KEF owners thread

[ccklone]

Hey Now,

I have had a pair of KEF 103.2s since 1983. I told my newly wedded bride that they would last 20 years, it would be a good investment for good sounding music. She couldn't fathom spending that much for a pair of speakers. I lied, they are still going strong after 36 years! They are my reference to compare other speakers. For the better part of 30 years they were used with an NAD 7120 receiver (20wpc), always sounded good. Now I am using a juiced up Hafler XL280 with Musical Concepts mods and they sound amazing. I was hoping to restore them when I retire in a few months.

Last year I got a pair of LS50W and I am floored at how good these sound. Just loving them so much. They are in a nearfield setup in a smaller 11'x11' room, triangulated, main listening seat in the somewhat middle-ish part of the room facing a corner.

--
Finest kind,
Chris

 

[uteman1011]

I just picked up a pair of KEF K120 today for $30. First pair I've ever seen/owned. They sound great!

 

[aeroscott]

The Mani is a cleaner signal then my Marantz 2250b and 4400. I honestly think the Marantz 2235b will sound great more for the preamp section, I would consider eventually using the pre amp outputs to a nice beefy power amp to push the Q500s a little, but the 35wpc will be nice also.

Thanks for the great tips! I tend to forget what a great piece of kit the Mani is. I think it sounds amazing in its current role. I never thought of using an older integrated just for its preamp stage since I’ve never messed with separate pre & power amps. Do you have any power amp suggestions that you think would pair well? Or any general brands, series, or characteristics/specs to keep an eye out for? Thanks!

 

[Pastel]

104 /2 rosewoods and Q90s.

 

[Lou G]

KEF 104/2
KEF Reference Model One
KEF Calinda - Purchased new in 1979. Still going strong in my third system.

 

[ckoenig70]

KEF Reference Model 2. Purchased Mar of 2018. $700. Best money I every spent on any gear. Buttery smooth!! In the shop for re-cap, and ferofluid...

 

[JohnnyNapalm]

Good choice. I spoke to Dave from Kef and they were his personal favourites of the series. I have the 1.2’s, 3.2’s and 4.2’s and love them. I will have to get a pair of 2.2’s to complete the set.

 

[arts]

KEF Reference Model 2. Purchased Mar of 2018. $700. Best money I every spent on any gear. Buttery smooth!! In the shop for re-cap, and ferofluid...

Good choice. I spoke to Dave from Kef and they were his personal favourites of the series. I have the 1.2’s, 3.2’s and 4.2’s and love them. I will have to get a pair of 2.2’s to complete the set.

After many years with the 104/2 and the 105/2,I lucked into a pair of Reference Model 3's a couple of years agriginal,mint condition,with boxes and all packaging and paperwork.Nice

 

[ckoenig70]

After many years with the 104/2 and the 105/2,I lucked into a pair of Reference Model 3's a couple of years agriginal,mint condition,with boxes and all packaging and paperwork.Nice

The guy who repaired them said he was surprised at the low end. He has the 105/2's...

 

[Pastel]

Just got back 104/2s from Techhifi in Hanson. New surrounds and donuts. New caps. New ferro fluid. Sound like the day they left the factory!

 

[Med-Fi]

Hi guys! Since 5pm yesterday I'm 100 bucks poorer, and the proud owner of a pair of kef 105.4s!

Boy they sound amazing, and what I've been reading on here is that they can benefit from a recap? I cant imagine them sounding any better than they already do!

A couple more things. Does anyone have any experience replacing the grill cloth on these things? the original fabric on the grille and top hats are definitely not perfect... I also was looking at KEFs website, and the 105.4s they have pictured are on speaker stands. Mine are on casters... I would like to acquire the original stands. Are they hard to come by?

 

[bimasta]

I have KEF Ref 101s. When I got them, I also had 'legendary' LS3/5As — same concept, same size. In a careful comparison (on rigid stands, right height, etc) with many firends listening/judging, the KEF's were preferred. Their limitations are obvious, but they do what they do superbly.

I later found a pair of Q60s. They were obviously several cuts below KEF's best, and ugly as sin, but the price was irresistible and the coaxial driver intriguing.

Sound: "mediocre" is flattery.

Does anyone else own these? Am I doing something wrong? Is it the flimsy cabinets? Is the crossover as 'cost-effective' as the woodwork? Are the Uni-Q drivers alone, in a better enclosure, worth the effort?

 

[Ross6860]

Hi guys! Since 5pm yesterday I'm 100 bucks poorer, and the proud owner of a pair of kef 105.4s!

$100?

Why don't I ever find deals like that?

 

[Med-Fi]

$100?

Why don't I ever find deals like that?

Picked up a marantz 4300 for 100 bucks a couple weekends ago too! At this rate I'm gonna find a pair of McIntosh monoblocks and some altec lansing model 19s sitting on the side of the road with a "free" sign next to them next weekend!

 

[arts]

Hi guys! Since 5pm yesterday I'm 100 bucks poorer, and the proud owner of a pair of kef 105.4s!

Boy they sound amazing, and what I've been reading on here is that they can benefit from a recap? I cant imagine them sounding any better than they already do!

A couple more things. Does anyone have any experience replacing the grill cloth on these things? the original fabric on the grille and top hats are definitely not perfect... I also was looking at KEFs website, and the 105.4s they have pictured are on speaker stands. Mine are on casters... I would like to acquire the original stands. Are they hard to come by?
View attachment 1518580 View attachment 1518582 View attachment 1518583

As the little kiddo in photo 1 is asking: Daddy,why are there robots in the living room?

I have never seen a pair of 105's (original,/2 or /4) on stands. Mine were also on casters,something you may grow to appreciate;I know I did!

Do the heads have external fuseholders for the mids and tweets?

Oh,and a hundred buck? Hmpf,lucky for you we have profanity rules around here

 

[Badtone]

Reference 4.2s here, bought them new back in the day and still love them.

 

[Med-Fi]

As the little kiddo in photo 1 is asking: Daddy,why are there robots in the living room?

I have never seen a pair of 105's (original,/2 or /4) on stands. Mine were also on casters,something you may grow to appreciate;I know I did!

Do the heads have external fuseholders for the mids and tweets?

Oh,and a hundred buck? Hmpf,lucky for you we have profanity rules around here

Yeah, I got pretty lucky.

All the heads have on it is a selector switch. No external fuse holders. why do you ask?

 

[arts]

Yeah, I got pretty lucky.

All the heads have on it is a selector switch. No external fuse holders. why do you ask?

There have been a couple of different configurations for the heads; Mine had the switch (the circuitry for this feature is powered by the audio signal,and many people advocate disabling it) and two fuseholders (one for the mid,one for the tweeter) at the very bottom near the banana plugs.The holders are often corroded,causing signal dropouts and/or scratchiness.Perhaps these were eliminated in later versions.

Horrible interweb pic:

 

[JohnnyNapalm]

Reference 4.2s here, bought them new back in the day and still love them.

Listened to the Reference Model 4’s when I could only afford the 1’s when they were released and fell in love. I now have the 1.2’s, 3.2’s and 4.2’s and it would take something special for me to change them.

 

[Pastel]

Do you think it is worth bi wiring my KEF 104.2s? I’ve read it makes a difference sometimes, then others claim it does not.