KEF owners thread

[DOBIEGUY]

What is so special about the KEF 101? I just saw an ad on CL for a pair, and they want $500 for them. I checked the specs and they are 90-30K +/-2db with a terrible spl of 81db!? Now compare that to Paradigm Phantom V1 monitors 60 - 20KHz +/-2 with spl at 90db. Independent reviews tested them and got 47 - 20KHz at +/-2.5db at this link http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/paradigm-phantom-490.html The paradigms can be had for about $100 so what justifies this price for the KEFs? I can't imaging many people care much about audio over 20KHz.

$500 is not unrealistic for KEF 101s. They were expensive when new. KEF manufactured the drivers used in the BBC licensed variants of the LS3/5A. The 101s are an excellent way to experience what small two way monitors are all about.
The Paradigms might be a good sounding speaker. The fact that they can be had for around $100 means thats all they’re worth.
If the cabinets are in nice shape and the drivers are correct and working I’d bet they’re already gone.

 

[Lou G]

I initially said that $500 seems high for the KEF 101 but after researching them that looks like a low price compared to what others are asking. I guess the going price is what the market will bear.

 

[HiFi in WYO]

New amp/pre combo playing today with my 105.1s. NAD 2200 with a Dynaco PAT 4 and an H/K CDR 20 cd player. The NAD seems to be feeling well the past couple weeks, hasn't hung out in protect mode. The 105s seem to appreciate the extra power (over the normal Yamaha 501 integrated) and the unrestored Dynaco isn't bright. Just lovely sounds. About as perfect a combo as I'm going to get with my stash.

I so love these speakers.

 

[cpt_paranoia]

Is that a Liberator...?

 

[HiFi in WYO]

Is that a Liberator...?

Yes. My Grandfather's. He was a pilot. A model I built for him years ago. It's his Liberator's markings. Silver with yellow cowl covers and a yellow stripe down the stabilizer. 35 missions, not one crew lost. Truly incredible.

 

[Ken Mitchell]

New amp/pre combo playing today with my 105.1s. NAD 2200 with a Dynaco PAT 4 and an H/K CDR 20 cd player. The NAD seems to be feeling well the past couple weeks, hasn't hung out in protect mode. The 105s seem to appreciate the extra power (over the normal Yamaha 501 integrated) and the unrestored Dynaco isn't bright. Just lovely sounds. About as perfect a combo as I'm going to get with my stash.

I so love these speakers.

I don't often see the original 105's. Very nice! Looks like they are in exceptionally good condition.

 

[HiFi in WYO]

Kind of the second owner. Well third if you count the nephew of the original owner I bought them from. He only had the for a couple of weeks after his uncle passed. I have the original receipt and the brochure. No boxes though. Truly for me a one-in-a-lifetime score. They weren't free but for three bills an amazing deal.

 

[SaSi]

The 105s look nice.
I have restored a pair myself. They look and sound great. I used to drool over these in high school.

 

[newzealand]

Kind of the second owner. Well third if you count the nephew of the original owner I bought them from. He only had the for a couple of weeks after his uncle passed. I have the original receipt and the brochure. No boxes though. Truly for me a one-in-a-lifetime score. They weren't free but for three bills an amazing deal.

well done on the kefs,

 

[HiFi in WYO]

I was only trying to broker these for the owner ... young guy who had no room for them. He carted them from California, so there's a couple dings on the corners, but nothing major. He let me bring them home to test and get pics of. For three or so months, not one bite. I wasn't surprised that locally I had no interest, but I branched out to the Denver area and still nothing.

In that time of course I fell in love with them. So I paid him what we originally agreed upon. I had to replace a few caps as two for the mids on one side were bad. It's not the correct kit from England, but the correct values and good caps, so they sing again. At some point I need to order the full set - just so many projects and not enough funds. And they sound fine for now.

I've had plenty of interest over the years since, but they're not going anywhere.

 

[Buanadha]

I was only trying to broker these for the owner ... young guy who had no room for them. He carted them from California, so there's a couple dings on the corners, but nothing major. He let me bring them home to test and get pics of. For three or so months, not one bite. I wasn't surprised that locally I had no interest, but I branched out to the Denver area and still nothing.

In that time of course I fell in love with them. So I paid him what we originally agreed upon. I had to replace a few caps as two for the mids on one side were bad. It's not the correct kit from England, but the correct values and good caps, so they sing again. At some point I need to order the full set - just so many projects and not enough funds. And they sound fine for now.

I've had plenty of interest over the years since, but they're not going anywhere.

I'm jealous! Those are beautiful speakers!

Anything to watch for on those that can't be repaired/replaced pretty easily? I'm kind of out of the market right now (spent enough already this year), but a guy I know has the 105.4's for sale and I'm tempted if he still has them after New Year's. I just don't want to jump into a project where I'd have to find parts that may not be available (and I already spent most of my speaker money on 2 sets of 103/4's and having them refoamed)

 

[HiFi in WYO]

Anything to watch for on those that can't be repaired/replaced pretty easily?

The big thing with the 105.1 (and .2) was people recommend turning the woofer occasionally. They're pretty substantial and can sag. I've turned mine a couple of times - though I've not noticed any cone sag.

The crossovers on the .1s are relatively complex. However they are easy to change caps on. I have no idea on the .4s as I've never seen a pair. The caps were matched (I believe) from the factory so that's a consideration when replacing. One of mine developed an issue - sounded like an FM station slightly out of tune. I traced it to the mid then changed the caps for the mid (on both sides). That took care of the issue. They're old - so a recap is likely in order. At least for the .1s there's a place in England that sells a matched set (last time I checked it was around $80 U.S.).

There's not a lot of room inside the upper crossover - which is located in the mid/tweeter box. So if you're replacing them with poly caps just know it's a tight fit. The xover for the wooers is in the bottom cab and there's plenty of room in there.

They do seem to like power. My AS-501 is 85 wpc and it works just fine however the big NAD 2200 seems to be a better fit. The 105.1s have an adjustable dial for your amp rating - make sure you set that close (if the 105.4 has it).

The mids/tweets are adjustable up and down and side to side - so you can fine tune your listening. They are heavy and those casters are kind of cheap and don't play well with carpet.

Other than that hook 'em up and enjoy them. They'll handle any type of music without complaint and won't fatigue your ears.

 

[WSLco]

Replacements for my KEF Reference 1's

 

[JohnnyNapalm]

Nice, how do they sound?

 

[WSLco]

Exceptional!

 

[ckoenig70]

I had a uni-q driver fail in my Reference Model 2's. Anyone know where I can source a used one?

 

[Ken Mitchell]

I had a uni-q driver fail in my Reference Model 2's. Anyone know where I can source a used one?

Was it the mid-range driver or the tweeter that failed? They don't often both die simultaneously.

It's tweeter is an NT25 (SP1353) and that's the same used in the Reference Model 100 center speaker that can often be found on eBay for under $100 shipped. The mid-range is a B160 (SP1345) that's a little harder to find. I don't know how different it is from the B160 (SP1317) driver of the Reference Model 100 center speaker. In the center speaker it's run as a "bass/mid-range" driver.

 

[stueym]

Here is my contribution - pure budget I know, but these are still the best speakers I've ever owned - KEF Cresta 2's. They cost me £50. Here they are in my living room setup:

 

[ledbailey]

I have a pair of 104ab walnut veneer that i bought new in 76/77 . When i bought them the tweets kept burning out when played at half throttle so the store where i got them told me the power amp/tuner they sold me was not power full enough and clipping was the problem 58 watts. So for more money they suggested a sx950 . When i bought the Kef s they were 104. not 104ab . So for a price they installed a 104ab upgrade kit with a built in fuse holder that blows if i play them too loud. That was a good thing because as the kids got older and i was not home they got played and sure enough burnt fuses. They never did figure out how i knew they were using them.. laugh!! I also had a pair of VISONIK DAVID speakers i placed on top of the kefs for enhanced mid/high range. I am currently looking for a pair of those speakers. For the love of music Ledbailey

 

[bimasta]

^^^ I had the Visonik David, and Goliath — what astonishing little speakers!

I was moving house, and the Visoniks were in a box, which included many smaller
audio items, like some MC phono cartridges in their original boxes, NOS.

That box never arrived at my new digs. Sadly, one of my "friends" who helped me move
was the prime suspect.

I confronted him, and he lied to my face. Sad, he was a good friend, and it made me
examine the entire concept of Trust.