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KEF and Paradigm

Anyone want to help a fellow audiophile decide among speakers?   I've been listening to many and narrowed it down to the Paradigm Persona 5 and KEF Reference 3.  I would consider the Reference 5 but can't find it anywhere.  While there are many things I like about the Persona, I'm also kind of knocked out by the wide and holographic sound of the KEFs  (a salesman also is urging me to hear the Ryan Tempess iii before choosing--and there's the new Magico due shortly--although I heard the Magico S1 and wasn't that impressed--I know the upcoming model will have lower bass extension at a lesser price).  My amplifier is 130 watts/channel and the room is fairly large (29x17).  I'm really  leaning toward the KEFs. I totally understand that no one else can decide for me but before I pull the trigger I would appreciate input on this board.  I've read so many good things about the Personas and listened to them several times but keep returning to the KEFs. Of course listening in a store isn't the same as living with them over time. Would I regret the KEFs over the long term?
fast
yyzsantabarbara
647 posts
 
FAST,

In the event you have not seen the following review.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/kef-reference-5-loudspeaker

"Summing Up
I very much enjoyed my time with the KEF Reference 5. It may not be a more affordable, less visually idiosyncratic Blade Two—that speaker stands alone in KEF's line—but it offers its own balance of strengths: a neutral, uncolored midrange; weighty but well-defined lows; sweet, smooth highs; and superbly secure, stable soundstaging. The Reference 5s might sound too mellow in a large, overdamped space, but in my somewhat irregularly shaped room (18.5' long by 14' wide by 8' high), the immaculately finished KEFs gave me all I need for musical and sonic satisfaction. "
fast OP
48 posts
 
Thanks yyz. Have to say I'm skeptical though about reviews in Stereophile and Absolute Sound since they're reviewing their advertisers and almost never publish a negative review of anything.  Still interesting to read but not very objective.  
atisvt99
4 posts
 
Did you ever end up buying anything?
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dbphd
1,058 posts
 
An update to my 12/30/17 post: I'm using an Ayre DX-5 DSD as a source through a Bryston SP3 to JC-1 monoblocks driving the Reference 107/2s with excellent result.  Roon sends files from my iMac to its USB port.

I hope to hear Blade 2s soon and will audition a revised version of the Wilson Watt/Puppy that in the same price range locally, but it's not for nothing John Atkinson and Tom Norton were so enamored with the 107/2s. 

db
schubert
4,867 posts
 

fast, No I haven't . About the only thing I won't buy from China are speakers. The Canadian Totems do very well on the classical music
I listen to .
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