Which amp. and cdp by KEF XQ 40 speakers?

[peterpan]

I like a warmer sound without sharness. Most music is rock. Which amp. and cdp will be the best with KEF Xq 40 speakers?

- Marantz 8003 amp. and cdp

- Marantz 15s1

- NAD 355 amp. and 545 cdp

- Naim xs amp and cd5x cdp

 

[SHAXOS]

I had the XQ series for around two weeks. I found them very bright so you will want the warmest amplification you can find.

 

[Frank Harvey]

The newer KEF iQ and XQ speakers are far from bright or harsh - the original XQ and iQ series could have this aimed at them, but not the current ones. The current ones are smoother, which in turn brings the lower end out a little more. I've used the XQ series with Cyrus and Naim for example, and not found any brightness issues, as long as the correct amplifier for the job is chosen. For XQ40's, a £500ish amp will drive them fine, but better current and grip will always achieve a more enjoyable presentation. I've done quite a few demonstrations so far this year with the XQ40 against other speakers, and they've always allowed a more insightful view into complex music. True, their presentation is on the leaner side than similar competiton, but there's more to music than purely bass. The main alternative, and a better all rounder, would be the ATC SCM40's, which are harder to drive (more a job for the Naim XS), but seem to deal with almost any type of music, and suit more rooms due to their sealed design.

 

[SHAXOS]

Im sorry but must strongly disagree with the above (just my opinion). I had the XQ30s hooked up to some cyrus and bel canto gear for over a week. I thought the treble was painful and i was very very underwhelmed with the speakers lack of bass and welly. Dont get me wrong they are 'decent' sounding but, seriously 1600 (for the xq30 at the time) would get you so much more speaker. Very overpriced in my oppinion. Id go as far to say the Bower and wilkins 684s ive heard are much better sounding and they cost almost half price. I paid 750 for neat motives 2 which absolutely wiped the floor with the Kefs. On the plus side the XQ series looks amazing and is beautifully built. But thats not what is important. Id advise extensive demo before parting with any cash.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Obviously as this is a forum we are all allowed to disagree if we like.

But to say the treble is painful is a huge overstatement. I can only assume there was something wrong in the system, or that your room is extremely reflective, as I've compared them to many other loudspeakers, and never once had a problem with treble. Usually with a post like that, it's a case of the poster has something against that manufacturer. I can't think of one speaker I would say a thing like that against it. Anybody who rules out the KEF's based on a post like that (and there wil be some), could miss out on a strong contender, and possibly the perfect speaker for them.

 

[SHAXOS]

First i can assure you i have nothing against Kef as a manufacturer. I would not have spent 1300 of my hard earned on the company if i did. I am also thinking of spending more on their 3000SE cinema system. Second - there was nothing wrong with my system or the room acoustics as i changed the speakers and was very happy with the results. Finally your comment:

" I can't think of one speaker I would say a thing like that against it"

A thing like what? I was honest in my reflections of what i thought was a very average overpriced, bright speaker...

Also the original poster clearly states his system is "sharp" and wants help remedying it and i would say the speakers are the culprits not the amplification.

Like you said its a forum and we are allowed to disagree 🙂

Anyway thats me done! Regards

 

[Frank Harvey]

SHAXOS:Finally your comment: " I can't think of one speaker I would say a thing like that against it" A thing like what?Your words I find quite harsh (

), against any speaker, let alone a quality one. I was referring generally to your comments in post number 238843. In fact, I can think of a speaker who's treble was painful - some Eltax floorstanders that a customer brought in to compare to other speakers. Once you got to a certain volume they just completely lost the plot and the treble took over, almost like the higher frequencies had doubled in volume, but in a very harsh way. Granted, they were about £100/200, but this sort of comment can't be levelled at higher quality speakers as their HF performance is much more even when they're driven with the right amplification. Maybe you're misunderstanding brightness - bright can be sweet without any harshness. The KEF's may be brighter than some, but they're not harsh with it, so I'm baffled by your description of 'painful'. Compare them to MA GS60's (similar price), and then say the KEF's are bright.

Although you are referring to the XQ30's, which in this case are a smaller version of the XQ40's (which also have an extra bass driver) that the OP is enquiring about. The XQ30's are a compact floorstander designed for those who want quality in a small space - in other words, those who want iQ50's but better. The balance of these are going to be different to huge speaker that's purely designed for SPL levels.

I was honest in my reflections of what i thought was a very average overpriced, bright speaker... Also the original poster clearly states his system is "sharp" and wants help remedying it and i would say the speakers are the culprits not the amplification. Like you said its a forum and we are allowed to disagree 🙂 The OP hasn't said the KEF's are 'sharp', and hasn't mentioned the system he is currently using. He has stated a particular pair of speakers and is asking which electronics to use with them to achieve a specific sound.

I stick with my comments in post number 237308, but would still recommend the XQ40's to anybody looking for speakers in that price range.

 

[SHAXOS]

Ok were gona have to agree to disagree 🙂
Every one has different tastes and i accept that.
Kindest regards

 

[peterpan]

Hm; I don't like bright speakers. And i listen to rock. Is the Tannoy DC6T a better choice? Or the JBL LS-60?

 

[Frank Harvey]

But they're not bright - they do favour treble and midrange over giving you bucketloads of bass, but that doesn't mean they're bright. Have you heard them yet?

A "warmer sound without sharpness" says Spendor to me, but I wouldn't put them on my list of top rock speakers.

 

[SteveR750]

FrankHarveyHiFi:
But they're not bright - they do favour treble and midrange over giving you bucketloads of bass, but that doesn't mean they're bright. Have you heard them yet?

A "warmer sound without sharpness" says Spendor to me, but I wouldn't put them on my list of top rock speakers.

Nor would I until I listened to them. The thing is that most rock recordings are cr*p - overprocessed and totally unnatural. Probe is when you crank up the volume as you really have to with rock then the whole sond becomes an overbright mess unles you've got sme seriously good kit. The Spendors being more laid back and neutral dont over exaggerate this harshness at high volumes, at least to my (middle) ageing ears they don't so I actually find I end up listening to stuff at volumes close to that of the instrument without wincing, so dn't discount them as boring "for classical music only!"

 

[peterpan]

Steve; what you say about rock recordings is right. That's the problem. But i can't change this. Also i'm looking to a system that isn't bright and don't have bright eyes.

Steve and Frank; what is a good system? Tannoy dc6T with exposure 2010 amp and cdp or Marantz 8003 amp and cdp?

Or a system with the hybrid Unison unico? And what about the new Luxman?

 

[Anonymous]

Warm sound?

Well, if you're thinking about the marantz 15s1 (great amp) means you maybe could stretch your budget to the MusicalFidelity A series.... I've paired them (as my signature shows) with speakers that are usually described as bright and sounds great to me. Primare i21 is and offordable luxury to me and an amplifier that is said to be 'in the warm side of neutral' whatever that is suposed to mean. You can try Arcam as well.

You could also tame the high freqs first, with a proper speaker cable if you can borrow some from the hi fi store and try before buying.

 

[Anonymous]

SteveR750:FrankHarveyHiFi:

But they're not bright - they do favour treble and midrange over giving you bucketloads of bass, but that doesn't mean they're bright. Have you heard them yet?

A "warmer sound without sharpness" says Spendor to me, but I wouldn't put them on my list of top rock speakers.

Nor would I until I listened to them. The thing is that most rock recordings are cr*p - overprocessed and totally unnatural. Probe is when you crank up the volume as you really have to with rock then the whole sond becomes an overbright mess unles you've got sme seriously good kit. The Spendors being more laid back and neutral dont over exaggerate this harshness at high volumes, at least to my (middle) ageing ears they don't so I actually find I end up listening to stuff at volumes close to that of the instrument without wincing, so dn't discount them as boring "for classical music only!"

Totally agree.

 

[respe]

neither would I, (discount spens,with the right amps up em they can rock as well as most), May I suggest that as a starting point you decide how much you want to spend, ring a few dealers locally (if possible) further afield if needed, and chat with them, see what they suggest, book a dem, and turn up armed with a few well known and loved CD's, and see where you go. If you play more rock than anything, then I think if your budget will stretch you should try and include Neat, Exposure, and Rega into the equation. Concentrate on getting the basic system to sound how you want, cables, stands etc can be changed from basic freebies further down the track.