Have had the R500s since just before Covid paired with a Plinius integrated and they keep sounding better. Got them when they were being closed out for the R5s and I think they were an insane value under $2K. I cleaned them up putting them on Symposium platforms for about 25% of what the speakers cost and now it would probably cost at least $7-8K to get a noticeable improvement.
Getting rid of the external vibrations from my suspended floor and cleaning up internal vibrations from the speaker created an immediately noticeable improvement. My philosophy is to spend more at the signal origination point relatively speaking since the SQ can only get worse down the line.
I listened to the KEF reference line and didn't hear a noticeable difference. The guy said it was because the amp they were using in the demo wasn't high end enough (it was supposedly at least equal to my amp). Shame on them for not demoing them properly. It was not compelling or me to make the investment.
