Amp recommendations for KEF R7 speakers


Hi all. Purchased a pair of KEF R7 floor-stand speakers. Does anyone have any experience of what amp (brand and watts) can drive these speakers to sound great? Do McIntosh do well with these? They are going into a 18x15 open room with a 13 foot cathedral ceiling.Also any recommendations on the placement. Any input will be a great help. Thanks.

kvpower

Hey, 

You have to audition the amp with the R7s regardless of the brand. That being said. I would try any of the Hegel line. In fact they have a new integrated amp coming out called the 600. I am sure it is awesome. That being said, the old Hegel 590 should be a really good deal. Any of the Hegel line can push those speakers due to the damping factor. Look at past audio show videos. Kef and Hegel are paired together a lot. Just an option. I hope this helped. 

From my experience with my KEF R5s, they greatly benefit from amps that provide good current and power. I matched mine with an Arcam PA240 initially, then Parasound JC5. Both were good but the JC5 was best of the two.

KEF = analytical, kinda dry, bright, etc (made by technically brilliant nerdydoofy engineers who never got laid in life and don’t understand music)

Pair it with Luxman, Pass or some other Class A stuff that makes everything liquid and breathes life into an analytical/music killer like KEF.