So David, are you back yet and have you had a chance to listen to the new line yet?

I'm back! But they're not here yet...

You must be unpacking them as I write this, yes?

I wish!!

 

[CnoEvil]

First review that I've come across: http://programming4.us/multimedia/24122.aspx

 

[gregvet]

Aren't those the reference 3's David?