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Incoming - Pair of KEF Reference 1 Meta Speakers

Hi All,

I'm rather new to the Audiogon forum area, so hopefully I'm starting this post correctly. In short - I recently purchased a mint condition pair of pre-owned KEF Reference 1 Meta speakers (with matching stands). 

Long and short: Our new home's configuration (and listening room) isn't quite big enough to accommodate my large Audiovector QR-7 SE towers. So sold those and put the funds towards my new KEF's. 

My room dimensions are roughly 17' x 13'. The front wall (wall behind where the speakers will go) to my listening chairs is the 13' length. Which allows me roughly 9' or so from the front baffle and where our listening chairs are. That also buffers in 12-15" of room to bring the speakers off the wall. I try to find the sweet spot in terms of bring any speaker off the wall as much as possible while also leaving as much room as possible between it and my listening chairs. 

Big decision for going with the KEF's was their friendly on and off axis dispersion. And should be rather full-range in my small to medium size room. This way, things will hopefully sound good for all listening in the room. As we have a lounge sofa and 2 chairs on each side. I have attached pictures of my current setup. I also have a pair of REL T9/X SE subwoofers (via high level connect) but those might be too tricky to integrate well with my new KEF's.

I wanted to get opinions regarding my current electronics/components to gather thoughts on synergies with my incoming KEF's soon to come. 

Current components (I stream music only, no vinyl, CDs and such):

Mac Mini M1 (with Audirvana loaded on it - via my Audio Quest Diamond USB cable)-->Bryston BDA-3 DAC (via Kimber Kable Carbon XLRs)-->Musical Fidelity M6 preamp (via Pine Tree audio's Iso-Braid XLR cables) -->Audio by Van Alstine M750 monoblocks and/or McIntosh MC-452 power amplifier (balanced all the way down)...Currently, those are my 2 reference-level amps I plan to keep and experiment with. Of course, I think the MC-452 will look stunning sitting between the new KEF's..Something tells me either amp pair will sound great. 

Given the fact both of my amps are powerful (and I know KEF like's power for optimal everything/dynamics, etc..) I'm thinking my M6 preamp (powerful solid state) should drive things well. Especially in terms of fast dynamics and all, of which i knew these KEF speakers are known well for. 

However, I have also heard the Bel Canto PRE-5 preamp is a wonderful match with the KEFs. 

I'm currently exploring potential other line-level preamps as preamps with a ton of inputs/output options isn't necessary for how I listen/use them. 

I welcome other line level/solid state and/or potential tube recommendations even (??) as far as a new/potential preamp goes. I would prefer to not break the bank and keep budget within the $2,500 range (new and/or pre-owned market). I've learned in this hobby most things can get you "95%" or so there without spending an entire fortune. 

Likewise, I welcome other general recommendations folks might have. 

Also to note, I do have a dedicated 20AMP circuit (and corresponding 20AMP outlets) ran off my main electrical panel for stereo stuff only. I use a Pangea power conditioner of which I plug it (directly into the wall) and then my preamp and Mac Mini into the Pangea. Likewise, I plug my PS Audio Ultimate outlet conditioner into the Pangea and then my DAC into the PS Audio outlet (for the digital audio/DAC). 

Lastly, most all my power cords are also from Pine Tree Audio. I plug my power amps directly into their own dedicated 20AMP wall outlet. 

Summary: Trying to optimize where I can in effort to bring the best out of my incoming KEF speakers, etc..For someone like myself, they were quite the investment - even a pre-owned pair. 


Thanks!

 

jdavis8510
soix
11,232 posts
 

Agree with @mapman to get everything dialed in and see what direction you wanna go from there.  Your system deserves a better streamer, period.  Lose the Mac — that’s the first thing I’d do without a doubt as streamers have come a loooong way since then and it’s a critical component.  I heard the KEF Blades with pricey Mac gear and didn’t care for it at all — it sounded muddy, veiled, and significantly rolled off up top, and the Blades didn’t sound anywhere near as good as I knew they could having heard them in other systems.  Hope you have a different experience and that the Ref 1s work for you. 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,693 posts
 

I have heard the non Meta version of that speaker at length with about same distance you plan off wall - should sound pretty good - in your room size ( my North room visible on virtual systems is close in size. You are imo going to want some significant investment in diffusion. Most of what your system is going to sound like is your speaker + room. Finally, no Davis I know can be trusted - I would get system in house then maybe possibly muck about with gear changes… there are a LOT of gear changers here..  

Tomic aka J Davis

buellrider97's avatar
buellrider97
943 posts
 

Nice system , I suggest that once it’s dialed in, get a streamer. Also any feedback on Pine Tree would be appreciated as I’m considering their products. Cheers , Mike B. 

bassbuyer's avatar
bassbuyer
882 posts
 

Congratulations!  Agree with the comment to go with an Innuos streamer.  Love that you use Pine Tree Audio cables.  I’ve had a great experience with them. Great customer service, well made, cool looking , reasonably priced and made in the great state of MA.  Enjoy your new home and system!

jdavis8510 OP
2 posts
 

Hi everybody,

Ha, love the exchanges/threads - fun stuff! Glad I got this one started - as it's my first thread on the Audiogon forum...

And thanks to everyone for jumping in and offering some sound advice! 

Will try and summarize input below on all the above:

1. Common theme: "Ditch the Mac Mini". I chewed on this one myself. My prior benchmark(s) or latest benchmark with some a/b like testing was my crappy laptop (with Audirvana loaded on it) against my Eversolo A-6 Gen 2 Masters edition (both having a hard wired ethernet cable). I tried nearly all use cases with my old laptop against the Ever solo. Hands down (and has others concur) the laptop playing Audirvana bested the Eversolo. My buddy gave me his old Mac Mini1 (dead quiet). I loaded Audirvana on it, and play directly off the Mac Mini (via a little mini monitor and keyboard) into my Bryston BDA-3 DAC. Results: Much more clear, transient, crisp, tighter dynmaics, bass, etc..Audirvana is of course compatible with Quboz, Tidal, etc..So I just connect Tidal, Quboz etc in the Audirvana app and it's always awesome. It also freed up a few bucks because I sold my Ever Solo streamer. 

 

HOWEVER, I would be happy to try another streamer? Perhaps the Eversolo was the weak link there - streamer wise? I have tried Tidal, Quboz on other streamers as well alongside playing Audirvana through its Apple app over my home's same internet wi-fi into my hard wired Eversolo streamer and it just never sounded/sounds as good as playing it directly from the Mac Mini/Audirvana laoded app (also ethernet hard wired) into my DAC. 

2. Agree - we are still trying to baseline our new home here and actually in-progress of working with GIK Acoustics now on further optimizing my room treatment- diffusers/room treatment options - solid point!!

3. Pine Tree Audio - I have their speaker cables, XLR cables and power cords. All bested even my higher end Kimber Kable (speaker cable wise) and former Audio Quest XLR cable runs of which always sound much more veil like in comparison to Pine Tree's cables - at a near fraction of the cost. Pine Tree's dollar to performance ratio is simply super good. I find their speaker cables to be the most neutral, transient, dynamic, etc..Jesse, the owner is an awesome guy as well and incredibly knowledgeable on all things audio. He can customize nearly anything one might want. 

4. Why KEF? I couldn't figure out how to attach pictures of our current listening room, etc..But in short, I'm hoping the KEF's spit a wider sweet spot and overall dispersion so those sitting on both our front and center loveseat (sweet spot) and/or the chairs on the side of the loveseat (more off-axis-like) can enjoy things better as well. We tend to do a ton of listening waaay off axis such as mult-tasking around the house etc...and hoping the KEF's will sound better throughout and no matter where you are in the house when the stereo is going kind of thing. Will keep folks posted once they arrive here soon! Bonus: They look bad ass - design factor wise. Afterall, we have a small rancher and our listening room is our formal Living Room. So good decor even when the jams aren't playing. 

5. Much agreed: One change at a time. I will get a pulse on things using on my current electronics. Prior to thinking of any further changes. I agree - something tells me my Van Alstine M750 monoblocks might bring out clearer, more crisp/tighter dymanics than my MC-452 will! BUT - looking forward to playing here soon :)

 

Thanks all for the fun chat. This is sooo much better and a rather healthy distraction versus what's occurring in the news daily. Funny how we all can spend hours on end doing audio chatter on the daily :)


Cheers

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