Backstory: darko.audio/2019/10/a-short-film-about-the-hegel-h390-kef-reference-1/

@melvinoxl3589

4 жыл бұрын

Hi john would you recommend budget tannoy speakers?

@rangerscoach

4 жыл бұрын

love the fact that you trash 'musical' or 'musicality' in this review the other one ive noticed gets a lot of talk is 'speed' of an amp surely thats got more to do with timing clock and synergy between the source and the amp

@ThinkingBetter

3 жыл бұрын

In terms of judging soundstage, I hope you didn’t have the speakers in such different locations as on the video?

You never ever get wrong with KEF's . So pure , so natural , clean , clear sound , that I can listen for long long hours without any fatigue .

@pedecia

4 жыл бұрын

So with a 400USD Elac Unify UB5. Amazing natural and balanced sound.

ATC actives sound simultaneously relaxing and resolving. They are the best actives I’ve ever heard.

@agostonberko

4 жыл бұрын

try Steinway & Lyngdorf. DSP is a step up from ATC performance.

John, you’ve outdone yourself!

@DarkoAudio

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Steve. That means a lot coming from you!

@barneyjones5174

4 жыл бұрын

@@DarkoAudio John, would be great if you upload a video every Wednesday when Steve takes the day off. Good stuff guys!

The best 'on the money' review I've seen of active versus passive loudspeakers. Congrats on an excellent vid. P

I have just purchased a pair of Kef Ref 1s and can confirm that you are spot on with your comments and impressions of this speaker. Thank you John I am extremely happy with these speakers. Man they are heavy!

Great video, great playlist and balanced views as always. Hands down my favorite high-end audio channel. By far.

Your sound quality is first class never heard better at KZread. Congratulations

I'm very late to this video, but this is really an excellent one, and no surprise as you are the king of audio reviewers. Just a really interesting idea as I've realized the same thing very recently, that a KEF LS50 Wireless 2 with a KC62 sub is a massively better value if you want to stream music than a passive/amp/streamer system. But interesting to try out the mid/high end as well with the reference KEF's which I can only dream about and see if this still holds. But I also have to thank you for introducing me to Orang. I'm a huge fan but I was totally unaware that Talk Talk had a side-project. It is stunningly good so have to thank you for this.

Great review!! the difference you describe here is kinda like between what is needed for pro audio vs home/enjoyment listening.. so the Kii does it’s job perfectly!! It just so happens lots of audiophiles love it too.. they are still the best think I heard under 50k!

I own a pair of Kii Three and they are by far the best speaker I have ever had!!! Before them I had great speaker from B&W (801!), Avalon, Martin Logan, ME-Geithain, Manger, KEF. Nothing came even close to the Kii Three. Anyway - I think I know what people mean when they say the Kii's are not the speaker that you want to relax to music. I had the same experience, but I found a simple fix for that. Simply angle them away(!) from the middle by ~15°. Instead of positioning them straight forward or even angle them towards you - do the opposite and let them face toward the outside, away from you! That takes all the harshness away and creates a sound stage of epic propositions, while still maintaining a pinpoint accuracy. If you listen to them in the dark, they don’t play music any longer the paint picture made from sound.

@DarkoAudio

4 жыл бұрын

So you toe them OUT slightly? :-0

@dirkmoog8855

4 жыл бұрын

@@DarkoAudio Correct. You have to give it a try. This slight adjustment make quite a difference. Greeting from Baden.

@greenjoyce3001

4 жыл бұрын

@@DarkoAudio Would be great if you could try this tip and let us know your opinion of how it affects the sound. I've been seriously considering the Kii's so really appreciate this video.

See Darko, click immediately!! Love all you do. Thanks as always.

That was great. I have not heard the new KEF Reference series yet, but I own the predecessor (KEF Reference 201/2) since 2009 -- hooked up to a smaller Accuphase amplifier. I have always loved the "majesty" -- to use your words -- of that pairing. Recently, when I visited Max Schlundt in the stilwerk and saw the Kii there, I thought to myself: Probably, if I was in the market today, that would be my choice. Now, after your video, I am not so sure anymore. That was super helpful and entertaining and great consumer advice -- all at the same time. Thanks, John!

Totally into active speakers now over passive ones, based on my own studio experiences. I now use Focal Monitors, and the quality is the best I have ever heard.

@H1kari_1

Ай бұрын

If you're starting from zero, yes! But note that DSP speakers are always a little cheating since they are corrected by FIR filters. A passive speaker getting linear frequency response, low bass extensions, low distortion AND having a smooth disperision without any active parts? Now that's impressive.

What a pleasant, informative presentation! Comparison is the best way to convey, and then more comparison. Thabk you for helping us see the bigger picture. Really enjoyed this video!

Kef Q350 + Onkyo 9010(dac) user here. Im enjoying the review. Good footage + review !

Regarding the wooly/loose low bass response of the KEF/Hegal combined with your room's shape. GIK Acoustics SCOPUS TUNED MEMBRANE (T40) BASS TRAP targets bass frequencies from 30Hz - 60Hz. A few of these placed at key locations in the room would likely tame the resonant issues with your room's specific dimensions and long bass decay (maybe combined with a couple other broadband bass traps as well in corners or some soffit mounted bass traps). I would consider inviting a professional acoustician over to measure your room decay and response - this would be immensely helpful in determining what kind of traps to use and where to place them for greatest impact. ANY system, passive or active, would benefit from an "analog" acoustics upgrade - a passive system will sound tighter and an active system will apply less DSP correction (perhaps sounding less processed/digital?). Maybe a future video around room acoustics - before and after measurements along with subjective personal observations... ^_^

Been following these videos and just noticed I never subscribed so I did. very nice work John, thank you for your great videos, your comments are spot on

Great review John; very fair, very balanced and very real world. As an active yet also passive speaker owner, I would offer the following thoughts. Anything I've ever researched and read as regards the electrical and acoustic engineering of a loudspeaker, from manufacturers that make both - i.e. the exact same speaker but in either a passive or active version - for example ATC - clearly states the technical advantages of active operation over passive as regards sound quality. Speakers such as the Kii's are designed to deal with the speaker/room interface in a way that would be exceptionally difficult with a passive system. I would respectfully argue that whilst a passive system suits audiophiles better, because they can mix and match to their hearts content, that active systems are much more likely to appeal to music lovers, rather than gear heads for whom the mixing and playing about with kit is the focus and the hobby, rather than actually listening to the music, other than as something of a sideline,, mainly to work out what the kit is doing with the music. I think your review also clarified my own thinking as to why I made the jump to an fully active system a few years ago, after having owned a variety of passive so called 'high end' systems, which, whilst I enjoyed them, tended to take my focus away from the music and towards the kit with the attendant audiophile faffing about with it, tuning, tweaking, looking for the next audio 'fix' with different cables etc. What audiophiles see as a disadvantage with a 'fixed' active solution where they can't mix and match easily, is to me, a classical musician, a very large advantage. It relieves me of the tedium, as an amateur, and recovered audiophile, of having to shop at retail emporiums, dealing with other well meaning enthusiasts/amateurs and salespeople with an agenda to sell no matter what, trying to mix and match gear so as to hopefully provide a solution that is greater than the sum of the parts. Unfortunately, as I do not have a PhD in acoustics, or audio engineering, and nor do I have access to thousands of dollars of test equipment, or acoustics and anechoic chambers, buying a passive system at a retail level is very much a turkey shoot, where you hope for the best possible result for your money, but with no real certainty. With an active speaker system, you basically only have to listen, and as I did, compare the sound to that of real, natural acoustic instruments; is the reproduction authentic and real to me, the listener who plays those instruments and is intimately familiar with them, or not? I know the whole system has been thoroughly designed and engineered by the true experts in the field of acoustics and audio engineering, leaving it simply down to me as a classical musician to decide if I like the result or not, with no further tweaking and worrying about possible kit permutations via different cables, stands, racks, and all the attendant audiophile buying angst required. For me personally, having been through the whole audiophile approach to system building with passive separates systems over the years, active systems are not only better overall in my experience on a performance for money basis, but the buying and ownership experience and level of overall satisfaction in the longer term very much justifies the greater upfront cost, which is perhaps the only real disadvantage of active systems in my experience, making them on a value for money and outright performance grounds eminently suited to the buyer who is a true music lover, and less of an audiophile hobbyist with an interest mainly in the kit and the tweaking thereof. Please note I have no wish to denigrate passive systems, or those who buy them, or the mix and match hobby; i"ve been there and done that, and found it a lot of fun, if at times frustrating and expensive. But for me, active is the future, and I'd argue that for many following in the steps of their baby boomer predecessors, it's likely to be their choice as well, as it integrates Hi End audio, with a neatness and lack of clutter that will suit many of todays younger buyers on both aesthetic and space grounds into the performance bargain.

@DarkoAudio

4 жыл бұрын

A wonderful comment that really advances the conversation in a thoughtful manner. Thank you. As someone who has been very vocal with the very points you've made over the past couple of years, I don't disagree with anything you've said. The SQ advantages of actives are legion and in this video case, the Kii pulls off stuff with the low end that would be a physical impossibility with the passive system. That said, the KEF/Hegel gives us what I think is a smoother top end that makes it easier to listen to for longer periods. Ergo: not all actives are better in ALL audible respects.

@Pisceanboi

4 жыл бұрын

@@DarkoAudio Thank you for your kind words John. I agree with your thoughts in that not all actives are necessarily better in ALL audible respects than passive speakers - certainly that's been my experience with the passive and active speakers that I own.

@fizywig

4 жыл бұрын

How would you rate the ATC scm 40 actives in relation to how the amplifiers and active crossover has been integrated into the design compared to the design and sound of the passive version of the same speaker, the scm 40?

@PlayshotKalo

2 жыл бұрын

I feel like passives are like Samsung phones, more customizable and “open source” while actives are more like iPhones with less customization but have an easy to use interface and feel more polished. Active speakers tend to have components that work well with each other already and deliver a polished product without having to tinker too much but the lack of customization makes it less fun and less rewarding. You’re right about us younger generations preferring something that’s more plug and play and more aesthetically pleasing with less wires. Just a different era. Today it’s about video quality > sound quality so most of us are happy with any upgrade over our phone speakers and don’t really know what we’re missing because we’ve never heard it whereas having quality audio was much more of a must have back then so having knowledge on mixing and matching audio gear to your liking was a must.

@obiwan007

2 жыл бұрын

@@PlayshotKalo Somehow I would more tend to think that actives would be more "open". You - as the guy hearing music with it - could easily change the tonality with a few clicks. An armada of DSPs is inside an active system - and you could easily change the crossovers and shift the spectrum abit here and there. This is completely impossible in a passive speaker without ripping the crossover apart. If it is needed? I hope not if the designer did a good job. I think in the future stuff like Dirac will be also included more in the "stereophile" world. Way easier with the more digital enabled DSP crossover boards of active speakers. Room correction will not do magic, but could help to get rid of hard to fight room issues. Now it is only inside a very few Stereo amps (NAD) - but many Subwoofer already do their own room corrections already.

Bravo JD ! An exceptional concept and coverage in this video on active vs. passive - - audiophiles have an interesting decision to make on "the best bang for the buck" sound with the compelling options now available.

I'll likely never buy either system, but I love the channel and videos. The best audiophile channel period. Thanks!

Always enjoy your thoughtful takes and especially the music recommendations. Mojave 3 is new to me and spectacular. With great appreciation from San Diego.

Excellent review John. Now if I win the lottery I might sell my old Kef and buy this reference 1 and the Hegel.

Really dig the simplification and mood of your videos. Thanks

Honestly no one does reviews like this chan. Kudos

Bitteschön, my pleasure. Sehr gutes und hilfreiches Video. Danke.

I cant imagine the audio world without your amazing interpretations. What a way you have of finding the truth without the need to trash on anyone's creations which isn't unique but you do it unusually well. Also this morning I saw the budget audio discussion video with master Gutenberg (another opinion my audio "life" requires) on the panel and thought I'd better force myself through such an important and for me relevant discussion = no need to force anything - Despite being in the raw with understandably no budget for pre and post treatments = I was entertained and informed both with the rich variety of experience and such a broud landscape of perspectives (as unfocused as many of the opinions were in regards to the intended direction of that wonderful discussion - most of them had merit) which could have been *utter rubbixh* (I'm a childish American sorry) with anyone else also brave enough to man that mic through that potential storm = you did a great job that I've come to expect from you, thank you and you seem to be rising to the top of this emerging new and higher than expected dry ground the swirling sea of new technogy, ideas, and ultimately trends are settling down to finaly reveal - keep going sir! PS - I was going to tone down the flourish after readng my content but I thought why? It's honest and it's in the home of audiophiles = they're thoroughly familiar with heavy colored commontary. Peace.

You real have a knack for this John -- a real world comparison with real world easily understandable language. Oh I'm sure it's a lot of hard work it seems like you "job" is really your "hobby/passion". I'm kind of envious myself.

After living with full DALI Callisto system in white for a few months now, I have to say I found what I was looking for both in sound (explained in a review on this channel) and convenience. Yes, what i realised is I love them even when they're turned off. It freed up so much space compared to all the components and cables I had before and it complements the room beautifully.

Good job, John Darko! Now, please, could you do the same thing at the $1,000 price point? 😎

@James-zu1ij

3 жыл бұрын

Adam audio T8V, DAC SMSL SU-8 = $930 Attached to a computer or other digital source. I get a superb sound stage with almost touchable instruments. Ive had musical fidelity 308 amp and quad electrostatic speakers in the past, and in my opinion, can always beat ANY speaker with a cone at any price. Therefore to buy an expensive speaker with cones is a fools game. I find the ribbon tweeter of the T8Vs quite refined and easy to listen to. The dac is also a wonderful thing.Very close to my Audiolab M Dac in quality.

Great, great video! I learned a lot. I thought the Kii would take the Kef down. Just love the fit and finish of the Kii. They look the part.

Very cool review, thanks for the great thoughs and the interesting comparison. I do prefer passive setups, because it gives me the biggest flexibility to exchange individual components and to mix and match. I think, this is also the interesting part of my hobby: Listening to music on one side and playing around with technology and HiFi components on the other side. Aren't we all kids?

You review was exactly what i was looking for. Hegel 390 paired with the Kef Reference 1 I had a feeling they would be a match made in heaven. I didn't know that Kef was using Hegel amps in there demos.. And the kii 3 . all on a very short list of mine in fact you nailed it these are my list!

I recently tried the Kiis, i run a KEF refetence system at home. You are dead on the money here, I was very surprised by how well the humble passive design matches up. Ofc it is a matter of preference, but it's hard to argue much more IMO.... an even playingfield per now. I do think that active speakers will take over at some point, but afaik companies like KEF are looking to take it quite slow. The next KEF active will be a bigger LS50.

I know this is very much a high end channel which I definitely can't afford but I still enjoy watching & listening to what you have to say. I recently jumped onto the Active bandwagon but at about 1/10th of the cost you are suggesting with a pair of Edifier S3000Pro's. I know they'll not be in the same league as the kit you are showing us here but I don't believe they'll only be within 10% of your suggestions, maybe 60, 70 or even 80% which to my late 60's ears which have suffered years of abuse around construction sites & such can only decode so much anyway. If I could afford the Kef's I'd probably buy em, but would I gain much, I doubt it. Cheers & Keep up the great vids. 👍

@Patricia-kk8tr

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, very interesting speakers. I noticed that it's got RCA and balanced input from DAC as well as Bluetooth. How do you listen to music?

@07wrxtr1

4 жыл бұрын

Wise move. Unless you're really wanting to go for some insane setup, I've seen a lot of good reviews for those S3000's.

I think, for some, one of the great joys of this hobby is building, changing, comparing...systems! So that we can learn, grow, and enjoy the music we love in new/unique ways. So when you get the magical 'all-in-one' box, you lose all of the above. Yeah... it may be more 'efficient' (what ever the hell that means when you are spending $15k on a system...), but the fun of the game is lost. swapping cables, amps, sources, speakers etc etc etc IS the hobby.

@Anon00731

4 жыл бұрын

Gear would be a bigger part of your hobby, listening to music more often would be a bigger part of some folks. Like me. The Navis allow me to swap some gear (dac, streamer, pre, tt & cartridge) but less often and is best bang for buck in the price range because vinyl is expensive as all get out now. :)

@ohmythatsweird

4 жыл бұрын

@@supersonicboy75 I think even if you gave us 100k Reference system within a day are fingers would be itching and by a week we would all be tinkering. Just cant help it ,its in the blood.

@miteshchauhan9805

4 жыл бұрын

I whole heartily agree, with the fun of swapping components, besides I also have the fun of recycling my amps into different rooms

A great and informative review as usual, so good I've watched it three times. I would be the kind of person who wants to sit back and enjoy the music, so I would prefer the Hegel/ KEF system. I think the Kii setup would give me fatigue after a while. Saying that I fully get the Active system rout for many who just want a no fuss set up and can't be bothered with searching for their ideal sound by visiting many hifi stores. I on the other hand enjoy that search, even though it can be daunting at times. What I love about your reviews is it's like your speaking to me directly and on a more personal level. Keep up the excellent work.

When it comes to music reproduction, I’m old school and a purest. I have a massive record collection played on a Project Prospective, a huge cd collection played on a Roksan Caspian, but, increasingly I stream most of the music that I now listen to. I too prefer the more relaxed sound of the Kef,which I drive with a Rega Aethos amp which is not an all in one so I use a Onkyo streamer. I like to sit and recline whilst listening, this combination works for me. Choosing any component is always about compromise. I sometimes wonder if I should have swapped out the £3000 Rega Aethos for the £6000 Rega Osiris with moor power and transparency, but was initially impressed by the warmth of the Aethos which matched the sonic characteristics of the Kef. In my limited experience, passive systems slam active systems when it comes to larger soundstage and better imaging. Also, with an active system there is little room for adjustment or refinement, where as with a passive set up you can always experiment with different interconnects and components.

I really like this review even though it is not in my budget range. I suggest a series of active vs passive reviews at different price points. Thanks for the great reviews!

@agostonberko

4 жыл бұрын

IK Multimedia MTM trumps everything in the low budget category, because of the DSP section.

bitte sehr. Another enlightening one, thanks John and Olaf!

What a great video...!!! Thank you... I-ve wanted a comment (to say the least) abut the KEF's for quite some time now...

I prefer building the front end systems with passive speakers , And having the ability to buy and sale or trade up many different speakers that all have their own unique sound signature .

@agostonberko

4 жыл бұрын

mix&match is a never ending hobby. buying decent DSP actives is the right tool for a purpose. each on his own.

Hegel H190 is my choice! Marvelous sound for 150 watts: exactly what i need.

Gerne geschehen war wieder Mal eine Freude einen neuen Abschnitt hier im dunklen Schweden zu schauen. Versüßt einem die Dunkelheit.

Fantastic episode! Thanks!

For a cheep setup that’s actually good I’d recommend what is in my setup so... •pro-ject primary e •q acoustics concept 20 •q acoustics 2070si •denon dm41dab •Pro-Ject phono box e •qed proformence audio 40 rca cables •chord clearway speaker cable •acatama apollo cyclone •Atacama Eris

Great video. Both concepts definitely have their merits. I have one of each in my home and enjoy them both very much. Although the active system is of a higher level and gives me a representation that is absolutely jaw dropping. DEQX HDP5, Hypex amps and DIY speakers that are a cross between an Eidolon (shape) and Isis (units). That all combined with a 21" open baffle sub woofer with it's own Hypex amp and DSP. I have become addicted to the manageability (what a word) of the active system and the way it plays flawlessly with great impact and finesse.

John, thank you for an interesting and informative review. I take from your comparison, that you find the KEF/Hegel combination more relaxing to listen to than the compared active speakers. I listen to music to relax mainly, but it can also be stimulating. Even so, I would not be able to listen for long, to a system which, as you say, has the listener sitting on the seat edge. Since you also seem to prefer the sound from the KEF/Hegel system it seems to me that this is a clear winner for you, and I am convinced, for me. The other clear advantage of the component system is the opportunity to try, in the future, alternative amplifiers with the speakers and vice versa. Each system can have advantages for people with different tastes in sound reproduction, and living space. However it is, to me, the music reproduction quality and its effect on the human spirit which ultimately is the better choice.

Great job - thanks for the music links keep them coming!

'Special Request'..likey likey . The guy is a genius. Can't wait for his new record. Going active is a big commitment I think. You really need to love the sound of a specific speaker to go down that route. Space saving I can understand but for me it takes the fun out of being an audiophile.

Nice comparison and I can Identify myself as one of those that went to the KEF LS50W instead of the KEF R300 (good deal at the time) + system, due to the lack of experience of putting together everything and lack of space.

Hi John, Very nice review and my three cents would be that on the Kii Controller, you have the option of adjusting the EQ of the speaker. So, if your room or personal taste is that if you want more or less bass, or more or less treble energy from the speaker, you can choose not only the amount of cut or boost, but also the frequency point where the EQ adjustment is made. And secondly, with more people using digital files either on a music server or via a streamer, the simplicity of the Kii 'system' is a winning point for many listeners. Finally for many, they have no desire to mix or match cables and amps and speakers, but just make one purchase, then they are done. They want a speaker which can sit close to the room boundaries and work extremely well in that position.

@DarkoAudio

4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely right: not every audiophile wants a system with which they can tinker. That's part of the Kii's appeal.

My guy! Was gonna ask about the music itself! Glad I stuck until the end.

Really good analogue with the reclining vs. edge of the seat!

The best in the review business, hands down.

@emmanuelferguson

4 жыл бұрын

Until I heard aluminium....

Absolutely amazing review " Thank You, a pleasure to watch.

I think that the problem with going fully active is that you slightly box yourself into a corner flexibility wise, even if they are really good, you are stuck with them. Due to space restrictions I went from Meridian DSP5200SE to NAD M22v2 Power and M12 Pre with Totem Signature One. I was able to fine tune the system with cables and know that I can swap out speakers if I move to a bigger room, and I don't regret at all my move, It's a great sounding system to my ears, smooth yet super emotive. This was after me being convinced that "active is the was forward" previously.

@07wrxtr1

4 жыл бұрын

agreed, and the issue with actives is how long are those amps really going to last? how bad is the warranty claim process if you should have any issues with them? This is why it's better just to run some cheap active speakers, then when ready, make the jump to some nice passives + dedicated separate amps (a giant stack of dedicated mono amps to each channel! as each dedicated amp has it's own power supply).

Wow John! Great video. :)

Sit back and listen, always a good plan. No listening fatigue is key. And will keep me more happy in the long run. I own von Schweikert Unifield One speakers and are of the same kind like the KEF, also coaxial design.

That final song is amazing.

Great video, always interesting stuff, keep it up

First video that I see on the channel and your great man and not boring

Thank you John for all your information on this site as it has been tremendously helpful to me in the past. I am a recent purchaser of the Kef R1 and Hegel H390 combination. As my listening space is not large I am interested to know whether the short distance weakness from wall to speaker you mentioned about the R1's could be mitigated through the use of acoustic paneling placed behind the speakers? Do you think this would narrow the performance gap between the Kiis and the R1? Thanks again.

I too have the Hegel Kef combination. The H590 and the Reference 5! It is, with out a doubt, a winning team. If, like me, you prefer your music with a fuller sound, that is both smooth and refined, you won’t better this combo. Like you John and I’m sure many others, when I’m listening to music I like to sit back, recline, and let the system bring the music to me. Let the music flow over me, around me and through me, so that the only thing going through my head, brain or mind is the music, to the exclusion of absolutely everything else. It is, in my opinion, the ultimate form of total relaxation and mood changing therapy. There is no such thing as perfection. If I could improve the sound signature of my set up, I’d prefer a very slightly brighter top end,and a bit more mid bass slam. But, it’s maximising you’re compromises. If I were to achieve those goals, it would be at the cost of smoothness and refinement. Keep up the good work John. You produce some of the best, informative and enjoyable and entertaining reviews.

I can not listen to the Kii longer then half an hour, they make me "nervous". I discovered this effect with Class D Amplification in general. That`s why I had to sell my Gato DIA 250. My personal conclusion is and was, that you need to be good with class D amplification. I discoverd I am not, so most actives do not work for me. Besides that the Kii are amazing, but I am more happiy with my Hegel Amp and Koaxial Speakers. Great Video and thanks for the hint (O.Rang)!

@venturarodriguezvallejo9777

4 жыл бұрын

Well... In studio monitors, where the usual are active loudspeakers, class A/B internal amplification is the norm and no longer just one speaker making all the filtering, DSP, eq and so forth, and the other one acting as a "slave", all aspects contrary to what has become the mainstream for "domestic" active speakers. They sound, in my opinion, great but they require true knowledge to adjust the parameters if you want a really good sound. Most modern domestic active speakers (no matter the price point) have been designed with a lot of compromises to be "convenient" for the non specialiced customer. Class D amplification, on the other hand, is still in its beginnings unless you're decided to spend a fortune. For this wealthy niche of public, there are a bunch of brands ready to sell really good class D stuff.

@adotopp1865

4 жыл бұрын

Benjamin. I love your choice of words and it communicates to me -"nervous" -Great!

@mikecees2230

4 жыл бұрын

That's exactly the type of sound I try to avoid. I prefer relaxing while listening to music instead of twitching.

@benjaminsisko5160

4 жыл бұрын

@@adotopp1865 welcome. Thx

@benjaminsisko5160

4 жыл бұрын

@@venturarodriguezvallejo9777 Yeah, i am still looking into electrcompaniet ec living to have a small system besides my main system , although they are not studio speaker's, but class a/b. Any other recommendations? I am curious.

Really enjoying your videos John... Even thought I'm not in the market for a new system at the moment. I stopped my upgrade path two years ago with a SuperUniti and Kudos X2 floorstands. But once in a while I am tempted by all the nice new 'toys'. Cheers.

Your vids have a nice mood and emotion to it👍

If I would be willing to build a listening room I'd also be willing to bring in a 15K euro sound system. I's nice to see how the other half lives. Keep uptake good work John. I enjoy your podcasts and always look forward to new reviews.

As always, I’ve enjoyed your review. I would really like to hear your opinion on Ohm speakers if you can. Thanks

Thank you for this great review!

Great video John. Love your attitude toward HiFi.

Ok, I’ve just gone for a major upgrade to my system. Experienced the usual issues of the amp I like is sold by one dealer and the speakers I favour sold else where. With the amp weighing 69lb and the speakers 91lb, listening to them married up prior to purchase is hard work. I went with the Kef speakers, even though my local dealer tried very hard to convince me. That the Kef were not a good match for my amp and tried really hard to sell me the ATC SCM40 speakers. He did not sell Kef, I wondered, did that influence his thinking? Anyway, I talked to him about active speakers. He was adamant that the Kef LS50 speakers driven by the Rega Brio with the Bluenote 2 would make a more cost effective and superior sound reproduction to your suggested actives. I’ve not listened to either, so can’t authenticate his theory. Why did I choose the Kef over the ATC? Well, like you rightly pointed out, the Kef are very sit back in your armchair and enjoy the music in all it’s glory, and that’s my preferred listening environment. Also the ATC are difficult to drive and come into their own at higher volumes. Whereas the Kef to a much greater extent retain their tonality at lower volumes. I also auditioned the B&W 702 which were impressive, but a little over analytical, clinical and to my taste could be a touch warmer. I would have liked to listened to the Tekton Double Impact, but as good as I believe they would sounded, the convenience of local dealer after sales support put me off buying on line, although the considerable savings would have meant I could have my amp of. Choice, not the best amp my budget would allow! Hope this helps?

Very nice and fascinating review and comparison as always by the way. However ... looking at Kii Three specs i see a freq. response extended from 30Hz to 25kHz and, what impresses me most, within +/- 0,5dB !!! I think that the Kef has no chance to give back 30Hz at the same level of the midrange ... maybe i am wrong but i guess the Kii bass response is something that must be experienced to be fully understood. Really impressive achievement for a speaker of that size. Amazing.

As a side note, im going to assess that the more forward active system is likely better suited for movies than the more laid back passive Kef system. Laid back =:less involving for movie playback. Really enjoy listening to this blokes reviews too

Great video, enjoyed the effort and thought that you put in. I notice you still have the Innuos streamer, is it still highly recommended? Been saving up for one not there yet but would like to hear your opinion. Cheers.

Great review. Although am not sure amps with built in Dacs are really the future since a) Dac technology is changing relatively fast b) arguably the best Dacs for many people are R2R and these do not easily fit instead an amp case.

@scottcarlon6318

2 жыл бұрын

and what about future upgrades and new tech? harder to do inside an amp.

John, when can we get you to try some tube integrated gear or better yet separates? I would love to hear what you think of my reference PrimaLuna and other such equipment that focuses on big headroom and gets away from power and trades it for control over the speakers?

One of a kind comparison, keep it kicking!

Great video as always. Also anybody know the name of the buffet/sideboard John is using? Coz this is a type of hi fi room i am looking for, not those with racks and racks and tons of cable lying around.

Danke fürs produzieren 👍

Curious on your take of the Formation Duos.

Hi John, love your vids, and you have actually encouraged me to explore not just digital audio with your “The DAC Index,” but have also encouraged me to listen to, and appreciate, electronic music. Up to this point in my life, I would have put quotes around the word “music” when it followed the word “electronic.” I do have an observation and also a suggestion of a request, if you will. The observation is that if one has an electrical/electronic malfunction with active speakers, one is at least temporarily toast, until the unit(s) can be sent off to be repaired (if, in fact, they could be). With the spotty build quality coming out of non-US builds, I have a great concern about this, and the many negative reviews about the KEF LS50 Wireless have kept me from purchasing a pair, new or used. Now comes that hint of a request. Could you ever consider grading equipment on reliability as well as sonic quality, ergonomics, economics, etc.? Perhaps a bridge too far, and you’re not the “Consumer Reports” of Audiophilia, after all, but I wonder how many frustrated audiophiles there are out there with glitchy / scratchy tube gear, etc., that could benefit from knowing how reliability a piece of kit is. Well, thanks for the dedication, the insights, the sharing of musical perspective, and the guidance. Long may you listen, work, and prosper! Cheers! Lou

@DarkoAudio

4 жыл бұрын

Hey Lou. How would I grade a product's reliability with a sample of one?

I don't get it, why in the comment section every body boast about there personal gears, "I have this", "I have that", "I'm happy wih this", "this is better that that", why nobody is analysing and questioning the informations they get from the video?

4 жыл бұрын

Cos that's what's important to most "audiophiles". Not music, but arguing about equipment which, for the most part, they don't actually understand, rather than actually enjoying music. Dick waving contests over what costs the most, and heavily biased cork-sniffing descriptions of their emotional state as "analysis" of sound.

@audible67

4 жыл бұрын

@ actually if you had read the comments instead of just knee-jerk, cut-and-paste trolling. the commenters that are comparing gear are comparing much cheaper gear.

@GhostTheAssassin

Жыл бұрын

Why wouldn’t people share this information. You are looking at a video comparing monstrously expensive gear in a niche hobby, anyone looking at this will be equally passionate about the hobby, and people like to share their own gear and personal experiences with the hobby they enjoy, engagement with the video’s topic outside of active vs passive speakers is difficult given the 15K price tag of each set of gear. Therefore most people will defer to to cheaper comparisons, which many feel is interesting.

@Genital.Wartzenegger

Жыл бұрын

The comments saying what they have help us pick with future choices. They’re far more useful than this comment

@robertdubard7959

11 ай бұрын

There is actually an expectation, when discussing audio performance, that the poster share what they have as a personal reference. It helps readers know not only what is being compared, but what options exist. I understand it could seem tedious to some, but I appreciate it.

This is just a great video presented in a very well manner. subscribed great content!

I have a Primaluna Classic amplifier with Monitor Audio RX8, love the sound of that combination, but if starting today I'll go for a active setup for the simplicity of that.

This video is so timely and useful! I am doing a once-in-30-years upgrade and have recently turned out six assorted black boxes by Linn etc and replaced it all with a Hegel 390. That only leaves the 35-year old KEF 104.2 speakers to ponder. As you describe the Reference 1's, they sounds like exactly what I am looking for. But would the Ref 3's be even nicer?

I saw a pair of LS50Ws for sale recently, second hand, the logic board having been replaced under warranty. Which is great, but of course my first thought was "what happens to your speakers if the logic board or some other highly specific component fails 20 years from now"? Perhaps the seller had been similarly spooked. That's not to say actives are inherently bad, but I guess it highlights two different ways of purchasing speakers. One way is to see the speaker as a tool to fulfill a specific purpose (in which case if it fails outside of warranty you just get something else that fulfills the same requirements, more or less), and the other is to see the speaker as a specific experience you want to capture for the long term (like owning a muscle car or a vintage guitar - replacing it defeats the purpose). I don't imagine the people buying Forte IIIs (for example) are doing it because it's the most practical tool for the job - they're doing it because they want that experience, now, and 20 years from now. I think that's a big part of why some people are against all-in-one actives - too many eggs in one baskef...err, basket.

Smashed it once again Mr D. Diolch yn fawr.

Hi Mr. Darko. I bought the Ls 50w after watch your review. I think is perfect for my bed room. I wish you can review the B&W 805 d3 by the same system that you use for the kef reference 3. I really like your channel. Keep it up. Sorry I mean kef reference 1.

I really enjoy your description of the differences and tradeoffs. Well done.

Really good video-THANK YOU

Loved this review. Very salient for where affordable hifi is going. Any chance you will review the Elac Dante’s vs the KEFs???

Such a breath of fresh air.

Fantastic video and presentation. Engaging and very very professional. I’ve listened to the kef ls50 wireless at shows a lot. They are amazing, and I agree that you’d have to probably spend £10-£15k to really notice a difference. That said I’m a vinyl boy with VPI prime , moon amp and sexy sonas Fabre olympica iii

john thank u this is an amazing review

The KEF is not a real competitor to the Kii Three-- and NOT just because it is passive. Actually, that is many respects is the least of the difference. The Kii Three, much like the Dutch and Dutch 8C is designed to allow you to make the room substantially "disappear" ,which is why you can place it almost anywhere and make it work. Not at all so with any of the KEF's, and actually, the KEF's are highly room placement, size and relative positioning dependent.

Hey John, Interesting comparison, unfortunately I'm not in the market for a 15K system. On the other hand I can afford to pick up new music on a weekly basis...so thanks again for the recommendations. If I was I'm not sure I'm ready for an active setup yet unless it offered incredible sound and VFM. I still like the old school integrated ''hub'' with headphone jack, remote and a plethora of inputs/outputs. Until I move into a seniors residence space is not that much of an issue.

Wondering if I should have two different systems to switch between music and home theatre or if there's such thing as an excellent all-in-one system.

You can only get equal or beat the Kii(s with a passive speaker if you build one with the same or better controlled directivity . I highly suspect that both the Dutch & Ducth 8c and the Kii's are not fully 'constant directivity' over the whole frequency range (the tweeters being the suspect), so there's room for improvement yet ,but not a lot . You would have to build or buy a passive speaker with either a full range omni dispersion or a very intelligently designed dipole with a dipole tweeter . Still , you would lose a bit , cause the passive components in the X-over are stores of energy which negatively impact transient behaviour

I guess it really comes down to convenience of the kii (with high-end class d) vs. a super nice kef three way with a killer amp. Ok, I'm biased i would go with the high end amp and Kef too... I'm not a fan to being locked into someones system and good luck with resale value with the kii... I'm a fan of bruno's engineering too so maybe he could make a passive speaker too...