The Kef Reference thread

[CnoEvil]

Infiniteloop, what do you mean with dry treble? Bright, uncontrolled treble? Etcy, unpleasant?

I'm not IL, but to me, "dry" is the opposide to "lush" or "full".....ie. a little too "hifi" sounding, causing a lack of emotional connection with the music.

Here is Stereophile's description: http://www.stereophile.com/content/sounds-audio-glossary-glossary-d-e

 

[Infiniteloop]

Infiniteloop, what do you mean with dry treble? Bright, uncontrolled treble? Etcy, unpleasant?

I'm not IL, but to me, "dry" is the opposide to "lush" or "full".....ie. a little too "hifi" sounding, causing a lack of emotional connection with the music.

Here is Stereophile's description: http://www.stereophile.com/content/sounds-audio-glossary-glossary-d-e

Zackly. - Couldn't have put it better myself.

Don't get me wrong, the KEF's are great speakers and I enjoyed them with the Devialet and SME, it's just that I was able to compare them directly with the Focals and the 1008's were a touch more 'organic' sounding. I think the difference between the KEF and Focals is that the Focal's beryllium tweeter provides not just the high frequencies, but the upper mids too, where your hearing is very sensitive. To me it just seems to make for a more integrated and natural sound.

 

[Infiniteloop]

Infiniteloop, what do you mean with dry treble? Bright, uncontrolled treble? Etcy, unpleasant?

Cno has already answered this for me. I was expecting the KEF's to be very good and they are. But for me there's a certain 'magic' that the Focal's tweeter provides. Perhaps it's only a magic that works with certain Amps, as some listeners find Focals to be forward and bright. I expect they'd be a nightmare with Cyrus or maybe Naim Amps.

I bet they'd be good with your AMS35i Cno.....?

 

[CnoEvil]

I bet they'd be good with your AMS35i Cno.....?

I spent several hours listening to both the Diablos and Scalas on the end of the 35i.....it was the best I'd heard them sound, but it was ultimately a relief to go back to my Refs. I would put the New Refs a good step up again.

 

[CnoEvil]

Zackly. - Couldn't have put it better myself.

Don't get me wrong, the KEF's are great speakers and I enjoyed them with the Devialet and SME, it's just that I was able to compare them directly with the Focals and the 1008's were a touch more 'organic' sounding. I think the difference between the KEF and Focals is that the Focal's beryllium tweeter provides not just the high frequencies, but the upper mids too, where your hearing is very sensitive. To me it just seems to make for a more integrated and natural sound.

We all hear differently.....I have found the opposite regarding the Treble and Upper Mids of the Kef vs Focal. I never found the treble of Focal (especially in the Utopia range), to have a liquid quality. I found it analytically clean and ultimately tiring, even with VTL valve amps.

Wouldn't it be boring if we all liked the same thing.

 

[Infiniteloop]

Zackly. - Couldn't have put it better myself.

Don't get me wrong, the KEF's are great speakers and I enjoyed them with the Devialet and SME, it's just that I was able to compare them directly with the Focals and the 1008's were a touch more 'organic' sounding. I think the difference between the KEF and Focals is that the Focal's beryllium tweeter provides not just the high frequencies, but the upper mids too, where your hearing is very sensitive. To me it just seems to make for a more integrated and natural sound.

We all hear differently.....I have found the opposite regarding the Treble and Upper Mids of the Kef vs Focal. I never found the treble of Focal (especially in the Utopia range), to have a liquid quality. I found it analytically clean and ultimately tiring, even with VTL valve amps.

Wouldn't it be boring if we all liked the same thing.

Indeed.

I'm sitting here now listening to a stream Via Qobuz, of Angus and Julia Stone's Album 'Down the Way' through the Focals and Devialet and it is sublime.

 

[matt49]

I'm sitting here now listening to a stream Via Qobuz, of Angus and Julia Stone's Album 'Down the Way' through the Focals and Devialet and it is sublime.

Lovely music. It would also be an interesting test case for analog vs digital, as according to the DR Database the vinyal version has a clearly better dynamic range than the digital version.

EDIT: actually, scratch that comment: I was looking at the DR figures for their recent album (annoyingly titled 'Angus & Julia Stone').

 

[Infiniteloop]

I'm sitting here now listening to a stream Via Qobuz, of Angus and Julia Stone's Album 'Down the Way' through the Focals and Devialet and it is sublime.

Lovely music. It would also be an interesting test case for analog vs digital, as according to the DR Database the vinyal version has a clearly better dynamic range than the digital version.

EDIT: actually, scratch that comment: I was looking at the DR figures for their recent album (annoyingly titled 'Angus & Julia Stone').

I have both those Albums on Vinyl and used them as part of the Demo. They sounded great, to the point where I forgot I was supposed to be listening to the equipment and just enjoyed the music......

On Vinyl, the sound was richer and fuller. To me, it just sounded 'right'.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Angus & Julia Stone and Down The Way were produced by different producers. Their self titled album was produced by Rick Rubin, who is one of my favourite producers, but it just isn't as sweet sounding or as easy on the ear as Down The Way (which is my preference of the two albums based on musical content).

 

[Infiniteloop]

Angus & Julia Stone and Down The Way were produced by different producers. Their self titled album was produced by Rick Rubin, who is one of my favourite producers, but it just isn't as sweet sounding or as easy on the ear as Down The Way (which is my preference of the two albums based on musical content).

Agreed.

 

[matt49]

Angus & Julia Stone and Down The Way were produced by different producers. Their self titled album was produced by Rick Rubin, who is one of my favourite producers, but it just isn't as sweet sounding or as easy on the ear as Down The Way (which is my preference of the two albums based on musical content).

Agreed.

Likewise agreed.

It's a shame because the eponymously titled album has some great ideas in it. I heard them live in December, and the newer stuff worked really well, I thought.

 

[Frank Harvey]

It's odd. I was looking forward to their current album, particularly when I heard Rubin was producing it, but if I wanted either of the two albums to have a little more "edge" to it, it'd be Down The Way.

 

[Infiniteloop]

It's odd. I was looking forward to their current album, particularly when I heard Rubin was producing it, but if I wanted either of the two albums to have a little more "edge" to it, it'd be Down The Way.

I've had a quick listen to both their solo albums and there's some interesting stuff there too.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I've had a quick listen to both their solo albums and there's some interesting stuff there too.

After hearing Down The Way, I ended up ordering their box set (Stone Box), which at the time included Down The Way, and both of their individual solo albums (which I hadn't heard at the time) that were available at the time. Certainly good stuff, and I love the cover to The Memory Machine - very late 70's horror/Giallo looking.

 

[Jima4a]

The new Reference is supposed to be selling quite well but I sure don't see much traffic on any of the forums. Nothing like the new 800 series is causing.

 

[CnoEvil]

The new Reference is supposed to be selling quite well but I sure don't see much traffic on any of the forums. Nothing like the new 800 series is causing. 

I certainly liked the Ref 3s driven by an Arcam A49 and with a Linn Akurate DS as the source.

 

[iceman16]

Sorry Cno for this off topic..but could you please let me know the other remote control(make and model no.) you're using for the 35i? The original (brick) remote has failed and not working even after I change the battery. Thanks

 

[CnoEvil]

Sorry Cno for this off topic..but could you please let me know the other remote control(make and model no.) you're using for the 35i? The original (brick) remote has failed and not working even after I change the battery. Thanks

I just use a Linn one, but only for the volume.

Given the cost of that remote, MF might replace it for you, even if it's only for one of their plastic jobbies. The AMS Series comes with a 5 year warranty, which should cover the remote.

Arcam replaced my AVR 600 one for free when my original gave up.

 

[Andrewjvt]

The new Reference is supposed to be selling quite well but I sure don't see much traffic on any of the forums. Nothing like the new 800 series is causing. 

They are enjoying music and dont have need to discuss equipment

 

[Frank Harvey]

The new Reference is supposed to be selling quite well but I sure don't see much traffic on any of the forums. Nothing like the new 800 series is causing.

It'll partly depend on whether many owners actually frequent forums. I dare say that, worldwide, the 800 series has a larger following than Reference, hence more talk on forums. Also, there hasn't been too much in the way of promotion for the Reference series, in my opinion.