The Kef Reference thread

[CnoEvil]

They're not 1s or 5s, so by process of elimination.......*scratch_one-s_head* *wink*

 

[Frank Harvey]

Aren't those the reference 3's David?

Certainly are! Maybe I was a little too excited...

edited

 

[Frank Harvey]

The Reference 3s are now running in in our demo room...

(note for Alchemist - on the end of a Yamaha AS2100)

 

[mgkwackerd]

You can't pm on here !! Cno -- t/t sorted, went with LFD LE, and have swapped my Kef LS50's for Revel M106, lovely !!

2 great systems now.

Sorry for kind of hijacking the thread, But, I was going to buy reference Kef, but not at those prices, if the 3 were approx £6k, then yes, £7.5k is too much, especially as they look awful !!

I know it's the sound that matters, but you still have to look at them all the while !! Many alternatives to consider.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Sorry for kind of hijacking the thread, But[/b], I was going to buy reference Kef, but not at those prices, if the 3 were approx £6k, then yes, £7.5k is too much, especially as they look awful !!

"Awful" is a strong word, particularly if you haven't seen them in the flesh - £6k or £7.5k, they still look the same

 

[mgkwackerd]

If they had been launched at £6k then I would definitely have auditioned them, and put their looks aside, but for me the cost is too high unless they are mightily impressive, and I mean massively impressive !!

If kevin is obliging, I'll see you soon, and I'll see them for myself and if running, I'll have a little listen ! I'm open to conversion !!!

if similar to R series they should suit my system well.

 

[CnoEvil]

You can't pm on here !! Cno -- t/t sorted, went with LFD LE, and have swapped my Kef LS50's for Revel M106, lovely !!

2 great systems now.

Sorry for kind of hijacking the thread, But, I was going to buy reference Kef, but not at those prices, if the 3 were approx £6k, then yes, £7.5k is too much, especially as they look awful !!

I know it's the sound that matters, but you still have to look at them all the while !! Many alternatives to consider.

Maybe the Ref Ones are worth a listen....they have an impressive frequency range.

 

[mgkwackerd]

That's a very interesting thought, and I'm not entirely sure Floorstanders are the best route, my new M106's sound great in the lounge, extremely punchy. They've only had about 15 hours, and are now back on the I22. Will try again when run in properly.

Always food for thought, isn't there ??

 

[Frank Harvey]

if similar to R series they should suit my system well.

Similar in some ways - you can tell they have been designed by the same team - but very, very different too. There's still that high level of detail you get with the outgoing Reference range, but with more delicacy and better transparency.

 

[mgkwackerd]

Couldn't come over, you had no stock.

I've decided that yes, the 3's are too expensive, and with my R500's singing like never before, I'm going to stick with them, until I either blow them up, or I expire first. (and @ £1500 cheap as chips, death nothing)

I'm going to get another A34.2 (£1200) and use the I22 as pre, to drive the Revels really well, and put the other money to a new car, mines 12 months old now.

Hi-fi on hold. But what I have is very nice !!

 

[Jima4a]

I got feedback (biased but I trust it) that the Ones are pretty amazing, perhaps more of a statement than the 201/2s were. Any feedback on the Ones or any of the new line?

 

[CnoEvil]

I got feedback (biased but I trust it) that the Ones are pretty amazing, perhaps more of a statement than the 201/2s were. Any feedback on the Ones or any of the new line?

My dealer is getting some in, but the last time I spoke to him they hadn't arrived......I want to hear them on the end of an Arcam A49, which also hadn't arrived.

They are also hoping to have a Reference open day, but details haven't been finalised.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I got feedback (biased but I trust it) that the Ones are pretty amazing, perhaps more of a statement than the 201/2s were. Any feedback on the Ones or any of the new line?

Just waiting for ours as we ordered gloss black. Based on how the Reference 3 sounds, I can imagine the 1s giving some floorstanders a run for their money with regards to bass performance, and it'll be interesting to compare them to a few of equivalent price.

 

[ErikM]

Sure would love to hear what you think of the 3's

 

[Jima4a]

So DavidF, how do the new Reference stack up to their PMC counterparts? There does not seem like a lot of feedback yet from customers, I wonder if Kef is trying to stock dealers still.

 

[Kefref]

I have owned a set of single wired ebony finish 104/2's (rubber surround b200 driver variant) for almost 10 years now, and must say I love them to bits..and unless I win the euromillions I cant see me changing my speakers.

I have recently refoamed the drivers, replaced the 30 year old binding posts, refurbed the cabinets, and also have had the ageing ferro fluid tweeters replaced with a new set from kef.

Running them from an audiolab 8000s, modded dacmagic1, philips cd723 and m-audio audio pc. love the huge sound stage and superb stereo separation. They replaced a set of Kef Q1's. Im currently on the lookout for a second hand 8000p to give them a bit more power and control, and about to upgrade my DAC.

 

[CnoEvil]

I have owned a set of single wired ebony finish 104/2's (rubber surround b200 driver variant) for almost 10 years now, and must say I love them to bits..and unless I win the euromillions I cant see me changing my speakers.

I have recently refoamed the drivers, replaced the 30 year old binding posts, refurbed the cabinets, and also have had the ageing ferro fluid tweeters replaced with a new set from kef.

Running them from an audiolab 8000s, modded dacmagic1, philips cd723 and m-audio audio pc. love the huge sound stage and superb stereo separation. They replaced a set of Kef Q1's. Im currently on the lookout for a second hand 8000p to give them a bit more power and control, and about to upgrade my DAC.

Good man!.....That's putting in the effort. *good*

 

[Frank Harvey]

So DavidF, how do the new Reference stack up to their PMC counterparts? There does not seem like a lot of feedback yet from customers, I wonder if Kef is trying to stock dealers still.

I haven't really done any direct comparisons yet as we've been running them in, as well as preparing for our open day this Saturday.

It'll be interesting to put the Reference 3 up against the Twenty.26, particularly on the end of a Devialet as they can both take advantage of SAM technology.

 

[alchemist 1]

The Reference 3s are now running in in our demo room...

(note for Alchemist - on the end of a Yamaha AS2100)

Oooh ! You have my attention..........

 

[Kefref]

The Reference 3s are now running in in our demo room...

(note for Alchemist - on the end of a Yamaha AS2100)

Oooh ! You have my attention..........

Who is a lucky boy!

Good to see there is still so much interest in Kef Reference series speakers, im slightly biased but think everyone should try and get a hold of a set at some point..Cant get better bang for buck on the second hand market!

 

[Jima4a]

Still not much going on here. What little I have heard has been good but I am wondering if Kef is still trying to stock dealers as have seen no posts anywhere of new Reference owners that I am aware. I know of a future Ref 1 owner but he still has not received them yet.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Give it time. It's not the sort of range that just starts selling overnight, and coming up to Christmas, most people have other priorities. The new year will see owners popping up

 

[Jima4a]

Well the U.S. has finally been delivering the new Reference to customers but center channels are still back ordered but will start appearing soon. What is the supply side like on the other side of the pond. Hoping to see more customer feedback on the new line.

 

[Frank Harvey]

No centres here yet either I'm afraid. On order though...

 

[CnoEvil]

Hoping to see more customer feedback on the new line.

Here you go, Sir:

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/if-i-was-starting-again