@fast how long is the break in time for the kef?? |
@fast
yes, the sale is why im drawn to buy the kef. So i am like u, contemplating on which one to buy. The 802 i can get used for $15k. |
@fast, you are absolutely right. This is suppose to be fun and enjoyable. So im getting a lot of good feedbacks for Kef Reference 5 over the B&W 802D3. Many people said Kef technologies way surpasses B&W. They said Ref5 sounds a lot better than the 802D3. I cant wait to get it. I will share with you my experience setting it up and how it sounds with my McIntosh. Thanks for your encouragement.
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@fast someone selling the Ref 5 for $6000 but one of the bass driver got indentation. I was about to buy that but Someone told me not to because the Reference series each pair of speakers are built by one engineer from beginning to end which yield better sounds and avoiding the errors from multiple people like a assembly line. Because of this, even though replacing new bass driver will not make the speaker back to normal and up to the original performance. What do you think?? I bought brand new for that peace of mind. :)) |
@fast so i came across your post about the Ref 5 last year in this forum. Can you tell me the pros and cons of the reference 5? You own the speakers and I’d love to hear from an actual owner. It’s my first big purchase at this price and i wanna know if im making the right decision here. I dont wanna buy the speakers and regret it later. Give me your advice... thanks in advance.
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@fast, thanks so much for the review. I placed the order through Kef for $13k and will get it next week. I hope with the price im paying is worth it for this speakers. Its a big purchase for me and I prolly wont buy another speaker for a very long time. I’m highly into audio and with the experience i have, i may not able to call myself an audiophile yet but i do enjoy the sounds of these high quality speakers. They do make a big difference in sounds. Reason im asking so much is because i bought this speakers without listened to them. I was deciding between the 802D3 but decided on this one because many people said this sounds better than the 802D3. I currently own the R900 and this will be a big upgrade and i hope $13k is worth it for the sound Quality this speakers offered. I just dont want to feel regret after, resale and lost money later. Thanks again for your input. I will test it next week when i get it and will update everyone here. |
@fast which bass port did you used? Which one give more bass?? Also, do u think $14k is a good deal?? Thanks |
@mgrif104 thank you so much for your insight. The deminishing return is greatly different from the R900 to the Reference 5, unlike from Reference 5 to Blade?? That’s good to know. KEF is thoughtfully and well engineer and highly technological speakers is part of the reasons why I chose KEF over the B&W. Thank you for your post. This is the kind of feedback i need to hear.
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@fast does that longer tubes give u more bass??
someone told me they got it for 11,000 euros. To be honest, I’m already feeling buyer remorse because someone said not much of a difference of sound improvement coming from the R900. What do u think??
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@mgrif104 thanks for your information. I was contemplating on which speakers to buy and i dont know if i made the right decision by choosing Kef Reference 5 over the B&W 802D3. Its my first expensive speaker and i want to get it right without regret later. My equipments are McIntosh MC2152 (tube 150 watts per channel) and C70 (All tubes preamp) Cambridge Audio Streamer/DAC Azur851n. I’m already feeling buyer remorse because someone said coming from my R900 wont give me much of a sound improvement and the price I got it at $14k is couple thousand higher. What do you think? These people’s opinions makes me feel buyer remorse. |
Guys!!!
So I’ve been listening to the Reference 5 for 3 days now and I’m liking it so far.
I’m upgrading from R900. The R900 is a very good sounding speakers itself. Comparing to the Ref5 it’s definitely not catching up. Listening to the R900 makes me feel like I’m in front of a small limited stage where each instruments are cluttered close together whereas the Ref5 is a large stadium and instruments are good distance away from each other - its like you can walk thru each instruments and hear each of them distinctively. The soundstage is incredible on the Ref5 - very holographic. I’m using the long ports and the Bass is tight and deep- u can feel its thundering in your chest. Bass is much refine, tight and more responsive but at the same time soft and free of distortion. Treble is much more sharper and clearer. The best part is I can hear some other instruments in the song that i didnt hear it on the R900. Overall, I’m really liking it and starting to falling in love. I’m glad I chose Kef - Ref5. Although, i still wanna compared it with the BW 802D3 one day.
Im also curious to see how this speakers sounds with the solid state McIntosh MA8900. What do u guys think??
Mine is the Rosewood and it just looks so beautiful with my McIntosh Mc2152 and c70 equipments. Love it guys!! Thanks again
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@fast
what ARC tube amp you did used before? And what’s the current Krell model you’re using now? Im interested in solid state too and not sure if its can improve the sounds over my current set up (MC2152 and C70 with the Cambridge Audio Azur 851N DAC/streamer).
Yea this speakers holographic soundstage is amazing. I feel like im immerse in the concert and actually hear those instruments and vocal in front and music around me. Glad i chose it over the BW.
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hi @fast
i have to say that i love this speakers and without regret that i bought it. The speakers now fully broken in and it sounds much smoother. Very airy and wide soundstage. The sounds always seems like its coming from the center and wider across the room elsewhere. Excellent holographic images. Also the speakers works well with all types of songs, from classical, jazz, instrumentals, rock, pop, even raps and most importantly it doesn’t colors the sounds. Very neutral tonality.
I also compared it to the Rogers LS3/5a and although the LS3/5a has so much hype but its no where near the Ref5 (of course they’re not in the same category for comparison).
I love it... i always look at it while listening and its just so beautiful to look at. :))
how about u? Have u acquire any new speakers?? |
@d2girls i have tried it with the MA9000 and its sounds very crystal clear and details. Very responsive too. However, with solid state the bass is harder than tubes. I love the tube sounds, even though it’s lesser detail than solid stare but the sound lot warmer and bass is deep and soft.
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@fast
sounds like you have it optimally set up. When i have money, i will try to swap out the mc2152 because this tube amp is a little weak for this speakers. When i play heavy bass song and crank up the volumes the amp clips and shut down. My amp is 150 watts. I need a more powerful amp. |
