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I took my son to audition speakers today and we listened to a pair of the new KEF R7 $3800pr and R11 $5000pr speakers along with the Golden Ear Triton 3's about $2500pr. I know that these are extreme budget speakers for most of you guys but I figured I would post about them.
Electronics were a Parasound JC2 preamp and the new JC5 amp.
My son prefers a darker sound with rich, musical mid range. First we started with the Tritons. They sounded decent. They had nice detail in the higher frequencies due to the folded ribbon tweeter and bass was tight and deep but we found the mid range lacking. There was no fatigue and they were fairly musical.
Next up were the KEF R7's. Right off the bat you could tell the speakers were completely different than the Tritons. The sound was warmer and darker. The mid range was fuller and more musical. The sound stage was much wider and deeper. Bass was almost as good but it did not go down quite as low. The sound was smooth and organic sounding. Textures of vocals, horns and piano's were fabulous for a speaker in this price range. No part of the frequency band called attention to itself. The only fault in the sound is that there could be a little more detail and resolution. The Tritons had the KEF's beat in this area.
We did get to listen to the KEF R11's but we had to go to a Best Buy Magnolia to hear them on a Mac Integrated and DAC. They sounded similar to the R7's just a larger sound and deeper bass. Detail was still lacking a bit. We compared them to a pair of Martin Logan Motion 60XT's. The ML's had them beat in detail and clarity. The R11's actually sounded muddy in comparison but the R11's had a sound stage that extended beyond the walls of the room. I think that the R11's could have benefited from the Parasound gear to get a bit more detail and clarity out of them.
By the way, Best Buy Magnolia had a pair of KEF Blades on hand. The salesmen was actually knowledgeable and helpful for a change.
Next up, we will be listening to some Dyn Audio's. Unfortunately, the local dealer does not have any available to audition as he is expecting the new models.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of speaker brands to audition here in the Twin Cites. Paradigm, Focal, Golden Ear, Martin Logan, B&W, Magnepan, KEF and Wilson are main brands.
Electronics were a Parasound JC2 preamp and the new JC5 amp.
My son prefers a darker sound with rich, musical mid range. First we started with the Tritons. They sounded decent. They had nice detail in the higher frequencies due to the folded ribbon tweeter and bass was tight and deep but we found the mid range lacking. There was no fatigue and they were fairly musical.
Next up were the KEF R7's. Right off the bat you could tell the speakers were completely different than the Tritons. The sound was warmer and darker. The mid range was fuller and more musical. The sound stage was much wider and deeper. Bass was almost as good but it did not go down quite as low. The sound was smooth and organic sounding. Textures of vocals, horns and piano's were fabulous for a speaker in this price range. No part of the frequency band called attention to itself. The only fault in the sound is that there could be a little more detail and resolution. The Tritons had the KEF's beat in this area.
We did get to listen to the KEF R11's but we had to go to a Best Buy Magnolia to hear them on a Mac Integrated and DAC. They sounded similar to the R7's just a larger sound and deeper bass. Detail was still lacking a bit. We compared them to a pair of Martin Logan Motion 60XT's. The ML's had them beat in detail and clarity. The R11's actually sounded muddy in comparison but the R11's had a sound stage that extended beyond the walls of the room. I think that the R11's could have benefited from the Parasound gear to get a bit more detail and clarity out of them.
By the way, Best Buy Magnolia had a pair of KEF Blades on hand. The salesmen was actually knowledgeable and helpful for a change.
Next up, we will be listening to some Dyn Audio's. Unfortunately, the local dealer does not have any available to audition as he is expecting the new models.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of speaker brands to audition here in the Twin Cites. Paradigm, Focal, Golden Ear, Martin Logan, B&W, Magnepan, KEF and Wilson are main brands.
