The Kef Reference thread

[Freddy58]

Hiya folks.

I could have started a new thread, but thought I'd ask here.

Has anyone ever changed (upgraded) their T33 tweeters? As I understand it, some of the reference series had these. If you have, what did you replace them with? What was the difference?

Thanks...Freddy

I'll take that as a 'no' then? I'm amazed, given the apparent nature of this particular tweeter!!

 

[CnoEvil]

Hiya folks.

I could have started a new thread, but thought I'd ask here.

Has anyone ever changed (upgraded) their T33 tweeters? As I understand it, some of the reference series had these. If you have, what did you replace them with? What was the difference?

Thanks...Freddy

I'll take that as a 'no' then? I'm amazed, given the apparent nature of this particular tweeter!!

I would have replied if I had anything constructive to say......sorry!

 

[Excitable Boy]

You may have read on another thread I started (http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/floorstander-upgrade-time), that I am home testing some KEF Reference 203/2s with my Bryston pre/power set up. So far, so good. I love the extra detail and refined bass. It is early days, and I am still playing around with positioning etc. I would appreciate help with two questions :

1) What cables would you suggest are worth investigating ? (I currently have Tellurium Q Blacks.)

2) The speakers are singlewired, with the leads from the amp going to the HF posts. Is this best ?

Thanks.

1. I suppose that depends on what you want to spend, as the TQ Blacks are very good. You can go further up the TQ range; look at the Vertere range, as well as consider the Atlas Mavros.

Personally, I like Cardas, but it is very pricey in this part of the world....you might find some of the Golden Ref stuff about that's a bit cheaper, as it's been discontinued (replaced by the Clear range).

2. I think it's worth replacing the links at the back with the same cable as you are using.

I use Cardas Golden Cross in a Tri-wire configuration, so haven't experimented......but you may find this review helpful (4th para down under Setup): http://www.ultraaudio.com/equipment/kef_reference_203_2.htm

Very belated thanks for your helpful input (as always) Cno. I am still playing around with cabling and room positioning with the 203/2s, but am steadily falling in love with them. I love their coherent sound and the lack of artificiality with them. It's very seductive....

 

[Freddy58]

So, all you reference owners are happy with your tweeters even though they may be faulty?

 

[gokulramesh]

Hi all,

I've been looking forward to setup my system and have almost finalised on these choices. What do you guys think about this setup?, Opinions and suggestions welcomed.

Complete details: Source: NAD M50 Digital Music Player, DAC and Pre-amp: NAD M51 Direct Digital DAC, Digital Storage: NAD M52 Digital Music Vault, Power amp: Musical Fidelity kW750 R, Speakers: KEF Reference 207/2, Cables: Pair of Chord Signature Reference speaker cables 2XBanana to 2XBanana, Chord Anthem RCA to RCA, Chord Cadenza XLR to XLR.

Thanks a lot in advance.Cheers,

Gokul Ramesh.

Ps: Has any one had first hand experience of a NAD and KEF setup? And sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place. New to this forum. Please bear with me.

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi all,

I've been looking forward to setup my system and have almost finalised on these choices. What do you guys think about this setup?, Opinions and suggestions welcomed.

Complete details: Source: NAD M50 Digital Music Player, DAC and Pre-amp: NAD M51 Direct Digital DAC, Digital Storage: NAD M52 Digital Music Vault, Power amp: Musical Fidelity kW750 R, Speakers: KEF Reference 207/2, Cables: Pair of Chord Signature Reference speaker cables 2XBanana to 2XBanana, Chord Anthem RCA to RCA, Chord Cadenza XLR to XLR.

Thanks a lot in advance.Cheers,

Gokul
Ramesh.

Ps: Has any one had first hand experience of a NAD and KEF setup? And sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place. New to this forum. Please bear with me.

Hi there and welcome to the Kef Ref thread.

I have not heard that source or amp, but the 207/2s are very good indeed.......so I look forward to what you think.

What other kit have you listened to, before arriving at this combination?

 

[Freddy58]

So, all you reference owners are happy with your tweeters even though they may be faulty?

Cardboard cut-out time again...

 

[gokulramesh]

Hi Cno,

The funny thing is, I myself haven't heard the source first hand. I'm from India, a country with over a billion people, but just one NAD Authorised dealer. However, I have demoed the speaker and the power amp together, so its not a complete leap of faith either. My dealer actually suggested me to go with the Chord CPA 2500 Reference Pre-amp and the Chord Qute HD DAC, but after a lot of reviewing and contemplating, I've chosen the NAD Suite for two reasons.

1. It offers more functionality (Source and storage come extra vs the Chord setup)

2. A lot of reviews say that the M51 is just marginally better than the Qute HD.

Which do you think is a better option?

Other kit that I had the option to review were the Kef Blade with the Adcom 555se Power amp and a denon pre-amp (No DAC!). This combo was the other option i had in mind, but it seemed like an overkill for my room (22 feet L x 24 feet W x 12 feet height) and was way over my budget as well. It sounded very nice, but for some reason I found the 207/2's more open and wider than the blades in a smaller room setup. The Blades definitely need their own space to shine.

I have also reviewed the Kef Reference 205/2 with the Adcom 555se and Chord CPA 2500 with the Chord Qute HD DAC. Source was a Denon CD player, and also had the chance to check out a Denon Turntable. This combo was also good, could find all of the classic reference detail and imaging, but it lacked a bit on the bass.

There was no turning back after hearing the 207/2's. First heard it with Electrocompaniet AW 400 monoblocks and a naim source and instanlty fell in love with them. Second time, the Chord Prima Pre amp and the Chord DAC 64 were added to the list and I literally got goosebumbps listening to that combo. My thoughts are that the Musical Fidelity kW750 R, is a twin monoblock 750 watt per channel power amp, almost double the power of the EC AW 400! The two of them together form a very good team (auditioned personally), but i also need a very good source component, where the NAD Masters Digital Music Suite offers me the flexibility that i need in a source component. Wether it be CD, SACD, HRA, you name it and it will play it. Additional features such as automatic ripping of CD's to 24/96 FLAC with metadata from the internet, and also Internet radio, interest me. The M51 provides so much functionality. Seamless connection with the M50, converting PCM to PWM, HDMI inputs and vedio passthorugh are the features that got me hooked to this suite. Along with the NAD M50 Remote iPhone app, I dont even need to use the given remote, except maybe for turning on the power and so on.

The NAD Masters Digital Music Suite need only to do what it does on paper, and from what the reviewers have to say I think it goes beyond whats said in the paper. Fingers crossed.

Cheers,

Gokul Ramesh.

 

[Frank Harvey]

So, all you reference owners are happy with your tweeters even though they may be faulty?

Cardboard cut-out time again...

I think if there were any owners of old Reference present on this forum, who have changed tweeters, and have seen this thread, will have replied by now...you could try PFM or Wigwam.

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi Cno,

The funny thing is, I myself haven't heard the source first hand. I'm from India, a country with over a billion people, but just one NAD Authorised dealer. However, I have demoed the speaker and the power amp together, so its not a complete leap of faith either. My dealer actually suggested me to go with the Chord CPA 2500 Reference Pre-amp and the Chord Qute HD DAC, but after a lot of reviewing and contemplating, I've chosen the NAD Suite for two reasons.

1. It offers more functionality (Source and storage come extra vs the Chord setup)

2. A lot of reviews say that the M51 is just marginally better than the Qute HD.

Which do you think is a better option?

Other kit that I had the option to review were the Kef Blade with the Adcom 555se Power amp and a denon pre-amp (No DAC!). This combo was the other option i had in mind, but it seemed like an overkill for my room (22 feet L x 24 feet W x 12 feet height) and was way over my budget as well. It sounded very nice, but for some reason I found the 207/2's more open and wider than the blades in a smaller room setup. The Blades definitely need their own space to shine.

I have also reviewed the Kef Reference 205/2 with the Adcom 555se and Chord CPA 2500 with the Chord Qute HD DAC. Source was a Denon CD player, and also had the chance to check out a Denon Turntable. This combo was also good, could find all of the classic reference detail and imaging, but it lacked a bit on the bass.

There was no turning back after hearing the 207/2's. First heard it with Electrocompaniet AW 400 monoblocks and a naim source and instanlty fell in love with them. Second time, the Chord Prima Pre amp and the Chord DAC 64 were added to the list and I literally got goosebumbps listening to that combo. My thoughts are that the Musical Fidelity kW750 R, is a twin monoblock 750 watt per channel power amp, almost double the power of the EC AW 400! The two of them together form a very good team (auditioned personally), but i also need a very good source component, where the NAD Masters Digital Music Suite offers me the flexibility that i need in a source component. Wether it be CD, SACD, HRA, you name it and it will play it. Additional features such as automatic ripping of CD's to 24/96 FLAC with metadata from the internet, and also Internet radio, interest me. The M51 provides so much functionality. Seamless connection with the M50, converting PCM to PWM, HDMI inputs and vedio passthorugh are the features that got me hooked to this suite. Along with the NAD M50 Remote iPhone app, I dont even need to use the given remote, except maybe for turning on the power and so on.

The NAD Masters Digital Music Suite need only to do what it does on paper, and from what the reviewers have to say I think it goes beyond whats said in the paper. Fingers crossed.

Cheers,

Gokul Ramesh.

Hifi is so subjective.and taste driven, that I hesitate to tell others what to buy......all I can do is give you my preferences.

I find Chord stuff too forward sounding so I would take the Nad by default.

My source of preference would be the Linn DS. On the amp front, I would be looking at Electrocompaniet, Plinius (Class A), Sugden Masterclass and Musical Fidelity AMS range. I find the mixture of my MF AMS 35i +205/2s very beguiling......if I had the funds, I would love the AMS Primo + AMS 50 + 207/2s.

If most of my suggestions are not available, my taste would point me towards the Electro stuff.......it will all come down to budget and availability.

If I can be of further assistance, just shout.

Cno

 

[Freddy58]

So, all you reference owners are happy with your tweeters even though they may be faulty?

Cardboard cut-out time again...

I think if there were any owners of old Reference present on this forum, who have changed tweeters, and have seen this thread, will have replied by now...you could try PFM or Wigwam.

Fair enough But from what I understand, the T33 is liquid cooled. This liquid can deteriorate after ten years, turning to a jelly-like substance. I would imagine that any deterioration would be gradual, and thereby being to some extent un-noticable.

 

[gokulramesh]

Hifi is so subjective.and taste driven, that I hesitate to tell others what to buy......all I can do is give you my preferences.

I find Chord stuff too forward sounding so I would take the Nad by default.

My source of preference would be the Linn DS. On the amp front, I would be looking at Electrocompaniet, Plinius (Class A), Sugden Masterclass and Musical Fidelity AMS range. I find the mixture of my MF AMS 35i +205/2s very beguiling......if I had the funds, I would love the AMS Primo + AMS 50 + 207/2s.

If most of my suggestions are not available, my taste would point me towards the Electro stuff.......it will all come down to budget and availability.

If I can be of further assistance, just shout.

Cno

Thanks a ton for that reply Cno, but I have already taken the plunge and ordered the system. Looked up the products you suggested, and they all seem to have that Class A similarity. Will keep this list in mind when I eventually do upgrade the system down the line.

Expecting it all to be in place by the end of this month. Will post some pictures and let you guys know how it all turns out.

Cheers,

Gokul Ramesh.

 

[gokulramesh]

Hifi is so subjective.and taste driven, that I hesitate to tell others what to buy......all I can do is give you my preferences.

I find Chord stuff too forward sounding so I would take the Nad by default.

My source of preference would be the Linn DS. On the amp front, I would be looking at Electrocompaniet, Plinius (Class A), Sugden Masterclass and Musical Fidelity AMS range. I find the mixture of my MF AMS 35i +205/2s very beguiling......if I had the funds, I would love the AMS Primo + AMS 50 + 207/2s.

If most of my suggestions are not available, my taste would point me towards the Electro stuff.......it will all come down to budget and availability.

If I can be of further assistance, just shout.

Cno

Thanks a ton for that reply Cno, but I have already taken the plunge and ordered the system. Looked up the products you suggested, and they all seem to have that Class A similarity. Will keep this list in mind when I eventually do upgrade the system down the line.

Expecting it all to be in place by the end of this month. Will post some pictures and let you guys know how it all turns out.

Cheers,

Gokul Ramesh.

 

[CnoEvil]

 

[Jima4a]

The Munich show is coming up. I wonder if we will see the next Reference line since the R and Q have replaced their respective lines.

 

[hifikrazy]

Yea, they're certainly due for replacement but I think not, otherwise we would have got wind of it already unless Kef is really that good at keeping a secret.

 

[CnoEvil]

The Munich show is coming up. I wonder if we will see the next Reference line since the R and Q have replaced their respective lines.

It is my understanding that the Reference line is remaining as it is, for a while yet.....could be wrong though.

 

[Frank Harvey]

The Munich show is coming up. I wonder if we will see the next Reference line since the R and Q have replaced their respective lines.

At the moment, all things point to no...

 

[Frank Harvey]

It is my understanding that the Reference line is remaining as it is, for a while yet.....could be wrong though.

Well the range still seems strong enough to be among the best out there at their respective price points, not bad for their age!

 

[CnoEvil]

Well the range still seems strong enough to be among the best out there at their respective price points, not bad for their age!

I wish the same could be said of me!

 

[Jima4a]

I guess that is good as my main speakers will be current for a bit longer. I am both looking forward and not to what comes next. Kef has been on a strong roll so should expect something special when they do.

On a side note, has the new Arcam prepro been released, and if so what is the verdict. I am sure it sounds great but have the bugs been sorted?

 

[CnoEvil]

On a side note, has the new Arcam prepro been released, and if so what is the verdict. I am sure it sounds great but have the bugs been sorted?

The AV950 has been released, sounds brilliant and appears to have the bugs sorted: http://www.avforums.com/threads/arcam-fmj-av950-owners-thread.1848280/

 

[Jima4a]

Thanks! I follow the Speaker and Processor Forums there but had not been in the Company Specific area. I will read through it when I get a chance. I can get a Bryston SP3 (demo) for much less then the AV950. What would I gain with the 950?

 

[CnoEvil]

Thanks! I follow the Speaker and Processor Forums there but had not been in the Company Specific area. I will read through it when I get a chance. I can get a Bryston SP3 (demo) for much less then the AV950. What would I gain with the 950?

I would ask that on the thread I linked to, as I couldn't give you a meaningful answer.

It is on this link that you might find useful info (especially posts 92 & 105): http://www.avforums.com/threads/arcam-fmj-av950-owners-thread.1848280/page-4

 

[Jima4a]

CNO,

thanks! I read the two posts you referenced and posted my question there.

Jim