Audiophile Tests Every KEF

@gkelly 

I agree with you 100%

I bought 2 KEF speakers when I moved into my new house and was getting into this hobby. R5 and LS50 Meta. I have since moved on from both. They were really solid all arounders, geat dispersion, and generally pleasing at all volumes. However, the mid bass tone was very metallic to my ear. It was unnatural and hard to unhear. I moved on to Spendors that give me that engagement with a richer tone.

I could definitely live with KEF sound, and the higher models look great IMO. I still use the R2C in my HT system.

@llg98ljk 

"GR Research"

Danny Ritchie is a snake oil merchant.

KEF rolls a solid B. They've been around awhile, but it seems the fairly recent surge ASR puts on measurements (they finally got the uni-q ringing under control also) has had more people consider the brand. I've had at least 1 pair of kef's since the R105/3's so I appreciate their current stability. 

I personally have always felt KEF was overrated in real world listening tests.  Sounded flat - soundstage and depth wise and poor distortion profiles when pushed to even moderate volumes.  I have yet to try them in my rooms or system though so I will always hold out for that opportunity and will hold absolute judgment until then.  When at the local hifi shop though, they simply never impressed me and I heard several models.  Just felt dry and not very engaging.  However I would love to plop some LS50 Metas in place of my tekton impact monitors and see if they can hold up in a studio environment at moderate spl (80-85 db) to some top rated equipment (Shunyata Gemini 8, Shunyata Venom X speaker cables, cardas power cabling, Pass Labs x30.8)