08-Jan-2016, 06:29
After much looking and listening I've settled on the KEF Reference 3 as an upgrade from my Totem Fire bookshelf (which were just great). My list of local options that I was interested in - in my price range was the following:
1) Revel Studio 2
2) B&W 802 D2
3) Magico S1
4) Focal Sopra No2
5) SF Olympica 2
I was never able to demo the B&W's with the Devialet before they local dealer ran out of stock with the D3 version. All the others I was able to demo with D400 either in home or at the dealer.
The KEf's were a late comer to the party as one of the local dealers brought them in to demo as KEF was looking to him to pick up the line in his showroom. Anyway the first time I listened i was pretty impressed with some decent NAIM gear but in a pretty crappy listening room (good by some standards by poor by most). But I was impressed enough to bring in my D400 a few days later. Much scouring on the web brought forth very little information compared to many other models and brands. To complicate matters these were mfg. demo going for a very good price and the dealer wouldn't let me take them home. I took the chance and bought them anyway. Was worried about bottom end but no issue whatsoever.
The risk paid off. I'm very happy and a great price to boot. Glass of wine and some tunes on the new gear! Ahhh.
So as a side note my very brief opinions on the others are (of course these are my humble opinions):
1) Revels - great, loved them but they didn't jump out as being as good as the reviews. I may have needed a bigger room. Would like to listen to the Salon2 sometime but that's a whole lot more moola as well!!
2) B&W - can't really comment as I heard them on some Mcintosh amps in an overly damped room. I know loads of people swear by these.
3) Magico S1 - The S3's, now there's a speaker. If I have the $.... the S1's are good but a far, far less impressive speaker than the S3's
4) Focals - Impressive off the get go but found myself somewhat fatigued at then end of the listening session. A bit over the top if you will.
5) SF - Very smooth and silky but not very exciting.
6) KEF - though not perfect by any means a very good balance.
I doubt I could have gone wrong with any of those speakers but as everyones tastes vary it's the subtitles that sing the vote.
Thanks for reading, I was excited to tell the world!
1) Revel Studio 2
2) B&W 802 D2
3) Magico S1
4) Focal Sopra No2
5) SF Olympica 2
I was never able to demo the B&W's with the Devialet before they local dealer ran out of stock with the D3 version. All the others I was able to demo with D400 either in home or at the dealer.
The KEf's were a late comer to the party as one of the local dealers brought them in to demo as KEF was looking to him to pick up the line in his showroom. Anyway the first time I listened i was pretty impressed with some decent NAIM gear but in a pretty crappy listening room (good by some standards by poor by most). But I was impressed enough to bring in my D400 a few days later. Much scouring on the web brought forth very little information compared to many other models and brands. To complicate matters these were mfg. demo going for a very good price and the dealer wouldn't let me take them home. I took the chance and bought them anyway. Was worried about bottom end but no issue whatsoever.
The risk paid off. I'm very happy and a great price to boot. Glass of wine and some tunes on the new gear! Ahhh.
So as a side note my very brief opinions on the others are (of course these are my humble opinions):
1) Revels - great, loved them but they didn't jump out as being as good as the reviews. I may have needed a bigger room. Would like to listen to the Salon2 sometime but that's a whole lot more moola as well!!
2) B&W - can't really comment as I heard them on some Mcintosh amps in an overly damped room. I know loads of people swear by these.
3) Magico S1 - The S3's, now there's a speaker. If I have the $.... the S1's are good but a far, far less impressive speaker than the S3's
4) Focals - Impressive off the get go but found myself somewhat fatigued at then end of the listening session. A bit over the top if you will.
5) SF - Very smooth and silky but not very exciting.
6) KEF - though not perfect by any means a very good balance.
I doubt I could have gone wrong with any of those speakers but as everyones tastes vary it's the subtitles that sing the vote.
Thanks for reading, I was excited to tell the world!
Devialet 400; KEF Reference 3; custom built Server 2012 with JRiver & Audiophile Optimizer; med grade wall socket; 10 AWG speaker cable bi-wire & un-terminated; AudioQuest Carbon USB with Jitterbug; Shunyata Venom 3 power cables.
