Has anybody heard the new KEF KF92 sub? What are your opinions?

[killdozzer]

It's rather new so so far I've got "opinions" based on listening experience prior to the release of this sub. I value that, some of those opinions are inteligent and a worthy experience.

However, I'd like to get an opinion from an ASR member who is tough on audio BS, but is not judging the sub on specs but on actual test drive.

Not expecting miracles, but I'm trying to see it for what it is; 13" split in two 9" to benefit from force cancelation in order to be able to push it in a longer excursion and avoid distortions coupled with decent DSP to get more than traditionally possible. (also to split the amp in 2x500 to take some load of the coil)

A very important aspect for me is the compact box. Obviously, it would be silly to ask if you know of a 13" sub to be as small because it just couldn't fit the KF92 enclosure.

But I will ask about performance; do you think there's a single 13" sub that behaves better at higher volume levels than this KF92 and can digg noticably deeper?

 

[killdozzer]

Any takers?
Anyone will do?

Is this as capabale as a 13" only in smaller box? Is it better or worse?

I'm not asking about personal preference, but performance, low end, low distortion...

It doesn't have to do 11Hz, if it's a slightly better performance of a 13" packed in smaller box, it is still very interesting to me.

 

[dasdoing]

graphs suggest this thing competes with 18" https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/kef-kf92

 

[NTK]

graphs suggest this thing competes with 18" https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/kef-kf92

I surely hope the KEF is more capable than what those What Hi-Fi graphs showed. Nowhere is any of their curves goes above 100 dB SPL. This USD $2k sub got to do better than that!

 

[waynel]

graphs suggest this thing competes with 18" https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/kef-kf92

How so? I don't see any compression tests , CEA2010, etc...

Can it produce 103dB at 20Hz with less than 20% distortion in a 2M groundplane test? I would be shocked if the answer was yes (and would immediately buy 2 of them)

https://data-bass.com/#/systems/5ad778f92d279a0004669a18?_k=lpcfqh

 

[dasdoing]

come on guys. this is a small sub. If you have a big room you don't need a small sub.
I was talking about the frequency extension

 

[killdozzer]

Yes, thank you all!! That's what I needed! But I'm not even taking their word for it, if they can do what a 13" can do, plus a force cancellation, I'm interested.

 

[waynel]

come on guys. this is a small sub. If you have a big room you don't need a small sub.
I was talking about the frequency extension

Yes, thank you all!! That's what I needed! But I'm not even taking their word for it, if they can do what a 13" can do, plus a force cancellation, I'm interested.

Not sure how you got what you needed from this thread, the important measurements are not available.


Frequency response without compression curves are not very useful for evaluating subs. We need more measurements to draw a conclusion. We cannot conclude that performance is anywhere near 13" range. Yes total cone area is in the same range but what about excursion? Is size your main concern? If so I would look at JL E110 and E112.

 

[killdozzer]

Not sure how you got what you needed from this thread, the important measurements are not available.


Frequency response without compression curves are not very useful for evaluating subs. We need more measurements to draw a conclusion. We cannot conclude that performance is anywhere near 13" range. Yes total cone area is in the same range but what about excursion? Is size your main concern? If so I would look at JL E110 and E112.

That's not what I meant with this "yes". But, some arguments against... It's useful. As much as I can get from as little box as possible is my goal. I don't think of KEF as telling outright lies, but I'm looking for someone who heard it, I'm interested in this sub...

 

[dasdoing]

couldn't find any documentation on their iBX technology, but the very flat line at max (?) suggests that there is no limiting (brick wall compression) going on as the whole curve seams to be DSP controlled (it sure could go louder if they started limiting the lower frequencies; I see that as a plus, since puting a limiter instead of limiting the volume knob is kind of cheating). but I am guessing here. It sure is no thx certified sub.

 

[MZKM]

graphs suggest this thing competes with 18" https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/kef-kf92

How?
Rythmik G22 in piano finish is $1600 and is dual 12” compared to this dual 9”. The G22 looks to do >110dB @ 40Hz (CEA-2010 2m RMS).
The KEF doesn’t even have a phase knob, just a polarity switch; the speaker wire connections are so odd, just make room for binding posts.

 

[killdozzer]

@MZKM @dasdoing @waynel
Yes, a lot seems to be off... It's only making me more curious. KEF never looked like a company that would put out such bloated measurements. I'd hate to lose them to the dark side.

 

[mikkle]

SpareChange reviewed it and liked it quite a bit:

 

[Senior NEET Engineer]

It's rather new so so far I've got "opinions" based on listening experience prior to the release of this sub. I value that, some of those opinions are inteligent and a worthy experience.

However, I'd like to get an opinion from an ASR member who is tough on audio BS, but is not judging the sub on specs but on actual test drive.

Not expecting miracles, but I'm trying to see it for what it is; 13" split in two 9" to benefit from force cancelation in order to be able to push it in a longer excursion and avoid distortions coupled with decent DSP to get more than traditionally possible. (also to split the amp in 2x500 to take some load of the coil)

A very important aspect for me is the compact box. Obviously, it would be silly to ask if you know of a 13" sub to be as small because it just couldn't fit the KF92 enclosure.

But I will ask about performance; do you think there's a single 13" sub that behaves better at higher volume levels than this KF92 and can digg noticably deeper?

JL Audio is king of high output in small enclosure

 

[killdozzer]

SpareChange reviewed it and liked it quite a bit:

Thank you! I've seen that. It's just not really what I'm looking for. I'd never think there's no reason to like this sub, but it IS a pricey sub. Now, SVS has some reputation in SUBs and I got a quote on SVS SB 3000 for 1210€ or 1420$ (that's the cheapest I found in EU), because of its construction and two proprietary drivers, KF92 is more expensive, but it has to earn that with performance, not just number of drivers. If performance doesn't top SVS SB 3000, why would anyone go for a more expensive one?

 

[killdozzer]

JL Audio is king of high output in small enclosure

Is this Barry Ober?

 

[dasdoing]

JL Audio is king of high output in small enclosure

is the near field data?
cause I calculated 1.485 cubic field for the KEF and it reads ~96dB at 20Hz

 

[waynel]

is the near field data?
cause I calculated 1.485 cubic field for the KEF and it reads ~96dB at 20Hz

The data is the CEA2010 at 20Hz references to 2 meters groundplane from Data-Bass . I created this plot. What do you mean “it reads ~96dB at 20Hz”?

 

[dasdoing]

What do you mean “it reads ~96dB at 20Hz”?

graph 2 https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/kef-kf92
graph 1 is 3m btw

 

[waynel]

graph 2 https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/kef-kf92
graph 1 is 3m btw

No distance or distortion specified. You can't compare those plots in the What Hi-Fi review to the data-bass plot.