I also tend to prefer a bit more emphasis on the highs and missed some of the ‘crisper’ treble on the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo ($4,000) I tested alongside the R3. Your mileage may vary. The result is purer and more precise sound with stronger imaging. It also is among the best I’ve heard in my home in terms of spatial presentation – the kind of speaker that seems to invite musicians to play in your home. Copyright © 2006—2021. Price Match Guarantee. KEF has announced the launch of its new R Series. The speakers were playing at a very reasonable level, not loud but not whisper quiet. Kef LS50 (hit & miss) v new Kef R3, ATC SCM11 Bookself Speakers. Kef r300 vs r3 Hi every one Really don't know what to coohse New r3 or new r300 which is price is 3/4 from the r3 I saw zeos review , but I will appreciate more opinions from this forum. ", Maintenance Guide for R Series Microfibre Grille. Using computational fluid dynamics the flare and profile of each port is calculated to delay the onset of turbulence and the flexible port walls prevent resonances from colouring the midrange. aluminium dome tweeter Uni-Q array that pushes performance to new extremes. You’ll also want to keep in mind the R3s are massive. I don't live in a perfect world. Nicely finished in the piano black, so that goes some way … I am enjoying them every day! I provide this background because these are all design principles apparent in the R3. (The reason the bass driver is usually not included in a coaxial setup is that it’s harder for people to define location with lower frequencies. By Ben H, June 23, 2019 in General Hi-Fi Discussion. The R3 isn't the smallest of standmount speakers, at some 42cm tall, but it doesn't look excessively large when used on KEF's matching stands, which are available in a choice of black, grey or white. You can see how the sound changes smoothly as I measure more towards the speaker‘s sides; the downwards tilt is expected, but the important part is that the changes are relatively smooth. A true 3-way speaker the R3 has a powerful 165mm (6.5 in.) Vocals sound natural, with little apparent coloration or emphasis. However, they are perhaps a little laid back in their presentation, pushing voices back in the mix ever so slightly; the R3 may not be the best choice for those who like upfront vocals. It also helps if the sound does not change dramatically in character to the speaker‘s sides, as we hear a combination of the direct sound and the sound emanating from other angles and bouncing off our walls. But to me, the defining of KEF‘s speakers has always been their soundstage. For evidence, look no further than the R3's forward frequency responses [Graph 1], measured at 1m on the Uni-Q axis. I suggest going with the r7 and retain the subs. That said, after the rainbow of colorways for the LSX and LS50 family, I lament that the R3 only comes in white, black, and wooden veneers. midrange driver with 25mm (1 in.) The R3s are a three-way design, with a dedicated bass driver. KEF has also increased linearity in the magnet system which means more impressive and impactful bass. This is a speaker comparison between the KEF R3 and Buchardt S400. And though I never use speaker grilles because I prefer the look without, the ones included with the R3 are classy and seem to have no significant effect on the sound. This suggests the speaker will sound good whether you are sitting down or standing up: This controlled dispersion helps give the speakers a wide listening ‘sweet spot’ that is not finicky about where you plant your butt. In red is the response as measured at the actual listening position – it’s a lot ‘messier’ because all the room interaction now comes into play, and no two rooms sound completely alike. The R7 & R3 were on either side of them and each was a wonder to behold. Priced as a PAIR of speakers. bass driver and a 125mm (5 in.) The R Series was created to sound its best with or without grilles. Such a configuration means that each driver – tweeter, midrange and bass – can be optimised to work in its specific frequency band and tuned with less compromise than a two-way alternative would demand. Woah, they’re big. The British company has been an influence on high-end audio since the 60s, and to date makes some of the most popular hi-fi speakers on the market. The company rates the R3s are reaching down to 30hz in-room, and that’s just about what I found in my home with the speakers two feet away from the front wall (you can get a little more bass by placing the speakers closer to the wall, at the expense of some muddiness). bass driver and a 125mm (5 in.) I got to listen to the new LSX, R3, R5 and R11. aluminium dome … When listening to harsher genres like rock, I noticed more clarity in vocals with the B&W705 S2 than the Kef R3 a lot of the time. When it comes to generating deep, articulate bass, port design is crucial. The new R Series benefits from Constrained layer damping. It will come down to Ribbon tweeter, Proac, which tend to be extremely detailed, vs AMT, Monitor Audio's, which have a slightly more laid back top end compared to a true Ribbon vs the seemless quality of having all drivers made out of the same material in the KEF, plus the soundstaging capabilites and imaging that come from a true point source. The result is vastly improved fine detail. Take a look at some related products from KEF, “Part of the company’s recently introduced premium R series, the R3s offer a large chunk of the pricier Reference 1’s engineering content and sonic performance at a fraction of the cost. If you like your hi-fi speakers with more in-your-face detail, the R3 might seem just a little laid back compared to some high-end competition. All rights reserved. They continue the tone-on-tone approach to match the various cabinet finishes and the edges are burnished for a suede-like effect. I tested them running directly from a Yamaha RX-A3080 A/V receiver as well through a pair of Emotiva PA-1 monoblock amplifiers. midrange driver with 25mm (1 in.) At $1,999, the R3 is not exactly cheap, but it’s a worthwhile investment for music lovers willing to save up. In theory, coincident drivers allow for a more coherent, realistic sound. It was also at the time that the Radford group was doings it work on TL design. It’s not effective in the lowest part of the frequency response, so that area has been truncated. Stevie Ray, Posted on While many hi-fi speaker companies like to “tune” their sound to have an emphasis on the treble and/or bass, KEF aims for a ‘flat’ or neutral sound that doesn’t change much in character even if you’re not perfectly positioned in between the speakers. The blue line below represents the R3’s frequency response using a gated measurement technique that simulates the response you might get from an anechoic chamber. This isn’t to say everything about the R3 is great. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The trade-off tends to be the greater cost and complicity of trying to combine three drive units to work as a cohesive whole. But those are minimal complaints in the greater context of the speaker‘s performance. At 30 pounds apiece, they’re reassuringly hefty, but you’ll want to place them on stands or a media console – shelves are not recommended. Don’t confuse flat with boring though. midrange driver with 25mm (1 in.) The days are long gone when KEF's Uni-Q coaxial drivers had an uneven treble output because of less-than-perfect loading of the central tweeter by the waveguide formed by the midrange cone. Reply to this topic; Start new topic; Recommended Posts. Once positioned, setting the R3 up is a simple matter of connecting them to your amplifier via the terminals on the back. The treble is smooth – veering only to sharpness or dullness if present in the recording. The R3 stand mount shares the same Uni-Q driver array as the range topping R11 in a full range design that defies expectations. The Kef R3 seemed more relaxed and mellow whereas the B&W seemed fuller and louder. On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Kef R300 are more popular speakers, based on their reviews. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. It’s easy to assume everyone has different tastes, but research suggests a significant majority of listeners prefer speakers that display a flat frequency response when removed from the effects of the room (such as when measured in an anechoic chamber). In a typical room with rampant reflections, a flat speaker‘s frequency response will actually be tilted such that the bass is higher than the treble. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. If you’re looking for new speakers and have $2,000 to blow, the R3 merit serious consideration. That’s why most rival companies don’t bot… Share Followers 0. The R3 stand-mounted speaker ($2,000 per pair) is a 3-way, rear-ported design that combines the new 12th-generation Uni-Q with a 6-inch bass driver. The shaped trim around the Uni-Q driver doesn’t just make the front panel look balanced by echoing the size of the larger bass driver; it also helps to reduce diffraction effects at the cabinet edges. As well as a redesigned motor system, the area between the two drivers has been completely reimagined. Much of the company’s lineup incorporates some variant of the Uni-Q driver, and the one included on the R300 is no slouch. and you can subscribe to it right here. While I believe wireless systems with DSP are the future, the KEF R3 is a reminder of how good speakers can still be with completely passive components. The vertical response, measured at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 30 degrees above and below the tweeter, shows similar results. The similarly-sized KEF R3 reaches all the way down 38Hz, and the noticeably smaller Buchardt S400 goes almost as low as the KEFs. Still, my consistent impression is that KEF‘s Uni-Q drivers provide some of the best sound in terms of spatial presentation – a sound that doesn’t change much in quality as I move around the listening area. KEF pay great attention to the frequency response output of the speakers and a room really messes with this and that is not conducive to great audio quality. TNW uses cookies to personalize content and ads to KEF R7 vs R11 KEF R7 vs R11. The R Series also includes three floor-standing speakers, starting with the R5 ($2,800 per pair). Bi-wiring is the use of two separate cables from the same amplifier to the MF/HF and the LF terminals, respectively, on your loudspeakers. Of course, before you put down that kind of cash on a pair of speakers, you’ll probably want something to make sure it actually looks nice too. That slim front looks smart and offers advantages in rigidity and dispersion. bass driver and a 125mm (5 in.) Made with <3 in Amsterdam. In the world of enthusiast speakers, few names stand out as much as KEF. They’re expertly sonically balanced and work well across a wide range of systems, but give them a top class feed and they will deliver a sound good enough to worry most standmounters below the two grand mark. E&OE. I can not put into words the sounds these speakers can produce. That’s why subwoofers are so flexible about placement.). Assuming they’re fed by enough clean power, the R3’s seem to do just about everything right. I love my R3s! aluminium dome tweeter Uni-Q array that pushes performance to new extremes. A solid platform is imperative for great sound. **, Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news, updates, free stuff and new releases by email. 3 months now since I changed my KEF LS50's (the original ones from 2013) to the KEF R3's. Raymond Cooke got the parameters right in the sweet spot. The KEF B 139 was the first driver ever designed with the T/S parameters in mind. The evolution of KEF's Uni-Q driver reaches its 12th generation in the R Series. 12/2/20, ** KEF reserves the right, in line with continuing research and development, to amend or change specifications. Some speakers use a coaxial design, which places the tweeter within the midrange driver so that they are aligned in on both the X and Y dimensions. Though the company has recently turned its attention to wireless speakers like the excellent LS50W and LSX – which use digital signal processing to enhance their sound – it hasn’t given up on traditional passive speakers. ... My dealer is getting some of the new Kef Rs in soon, so will give them a try. No matter how good your speakers sound, you’ll spend more time looking than listening to them. That KEF achieved such a result in a passive design speaks to impressive engineering. This means that both high and midrange frequencies emanate from the same point in space. advertising & analytics. And that's a winning combination. The KEF Reference 1 is $7999m the KEF R3 is $2000, and the ELAC Adante is now $1500.00/pair. The 3 Im looking at are the kef r3s the ultra towers and the MA gold 100 5g. KEF was founded on innovation and new technology. KEF recommends an amplifier capable of 15 to 180 Watts into 8 Ohms, but I’d advise aiming for the higher end of that scale, (having too little power is worse than too much). The measurements hint at this too. I really need help in deciding which one to get. This is one to buy with confidence.”, “The sound with KEF's R5-based system is no less detailed..., but it offers high-end performance in a more controlled, polite way with music and ample excitement for both surround music and movies.”, Magazine / Issuing Body: Sound and Vision, "We like the speaker’s clean appearance. It’s called Plugged In – We do also share that information with third parties for The speakers sounded excellent from both sources, albeit I feel they were a little more dynamic with the Emotiva’s extra power and dedicated amplification. Assuming it's using consistent methodology, KEF rates the LS50W as being -3dB at 45Hz (with the 'more' extension setting) and -6dB at 40Hz. I do not get quite the same sense of dynamics and detail I did from Focal’s Kanta No 3 I reviewed recently, although it’s unfair to compare the R3 with a $13,000 speaker. make our site easier for you to use. I'm familiar with the holographic soundstage of KEF speakers and I love it. Here's my thoughts on three well known coaxial speaker designs. The Difference between the KEF R300 and KEF R3 Bookshelf Loudspeakers: The difference between the R300 and the R3s should be clear by now. We are recognised in the history of loudspeaker development as one of the most important contributors and a great deal of our research has been published at well respected professional institutions, including the Audio Engineering Society and the Institute of Acoustics. A true 3-way speaker the R3 has a powerful 165mm (6.5 in.) Hopefully this article will clear up some misconceptions about bi-wiring and help you make your best decision when setting up your system. Combine this stiffness with the cone’s unique geometry and you get near pistonic movement for punch and speed. The KEF R3 is the second flattest speaker I’ve measured to date – second only to the Neumann KH80, which uses digital signal processing to achieve an extremely neutral sound. bass driver and a 125mm (5 in.) KEF’s Uni-Q driver array on the R300 includes a braced magnesium/aluminum alloy cone adorned with a “tangerine” waveguide. It's a carefully profiled transition that extends the waveguide effect of Uni-Q. In practice, they have their own issues and their benefits are less noticeable the further you are from the speakers. A true 3-way speaker the R3 has a powerful 165mm (6.5 in.) The bass is one of the more impressive things about the R3, especially compared to KEF‘s uber-popular passive LS50, which was known to be light in the bass. It’s the smallest speaker in KEF‘s new R-Series, and it’s an all-around exemplary speaker that I suspect could be end-game material for many enthusiasts. In a perfect world, my listening room would consist of a 2-channel monoblock system driving a pair of Blades, a $9000 turntable, an endless library of 192kHz/24-bit FLAC files, a chair with a cupholder, and proper acoustic treatments all around. R Series bass drivers have a two-part structure with a shallow concave aluminium skin atop a paper cone. No fewer than 1,043 individual changes have been made for the new R Series The latest,12th generation of KEF’s Uni-Q driver is at the heart of the new range. If you have $600 to spend, and you’re looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers, we actually recommend the Elac UB5 vs KEF Q150. The Shadow Flare is an innovative way to cut harmful high frequency cabinet diffraction. The R Series ports have innovative flexible walls. It’s a speaker of highly neutral character, with which little feels particularly emphasized or omitted. I'm planning on buying a pair of KEF R3s (very good local deal and will buy without auditioning first unfortunately). I'm still trying to decide between KEF R3 and Monitor Audio Silver 200 but I'm definitely leaning towards the KEF. In almost every category, it’s just a better deal and a better speaker. Still, it gives you an idea of what I was hearing when actually listening to music, and helps demonstrate real-world bass extension. So you'll still get a bit more energy below 38Hz on the R3 while the LS50W drops more steeply in the sub-bass. 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