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KEF and Paradigm

Anyone want to help a fellow audiophile decide among speakers?   I've been listening to many and narrowed it down to the Paradigm Persona 5 and KEF Reference 3.  I would consider the Reference 5 but can't find it anywhere.  While there are many things I like about the Persona, I'm also kind of knocked out by the wide and holographic sound of the KEFs  (a salesman also is urging me to hear the Ryan Tempess iii before choosing--and there's the new Magico due shortly--although I heard the Magico S1 and wasn't that impressed--I know the upcoming model will have lower bass extension at a lesser price).  My amplifier is 130 watts/channel and the room is fairly large (29x17).  I'm really  leaning toward the KEFs. I totally understand that no one else can decide for me but before I pull the trigger I would appreciate input on this board.  I've read so many good things about the Personas and listened to them several times but keep returning to the KEFs. Of course listening in a store isn't the same as living with them over time. Would I regret the KEFs over the long term?
fast
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,825 posts
 
For anyone in the Boston area interested in Paradigm,   Q Audio in Cambridge has them on display.... they are impressive and beautifully finished.    I was checking them out last week.  I was auditioning headphones but those Personas caught my eye..... Didnt audition them per se, but they sounded nice and the fit and finish is incredible.
fritzjurg
18 posts
 
I bought the Kef Reference 1 and am thoroughly enjoying them - using Rotel RAP 1850 AVR.  Almost went with the Paradigm Persona (likely 3).  Now I'm researching which additional power amp to add.  A Kef rep who used to sell B&W (& very familiar with Rotel) mentioned stick with the Rotel power amp.  Millennium System Design (Orlando Kef Authorized dealer), recommended a Parasound A21. MSD also has a Blade 2 to demo and added power is from Parasound JC1 - Sounded so beautiful!!
pdwoods's avatar
pdwoods
3 posts
 
As in all things I begin....IMHO, KEF was superb before they were bought and manufacturing 
moved to China.....UNI-Q was in my opinion a marketing ploy to to introduce an old new concept...a tweeter upper-mid combo that failed in its attempt to be a two in one thing.
The $5,000.00 ELACs also used the consultation of Andrew Jones who used to be with KEF and incorporated the UNI-Q in its speaker designs.  I have a pair of KEFs 105.3 that also uses a UNI-Q but with two supporting 4" mid-range speakers....the 105.3s were much superior to the ELACs....that was in large part due to the two mid-range speakers supporting the UNI-Q .....the ELACs lacked the supporting mid-range speakers as did later KEFs....sadly.
The UNI-Q simply lacked the very important mid-range presence...
I have for sale on eBay my KEF 105.3s.....
The surprise speaker that sounded better than the 105.3 were POLKs LSi-M5.....my living room is 22'x24'x14'-22'. The POLKs are bi-amped by two Carver's M500t that were totally re-capped and modified to provide a very clean 275 wpc.
I compared the Carver amps to my previous 300 wpc amp and I immediately noticed a
"blackness" in the background  during quieter passages...I have tried to describe what I did
not hear with other adjectives other than "blackness" but in vain.  I have described this to other similarly involved listeners....they seemed to understand the term "blackness of the 
background" so I will stay with that description.....buy a pair LSi-M5 and live with them for 6-7
weeks...Crutchfield allows full credit returns up to 60 days....I have had my POLKs for about
7 months.....my curiosity will eventually emerge and I may look at speakers well above 7k..

fast OP
92 posts
 
The KEF Reference speakers are still made in the UK.  I bought the Reference 5s, despite not being able to hear them in a store. I really liked the Reference 3 and figured the 5 would be similar but with more bass.  When they arrived, I had some doubts because they didn’t have the same holographic sound stage and imaging I liked in the 3. I even considered trading them for something else. Took many months and lots of adjustments to speaker placement but now they are great.  
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