Kef Blade 1 meta disappointed

[terryforsythe]

My only concern about some class D amps is that they will enter current limit (rather than voltage clip) when driving very many loudspeakers which increasingly often have impedances below 3 Ohms at the all important bass end where all the music power is concentrated.

I don't think that is an issue either for the purify 1ET9040BA or the Hypex Nilai500 - both are rated down to 2 ohms. But, as far as total power output, the 1ET9040BA out guns the Nilai500, especially at 2 ohms. In the end, it comes down to what speakers are being used, the room, and how loud someone wants to listen to their music.

EDIT: Here is a link for computing how much amplifier power is needed for a particular setup: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PBFl_gYj_g6XYeHZHYhnBxNm-JjJD0FJFguxEhE_2d0/edit?usp=sharing

 

[quattro98]

I don't know about that. After much time comparing Amir's measurement data for the Purifi and Hypex amplfiers, I chose the Hypex Nilai500DIY.

Still, I don't think there is an audible difference, and the Nilai is a DIY kit requiring assembly, albeit a very simple assembly that took about an hour.

I'm curious about about why you chose the Nilai over the alternatives. I ended up going with Nilai x3 for LCR, but sometimes I wonder if I should have waited and gone with a 3 channel amp using the 1ET6525SA for simplicity. I did like the easy project aspect of the Nilai, so there's that & the 5 year warranty. I'm always open to confirmation bias for my own choices.

 

[terryforsythe]

I'm curious about about why you chose the Nilai over the alternatives. I ended up going with Nilai x3 for LCR, but sometimes I wonder if I should have waited and gone with the 3 channel amp using the 1ET6525SA for simplicity. I did like the easy project aspect of the Nilai, so there's that. I'm always open to confirmation bias for my own choices.

It has more than enough power for my needs, a very low output impedance, very low noise and distortion, and has 3 gain settings (11.8dB, 21.8dB and 27.8dB). The ability to select the gain is useful for my setup, which is all active with DSP being used for room correction.

Also, I liked the idea of doing the assembly myself. It sounded fun. It turned out to be just turning screws and plugging in connectors, and I actually was hoping it would be a little more challenging.

In addition to getting a great review from Amir, everything else I could find about the Nilai was very positive. It's a very good amplifier, but so are the Purify amplifiers; I don't think you can go wrong with either, I doubt there is an audible difference. It just comes down to preference.

The point of my post was that, yes, Purify amplifiers are very good, but they aren't the only game in town for those that want a high performance Class D amplifier. It's great to have competition, that keeps the companies on their toes, which benefits those of us trying to obtain good equipment at a good price.

 

[Hear Here]

Some of us strongly disagree.

Yes, the Blades are very well reviewed by Stereophile and other reputable reviewers - I discount / ignore Youtube "reviews" of course.

Sadly I've never heard Blades myself, but would seriously consider them if I fell out of love with my Avantgarde horn speakers - most unlikely!

 

[Mnyb]

kef must be blithering idiots ending up with side firing woofers what a waste of years and years of actual research ....

Btw LS60 is that kind of speakers that actually works in many kind of rooms except for a big room , due to "SPL limitation" but its absolutely not spl limited compared to a typical audiophile stand mounted two way, or electrostats

Within my living space and SPL habits they do it for me with added subwoofers.

If one had a bigger room one could afford the blades easily . bigger income bigger house bigger rooms unfortunately I'm living life as a middle class hero

 

[Putter]

One of the things I’ve gratefully absorbed on this site is the uplifting and mind-quieting idea is that if your audio gear measures and performs well and delivers god balance, fidelity, and transparency, you can let all of the restless neurotic comparative obsessing about price and brands and the anxious competitive narcissism of small differences fade away, and experience the music with a clear undistracted focus.

Sort of. While you know you've likely made the best choice within your price range, there's that still small voice whispering that you could do better with more money. It's even worse because you know that there will be real differences although the improvement may be too subtle to be significant.

 

[HalSF]

Sort of. While you know you've likely made the best choice within your price range, there's that still small voice whispering that you could do better with more money. It's even worse because you know that there will be real differences although the improvement may be too subtle to be significant.

It’s audiophile gospel that the first question if you’re in the market for hi-fi gear is, “What’s your budget?” — as if sound quality reliably goes up with price in a rational ladder of “upgrades.” That’s still generally true with loudspeakers. But DACs and Class D amps are doing a lot to challenge that system and quiet the FOMO whispers, at least for those components. Measurements and room EQ are also helping to level the playing field. Speaking for myself, the lure of high-end upselling has never been weaker.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I would want to see measurements. To me, it looks like diffraction may be an issue.

Why are you worried about diffraction with the Geithains?

 

[Ciobi69]

Damn they sound soo bad I might replace them with some esoteric thief manufacturers with 0 objective data on their speakers with some story telling novel in the description

 

[Pearljam5000]

View attachment 431336
Damn they sound soo bad I might replace them with some esoteric thief manufacturers with 0 objective data on their speakers with some story telling novel in the description

Is that Sauron?

 

[Ciobi69]

Is that Sauron?

Yes I printed it

 

[Reddoc]

Is that Sauron?

I thought Gil-Galad and Isildur only cut his finger off??

His posture says "these blades sound a lot better than Narsil "

 

[Pearljam5000]

View attachment 431336
Damn they sound soo bad I might replace them with some esoteric thief manufacturers with 0 objective data on their speakers with some story telling novel in the description

What other speakers did you consider? Do you need a sub with them?

 

[Ciobi69]

I thought Gil-Galad and Isildur only cut his finger off??

His posture says "these blades sound a lot better than Narsil "

the damn cat keeps stealing the hand, i forgot to glue it!

 

[Ciobi69]

What other speakers did you consider? Do you need a sub with them?

i didn't consider any commercial available speakers, they can really go loud, i mean the average volume for me is 80db with maybe 100db peaks in fact when i use them in multichannel i have 2 subwoofers and one time i went at reference level and they handled it, a proper serious subwoofer might help them, but in bass heavy tracks, a 15/18 inch sub is obviously better than 4 6.5 inch drivers, but its also dependent on room treatment

 

[Mart68]

the damn cat keeps stealing the hand, i forgot to glue it!

It's its precious.

 

[Sokel]

i didn't consider any commercial available speakers, they can really go loud, i mean the average volume for me is 80db with maybe 100db peaks in fact when i use them in multichannel i have 2 subwoofers and one time i went at reference level and they handled it, a proper serious subwoofer might help them, but in bass heavy tracks, a 15/18 inch sub is obviously better than 4 6.5 inch drivers, but its also dependent on room treatment

The four 6.5" added together make an approximately 12" driver.
Not bad at all, a 12" driver can have serious midbass if done right.

 

[Pearljam5000]

The four 6.5" added together make an approximately 12" driver.
Not bad at all, a 12" driver can have serious midbass if done right.

How much in total are the four 9" on the Blade One?

 

[Sokel]

How much in total are the four 9" on the Blade One?

A little over a 15" one,16" maybe if there are such drivers around. We measure cone area, not just a flat circle so that's an approximation and depends.
Now, imagine the old B&W 801 which could kick like a mule with the right amp with its 12" driver.

And that's how a room can destroy things, when I listened the Blade 1 midbass was just ok, nothing that could kick you in the chest.

 

[Pearljam5000]

A little over a 15" one,16" maybe if there are such drivers around. We measure cone area, not just a flat circle so that's an approximation and depends.
Now, imagine the old B&W 801 which could kick like a mule with the right amp with its 12" driver.

And that's how a room can destroy things, when I listened the Blade 1 midbass was just ok, nothing that could kick you in the chest.

Then I can't imagine what the 8381 with 3X15" drivers can do