KEF 104-2 vs KEF Q90

Ross6860

Ross6860

Super Member
Anyone listened to both? I've read good reviews on both. Q90s are a little less expensive, but I may be leaning toward the 104-2. I can solder, rebuild crossovers, replace diaphragms, and install surrounds, so the 104-2s don't scare me if they need some work.

Intended use is HT mains doing double duty as stereo, so not the greatest receiver driving them.

HT receiver can't really run my Infinities (4 ohm), and most of my other speakers are kind of either dedicated to stereo, or not as "good" as either of the KEFs (Large Advents, 3-way Franken-speakers).

My other speakers are Klipsch Chorus II, KLH 5, and AR 2a. None are really HT speakers, but the Klipsch will work.
 
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104/2 by a mile. I'm a fan of older kef & B&W from 70's and 80's. Newer stuff not so much. That uni q tweeter on q series suck ass. Many many failures.
 
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Yes, the 104/2. The 104/2 was $2499 new in 1984. I believe the Q90 was under $1500 new and came out roughly 10 years ago.
 
Those Klipsch should be better than just OK to cover the above mentioned needs. Sounds like you just want some new speakers! Speaking of the 104/2, I just hooked up a pair today. I grabbed them from a thrift a couple weeks ago. They have a dead tweeter on one side, but I could see them playing as HT mains. You could even buy the MTM pod off a part-out 104/2 and make a matching center! It wouldn't be hard to do.
 
You will want a high current amp to get them to sing as they were designed. I had a pair and they are amazing speakers, but they are gone and the Kef 105s stayed.
 
I agree with above. The 90's did about 70% of the spectrum very nicely. They also could disappear quite well. That said the tweeters are ticking time bombs waiting to fail(as stated above). Replacements are overpriced and on death watch themselves. I have seen a couple of experienced techs walk away from trying to repair/replace their fragile VC's.

I saw some chi-fi knock offs on sleazebay but can not comment on their quality or likeness in sonics to the OG's.

104's allll day.
 
Donkey Karma said:
I agree with above. The 90's did about 70% of the spectrum very nicely. They also could disappear quite well. That said the tweeters are ticking time bombs waiting to fail(as stated above). Replacements are overpriced and on death watch themselves. I have seen a couple of experienced techs walk away from trying to repair/replace their fragile VC's.

I saw some chi-fi knock offs on sleazebay but can not comment on their quality or likeness in sonics to the OG's.

104's allll day.
Click to expand...

104 tweeters are scarce, expensive, and need to be serviced/maintained (ferofluid cleaned out and replaced).
 
I just got a pair of 104-2 a month or so ago. Redid the ferrofluid immediately. Don't know about the q90 but the 104 is outstanding. I have 4 good pair of speakers in my wall of sound but I keep listening to the 104-2. They just are outstanding. I am going to recap them this winter and do doughnuts.
 
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