KEF Reference 1



Hi Guys, in my journey in the hobby I had made a few mistakes, but shooting blindly I ended up with a pair of KEF Ref 1. Simply the most satisfaying speakers I ever owned!
After the break in period it feels like I have membranes or a pair of hifi man HE1000 on a big scale in my living room that is a lot to say. They simply dissapear.
I power them with Hegel H30, Gamut CD3, PS audio BHK Preamp (another amazing piece of audio plus outstanding headphone amp), Also DS DAC and AZ cables plus Nordost IC.
Plinius Koru Phono + Rega RP10.
I had owned much more costly setups but nothing as musical as this one.
Speakers I had owned:
AZ Crescendos I.
Harbeth C7es3, M30.1
Dali Helicons MKII 800. Nolas, Ref3A, System audio, Linn, Silverline, Focals, Totem and many others.
I simply want to share this thoughts after trying so many combinations and never been as satisfied.
Lets the music play..
Nice weekend.


128x128mountainsong

Showing 1 response by leeagc

Having heard (and owned) a huge spectrum of the current high-end speakers out there, I feel reasonably confident to reply.
Most recently, in search of the ever elusive "right-sound" I ended up with a pair of Focal Utopia Diablo's.  KEF Blades, Ref 3/5's and Magico were high on the list but ultimately non had the transparency and resolution the little Utopia's had, the Scala's I listened to were equally good, though much bigger.   I've not heard the Grand, Stella or Maestro.  Obviously bass in the smaller Utopias is limited but a JL Audio Fathom subwoofer fixes that and bring 95% of what any larger reference speaker brings.  In my experience the Utopia line has it all, the utmost musicality and enjoyment coupled with state-of-the-art detail and clarity.  The only problem is where from here!