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KEF KM1's - Rarest of them all? Probably!

SimplySound

SimplySound

Kent Engineering & Fondry
I use to think the Maidstones were some of the rarest KEF's made until I started to look into the KM1's... custom made for the BBC and if there are even 50 I'd be surprised! I have never seen a pair for sale anywhere in the world in all the years I've been doing the D&S thing!!!!

Well here's your chance to own a pair of Professional BBC Reference Studio Monitors!! :yes:

And least you think these are just a run of the mill pair of LS5/1's, guess again! Check out these critical specs... 120db capable with, count 'em, 7 Channels of Amplification PER SPEAKER! And yes, they weight over 300lbs a piece! If weight is any indicator of Audio quality, well there you have it!

From the KEF Museum:

The KM1 loudspeaker system was developed for the BBC in response to a need for a high level monitoring loudspeaker to be used in pop studios. Prototypes were installed at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios in the spring of 1982 and proved highly satisfactory for all types of music.

Many high output loudspeakers in use at the time suffered from frequency response distortion, deliberately introduced to make them sound more efficient than they actually were. Such tricks sound unnatural on classical music and speech and give a false impression of sound balance. The KEF KM1 had no such drawback and could therefore be used to balance a symphony orchestra just as well as a pop group.

Considerable resource was devoted to reducing the effects of thermal compression in the drive units with extensive heat sinking and the use of an oversized magnet to maximise the sensitivity of the T52 tweeter. The system was fully active and included adjustment for bass cut-off and damping as well as bass/midrange balance.

Specification: Model KM1
System Type: Three-way, stand-mount
Size: 763 x 1315 x 665mm (30 x 51.75 x 26.25 inches)
Weight: 140kg (308 lb)
Internal Amplifers: 4 x 100W (bass), 2 x 350W (midrange), 1 x 400W (treble)
Frequency response : 38-23,000Hz +/-2dB at 2m on design axis (-6dB at 34 and 25kHz)
Maximum output: 120dB at 1m (anechoic conditions)
System: SP3010
Drive units: 4 x B300 bass unit (SP1196), 2 x B110 midrange unit (SP1186), T52 tweeter (SP1187)
Active crossover boards: SP2036, 2037, 2038.
System: SP3081 KM1P (1987-88)
Drive units: 4 x B300 bass unit (SP1196), 2 x B110 midrange unit (SP1186), T52 tweeter (SP1187)
Active crossover boards: SP2036, 2037, 2111
 
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And yes, I know... :worthless:

969408-kef-km1-professional-bbc-reference-studio-monitors.jpg


969409-kef-km1-professional-bbc-reference-studio-monitors.jpg
 
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Wow that has got be one of the top 10 fugliest speakers of all time. If I had seen them at a yard sale for $10.00 I would pass them up :yes:

Now that being said they could sound great and be worth a fortune.


Regards Snow
 
Snow said:
Wow that has got be one of the top 10 fugliest speakers of all time. If I had seen them at a yard sale for $10.00 I would pass them up :yes:

Now that being said they could sound great and be worth a fortune.


Regards Snow
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LOL... yeah, ya got a point, the WAF is real low on these! They are definitely "Studio Speakers"!

But I bet if you closed your eyes it would be the most beautiful sound you ever heard! :thmbsp:
 
Snow said:
Wow that has got be one of the top 10 fugliest speakers of all time. If I had seen them at a yard sale for $10.00 I would pass them up :yes:

Now that being said they could sound great and be worth a fortune.


Regards Snow
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I like 'em. A lot, in fact. Of course, I also think Altec A7's are the best looking speaker ever. :thmbsp:
 
SimplySound:

The description says active cross over boards (plural). Did you score cross overs as well? I am curious because they're rare and it be fun to read your description as to how they sound. They definitely have an out there funky look. But: there isn't an audiophile worth his salt who could walk into your room without saying "What are those speakers"? "Lets hear them"!
 
totem said:
Just a "Wild" guess but I don't think they were purchased.
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LOL... Yeah JN, I'm not THAT flush with cash! :no: I just think stuff like this is really cool when you can actually see some picts of what will most likely never be seen in the flesh! And to actually hear them? Man I wished I lived in Kent, WA! :yes:
 
Saw a pair in a stereo shop 30 years ago, thought they looked "star wars", I think I listened to them, couldn't remember the model or if they were B&W's.
 
jim t said:
Saw a pair in a stereo shop 30 years ago, thought they looked "star wars", I think I listened to them, couldn't remember the model or if they were B&W's.
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yup and they were 500 bucks then too!!and yes put me in the id love to hear them club also.
 
Nice shots of the KM1s

You got those from my AudioMart Ad. That's my music room in the shots. No objection to you using them, would have been more polite and respectful if you'd asked first.

They are gone now, in storage until we can get them sold. "Fugly", yes, ZERO SAF. But they are one of a handful of (maybe 5) speakers we've had in this room, which is way too small for them, that could produce the big bass drum in the Reference Recording version of the finale of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite at live volumes without flinching. The others did it with less finesse than these did.

Overall, NOT my number one fave, I'd have to give the Infinity IRS Betas a better rating, with the Nestorovic System 12 coming in at #1.

We were working with a fellow who wanted to ship them back to the UK, but logistics have proven very difficult. They're still available if anyone has an interest.
 
I have been lucky enough to listen to the Kef KM1 when they were launched, at the beginning of the 80s. Everyone in the audience was just blasted by the power and lack of any audible distorsion at any sound level these monsters were capable of. To buy a pair of KM1s you'd have to pay about $50K. According to the designer, about 20 pairs were built, very few went to the US.
I wish I'd live near polymon's, they'd already be mine now. Here is a presentation of the "babies" :
KEF KM1 leaflet 1
KEF KM1 leaflet 2
 
polymon said:
Nice shots of the KM1s

You got those from my AudioMart Ad. That's my music room in the shots. No objection to you using them, would have been more polite and respectful if you'd asked first.

They are gone now, in storage until we can get them sold. "Fugly", yes, ZERO SAF. But they are one of a handful of (maybe 5) speakers we've had in this room, which is way too small for them, that could produce the big bass drum in the Reference Recording version of the finale of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite at live volumes without flinching. The others did it with less finesse than these did.

Overall, NOT my number one fave, I'd have to give the Infinity IRS Betas a better rating, with the Nestorovic System 12 coming in at #1.

We were working with a fellow who wanted to ship them back to the UK, but logistics have proven very difficult. They're still available if anyone has an interest.
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He's advertising for you what you're trying to sell. How would it have been more respectful for him to ask first? It's not like he was just writing some story about the speakers and stole your pics.

Also, shilling for stuff you're offering for sale is a no-no per forum guidelines.
 
I think they are gorgeous! Way to big for my humble abode, but if I won the lottery, I would buy them in a flash! I love the vintage Kef's!

And I think my girlfriend would love them too, especially if I had a room they would fit in.
 
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