Yes, my favourite curve is not far from that either, but implies around +1 dB 0.8-2 kHz and -1 dB 2-5 kHz. Not the other way around, as the posts on page one depicted.
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Review of the KEF R3s
- Thread starter nightfishing
- Start date
Yes, my favourite curve is not far from that either, but implies around +1 dB 0.8-2 kHz and -1 dB 2-5 kHz. Not the other way around, as the posts on page one depicted.
Thomas, in my limited experience the range between 400Hz and 5kHz is best left untouched. I have designed filters manually using rePhase and I could easilly make the corrections you mentioned but I seriously doubt anyone would be able to notice them in the blind test. What you want to correct with room EQ is area bellow 400Hz (or so) and HF roll-off above 5kHz to suite you personal taste, but you don't really want to fiddle with speakers response in 400-5000 range because if speaker designer failed there there's nothing much you can do.
Since I build my own speakers I do fiddle with crossover myself
. Been doing it active in the past, but have returned to passive crossover except for the subs. And as said this is intentional and with base in the stereo system flaws that are noted by Keele and Shirley et al . My speakers are far from any perfect ones and you can argue that the corrections should already be in the mix. But but so far I prefer these corrections.Since I build my own speakers I do fiddle with crossover myself
I expect all modern speakers to be linear in this range when measured on-axis in anechoic environment. Well, I expect them to be linear out of that range too, but especially in that range. What I think is more important, as Dr. Tool showed, is how their horizontal and vertical directivity curves look and that of course cannot be identified from the on-axis response. What I showed here is anyhow ungated measurement what mike recorded when moving it around 1m2 area around my LP while pink noise was being played. But directivity response is all different story anyhow..
I've recently noticed that most of Q Acoustics' speakers gun for a relatively flat frequency response, but seem to universally have a dip slightly less energy around 2-5 Khz. I figured it was just an attempt at a "house sound" or crossover related, but now I wonder whether it is to account for what @Thomas_A says.
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I think that curves should be flat within +/-1 dB or so, but that within those limits I personally prefer a curve similar to the one above.
maty
Major Contributor
https://www.hifinews.com/content/kef-r3-loudspeaker-lab-report
Sensitivity (SPL/1m/2.83Vrms – Mean/IEC/Music): 86.1dB / 86.1dB / 86.1dB
Impedance modulus min/max (20Hz–20kHz): 3.1ohm @ 44Hz / 13.1ohm @ 2.4kHz
Impedance phase min/max (20Hz–20kHz): -42° @ 37Hz / 32° @ 1.3kHz
Pair matching/Response Error (200Hz–20kHz): ±0.7dB / ±2.0dB / ±2.1dB
LF/HF extension (–6dB ref 200Hz/10kHz): 40Hz / >40kHz / >40kHz
THD 100Hz/1kHz/10kHz (for 90dB SPL/1m): 0.5% / 0.2% / 0.1%
Dimensions (HWD) / Weight (Each): 421x200x312mm / 14kg
Price: £1300
Sensitivity (SPL/1m/2.83Vrms – Mean/IEC/Music): 86.1dB / 86.1dB / 86.1dB
Impedance modulus min/max (20Hz–20kHz): 3.1ohm @ 44Hz / 13.1ohm @ 2.4kHz
Impedance phase min/max (20Hz–20kHz): -42° @ 37Hz / 32° @ 1.3kHz
Pair matching/Response Error (200Hz–20kHz): ±0.7dB / ±2.0dB / ±2.1dB
LF/HF extension (–6dB ref 200Hz/10kHz): 40Hz / >40kHz / >40kHz
THD 100Hz/1kHz/10kHz (for 90dB SPL/1m): 0.5% / 0.2% / 0.1%
Dimensions (HWD) / Weight (Each): 421x200x312mm / 14kg
Price: £1300
maty
Major Contributor
THD 100Hz/1kHz/10kHz (for 90dB SPL/1m): 0.5% / 0.2% / 0.1%
https://www.doctorproaudio.com/content.php?2273-calculators-proaudio-sound-dmx&langid=1#calc_spl
https://www.doctorproaudio.com/content.php?2273-calculators-proaudio-sound-dmx&langid=1#calc_spl
I just learnt today from a youtube review that:
- the grills can be bent (QC issue?)
- the rings around the drivers will come lose, pull-out after a period of use and need to be hand-push to return to normall (another QC issue?)
Have any R3's owners had these issues? Or heard of these issues from others? And does anyone know if KEF already deals with these issues on their latter patch of R3s?
Can be had for $1300 but dont want to deal with QC like that.
If it remains unfixed, guess I have to look elsewhere :/
- the grills can be bent (QC issue?)
- the rings around the drivers will come lose, pull-out after a period of use and need to be hand-push to return to normall (another QC issue?)
Have any R3's owners had these issues? Or heard of these issues from others? And does anyone know if KEF already deals with these issues on their latter patch of R3s?
Can be had for $1300 but dont want to deal with QC like that.
If it remains unfixed, guess I have to look elsewhere :/
I have a pair of KEF R500 (from the previous R-series). The rings have a similar "issue", but it's not really a QC issue. The rings are press-fit; they're not glued on or screwed in, so if you intentionally try to remove them they will come loose. They're largely cosmetic, designed to cover the bolts that affix the drivers to the cabinet so you can't see bolt holes from the front of the speaker. I had to press mine in when I first got the speakers, but they haven't come loose since. IMHO it's a non-issue, and I definitely wouldn't exclude the speakers from consideration on that basis.
As for the grilles, I can't comment because apparently KEF did make them quite a bit thinner on the new R series, to reduce audible effects of the grilles. The ones that came with my R500 have an MDF outer frame but I've never used them.
While the rings are cosmetic in the old R series, the rings are not just cosmetic on the new series. In the R3 the ring (which KEF marketing calls a "shadow flare") is basically a ring-shaped waveguide. It serves as a waveguide for the midwoofer, and by extension, the tweeter. The waveguide shapes dispersion of the Uni-Q unit such that it doesn't 'see' the edge of the speaker, thereby reducing diffraction without having to curve the baffle (which would be more expensive and increase visual impact if you wanted to keep cabinet volume/bass extension the same). In KEF's own words, from its R-Series whitepaper:
"Around the Uni-Q driver array is what is normally called a trim ring. Not simply a decorative piece, the R Series trim ring is specially shaped and engineered. It increases the effective diameter of the waveguide such that the driver array “sees” the edges of the cabinet much less than if it were mounted normally. Hence the name “Shadow Flare”. The level of secondary radiation is decreased, resulting in less time-smearing, greater clarity and a smoother response. "
More thorough explanation of why this works this way starting on page 8 of the whitepaper.
That said, I did not personally find the somewhat loose rings to be a serious issue nor did pushing it in seem to it seem to show up in an on-axis measurement. But it was something I only checked very briefly out of passing curiosity when I had the R3 for testing, so don't quote me on that.
I think so long as the ring isn't dramatically extruded I don't think you'll have an issue.
As for the grilles, I wouldn't worry about them being bent more than any other grilles. Durability aside, the R3's have some of the nicest-looking grilles I've seen. Almost made me want to keep them on. Almost.
I've got to say this surprises me. I expect passive speakers to be the most reliable part of one's audio system.
Unusually I bought my R3s new so I am covered by warranty, but combined with the reports of LS50 wireless electronics issues this doesn't speak well of KEF's quality control.
Unusually I bought my R3s new so I am covered by warranty, but combined with the reports of LS50 wireless electronics issues this doesn't speak well of KEF's quality control.
Aside from the tweeter issue, they are my favourite bookshelves since i began this audio hobby. I use them for TV mainly, and they are super clear for voice. Music is also very enjoyable. Suprising amount of bass out of them!
Yeah, the $1,000-$2,000 price range is where diminishing returns hit hard for passive bookshelf speakers, especially if you plan on using a sub. The R3, S400, and Sierra 2EX seem to be leading the charge.
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