KEF Q100 Speaker Review

[maty]

One of the mods is the use of this Spanish visco-elastic damping material inside: two layers of Tecsound SY70 as first in my main loudspeakers (sandwich with fiber-glass) many years ago.

[PDF] https://lotus.soprema.fr/www/reftechsop.nsf/($AllByUNID)/5E5A87A76E0804A1C125871E00545B0E/$File/TDS_INSES0002.d.ES_TECSOUND SY.pdf

Viscoelasticity - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[maty]

If I lived in NA, maybe I would try No Rez

No Rez 24"x27" Sheet

ATTENTION: You can order up to 5 sheets of No Rez using the drop down menu. DO NOT change the quantity. If you need more than 4 sheets, contact us at 1-940-592-3400

www.gr-research.com

 

[noviygera]

I think the q100 cabinet needs a brace or two and damping (not damping alone). Side walls make a very hollow sound when knocked.

 

[maty]

Well, with two layers of Tecsound SY70 is OK.

The coaxial speaker is wonderful but KEF saved on the rest by failing in the bass-reflex design. Maybe one day I will build some new boxes with that fantastic coaxial speaker but yesterday I was delighted, excited, listening to well-heard recordings -> they have never sounded so good.

Johnny Cash - American III, Solitary Man and Tom Waits - Alice. Vinyl -> 24/96 FLAC.

 

[Reed]

HI,

Here the Optimizer output:
No EQ Spinorama, Score: 5.04
View attachment 85282
The EQ design, EQed score: 6.33
The LW is boosted so caution applies when play loud to avoid bottoming and destruction of the speaker.
As for the LS50 the speaker do appreciate a slope to achieve its best score.

Type     Freq      Gain     Q
PEQ      94.5,     2.33,   2.02,...
PEQ     749.0,    -2.10,   5.34,...
PEQ     947.5,    -1.95,   6.73,...
PEQ    1265.5,    -1.89,   5.98,...
PEQ    1675.0,     1.38,   2.09,...
PEQ    3501.0,     1.10,   2.01,...
PEQ    4981.0,    -1.30,   2.97,...
PEQ    6800.0,    -1.35,   3.44,...
PEQ   11265.0,    -1.02,   2.70,...

View attachment 85281

The updated Kef Q100 EQed Spinorama:
Really similar to the LS50
View attachment 85284
The Regression/ Tonal, the ON is pretty flat now
View attachment 85286
The zoom on ON-LW-PIR
View attachment 85285
Probably better listened to slightly off-axis around 10degView attachment 85294
And the radar comparing the EQ version and the No EQ version:
Decent gains
View attachment 85283
the rest of the data is attached

Sorry to jump in so late. Do you have a score with EQ and a subwoofer? I have a pair of Q100s in storage that I’m thinking about using in a secondary system. Thanks.

 

[Maiky76]

Sorry to jump in so late. Do you have a score with EQ and a subwoofer? I have a pair of Q100s in storage that I’m thinking about using in a secondary system. Thanks.

Hi,

All the scores are in the title of the spinoramas graphs.
I reran the optimizer just to be sure...
Both APO config files are attached.

 

[Reed]

Hi,

All the scores are in the title of the spinoramas graphs.
I reran the optimizer just to be sure...
Both APO config files are attached.

View attachment 211701

View attachment 211699View attachment 211700View attachment 211696View attachment 211698View attachment 211697

Now I see it. Hey, that looks really good. I really appreciate your work. Thanks.

 

[alex-z]

Thought I would show the impact of the KEF provided port plug. It is a low density closed cell foam, I tested at 0, 20, 40, and 60 degrees to keep the graphs legible. Darker colours are with the plug inserted. Apologies for the 250Hz gating, weather did not permit outdoor measurements.

As you can see, the 1100-1500Hz region is smoother due to the lack of port resonance. The speakers sounded noticeably better with female vocals, but there was significant bass loss below 90Hz, as expected. A good candidate for near-field use with a subwoofer and mild EQ.

 

[maty]

...A good candidate for near-field use with a subwoofer and mild EQ.

Yes, better sound (music) without bass-reflex. Mine: near the walls and boosted with EQ.