Which speakers for my Roksans ?

[admin_exported]

My current system comprises:-
Roksan Kandy K2 integrated amp
Roksan Kandy K2 Cd player
KEF 104AB speakers ( had them from new in 1978)
Atlas equator interconnects
Generic fairly thick multistranded speaker cables.

My question is, What sort of money will i have to spend to better my speakers and what should i be auditioning ? I have a wide taste in music ranging from Jethro Tull to James Last and Metallica to Mussorgsky..Cheers Bill

 

[plastic penguin]

Not familiar with your Kefs.

A good combo would be Quad, ATC, PMC, MA GX range, Dynaudio...

 

[Frank Harvey]

Hi Bill

I had a visit from a guy yesterday who owns JR149's (I'm sure you remember those if you were on the hi-fi scene in the early 70's), which are esepsentially your HF and mid unit in a smaller box. He'd come in to audition the KEF R500 floorstanders, and he was extremely impressed.

If you're after a standmount speaker to replace your 104ab's, give the KEF R300's a try - a £1,000 3-way standmount that gives floorstanders plenty of competition as far as bass extension is concerned, and is pretty much the best at this price point for midrange and treble clarity. Good stand are needed though as they're pretty heavy. We had them running in in our demo room for weeks, and we never heard one single negative comment about them. One of our customers who runs ATC actives couldn't believe how good they sounded for £1k.

Twenty years ago, there were plenty of top notch sub £1,000 floorstanders on the market, but today, it's a different story. Because of rising costs, things have changed drastically. There's the KEF Q700 (from the range below the R series already mentioned), which will improve in certain areas over your 104ab's, but you might find certain aspects of their bass performance lacking a little compared to yours. Personally, I'd be recommending the R500's at £1,500.

The best thing to do is go and audition a few to get an initial feel, and preferably take your speakers. Its hard to recommend a few alternatives without knowing your sound preferences, and what aspects of your current sound you like. Some people with speakers from the 104 era like a very full, prominent bass with a very smooth, laid back treble and midrange. Speakers have changed drastically. The sound ive just described would now be classed as overblown and veiled, and quite boxy. Generally, they now have a more forward sound that is a bit of a culture shock for those with older speakers. But this is the price you have to pay for a more revealing, informative sound that gets closer to the original.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for the speedy replies from you two...I don't really dislike anything about my KEFs..( So some of you might say stick with them and save my money ) But i realise that technology has come a way since i bought these, and was keen to test the water as to whether i'm going to hear vast improvements if i buy something new...I agree that i am going to have to put my KEFs up against some of todays crop and listen for myself...Thanks again , i'll post my findings....Bill

 

[moon]

ahem.......Roksan k2 speakers

 

[richardw42]

I'd definitely have a listen to Monitor Audio.

I was convinced that I needed floorstanders, but when I heard my MA GS10s v. The B&W cm7s I had I realised the MAs were exactly what I wanted.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks again, i had thought about the Roksan speakers...I'll resume my quest again after Santa has been..

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Keep the Kefs, they're far better than anything mentioned so far. As to speakers technology, certainly the technology in terms of materials used has improved, but otherwise the same principles that were used when your Kefs were made apply.

Having heard the 104ABs recently, I'd say you're looking at something like something like the Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand speakers to equal them, and they're not cheap.

 

[Deliriumbassist]

I'd wrap my ears around the Kef R300 and R500, as David @FH has mentioned. My local Superfi recently had an open event with Kef and had them both set up with the Kandy K2, and I was very impressed. Soundstage was excellent, and the detail on both was great without being overbearing and clinical. The R500s had a lot more presence and bass weight- I'd say a little too bass heavy, but I think that was more the room than the speakers, judging by the amount of demo's I've had in there. What really did it for me with the R500s was a Nat King Cole track, where you could really hear the rolling of Nat's mouth as he sang, and a live version of Hotel California.

I have the Kandy myself, through Q500s, and again, was very impressed with those, but I'm seriously thinking of the R500s once I've got some other bits out of the way! But as ever, it's a case of demoing. But personally, I do rate the R series, and my music taste varies from choir music through to progressive metal.