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Modern vs Vintage KEF

MotherSauce1

MotherSauce1

Active Member
I'm doing some research on older KEF speakers. I've got a pair of KEFQ100 and I'm looking at a pair of KEF 103/3 with the KEF Cube from the 80s. Assuming the older set are in good working order--how do ya'll think these two compare and how do older KEFs (since I am new to the brand) compare to the newer models?
 
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I used to sell the 103/3, very nice speaker. Can't compare to the new ones as I have not heard them but before buying a pair of the 103/3 look up some threads on maintenance and repair. They do have their share of age related issues with tweeters drying out and foam rotting on woofers.
 
Thanks Raynald; will do. I should expect them to be refoamed then? Is there a way to visually tell if the tweeters have dried out?
 
kswenson said:
Thanks Raynald; will do. I should expect them to be refoamed then? Is there a way to visually tell if the tweeters have dried out?
Click to expand...

At this point refoaming is a pretty good bet. But it is not the surround, it is the donut where a normal dust cap would be. This lets the rob pass through that secures the magnet to the cabinet to reduce vibrations. The problem is that woofer is buried inside the cabinet, venting out the bottom. There is much more work involved in getting the 103/3 woofer than in a conventional design. The leads are soldered on and working space is quite tight. There are threads here showing how it is done. To see if the donut is rotted you have to look up inside the vent at the bottom. DO NOT turn the speaker upside down! This will allow bits of crumbling foam to fall into the voice coil and may ruin the woofer.

No way to tell from the outside, but it is also a good bet the ferrofluid will have dried up by now. The tweeters will still work but they will be more vulnerable to failure if pushed. There are many threads on how to clean them out and replace the fluid.
 
I have a pair of mid/late 1980s 104/2s @ which all of the drivers, including those troublesome t-33 tweets, are in perfect working order.

Sadly I did not tote these towers 'o poer to the EU and so they sit @ a Record Store / Audio Shop in Santa Barbara (CA) that handles gear consignment, awaiting the arrival of their next owner.

While I miss their sound every day, I do not miss their effin' significant footprint. Nice lookin', what with the neat forward grills and (in my case) the rosewood veneer finish.
 
PA: Also had a pair of 104 aBs that were perfect; that pair I gave to a long-time audio pal back in Claremont (CA).
 
I like both older and newer KEF.

For older, I own 107 and 103.2 models.
For newer, I've owned LS50's and have heard something in the Q series...can't remember exact model.

The LS50's were very nice, and very wife friendly! Small, and nice looking. Had a nice, modern sound. I may have to get another pair some day.

With that said, I sold them and I still have my 107's and 103.2's.
The 107's are in another league, bass-wise and SPL wise. The sound has a sheer PRESENCE.
The 103.2's do timbre of instruments very well. Just very enjoyable speakers.

I sold the LS50's because I thought the 103.2's were at least 80% as good, and much cheaper. The LS50's I think had the edge in clarity and "airiness"...while the 103.2's are better at reproducing timber of wood instruments.

If you want a more "modern" sound, go with a more modern speaker.
If you want smooth, but accurate sound, the vintage KEF Reference series will suit you well.

I really have no preference of one vs. the other, I would just say buy used either way, if you want them to hold their value.
 
Raynald said:
I used to sell the 103/3, very nice speaker. Can't compare to the new ones as I have not heard them but before buying a pair of the 103/3 look up some threads on maintenance and repair. They do have their share of age related issues with tweeters drying out and foam rotting on woofers.
Click to expand...
Hello…I just ordered a pair of 203s & the rubber woofers look ok so far….is there any suggestions on treating them to keep them supple & the plastic cones from cracking?
 
Had a pair of Q950's. Cabinet build quality was pretty bad for something costing 3,000 a pair when they first came out. Took me 2 years and a pair of Time Window 1a's for me to figure I didn't really like the 950's. Had a pair of Q bookshelf speakers with the tweeter on top. Have to look them up everytime I talk about them, too lazy today. Heavy with curved sides and piano finish. They were very good.
 
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i have a pair of 105.4 here.. I've thought about selling them several times but every time I do, I put them on and i don't. they're just really easy listening and at the same time accurate..

i bought a recap package from a UK supplier, Falcon something.. but they were supposed to be the 'right' caps for the speakers.. had them recapped.. sounded like crap until they burned in and then bingo, beautiful.

if I had the chance to redo the recap, i would have spent a bit more on the caps.. but at this point, that would cost more than I paid for them, so they're fine as is.

At 85db, i think, I don't really have a high power amp to make them sing anymore but they sound decent with some lower 125 watt Class A.

>> I was gifted an Altec 9440A amp from @Leben as he was moving, so I'm looking forward to having it tuned up and brought online, with the 105.4.

I almost went new KEF a few times but sight unseen, it's a crap shoot, if they're going to work with amps/ room, so I've always pulled back.
 
I own current Reference 1 Meta speakers, and have owned LS50, LS50 Meta, R500, R200C, R100, R50, Q300, and many more.

Last fall, I restored two pairs of Reference 104/2, including new "donuts" for the woofers (rubber surrounds were fine), ferro fluid in the tweeters, and caps in one that needed it.

The sound of the older Reference is really quite nice and non-fatiguing. That said, it just can't match the level of detail in the upper frequencies of any of the LS50 or R series, and the modern Reference series adds to that a level of realism in the bass output that is uncanny. I prefer the newer stuff...and I can listen to my Refrence 1 Meta all day with zero fatigue as well. :D
 
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I owned the Calindas for a while (late 1970s 2 way tower with a racetrack ABR).

Couldn't get them working right in my room, designed for wall reinforecement.

A friend had them off me, much bigger room and he could place them optimally. Even with a modest AR A03 amplifier sound quality was stunning. That would compete today no question. I only paid £100 for them.

I like the 105 too, a friend has them. Again they would easily compete today.

The old Coda III were good for a cheapy. The 'Eggs' with a subwoofer were surprisingly good.

Of the modern stuff the LS50 I think is a good small speaker. LS60 is impressive but all eggs in one basket.

I have had a listen to the Blades and the middle of the range reference towers but only at shows and poorly set up.
 
MotherSauce1 said:
Thanks Raynald; will do. I should expect them to be refoamed then? Is there a way to visually tell if the tweeters have dried out?
Click to expand...
Take a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll, or from something else, up to the diameter of the tweeter, and with the music at a moderate to lower volume hold the tube up to the tweeter while placing your ear on the other end. It will be very obvious if the ferrofluid is thick or dried out because you will barely hear any sound coming out.

Just using your ear near the tweeter is not as good because you get highs from mid too, if the speaker has a mid right above the tweeter like the KEF 103/3 do.

But without taking the tweeter apart, you can not tell visually if the ferrofuild has dried out.
 
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