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Thread: KEF R100 any good

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2017

    Location: Sheffield

    Posts: 69
    I'm Ras.

    Default KEF R100 any good

    Hi everyone, recently bought these speakers in nice condition and curious about opinion of others who had an opportunity to listen to them.

    Specifically interested in:
    -are they easy or hard to drive
    -amp matching experiences
    -comparison with other speakers
    -trebles extension “airiness”
    -possible tweeter deterioration (is it ferrofluid based?)
    -possible crossover upgrade, where to get the schematics if yes

    My experiences:
    Pro
    -Lovely “organic” voicing (specifically lower midrange)
    -size

    Matching:
    -not easy regarding treble extension

    Against:
    -airiness limited comparing to KEF Q350 or MA silver 50/100

    Amps used:
    -CA 851A
    -Sony TA-F444ESII
    -Nakamichi SR-3
    -Sherwood AX-7030R

  2. #2
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    Not high sensitivity so will need a lot of watts if you want high levels that are clean.

    Not a tough load but tough enough to show up amps with poor power supply regulation. Some AV receivers and boutique amps won't get the best out of them.

    Bass drops off a cliff below 80Hz so if you want deep bass you need subs



    smooth frequency response, so should have natural tonality (depending on room acoustic ofc)

    I wouldn't worry about 'tweeter deterioration' they be good for thirty years or so unless you rag them incessantly.

    It's quite hard to find a KEF speaker with poor performance although their sound signature is not for everyone.

    https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/in...nts&Itemid=153
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  3. #3
    Join Date: Apr 2017

    Location: Sheffield

    Posts: 69
    I'm Ras.

    Default

    Thank you for the answer.
    The difference between the R100 and Q350 trebles extension is not clear to me from that though. Both CA851A and Sony have very probably some reserves touching power supply when compared to usual nowadays amps at about half of that power.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jun 2015

    Location: London/Durham

    Posts: 6,869
    I'm Lawrence.

    Default

    The R series are supposed to be a step up from the Q series although the Q350 may be later. I would be surprised if the Q had a more extended treble than the R. However the R may be tuned to suit a more "mature" listener and hence be less bright and a little smoother. You might be mistaking this for less extension.

    From my experience you have to give a change in speaker up to a month to get used to. If you do this and go back you might find the Q to be bright and aggressive. If you still prefer the Q then keep them.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

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    The Q350 have rising response from 5KHz to past 10Khz and the R100 a descending response over the same bandwidth

    Since this is the frequency range that contains 'air and space' that coincides quite neatly with what you heard.

    I don't know about the MA50 or 100 but I never heard anyone say an MA speaker sounded dull
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Jun 2015

    Location: London/Durham

    Posts: 6,869
    I'm Lawrence.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    The Q350 have rising response from 5KHz to past 10Khz and the R100 a descending response over the same bandwidth

    Since this is the frequency range that contains 'air and space' that coincides quite neatly with what you heard.

    I don't know about the MA50 or 100 but I never heard anyone say an MA speaker sounded dull
    Do you have a graph for that I know Kef can be laid back but I'd be surprised if it fell by a dB or more after 5khz
    Yes MA make "exciting" speakers

  7. #7
    Join Date: Apr 2017

    Location: Sheffield

    Posts: 69
    I'm Ras.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lawrence001 View Post
    The R series are supposed to be a step up from the Q series although the Q350 may be later. I would be surprised if the Q had a more extended treble than the R. However the R may be tuned to suit a more "mature" listener and hence be less bright and a little smoother. You might be mistaking this for less extension.

    From my experience you have to give a change in speaker up to a month to get used to. If you do this and go back you might find the Q to be bright and aggressive. If you still prefer the Q then keep them.
    Perhaps you are right, the R100s are calmer and fuller sounding despite smaller boxes and smaller drivers. I will try to run them for a while..

  8. #8
    Join Date: Apr 2017

    Location: Sheffield

    Posts: 69
    I'm Ras.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    The Q350 have rising response from 5KHz to past 10Khz and the R100 a descending response over the same bandwidth

    Since this is the frequency range that contains 'air and space' that coincides quite neatly with what you heard.

    I don't know about the MA50 or 100 but I never heard anyone say an MA speaker sounded dull
    Quite interesting info, thank you.
    The both MA silver 50 and silver 100 have brighter signature, yes, the 100s sounding bigger cause of 8” driver, but at the same time somehow similar (but even bigger) to Q350. I don’t have them anymore, so can not directly compare. The Silver 50s midrange sounds better then 100s to me, the box is much smaller then 100s and even smaller then R100s. Also midbass driver is smaller, about 4.6”, and for that size, they sound very good, but different.
    Still more energy is flowing from tweeters from both MAs, and I don’t need as much. The woofer of MA50s seems to have very low distortion to these ears though.
    Of all of these speakers the R100s have that charming midrange range which gives some instruments like electric bass guitar, piano, strings the right timbre, which is unfortunately incomplete without proper treble extension (I can forgive bass extension with years).. that’s why this exploration..

  9. #9
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lawrence001 View Post
    Do you have a graph for that I know Kef can be laid back but I'd be surprised if it fell by a dB or more after 5khz
    Yes MA make "exciting" speakers
    link was in my first post but here it is again https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/in...nts&Itemid=153

    It doesn't take more than a dB or two to make a pretty obvious difference if it's across enough bandwidth.

    Q150 is here

    https://www.stereophile.com/content/...r-measurements

    and here https://www.audiosciencereview.com/f...-review.13484/

    (Klippel shows it as flatter but still no roll-off like the R100)
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  10. #10
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ramsden View Post
    Quite interesting info, thank you.
    The both MA silver 50 and silver 100 have brighter signature, yes, the 100s sounding bigger cause of 8” driver, but at the same time somehow similar (but even bigger) to Q350. I don’t have them anymore, so can not directly compare. The Silver 50s midrange sounds better then 100s to me, the box is much smaller then 100s and even smaller then R100s. Also midbass driver is smaller, about 4.6”, and for that size, they sound very good, but different.
    Still more energy is flowing from tweeters from both MAs, and I don’t need as much. The woofer of MA50s seems to have very low distortion to these ears though.
    Of all of these speakers the R100s have that charming midrange range which gives some instruments like electric bass guitar, piano, strings the right timbre, which is unfortunately incomplete without proper treble extension (I can forgive bass extension with years).. that’s why this exploration..
    so the R100 is too shut-in sounding for you?

    Like you I would rather sacrifice a bit of bass for a top end that sounds right to me. If I had to.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

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