AXPONA: KEF speakers

[amirm]

Visiting KEF and having the master of ceremonies Johan demonstrate them is always a joy. Johan is funny, down to earth and has great selection of music.

During this presentation, he went all out involving the audience in hearing the difference between two different port lengths on their Reference speakers (you can swap the shorter one for longer). Unfortunately half way through I had to run to one of the seminars and did not hear the blades 2.

 

[amirm]

This was played through the KEF LS50: https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tg6idy654xjip6b6uueg6xbwwle?u=0#

Paired with the Parasound integrated amp and DAC, the entire system retails for $4,500.

What did it sound like? I don't know anymore because I forgot to make note of it!

Jonas said it does not need a sub even though he has one at home. I have heard them with a Sub (which included EQ), and it sounded superb.

 

[amirm]

This track was played on the Reference One speaker: https://play.google.com/music/preview/T7im7wj2suvjv4lt4os55ro4vky?u=0#

Max Richter is one of my favorite modern composers and this sounded really good!

Johan said the reference series is built by one person one at a time to get high consistency.

 

[amirm]

This is the track that was used for A/B testing of the port tube length: https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tz4j57ximbhn4ldw3ld33qsk3fq?u=0#

I can't find the specific video of the above but this is the track anyway:

I thought with the short tube the bass was a bit muddier but the highs were very clear. The tubbiness seem to reduce with the long tube.

The Reference One speakers retail for $8,000. They are optimized in the factory to +- 0.25 db.

 

[amirm]

A show would not be a show without a few plays of Qsound encoded Roger Waters music: https://play.google.com/music/preview/Teevmqkkwmlsl5sh66qgiwvpewy?u=0#

Again, this was played on the reference. And again I forgot to note what I thought of the track! Don't shoot me. I don't do this for a living. If I were, I would be fired by now on multiple counts.

 

[amirm]

This was again on KEF Reference One speakers: http://www.shazam.com/track/6401771...-motown-story-the-60s-version#referrer=shz.am

My notes say "pretty open remix."

 

[TitaniumTroy]

I thought the Blade 2's had a fantastic soundstage, this was my favorite speaker of the show. Amir told me to check them out as they were really good and I totally agree.