KEF Reference 5 VS Blade 2 vs Muon

[test1223]

Reference series is not R series.
They should change series names.

Yes you are right I wasn't aware of the Reference series and was thinking of the R series.

 

[abdo123]

The Muon has larger drivers than the Blade 1 and is 10 times the price of the the Blade 1, not that it matters. It will be nice to see comparisons in graphs, between the Blade 1 and 2, and even the Muon, not just by driver sizes. Its nice to have big drivers though.

For me the Muon looks odd and not very engineering driven, I might be later convinced otherwise because i didn't dig that deep into them.

But the Blade looks like someone took a list of all the problems that exist with commercial speakers (LF extension, cabinet resonances, directivity mismatches with non-coaxial designs, appearance) and fixed all of them in one swoop.

 

[Benedium]

Just from my beginner perspective, after hearing R series, Reference and Blade, I think Reference is almost like the Blade, and the R series is not even close. I wonder if the Reference used in conjunction with subwoofers might sound like the Blade?

 

[MarkWinston]

Yes you are right I wasn't aware of the Reference series and was thinking of the R series.

The R series are still great awesome. Ill be happy with even the R3!

 

[MarkWinston]

Just from my beginner perspective, after hearing R series, Reference and Blade, I think Reference is almost like the Blade, and the R series is not even close. I wonder if the Reference used in conjunction with subwoofers might sound like the Blade?

This is very true, Ive heard the R11 and the Reference 5 before. Very far apart. I have not heard the Blades or the Muon but will sell my left marble to listen to them all lined up next to each other.

 

[thewas]

The currently best KEF loudspeaker is imho the Blade 2 as it has some updates compared to the older and bigger Blade 1 (had also the luck to listen to it at the KEF factory in UK, one of my all time best audio experiences), the Muon is more a design and highend price "flagship" to have something to offer also in that market niche. The current Reference series introduced the shadow flare to reduce the sound diffraction problem of battle edges but in the end although it is very good, it won't be on the same highest level as on a curved baffle like the Blade or LS50.

 

[Frank Dernie]

If you have heard the Blade 2 and the Muon you are a very lucky guy. How did the Muon sound compared to the Blade 2? Happen to come across any graphs for both?

I have heard both the Blade and the Muon but not in the same room at the same time with the same music.
I haven't heard the Blade 2. Sorry I misread the title.
The Muon impressed mainly for the construction and price, I didn't think it stood out sound wise compared to my experience of the Blade.

 

[Ata]

Just from my beginner perspective, after hearing R series, Reference and Blade, I think Reference is almost like the Blade, and the R series is not even close. I wonder if the Reference used in conjunction with subwoofers might sound like the Blade?

Wish Amir could get a Reference or Blade to measure!

 

[Doodski]

Wish Amir could get a Reference or Blade to measure!

I can see it now all 62.5" cabinet with a weight of 126 lbs on that little Klippel pedestal. I suppose they could be tested horizontally as I believe the Klippel has that feature.

 

[MarkWinston]

I have heard both the Blade and the Muon but not in the same room at the same time with the same music.
I haven't heard the Blade 2. Sorry I misread the title.
The Muon impressed mainly for the construction and price, I didn't think it stood out sound wise compared to my experience of the Blade.

Lucky man. Very lucky. I struggled to even listen to the Reference 5.

 

[MarkWinston]

Muon, Blade and Blade 2. Guess KEF screwed up the biggest one huh...

 

[MarkWinston]

Muon's xover.

 

[Ata]

I can see it now all 62.5" cabinet with a weight of 126 lbs on that little Klippel pedestal. I suppose they could be tested horizontally as I believe the Klippel has that feature.

Not sure which of the speakers you are referring to, the Blade Two I was referring to, assuming it outclasses the Reference 5, is "only" 77.8lbs.
The Revel Salon 2 Amir has is much heavier at 146lb. So, not out of reach!

 

[Doodski]

Not sure which of the speakers you are referring to, the Blade Two I was referring to, assuming it outclasses the Reference 5, is "only" 77.8lbs.
The Revel Salon 2 Amir has is much heavier at 146lb. So, not out of reach!

I was thinking of the Blade 1. OOPs.

 

[Count Arthur]

Muon's xover.View attachment 153853

Danny over at GR Research would have a fit if he saw those "terrible" iron cored inductors and cheap sand cast resistors.

https://www.gr-research.com/

 

[MarkWinston]

Danny over at GR Research would have a fit if he saw those "terrible" iron cored inductors and cheap sand cast resistors.

https://www.gr-research.com/

Danny is a great guy. Would send all my speakers to him if I was in the same country.

 

[Absolute]

The Blades are big. In this session we compared the Kii BXT (to the right) vs Blade.
The Blades are smoother and friendlier to the ears, but the BXT is stunning from 250 hz and down, completely different beast when it comes to punch and authority in the bass.

I wouldn't call the Blade perfect because it has directivity issues below 1 kHz, but one of my favorite passive speakers for sure.

 

[MarkWinston]

View attachment 153869

The Blades are big. In this session we compared the Kii BXT (to the right) vs Blade.
The Blades are smoother and friendlier to the ears, but the BXT is stunning from 250 hz and down, completely different beast when it comes to punch and authority in the bass.

I wouldn't call the Blade perfect because it has directivity issues below 1 kHz, but one of my favorite passive speakers for sure.

What were you driving those Blades with?

 

[Jukebox]

Just from my beginner perspective, after hearing R series, Reference and Blade, I think Reference is almost like the Blade, and the R series is not even close. I wonder if the Reference used in conjunction with subwoofers might sound like the Blade?

Well if you use 2 good subs placed in strategical positions to benefit from the room acoustics and place the speakers in the best position for imaging/soundstage, you can get pretty close, the same or better.

 

[Tonygeno]

Not that I can afford any one of them but does anyone know the difference in performance between these monsters? Any reliable graphs from anywhere comparing all of them? Really interested in what KEF can really do with their real high end stuff.

Out of curiosity, why are you really interested in what Kef can do with their real high end stuff?