Kef's IQ7 speakers

[DerrellB]

Well my amp arrives monday and my new receiver arrives tues. I will post pics when they both arrive. My wife has given me the go to order my fronts and center. I am really leaning towards kefs IQ7 for my fronts and the matching center. This will be a blind buy as there is no where near me to demo them. I am just trying to see if there are any more speakers within this price range that I should look at before I make this buy. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[callas01]

What is your actual budget?

Personally I have always liked the way KEFs look and I know they have a great reputation. Personally I would love to see you get these, but I would suggest about the $300-$350 price range to also look at Monitor Audio Bronze BR5, Energy RC-50(NOT actually in this price range but on sale at the moment), def tech BP6B, and the PSB Image 45

[DerrellB]

Well my price rang is about 700 a pair. I like the monitor audio and have found them for about 475 for the pair. I am just trying to make sure I am making the best purchase I can make for my price range. I did an upgrade about 6 months ago and I want this one to at least last a year.

Originally Posted by callas01

What is your actual budget?

Personally I have always liked the way KEFs look and I know they have a great reputation. Personally I would love to see you get these, but I would suggest about the $300-$350 price range to also look at Monitor Audio Bronze BR5, Energy RC-50(NOT actually in this price range but on sale at the moment), def tech BP6B, and the PSB Image 45

[lojack1976]

callas01 made some good suggestions to look at. If you do decide you want the KEF's which I think are a good choice you can pick them up for $499 a pair HERE at accessories4less.com. This is for the black ones and they also have the maple ones for the same price. The dark apple ones are $549.99. These are open box speakers, but they also have the black ones new for $599.99 a pair. They also have iQ9's for $799 a pair new.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by DerrellB

Well my price rang is about 700 a pair. I like the monitor audio and have found them for about 475 for the pair. I am just trying to make sure I am making the best purchase I can make for my price range. I did an upgrade about 6 months ago and I want this one to at least last a year.

I think you would find them all great, I really like Energy speakers, and those would probably be my top choice. Especially when you can get them for half off. They usually compare more in the Paradigm Monitor line, Monitor Audio Silver line, and to PSB Imagine, or B&W 683s. So you can see that these are not speakers that you would upgrade anytime soon. Easily lasting you 10 yrs. Great for movies or music, they are warm speakers and are neutral with leaning towards excellent mid range, bass is deep(33hz) and the highs are accurate, not bright. Here is a review of the slightly larger RC-70, but you can get the Idea, check out this quote.

Value "At their price, I have never heard a speaker I like more, including my own PSB Platinum M2s."

but understand these M2's are PSBs top of the line $2500 bookshelf speakers, so there is no misrepresentation. And anyone that says a bookshelf can't sound as good a tower, has not heard the M2s. Apparently.

The PSB, great speaker but I would personally spring for the T55 over the T45, due to the larger divers and better overall performance. The bass extension won't be as low as the Energys but the overall sound of PSB speakers is phenominal and they do cover the mid range as good as the Energy speakers. These are great linear speakers, definetly one of the best speaker mfgs out there. These would probably be 2nd for me personally. Here is a review for you if you want.

the Def Tech BP6B, never actually heard these, but I have heard the BP7002/4/6, Which the 7006s are my favorite speakers at BB magnolia theater. Smallest of the super towers, but my favorite bi-pole for sure. Aramis can give you a better understanding of these speakers, but the ones I have heard are very much their own speaker. A true sounding speaker meaning that if there is a bad music recording, it will tell you, if there is a great music recording it will tell you. Bi-poles take a minute to get used to cause of the way sound is dispersed. But the sound is always full and encompassing. The 7006s play music very well, and movies are fun, I have sat at BB watching Transformer for the entire movie, wife calling and all.

I cant say where the Monitor Audio or KEF match up here, but here is a review of the Kef line, they say they are better for movies then 2 channel music, so if you do listen to music, they may not be the ones for you ultimately. Here are 2 reviews of the Monitor Audio BR5s, they like the Kef iQ5s better is seems in the first, but this last one is a good review for them.

Good luck, I hope this helps you.

[CasualKiller]

Here's Monitor Audio RS6's for 795.00

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....6-Walnut---new

Or even better is the RS8's for 800.00 ( F'ing amazing deal)

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....-RS-8-Rose-Nut

[DerrellB]

Thanks to everyone who gave me insight. I have done a lot of reading the past week or so. I will say my decision will be btw Energy and the kef's. I will make the order tonight so that I can have everything by friday so that I can set them up over the weekend. Once again thanks for all the help.

[callas01]

well let us know what you buy.

[DerrellB]

Originally Posted by callas01

well let us know what you buy.

They I am leaning towards the kef's. I do listen to music alot. But there reviews werent bad in 2 channel. I absolutely love their look also. I am about to place the order. I wil post pictures of all the gear I get this week. My amp, speakers and new receiver will be here this week.

[JasonR]

I really have a hard time recommending a blind buy on speakers to anyone. You would hate to get them home and be completely appalled by the sound, just because it's not what you were expecting. Just an awful lot of money to drop on something you've never heard. How far away is the closest dealer to you?

[DerrellB]

Originally Posted by JasonR

I really have a hard time recommending a blind buy on speakers to anyone. You would hate to get them home and be completely appalled by the sound, just because it's not what you were expecting. Just an awful lot of money to drop on something you've never heard. How far away is the closest dealer to you?

There are 2 dealers that were in the same city as I. When I contacted them, one no longer had a showroom and the other no longer carried kefs.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by JasonR

I really have a hard time recommending a blind buy on speakers to anyone. You would hate to get them home and be completely appalled by the sound, just because it's not what you were expecting. Just an awful lot of money to drop on something you've never heard. How far away is the closest dealer to you?

you have a point here, I was looking at KEFs too, but went with Energys for this exact reason.

[lojack1976]

Buying speakers without auditioning them is not the best thing to do, but I did it and I'm very happy. I like you relied on professional reviews and the feedback here in this forum.

Although I didn't listen to the exact JBL's I have before buying them I was familiar with their sound since I've heard other speakers from them, and the pro reviews I read were right on the money. The Energy's I have were acquired based on a couple of pro reviews, but mostly from the feedback here in this forum since Energy has a large following. I honestly didn't know exactly what the sound would be like. I just knew from everything I've read that they were very good, and as it turns I love them. The sound is very different from a lot of other speakers that I've heard and it was just refreshing to me.

I've never seen a negative review on KEF's and they have a very good reputation. They are very good looking speakers too. My advise is to go with your gut because I honestly don't think any choices that were offered are bad by any means. These are all high quality speakers and I think you will be happy with either brand.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

Buying speakers without auditioning them is not the best thing to do, but I did it and I'm very happy. I like you relied on professional reviews and the feedback here in this forum.

Although I didn't listen to the exact JBL's I have before buying them I was familiar with their sound since I've heard other speakers from them, and the pro reviews I read were right on the money. The Energy's I have were acquired based on a couple of pro reviews, but mostly from the feedback here in this forum since Energy has a large following. I honestly didn't know exactly what the sound would be like. I just knew from everything I've read that they were very good, and as it turns I love them. The sound is very different from a lot of other speakers that I've heard and it was just refreshing to me.

I've never seen a negative review on KEF's and they have a very good reputation. They are very good looking speakers too. My advise is to go with your gut because I honestly don't think any choices that were offered are bad by any means. These are all high quality speakers and I think you will be happy with either brand.

See, I am sorta in the same boat with you, I had heard energys back in college and so I was familiar with the sound although I hadn't heard the exact ones I bought either, I was basing it all on what I heard 10+ yrs ago and rwo's PMs. Plus I had 30 days to return them if I didn't like them at all, and I was only spending $250 too, so that was all in the back of my mind. I did hear some other Energys after I ordered mine but hadn't yet received them, so I thought, when they get here if they sound that good or better I am VERY HAPPY. BTW I AM VERY HAPPY. It was sort of a blind buy...

[DerrellB]

Well I ordered the kefs. I went on a blind buy, but I have not read any bad reviews about these speakers so I am hoping everything will work out. Will post pictures when they get here. I cant wait.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by DerrellB

Well I ordered the kefs. I went on a blind buy, but I have not read any bad reviews about these speakers so I am hoping everything will work out. Will post pictures when they get here. I cant wait.

I am sure you will be pleased, I hope just in case you aren't there is a return policy, BUT I am positive you will enjoy them. Please post pics in your HT section and give us a review of them. I did read that they need to break in for a few hours, 50-100 hrs. Congrats I am excited for you.

[DerrellB]

Originally Posted by callas01

I am sure you will be pleased, I hope just in case you aren't there is a return policy, BUT I am positive you will enjoy them. Please post pics in your HT section and give us a review of them. I did read that they need to break in for a few hours, 50-100 hrs. Congrats I am excited for you.

Thanks, I will post pics as soon as they arrive. My amp arrives tommorrow. Its weighs about 90 lbs. The fedex guy should have his hands full carrying this up my driveway. My house sits atop a hill.

[lojack1976]

So which KEF's did you end up going with and did you get them from accessories4less.com?

[DerrellB]

I got the IQ7's

and here is what will be powering them. My first dive into seperates.

[callas01]

Nice, that is awesome. Love the fact that you are going with seperates.