Thinking of Kef Blade 2 to replace Revel Salon 2

I agree with you on the sound of the Rowland being a bit on the warm side of neutral, almost never heard Rowland sound forward although it is possible with the Chord Dave which is a slightly forward hyper detailed piece.

Overall with the Rowland gear and the Monitors I would think the system might sound a bit sleepy.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

@ricred1 Your room is big enough for the Blade 1. I have heard this speaker in a room as big as yours and it just blows my socks off. I have not heard the Blade 2 yet.

@audiotroy I know you love the T+A. How does it sound at low volume? Does it need to be turned up for best performance?

@yyzsantabarbara Realize you asked audiotroy the question, but I happen to be listening to Patricia Barber’s Mythologies as I read your post. Did a quick check and the sound meter reads 30/69/86 (min/ave/peak) on the first track: ’The Moon.’ The fourth track 'Hunger' registers 29/70/84. Values are at the listening position, minimums are lowest within the track (not the start).

Your definition of ’low volume’ may vary from mine...I’m playing the track at what I consider ’moderate’ volume on my T+A PA 3100 HV. Hope that's helpful.

yysantabarbara,
Thanks for the information. I love the way the Blade 2 sounds; however I'm not going to sell my current speakers for Blade 2s or Blades. I'm at a point that I can listen to other systems for enjoyment and acknowledge it sounds very good, but not want to purchase something. I listened to the same songs that were played on the Blade 2s when I got home. I know the strengths and weaknesses of my PL500s. I've tried to put a system together that I enjoy and unless I hear something(not read) that I feel totally destroys what I have within the price range that reasonable to me, I'll continue to live with my current speakers/system. Besides, even if I totally loved the Blades I think I would have to sell my current amplifier to drive them. I'm definitely not willing to go down that rabbit hole.
It may not be a fair way to judge T+A, but I've heard it with Magico A3s at the LoneStar Audio Fest. A week or so later I heard the A3s with Rowland components. My wife and I thought we were hearing two different speakers. Through the Rowland the A3s were detailed, open, and disappeared. Many people that attended LoneStar stated that the A3s were lifeless. It could have been the different rooms, the source, cables,or T+A isn't a good match with the A3s? No absolutes in audio, only preferences!

@david_ten Thanks that is helpful. I may listen to the future Blade system some nights very late. I have a 2 year old and music listening occurs at odd hours now. Though I am lucky that I work from home.

@ricred1 Thanks for the feedback. I am going to assume the T+A sound great with the Blades based on Audiotroy’s feedback here. In fact if I go with the T+A 3100 and the matching T+A media player I want to give Audiotroy a call about buying them. I heard the T+A 3100 at a show driving Wilsons in a very good room. It sounded great at the loud volume it was being played at..

i will hear the Blades soon with the Luxman C900/m900 combo. I was thinking this would be a good combo for the Blades for years now. However, after reading Whitecross’s A’Gon thread I am not so sure. I know he loves this combo but the things he raves about may not be correct for me and the Blades. A long listen should clear things up for me.

The other Integrated I will consider with the Blades is the forth coming Hegel H590. It is being demoed with the Blades in Europe and has gotten high praise. It is a cheaper alternative to the other 2 choices.

I am also going to audition the Blades with something a little out of left field. I have a Benchmark AHB2 amp. I will get a second loaner AHB2 and try them in mono with the Blades. I will also buy the new Benchmark analog volume control built specifically for the AHB2. I use the AHB2 in the office system.

@ejlif I hope you don’t mid me asking and commenting like this on your thread but since I am talking about the Blades I figured it was OK.