What is today's equivalent of KEF reference 102

Modern KEF speakers sound quite different from the classic models. They are more open sounding but might be a tad bright in some systems. Best guess would be the LS50.

Modern speakers that follow the classic UK monitor formula can be had from Spendor, Harbeth, Stirling, Proac, PMC, ATC, Neat, Castle and Kudos. And unlike the KEF that is made in China, these are actually made in the UK.

I am not sure if I would be spending significant dollars for bedroom speakers, especially for back ground music. I have posted before on this topic and the questions I usually ask are along the lines of:

1. how much time do you typically spend listening to music in the bedroom (1/2 hour at the end of the day, a few hours at night, until you doze off)
2. where are you seated when you are listening (sitting in bed, sitting in a chair, laying down)
3. at what time do you do most of the listening, this is mostly a noise floor question (it is a lot more quiet at 2AM, than at 11PM).

I owned KEF Q55s, when they were still largish bookshelf speakers (1990) and they were $600/ pair at the time. The Q75's were roughly a $1000/ pair, if I remember correctly. And inflation aside, I would not spend more than that today for bedroom speakers.

Without knowing what you are using for sources or amplification, I would look at speakers like

Wharfedale Denton - $1000 list, Music Direct has them for $500 pair

Ascend Acoustics Sierra Monitors - $900 direct from Ascend Acoustics direct

Omega loudspeakers 3i - $800 direct from Omega loudspeakers

Obviously there are others, including the KEF LS50. I find that the bedroom system is an area which is easy to over think and over spend and then under use. I see too many ads ... light use in a secondary system.

Rich

Dear Rich:

Happy New Year and thanks for your advice.

I am trying to set up a system to please my wife. She likes to stay at bed room watch tv and listen to music whenever she got free time. We never spend any significant money at bed room for same reason you had pointed out. But our 20 years anniversary is just few month away. I better upgrade her system as a prelude. If I don't act, probably she will pick up a Bose or b& o system.

I am thinking to get an oppo 105 for both music and video source. If I can get a discount on krell 300i or Jeff Rowland integrated amp, I will try to spend about 2k on the integrated amp. I know Jeff Rowland is about 5500 a bit over budget. But I could swap a pair of McCormack dna-1 with her.

I still hold old theta data III and three theta dspre units. So the source to amp is a not have to. I am currently plan to use 4 Dan-1 for my main system. So I can wait for opportunity to pop either for my main system or for the bed room. If I can find a good old nakamichi receiver which use stasis class ab amp, my problem is easily solved. But now most amps are class d.

If b&w 805 wasn't at ridiculous price, I would get it. I can't understand how the price jump from 1600/pair at 1993 to 2000 at 1999 and suddenly to 5k at 2010.

Same for the Kef reference went from 1400/pair to 7500/pair.

I listened to ls50 with my son with double bass at dealer. Stage looks good. My son told me he heard a lot of string wasn't well reproduced when the limit is reached. He heard broken music from time to time. Within its limit, the speaker is ok. But if the music give the system too much stress, then it's a different story. It also has to do with the amp the dealer is using. It's clearly under powered and I can sense the look from the dealer isn't do pleasant. Why do I test a bookshelf speaker with double base that clear. Go under 30 hz.

Anyway. It's pretty long for a reply. I try find the system you had suggested and hear them before decision.

Ooh and dam! Didn't realize KEF sound character changed as well.

I love the discontinued thiel cs 5 and cs7(.2) but they had changed their driver now. It was out sourced and now they make their own.

I think the whole market had changed alone with the products offered. It's better to hang with old pair till they changed back.

If you still have a pair, they were fantastic. You will have to spend a lot today to get that quality.