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B&W 705s3 vs Kef Meta R3

I was at Magnolia the other day and out of curiosity, I asked the salesman to play these 2 speakers back to back.  I really couldn't believe how muffled the Metas were compared to the Bowers.  I then compared other bigger models of each and heard the same sound signature.  What was the problem here?  I've owned a ton of different speakers and never heard quite a contrast.  I should add that I am biased towards Kef.

 

Has anyone else out there compared these 2 lines in a real world setting? 

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wtyamamoto
3 posts
 

The Bowers has a 10db peak @ 10khz according to Stereophile's measurement.  The Kef has minimal peaking with a smooth "audiophile" downslope in ASR's measurement.  I couldn't find both speaker measurements in either site.

steve59's avatar
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steve59
1,779 posts
 

BB has a generous return policy so it is usually safe to bring a product home and try it. Sometimes room acoustics will align with a rooms natural peaks and valleys to offer a uniquely pleasant tonal balance. never say never. 

livinon2wheels
75 posts
 

Given the ineptitude shown by salespeople at our local BB its entirely likely the tweeters in the speakers you were auditioning were fried. I can't say of course that this is a universal problem with certainty, but I'd say the odds are likely. Locally, they are completely clueless.

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