Yep, these ones do.
Picture from one of my investigations:
The newer Kef speakers have focused more on the surround to keep the cone's waveguide action nice and smooth.
The ones I'm using I bought for £30 each (2nd-hand) to use as desktop speakers. I blocked the port and applied a lot of EQ - no need for much SPL, but I did want plenty of LF extension. They work well in this application, and £30 for a well-designed 4.5" coaxial, crossover parts, etc is IMO a bargain.
The kHz range is much much better than the JBL 104 monitors they replaced.
Chris
Picture from one of my investigations:

The newer Kef speakers have focused more on the surround to keep the cone's waveguide action nice and smooth.
The ones I'm using I bought for £30 each (2nd-hand) to use as desktop speakers. I blocked the port and applied a lot of EQ - no need for much SPL, but I did want plenty of LF extension. They work well in this application, and £30 for a well-designed 4.5" coaxial, crossover parts, etc is IMO a bargain.
The kHz range is much much better than the JBL 104 monitors they replaced.
Chris
Yep, these ones do.
Picture from one of my investigations:
The newer Kef speakers have focused more on the surround to keep the cone's waveguide action nice and smooth.
Thanks ! i did not know. They have been a big success
i have no hopes to find a similar bargain ... i have looked but when they appear people ask good money ... and now i understand whyThe ones I'm using I bought for £30 each (2nd-hand) to use as desktop speakers.
Because they are really good. This is what i see now for instance in Italy ...
Kef hts - Vendita in Audio e video - Subito.it
I blocked the port and applied a lot of EQ - no need for much SPL, but I did want plenty of LF extension. They work well in this application, and £30 for a well-designed 4.5" coaxial, crossover parts, etc is IMO a bargain.
The kHz range is much much better than the JBL 104 monitors they replaced. Chris
of course the price is a real bargain ... patience pays Sometimes great units appear for cheap
Sorry if you told me already and i missed it ... they are good from maybe 300Hz up ?
I'm using them from 35Hz up, but it's a nearfield application. 0.5m listening distance, and I never want it loud.
If I play some dubstep with strong LF and turn it up, it's easy to give the drivers problems. At sensible levels, though, I occasionally see the cones move (remember, I'm sitting close so it's easy to see) in response to LF.
A 3-way system with these coaxials would be nice. 300Hz crossover is sensible, and you could match with a wide selection of woofers.
Chris
If I play some dubstep with strong LF and turn it up, it's easy to give the drivers problems. At sensible levels, though, I occasionally see the cones move (remember, I'm sitting close so it's easy to see) in response to LF.
A 3-way system with these coaxials would be nice. 300Hz crossover is sensible, and you could match with a wide selection of woofers.
Chris
I'm using them from 35Hz up, but it's a nearfield application. 0.5m listening distance, and I never want it loud.
If I play some dubstep with strong LF and turn it up, it's easy to give the drivers problems. At sensible levels, though, I occasionally see the cones move (remember, I'm sitting close so it's easy to see) in response to LF.
but that should be below its fs ... i have been told that fs is the frequency where a driver wakes up ... 🙄
after all it is a 4" cone isn't it ?
yes indeed. it is what i have in mind ... with conventional drivers of courseA 3-way system with these coaxials would be nice. 300Hz crossover is sensible, and you could match with a wide selection of woofers.
Chris
Thanks a lot again. I think i have learned many interesting things.
Yep, 35Hz is well below system resonance. That's okay, though. The compromise (which I'm happy with) is that when some low-frequency signals come along, the 4" cones have to work much harder.
For 60-70dB @ 0.5m, this is fine. They're still well within the limits.
For 90dB @ 3m, this is a big problem and larger woofers must be used.
Chris
For 60-70dB @ 0.5m, this is fine. They're still well within the limits.
For 90dB @ 3m, this is a big problem and larger woofers must be used.
Chris
Yep, 35Hz is well below system resonance. That's okay, though. The compromise (which I'm happy with) is that when some low-frequency signals come along, the 4" cones have to work much harder.
For 60-70dB @ 0.5m, this is fine. They're still well within the limits.
For 90dB @ 3m, this is a big problem and larger woofers must be used.
Chris
I see ... but sorry i have to ask. Why not settle for a bigger coaxial ?
i am having a similar issue ... i am upgrading my desk system, i listen from about 1 meter and using a pair of Canton Plus S ... this one in the video
Canton Plus S - A Look Inside - YouTube
the bass is not enough ... do you mean that some eq could cure that ?
because i was really thinking to move to bigger cones speakers ... like a 6"
Instead nearfield listening can be pretty spectacular indeed ... at the point that i have a very crazy idea in mind ... for future project
That is two small monitors very close and a big woofer far in the front with monitors time delayed in respect to the woofer
Well, I wanted something compact. I have a fairly small desk. For me, a 4.5" coaxial is just about enough. A 6" would be an improvement in terms of LF output, but I have no need for that.
It's entirely possible that EQing your speakers will get you more LF extension, but the maximum output level is still fixed by the driver's excursion.
I spent a long time with this: Piston Excursion calculator
Before deciding that 2x 4.5" is enough for desktop use.
Chris
It's entirely possible that EQing your speakers will get you more LF extension, but the maximum output level is still fixed by the driver's excursion.
I spent a long time with this: Piston Excursion calculator
Before deciding that 2x 4.5" is enough for desktop use.
Chris
Well, I wanted something compact. I have a fairly small desk. For me, a 4.5" coaxial is just about enough. A 6" would be an improvement in terms of LF output, but I have no need for that.
It's entirely possible that EQing your speakers will get you more LF extension, but the maximum output level is still fixed by the driver's excursion.
I spent a long time with this: Piston Excursion calculator
Before deciding that 2x 4.5" is enough for desktop use.
Chris
I see your point and thanks for the very interesting information.
I have the speakers attached ... from LG
Unfortunately i discovered that one front mid is not behaving properly
But the side firing woofers (oriented one against the other) produce a nice bottom end
I like this concept that allows to keep the front baffle very narrow
You could think to something similar keeping the coaxials and add a side woofer. Some DIY is needed.
I wonder if you know the Boenicke speakers.
Boenicke W5
This could be the ultimate solution for desktop speakers when space is limited.
Even with the very cheap LG i like what i ear ... the sound is much fuller than with common microspeakers.
and these are very very cheap.
From the polar plot attached it seems that from 500Hz the dispersion is on almost 360 degree
So in my mind is important to get down at least to 500Hz with the front drivers and then fill the bottom with the side firing woofers ?
The woofers can be of the shallow profile type like those used in car installations. And they can be even 10" and eq ...
I am sure it would be possible to build a killer desktop speaker ... actually two ... one for side 🙂
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