KEF owners thread

[decreed_it]

hey all, new to the forum, and new to me KEF 104aBs - couple 'before' pics. They sound fantastic driven by also-new-to-me Luxman L-580 and have had some previous work, but they're at the HiFi shop for 'anything they need' regardless. I'll post afters when I get them back. Getting new screens made as well.

View attachment 3762369View attachment 3762370

They’re back from the shop, and they’re fantastic. Every cap was out of spec, 5 per crossover! Still fine tuning. I’ve not got the isolation feet on, nor any ballast in, the stands. Crazy to me, but perhaps not some of y’all, the bass response in other parts of the house. If I go downstairs from this room the low frequency is just booming around its wild. These aren’t Cerwin Vegas and we’re not really hearing it in the room!



Note that right now the stands are flat sitting on cardboard to protect the wood floors, which are on a concrete subfloor, which happens to be the ceiling of our garage. Meaning this is one giant wood and concrete speaker cabinet. I have the pins but need isolation feet, right? Any suggestions?

Think they turned out well and loving the stands so far. Custom job from Grizzly Audio Works out of Adelaide. Hoping inserting the pins, finding appropriate isolating feet and filling the stands with ballast improves the sound.

 

[FONSguy]

I use double KEFs per side. I run them at 4 ohms using a Crown PSA2 Stacked on moving dollies
A singular pair should be away from the wall by about 10 inches and slightly pointed in

 

[FONSguy]

Falcon Electronics in the UK used to sell recap sets for the 104aBs
I did both my pairs.

 

[John3655]

Kef Cresta 2s SP3303 second hand,
Had some Coda 7 back in the 90s they were amazing but the Cresta escaped me, these are in what hifi's top 12 kef speakers ever. Really impressed with the clear punchy bass and overall clear presentation.

Some new caps on order not that they need it.

 

[Ken Mitchell]

Kef Cresta 2s second hand,
Had some Coda 7 back in the 90s they were amazing but the Cresta escaped me, these are in what hifi's top 12 kef speakers ever. Really impressed with the clear punchy bass and overall clear presentation.

Some new caps on order not that they need it.

View attachment 3863329
View attachment 3863330

The caps there look perfect, why spend the money if you haven't ever tested them?

 

[rickb119]

Kef Cresta 2s second hand,
Had some Coda 7 back in the 90s they were amazing but the Cresta escaped me, these are in what hifi's top 12 kef speakers ever. Really impressed with the clear punchy bass and overall clear presentation.

Some new caps on order not that they need it.

View attachment 3863329
View attachment 3863330

While you're in there, you might also consider replacing the sand resistors with something like 12w (for better heat dissipation) Mills precision.

 

[John3655]

The caps there look perfect, why spend the money if you haven't ever tested them?

Well it's not much money and mkp caps are inherently better. I will test them though tba they are 26 years old...

 

[John3655]

While you're in there, you might also consider replacing the sand resistors with something like 12w (for better heat dissipation) Mills precision.

I've got Jantzen mox on order for the HF. Undoubtedly Mra would be better.

 

[rothwellaudio]

While you're in there, you might also consider replacing the sand resistors with something like 12w (for better heat dissipation) Mills precision.

The word "sand" is a pejorative term prevalent on forums which shouldn't taken too seriously. They're wirewound resistors potted in a ceramic coating for heat dissipation. Sand is not being used as the resistive element.

 

[rickb119]

The word "sand" is a pejorative term prevalent on forums which shouldn't taken too seriously. They're wirewound resistors potted in a ceramic coating for heat dissipation. Sand is not being used as the resistive element.

They are, indeed, typically called "sand cast" resistors; a term "prevalent" on more that just forums. A simple google search reveals that they are advertised, and sold as such. And yes, I knew that they are wire wound.

Oh, and BTW, "wirewound" should be two words. I.e. wire wound.

 

[rothwellaudio]

They are, indeed, typically called "sand cast" resistors; a term "prevalent" on more that just forums. A simple google search reveals that they are advertised, and sold as such. And yes, I knew that they are wire wound.

Oh, and BTW, "wirewound" should be two words. I.e. wire wound.

They aren't called "sand cast" by any of the reputable suppliers I use, or by the manufacturers (as far as I can tell).

Royal Ohm PRW05WJW10JB00 1r 5% 5W Axial Wirewound Resistor

Royal Ohm - PRW05WJW10JB00 - Royal Ohm PRW05WJW10JB00 1r 5% 5W Axial Wirewound Resistor

www.rapidonline.com

And they're called wirewound by the manufacturers too, not wire wound.

 

[rickb119]

They aren't called "sand cast" by any of the reputable suppliers I use, or by the manufacturers (as far as I can tell).

Royal Ohm PRW05WJW10JB00 1r 5% 5W Axial Wirewound Resistor

Royal Ohm - PRW05WJW10JB00 - Royal Ohm PRW05WJW10JB00 1r 5% 5W Axial Wirewound Resistor

www.rapidonline.com

And they're called wirewound by the manufacturers too, not wire wound.

Feel better now? Me too.

 

[rothwellaudio]

Feel better now? Me too.

I consider it a public service to call out what I consider dubious advice to spend 30 times more than is necessary for no demonstrable benefit.

 

[Boba MosFET]

Kef Cresta 2s SP3303 second hand,
Had some Coda 7 back in the 90s they were amazing but the Cresta escaped me, these are in what hifi's top 12 kef speakers ever. Really impressed with the clear punchy bass and overall clear presentation.

Some new caps on order not that they need it.

View attachment 3863329

Those look exceptionally clean John.

 

[John3655]

Those look exceptionally clean John.

There's loads out there on a famous auction site for very little $, there's also a cresta 3 &10 models. I suppose there's a good few that get sold when new versions come out, ah the benefits of second hand hifi.