KEF Q100 for $300

pinkfloyd4ever · « **on:** 8 Jun 2017, 06:16 pm »

All colors except black. Through the KEF Store @ Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00CE3LHSK/ref=olp_twister_child?ie=UTF8&mv_color_name=3

maty · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Dec 2017, 11:32 am »

$229 now, KEF Q100 coaxial speakers (you know, end of series), with 124 Customer reviews:

Updated: Most recent buyers

https://www.amazon.com/KEF-Q100-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers-Black/product-reviews/B0047K3X1M/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_viewopt_srt?ie=UTF8&amp%3BreviewerType=all_reviews&amp%3BsortBy=recent&amp%3BpageNumber=1&sortBy=recent&pageNumber=1

J River Media Center 23 64 bits + iZotope RX 6 De hum (VST 64 bits plugin)

Before with only two harmonics and fixed 65 Hz. Now the sound is better. And LPF at 22050 Hz.

[IMG] http://maty.galeon.com/WP-imagenes/kef-q100/KEF-Q100-iZotope-RX-5-De-Hum-22050.png

With my foobar2000 only works the old RX 5.

PA · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Jan 2018, 12:18 am »

Quote from: pinkfloyd4ever on 8 Jun 2017, 06:16 pm

All colors except black. Through the KEF Store @ Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00CE3LHSK/ref=olp_twister_child?ie=UTF8&mv_color_name=3

same price at Kef direct; https://www.kefdirect.com/q100-bookshelf-loudspeaker-pair.html

maty · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Jan 2018, 08:25 am »

Black is cheaper in Amazon.com. Walnut has the same price.

By the way, yesterday I wrote:

Re: Icepower 1200AS amp. Class D like you've never heard before

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=153645.msg1656697#msg1656697

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Some words.

My cheap tweaked and second hand AV Marantz SR4500 (class AB) sounds better after a warm-up too. I use white, pink and brown noise from computer, with low volume -> high volume in the amplifier. I use a soft player only to them, 1by1, with low volume fixed. JRiver and foobar2000 to play music.

And to warm-up the rigid suspension of my coaxial speakers, KEF Q100. News, without very long burning, they lack of bass. That is why many compulsive buyers returned them and had little success during their early years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise

maty · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Jan 2018, 08:36 am »

News, with a subwoofer is all OK off course.

After the long burning: classical, baroque, jazz, folk... without a subwoofer the sound is very good. I do not need a sub in my room. You can up the bass with a good soft equalizer if you listen modern music with too bass.

In a big room, I would try with two subwoofers at 130 Hz or more. With one sub, f > 65 Hz. Why? Because 65 Hz is the woofer fs - resonance frequency - (and the 130 Hz the second harmonic). With the front bass-reflex plugged with the sponge.

http://medleysmusings.com/kef-q100-drive-unit-testing/

[IMG] http://medleysmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/q100-impedance.png

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Update 01/26/2013:

I’ve been using these Kef Q100 speakers (driver and cabs) as my reference/experimenting setup with dolby, L7, etc recently and I can say unequivocally, these are by far the best set of speakers I’ve heard in their respective size range. The imaging and soundstage along with vocal acuity is incredible. When I first fired them up I was extremely impressed. Walking around the speakers, there is no dramatic drop in response; the sound power response is excellent.

I had every intention on selling these to get funds back but at this point I’m making every effort to not have to sell them. I’d like to make them my new reference setup.

A sub to pick up below 50hz mated to these would make a very potent and worthwhile setup rivaling many tower based setups I’ve heard. And this is coming from the guy with a set of Zaph ZRT 2.5’s. the cool part is its extremely portable so I can take it to meets and demo for others.

Kef really nailed this speaker. For its price I have yet to find anything I think could beat it.

maty · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 Jan 2018, 09:34 am »

Kef Q100 zobel ?

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/299879-kef-q100-zobel.html

Z Review - KEF Q100 [SOUND DEMO]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_knqAZ2CD8

Amazing sound from a YouTube video!!!

maty · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Jan 2018, 09:59 am »

Z Review - KEF LS50 [SOUND DEMO]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVPSlrWYvdY

Amazing again.

The expensive KEF LS50 has rear bass-reflex. Somewhere I read that they need at least 90 cm / 35" away from the back wall and the side walls to sound properly.

KEF Q100, with front bass-reflex is less problematic.

maty · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Jan 2018, 10:23 am »

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2YXJOTANCLLQ7/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0047K3X1M

By Mr. CPRon January 15, 2018

Quote

Nice looking speakers, but I wish I would have listened to them in person locally prior to buying them on Amazon. I'm new to Prime and thought everything had free returns and I was going to be able to listen to them risk-free, but now I'm out the cost of return shipping. Oh well. About the speakers, though, I thought they were a bit unnatural-sounding with voices and bass. I used to run sound boards for concerts, events, and have done some recordings and there are some musicians whose voices I'm intimately familiar with. These speakers have a more "tinny" sound to the voices that my other home speakers don't have. When listening to an upright bass, kick drum, or any other bass-producing instruments, you really need a subwoofer to fill in what's missing. I wouldn't count on these KEF Q100s to produce anything below 100 Hz accurately. I know picking out speakers is highly personal and these are only my opinions, but I hope it helps emphasize the importance of going to listen to speakers in person first before ordering online, even if the reviews for those speakers are glowing.

Again, KEF Q100 needs a long burning. And power too. With 80 watts at 8 ohms or more like my cheap tweaked and second hand AV Marantz SR4500.

Somewhere over the rainbow I wrote:

Quote

I bought Boston Acoustics A25 to a familiar (new and € 135, I won a bid -eBay- from a UK shop). It does not need burning. I had just bought the KEF Q100 (€ 399), and the Bostons sounded better because they had more bass. But after a long burning the first are much better and with more bass.

Trust me, KEF Q100 is the best option. I LOVE them after my cheap tweaks. 5.25″ KEF coaxial speakers are magics. But you need power. Better 80 watts or more at 8 Ohms.

The Boston Acoustics A25 and second hand AV Marantz SR7500. Very good amplifier. I bought first my second hand AV Marantz SR4500.

They have rear bass-reflex. ELAC and Wharfedale too. (*)

KEF Q100 or Focal Alpha 50. Or you need to spend much more money.

(*) ELAC B6 and Wharfedale Diamond 10.1

Focal Alpha 50 is an active pro monitor.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Alpha50/reviews

maty · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Feb 2018, 05:57 pm »

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1H3WDNGEKMWK4/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0047K3X1M

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Its too bad the LS50s

By Jason Diddayon February 22, 2018

I decided to upgrade my Peachtree D5s to something new and considered these KEF Q100s and the Elac UB5s. The KEFs won out hands down. Considering the praise received on the UB5s and the fact that they are almost twice the price, I'd have expected a tougher decision. It is important to point out that I am running these on a Peachtree 220se amp so I have plenty of power. I am listening to these in a super-near-field setup where I sit practically 3 feet away. And they are placed into my office bookshelf against the wall - so the front porting is a major positive. Its too bad the LS50s, the Q150s and 350s (and UB5s) are all rear-ported.

These KEF Q100s are crystal clear, extremely accurate and quick, with a deep bass (when called for). Ive listed to Notorious BIG, Live After Death where I get nice bass and Toto's 40 Trips Around the Sun where you get great vocals and musicality. Absolutely love these for $300...its really hard to believe they cost so little. If you need rear porting, pick up a pair before they're discontinued.

maty · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Feb 2018, 05:59 pm »

Talking about KEF K350...

KEF Q350 loudspeaker Measurements

https://www.stereophile.com/content/kef-q350-loudspeaker-measurements

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My estimate of the KEF’s sensitivity was 86.6dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is within experimental error of the specified 87dB. Though the impedance magnitude (fig.1, solid trace) drops just below 4 ohms at 180Hz and there is a combination of 5 ohms and a –39° electrical phase angle at 125Hz, the speaker is a relatively easy load for the partnering amplifier…

maty · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Mar 2018, 08:40 pm »

In this thread I have explained how I cheap tweaked my KEF Q100 coaxial speakers:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/218281-kef-ls50-12.html#post5363028

maty · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Mar 2018, 02:42 pm »

KEF Q100, graphs measurements by kimmosto

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/320222-coaxial-drivers-ultimate-speaker-post5381270.html

KEF LS50, graphs measurements by kimmosto

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/320222-coaxial-drivers-ultimate-speaker-post5381146.html

kimmosto is the creator of VituixCAD

https://kimmosaunisto.net/Software/Software.html#VituixCAD

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VituixCAD is free engineering and simulation software for passive and active multi-way / multi-driver loudspeakers. It is one of my DIY projects and personal challenge in programming, acoustics and mathematics. Program provides some important features which are not available in all speaker simulators on the market.

DIY Loudspeakers Kimmo Saunisto

https://kimmosaunisto.net/

maty · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Apr 2018, 09:25 pm »

$249 by Amazon.com again. Prime too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0047K3X1M/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

maty · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Apr 2018, 07:17 pm »

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2U6EAFQGCAUF8/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0047K3X1M

Quote

Best $250 i've spent on audio thusfar
By James Sasseron April 5, 2018

Do yourself a favor and buy these before they're gone! KEF's already campaigning the replacement Q150's @ $549. Say what you will about "burn-in" time. . . these deliver a very pleasant sound that's slightly more focused (tighter with more coherent bass) than B&W CM1. While I love the lush sound of the CM1's, the KEF Q100's lower treble and mids create an engaging experience during the very 1st hour. No complaints whatsoever.

These are in a medium sized living room approx 15x25, and they fill it up without a challenge. Used with an Emotiva A100 @ 50WPC. Very VERY satisfied.

maty · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Apr 2018, 06:57 pm »

Finally, the last tweak. I have added mass to the speakers => Sound more defined, detailed, separation of instruments... Loss of bass = bass less rumbling. The boxes disappear a little more.

PD: the true sensitivity is between 84 dB and 85 dB I suspect.

sts9fan · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Apr 2018, 08:24 pm »

The sound of one person posting...

envydd · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Apr 2018, 08:58 pm »

I am not an audiophile and I did a bit of research and was undecided between the Q100 and LS50 and eventually bought both. I agree with the hype around the Q100 since I have directly compared with the LS50 with the same setup (NuPrime amps in a large room). My unscientific observations:

Q100 is a bit brighter than the LS50
the LS50's bass is a bit tighter
Q100 can be driven very easily with 30-50W amps, the LS50 loves current!
LS50 looks way more cool
Q100 is front ported hence it can be placed on a bookshelf or on a computer table

The Q100 is not as good as the LS50 but they better not be! Its 80% of the LS50 at 1/4th the cost (I bought the LS50 for 999). For now the beautiful white LS50 is in my living room while the Q100 is in my garage, on a table against the wall (thx for the front ports). If money is not a huge deal, I would always recommend the LS50s!

I am done with speaker purchases for a while. Thanks to KEF!

maty · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Apr 2018, 09:11 pm »

With my cheap tweaks the KEF Q100 sounds much better than original, much better.

Bit brighter -> With a good soft equalizer you can soften the trebble (with Q=0.7 is the best). Or more easy, turn the speakers a little to the walls.

KEF LS50 needs more separation from all the walls, not just from the back. 79 Hz at -3dB -> you need a subwoofer.

KEF LS50 has true 83 dB and the minimum impedance is almost 3 Ohms -> it needs more power to sound OK.

Both sound better on supports.

KEF LS50: 7.2Kg (15.8lbs)

KEF Q100: 5.9Kg (13.0lbs). You can add mass to the case.

maty · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Apr 2018, 07:37 am »

Before mass

LPF: 22050Hz Q=0.7

With mass

HPF: 21Hz and Q=0.65

LPF: 19550Hz Q=0.7

With this HPF I have the same quantity of bass.

iZotope RX 6 Hum Removal VSTplugin

https://www.izotope.com/en/products/repair-and-edit/rx/features/de-hum.html

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The De-hum audio plug-in and module in iZotope RX automatically identifies the base frequency of unwanted hum and precisely removes it from the recording along with harmonics -ensuring a clean overall sound without electrical interference.

For more complex hum and buzz removal, the module also automatically recommends when to use De-noise instead, so you'll always have the best tool at hand for the job. The Adaptive mode removes hum that changes in frequency over time.

I like more the sound with Suggest.

maty · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Apr 2018, 10:23 am »

[KEF] LS50 vs Q150 audition

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/89-speakers/2956342-ls50-vs-q150-audition.html

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...The cabinet is the biggest difference, the LS50 is like knocking on marble, these are your typical cheapish cabinets with a vinyl finish but they aren't bad by any means, just not at the level of the LS50. The Q150 actually digs deeper which isn't too surprising since I believe it has the bigger cabinet.

When the KEF Q100 is out the KEF Q150 promises. The same cheap tweaks that Q100. Considering that it need more space behind because of the rear bass-reflex.