I'd trade in (almost) any 'audiophile' loudspeaker to a Muon. KEF stands out in designing loudspeakers IMHO. And a lot of the knowledge trickles down to more reasonably priced models. As for Monitor Audio: a more conventional company that obviously does not put so much effort in R&D.
Both companies have to operate in a normal market, so normal tradeoffs will be made by both. Just as audiophile brands will.
I fully agree with Markbakk. The Kef Uni Q driver as used in the LS 50 -and onwards in range- is one of the very best drivers currently being produced. Period.
The technological capabilities that KEF has demonstrated in creating this drivers simply puts much of the so called Hi End stuff, most of which is basically a throw-it- in-an- expensive box anyway, to shame.
regards,
Eelco
The technological capabilities that KEF has demonstrated in creating this drivers simply puts much of the so called Hi End stuff, most of which is basically a throw-it- in-an- expensive box anyway, to shame.
regards,
Eelco
How did you come up with the assertion that KEF is middle to low-end audiophile?
In terms of pure musical reproduction, KEF have been at the forefront of technology and quality in the last 40-50 years or so. And it's not just glory stories from the past. The recent offerings in both consumer and reference series are really first class.
Monitor Audio have been a well placed manufacturer who is still around offering decent products but nothing revolutionary.
Are we talking historical or current production? KEF is not what it used to be, in my opinion. Let aside the overall degradation in money-vs-performance and QC which is common denominator for all manufacturers, more or less. Today its sound can be generally described as "blanket over loudspeaker" as it simply fails to reach and touch musically, regardless of setup or system used. Even the hi-end ranges simply fail to attain the levels of its Reference series from 70s and 80s.
Meanwhile, Monitor Audio has managed to position itself as much better value for money.
Source: extensive auditioning of both brands as marketing manager of local distributor and editor of audiophile magazine
Meanwhile, Monitor Audio has managed to position itself as much better value for money.
Source: extensive auditioning of both brands as marketing manager of local distributor and editor of audiophile magazine
when i auditioned a few kefs they just did not do it.
I bought a package of monitor audio silver rs6 / rs1 / rs-lcr / rsw12 for £400 the best £400 i ever spent to realise what potentiol decent speakers can give.
while listening to them in a HT set up i was blown away litteraly my internal organs were taking a battering in a 16 foot by 14 foot room.
i was only intersted in the RS6 but at the price i could sell the rest and be very happy
to this day i have not replicated that sound i experienced in HT (but have not explored room EQ/etc time alignment)
I've only heard the low end KEF stuff, the CODA range and it was ok for the money. However, having owned a pair of MA Silver 9i prior to building my Troels Amish I thought they were extremely good and I got them at a decent price too. There was a step up to the Amish, but the MA's were far from disgraced by them. I am not sure what counts as mid-range, but the MA Studio 20SEs were revered by many and spent a lot of time in reference systems.
I do agree that MA have not pushed the boundaries in terms of their designs or unconventional arrangements, whereas KEF have done some very 'interesting' designs. However, MA have been good at making conventional designs that work.
I do agree that MA have not pushed the boundaries in terms of their designs or unconventional arrangements, whereas KEF have done some very 'interesting' designs. However, MA have been good at making conventional designs that work.
Where did you end up? Don't remember reports of a tornado in the UK in the last few years.
I would widen one's search to past speakers. Some of the old high-end Kefs are still top performers today and probably better than most of their current offerings, of course at a fraction of the price.
Monitor Audio have been making a steady stream of decent quality speakers for the last 30 odd years (don't know their earlier stuff) and their top end have always been very good indeed. Their Platinum series with ribbon tweeters which are about 7 years old now were getting review quotes like " the best speakers I've ever heard" in some publications too (that the PL300 in What Hifi - a UK, home hifi/theatre magazine, not an audiophile specialist type magazine).
Hardly mid to low end. Just happens that mid to low end will be all you'll see in high-street stores. They are normally the money makers for brands, the mid to low end, also providing steady revenue for dealers. Hence they will be pushed on the consumer.
Monitor Audio have been making a steady stream of decent quality speakers for the last 30 odd years (don't know their earlier stuff) and their top end have always been very good indeed. Their Platinum series with ribbon tweeters which are about 7 years old now were getting review quotes like " the best speakers I've ever heard" in some publications too (that the PL300 in What Hifi - a UK, home hifi/theatre magazine, not an audiophile specialist type magazine).
Hardly mid to low end. Just happens that mid to low end will be all you'll see in high-street stores. They are normally the money makers for brands, the mid to low end, also providing steady revenue for dealers. Hence they will be pushed on the consumer.
I had two pairs of Kef and one Reference series center speaker. One is the book shelf I still have that cost about $600. The other is the Uni-Q floor standing. So I have plenty of experience with Kef. I gave the pair of Uni-Q to my step son and I still have the other two.
I bought a pair of JM Lab 913 speaker. The difference is NIGHT AND DAY. The JM Lab is so so much more transparent, bigger and good separation than any of the Kef I have. I even listened to the bigger Reference series Kef in the store, it's two class below JM Lab. I cannot speak of Kef and JM Lab in the same centence. I only consider JM Lab upper middle class of audiophile speaker. Sonia Fabus cost the same or a little above Kef, I think they are better sounding speaker than Kef.
The Reference series center is particular disappointing.
The reason I post this thread is because my second step son gave me a pair of book shelf Monitor Audio. I have not have a chance to power it up because they take a different connector ( not banana). I am not willing to cut my speaker cable. So I have no chance to compare.
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I guess you're referring to the sonus faber brand, which comes from latin and it can be translated into "sound_smith"
BTW SF became famous with the mini speakers (freestanding) with 4 " woofers
(from seas brand) at the end of the 80s
Yes, their small speakers are very impressive. I also listened to a pair of medium size one that was about $1000, same as my Kef, there is no comparison. I actually think my oldest smaller Kef sounds better than the Uni-Q that cost more.I guess you're referring to the sonus faber brand, which comes from latin and it can be translated into "sound_smith"
BTW SF became famous with the mini speakers (freestanding) with 4 " woofers
(from seas brand) at the end of the 80s
But I don't know whether their Grand Piano worth the money. It was close to $3000 at the time, I think I can do better. I think I would buy the mid to low line of the highest end brand I can afford. The technology always trickle down to the lower model for lower price.
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