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Kef 104.2 Speakers. Suggestions Discussion Forum

KEF 104/2 SPEAKER OWNERS.

Lets have a tips and suggestions forum on how to improve these wonderful speakers.

Topics could include speaker placement, speaker tweeks, best speaker cables (interconnects, power cords etc), best amps (receivers, cd players etc), best compatible center and rear surround speakers, care and maintence, repair shops and more.

Here is a review (see below) that I found on the web concerning KEF 104/2 Speakers.

In over 10 years of doing high end audio reviews, enjoythemusic.com has given out a total of 59 awards for product excellence. The KEF 104/2's were among them. Out of those 59 awards, only 5 were to speakers and that includes speakers in the $10,000+ catagory. The editor has a section he calls "my personal list of products that deserve to be heralded as something truly special" and the KEF 104/2 speakers are included.

The Review summary: Back in the 1980's KEF was a wonderfully British company making their own drivers with a top-notch team. While their top range model was the 107 that produced deeper bass (down to 20Hz), after careful auditioning the KEF 104/2 was the obvious winner. KEF's 104 model saw various versions and the 104/2 was the final result of the product's evolution. This relatively high sensitivity loudspeaker, at 92dB/W/m at 4 ohms, produced frequencies from 55Hz to 20kHz (+-2dB) with five drivers. The tweeter is KEF's T33 25mm (1") silk dome with slight horn loading. It was flanked above and below by the B110 100mm (5") doped Bextrene midrange cone in a D'Appolito technique. Bass was produced by a pair of coupled cavity B200 200mm (8") paper cone drivers with their center magnets connected by a metal pole.

The midrange/tweeter/tweeter panel (weighting about 25 lbs) is completely removable from the woofer cabinet (at nearly 45 lbs) and both loudspeaker cabinets are very rigid. Each midrange is enclosed in its own sealed section to reduce any interaction while the tweeter is press fit to the cabinet via a rear screw. The internal woofers' output exits via a flanged port the same size as the midrange units. And thus the brilliance! The tricks up the 104/2; proverbial sleeve is that the sound wave of the midrange and the bass drivers is the same size, plus add in the point source-like output from the midrange/tweeter/midrange D'Appolito configuration.

As for sound, the highs are smooth and midrange is very well presented. Bass down to about 50Hz is excellent and tuneful. Do not use the KEF Kube, an external box said to enhance bass down to lower frequencies, as this clouds the sound. If you need lots of bass below 50Hz get a separate subwoofer. The soundscape thrown by the pair of 104/2 is remarkable! When present, not only is the sound totally enveloping, but you get height information too.
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I welcome and look forward to your input.
buyfast1

Showing 6 responses by jedinite24

jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Greetings KEF 104/2 owners past and present.

I'm wondering if any of you have explicit instructions on how to remove both of the internal woofers inside of the KEF 104/2s that you can send me or post here? My uncle has a pair that sound great but when I took a flashlight to look at one of the internal woofers in the port hole with him the dust cover of the driver looked rotted out. The upper one may be rotted as well. If the 104/2s still sound good should the internal woofer still be replaced? Thanks
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hello again to KEF 104/2 owners past and present as well as fellow A'gon members. I'm in need of some thoughts again. A pair of KEF 104/2s that I got were dropped off to SG Custom Sound in NY for a check up and inner foam repair of the interior woofers. (I tried to do it on my own but it was too daunting for me when I inspected the internal woofers.) Now SG Custom Sound got back to me and said that the internal woofers had really bad issues with the voice coils. When he tested them he found they were shot. The voice coils were rubbing together and they may have been overpowered previously. Since they are beyond repair does anyone have any recommendations regarding replacements for the internal woofers from either KEF or other reputable manufacturers? Again your thoughts and opinions are appreciated. Thanks
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hi CaptainJazz

I'm a KEF 104/2 owner as well and the tweeters in my 104/2s just needed a ferro fluid replacement luckily.

From looking online I found the part number for the JBL tweeters you mentioned.

JBL-035TI

Is this tweeter you used in your KEFs? The only e-tailer I found that sells copies of the JBL tweeter is Midwest Speaker Repair.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Thanks for sharing your information. I found the seller you are talking about. I'll definitely make note for when the tweeters go bad on my 104/2s. A couple of years ago I had Scott from SG Custom Sound replace the ferro fluid on my "Rosies" and so far the tweeters are sounding fine.

Also putting this out there for anyone else who may not want to spend the $249 + shipping for modified Morel tweeters.

Madisound speaker store has the Morel MDT29-4 (4 ohm) Textile dome tweeters available.

They just have the tweeters only though. All the rest to make it plug and play ready for the KEF 104/2s are not included.

To Rdeckard: Any luck with your issues with your KEF 104/2s?
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hi Aqualung

Where does one order the KEF R1548X? Did you get the tweeters directly from KEF? Thanks and advise when you can.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hi Buyfast1

I'm glad you participating on this thread again and Thanks for starting it.

For my older Rosewood KEF 104/2s when I have more time to clean them I'd use Old English cleaner. For a quick cleaning I dust the KEFs first and then use Pledge Orange cleaner/polish with the proper clean rag/cloth. I haven't seen any adverse affects with using these cleaners with my KEFs. Maybe other members who have experience woodworking can advise.

For your second question regarding A & B placement of the KEFs. With my 104/2s I've always been particular with placing the A & B order properly but with my KEF 103/3 which were easier to move I inadvertently put them in the wrong order. I put the B speaker 1st instead of the A speaker and I didn't notice any improvement or degradation of the acoustic/listening experience.

Thanks again
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