I bought one of these KEF Q7 used - relatively cheap.
Using NAD C272 power and Marantz SR-780 Reciever as Pre (only for front channels).
Though few discs sound OK,only OK, (Mike Oldfield tubular bells),
most sound just CRAP - almost NO BASS, NO TREBLE from these speakers.
Even pumping treble and bass contols all the way in the reciever does not help much.
I have old JBL speakers (TLX series), that are used now as rear speakers, they just blows this Q7's !
Is something wrong with my setup ?
Is this Q7 model just CRAP ?
Is my taste in music wrong for these spekaers ? (hardly listen to Classics, most listen to Jazz, moderate electronic music, sometimes even Dance).
Thanks !
Using NAD C272 power and Marantz SR-780 Reciever as Pre (only for front channels).
Though few discs sound OK,only OK, (Mike Oldfield tubular bells),
most sound just CRAP - almost NO BASS, NO TREBLE from these speakers.
Even pumping treble and bass contols all the way in the reciever does not help much.
I have old JBL speakers (TLX series), that are used now as rear speakers, they just blows this Q7's !
Is something wrong with my setup ?
Is this Q7 model just CRAP ?
Is my taste in music wrong for these spekaers ? (hardly listen to Classics, most listen to Jazz, moderate electronic music, sometimes even Dance).
Thanks !
zeevon said:
Oh my...
Why didn't you ask here before you buy them?
You shouldn't have bought that cr@p.
Those speakers sound like junk, I agree with what you say about them.
Btw treble at 20khz is way more than 6db down, starts falling at around 10k.
Do a favour to yourself: sell them - relatively cheap.
Q7s. Not one of KEFs finest moments unfortunately. They're normally considered a bit lightweight. Before you sell them, try covering the base in sheets of Blu Tak or the like, and sticking them to a concret paving slab (or a slab of marble if you feel like going fancy). Much, much better than spikes. It removes the resonant cavity under the box (worst possible place for one), gives it a firmer foundation, and cuts down on resonances. Good tweak for most speakers. Should give some improvements at the low end, though I doubt anything like enough.
If you really must buy commercial, try tracking down a pair of Castle Conway 3s or Harlach S2s, Revolver R45s or possibly the Epos M22. That last will probably suit you down to the ground -very fast, goes very deep (25Hz is not beyond them) and has a very detailed, if a little bright top end. You can take that down, if it bothers you, as they are tri-wireable, by simply adding a small resistor in the bridging link to the tweeter. Good match for the NAD, although they aren't the cheapest.
Best
Scott
If you really must buy commercial, try tracking down a pair of Castle Conway 3s or Harlach S2s, Revolver R45s or possibly the Epos M22. That last will probably suit you down to the ground -very fast, goes very deep (25Hz is not beyond them) and has a very detailed, if a little bright top end. You can take that down, if it bothers you, as they are tri-wireable, by simply adding a small resistor in the bridging link to the tweeter. Good match for the NAD, although they aren't the cheapest.
Best
Scott
zeevon said:
hi Zeevon,
Actually I used to be a big Kef fan.
Mostly because of the fundamental ideal point source with the tweeter perfectly time aligned with the mid at just about any angle.
Here are some possible explanations.
Kef use very heavy baffle step correction: a full 6dB attenuation above the baffle diffraction loss point. this means that if you have the cabinet too close to the wall, the high mids and trebble are lost compared to the upper bass. You really need to get any Kef Q well away from the wall to ensure that this step correction is called for. Pulling them away from the walls then kills low end bass reinforcement that walls provide and as you have already pointed out.. They need bass reinforcement! As already mentioned the high end above 10kHz aint so good but this is probably the least of your troubles.
These speakers are position fussy, bass light and perhaps not perfectly suited too your musical tastes. You are probably also very used to the sound from your JBL TLX. The Kefs, having heavy baffle step correction in the form of high end attenuation will not have the same tonal balance and high end efficiency. Personally I would only use Kefs in a complete matched set along with a sub woofer to fill in the bass.
There is also the possibility of partial or complete failure in the tweeter.
The tweeter mounted on the woofers pole piece near the voice coil has a compact neodium magnet. The magnet permanently demagnetises if it is heated above 80 deg. ie if the speaker has been over-driven. This kills the tweeters performance.
Another less relavent failure mode in Kef uni-Q drivers that I have seen is the ferrofluid that fills the gap between the mid drivers voice coil and pole piece leaks out. The fluid is put there to stop the voice coil from ringing like a bell. If this happens the upper mids get more than a bit harsh.
My advice sell them & dont get any Kefs unless you gonna get a complete set.
Kef Q7's
I'm not sure why you are experiencing no bass, and no treble with the used Kef Q7's. I recently purchased a pair, and I feel that they have the prefect amount of bass... just enough to be accurate, and not so much that the bass sounds boomy or out of proportion (like Def Techs bp2002tls, etc).
As for the highs... I'd say that they are toward the bright end of the spectrum, and definitely not lacking in highs. You CLEARLY must have bought a defective pair if you are experiencing a deficiency in the highs.
Mine are fantastic for home theater, but if anything.... the highs can be slightly fatiguing when listening to loud music for any period of time.
All in all, I feel that they are a pretty outstanding speaker for the money, considering that the average street price for a clean used pair is running in the $750-$800 range now. If you can find a clean pair for under $800, grab them.
I'm not sure why you are experiencing no bass, and no treble with the used Kef Q7's. I recently purchased a pair, and I feel that they have the prefect amount of bass... just enough to be accurate, and not so much that the bass sounds boomy or out of proportion (like Def Techs bp2002tls, etc).
As for the highs... I'd say that they are toward the bright end of the spectrum, and definitely not lacking in highs. You CLEARLY must have bought a defective pair if you are experiencing a deficiency in the highs.
Mine are fantastic for home theater, but if anything.... the highs can be slightly fatiguing when listening to loud music for any period of time.
All in all, I feel that they are a pretty outstanding speaker for the money, considering that the average street price for a clean used pair is running in the $750-$800 range now. If you can find a clean pair for under $800, grab them.
I too am puzzled. I have a pair of Q1's. Not superb by any means but not bad. Balance a tad bright and lacking definition. Imaging pretty good. These are cheap poly speakers. I listened to the Q7's quite a bit. I thought the bass not well balanced, but not lacking. Sure you are not hooked up out of phase? I can think of several others I would pay $800 used for, but speakers in this price range all are such a compromise, it is highly a matter of personal preference. $800 just does not buy full range. ( used 2Ce's if you don't mind ugly for one)
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