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So today is the day. Finally, I get to showoff my new Blade 2s :)We decided to have a listen in today and we invited one of our most critical listener - Chris Lehner. Chris is one of the most die hard audiophiles we've ever met and we have the utmost respect for his ears.
Chris drove from Maryland to NJ to our audiophile listening event and we had a blast! Also here was Craig Shumer of Theatermax and some of you may know that him and I are involved in some Audio endeavors together. Craig is Authorized Kef, Theta, Aesthetix and lots more and of course helps us get the most amazing products at attainable prices.. We sat and played for hours drooling over what was going to blow our minds next. When a system reaches this level of sonics you can't wait to put on another track to see what it can do. Time was flying and before we knew it we wanted to hear some other components in the system which Chris has brought with him.. We tested some Wyred for Sound Mono's which are much less expensive and they did very well. They drove the Blades surprisingly well for the money and kept the sound stage really nice. Not quite like the Prometheus Monos but very very nice.
As a reference we stuck with the Theta Prometheus Mono's, the KEF Blade 2 and the Aesthetix Pandora Signature DAC. For Chris, this was the first time hearing the Blade 2 and I think he's really blown away. He seemed to have a big smirk on his face. We listened to a variety of Different tracks. Chris brought up a nice selection of DSD files in addition to my music library. As they continue to break in our excitement grows as we can not believe what comes out of these speakers. Lets not forget we have the Theta Prometheus Mono's using the Hypex Ncore 1200 amp modules with Linear power which not only does Stereophile love but its our Reference Amplifier at this point. I am not sure there is a better amp on the market but thats just us and Stereophile saying that:)
We have had Aerials and Josephs and others as well on these amps but we have never heard anything like the Blade 2 and Prometheus combo. I'm sure Chris will be posting something as soon as he gets home.
Chris also had another reason for his trip and this is super exciting as well. He came up to get from Craig his long awaited KEF Reference 1 Speakers. The Reference 1 from what we read is going to be amazing and if we had more time we probably would have opened them and gave them a try but time flies when your having this much fun. Chris also had a long trip back and I know he wanted to get home to start to break in his new Ref 1s. I am sure he will be posting about that as well.
I'll keep updating as the speakers break in.
Edits: 04/11/15 04/12/15 04/12/15 04/12/15 04/12/15Follow Ups:
Well I hope they sound better in domestic enviroment than the demos at the shows I heard where they exhibit homogenizing plastic zing throughout most of the midrange. At least they are not nasty sounding like some supposedly high rez speakers. Also ,they employ former car dealers to move them or so was my impression ...
I haven't heard anything remotely like what you're describing. In fact the midrange is really natural soundind, especially through the vocal range. Maybe there was a hint of what you heard before I set them in the positions they are in now (different from the photos). Contrary to what I've seen and read, they do need toe in even along the short wall. Johan Coorg from KEF visited my home last week and made the toe in adjustment. With a straight ahead positiong the bass can slighlty overpower the midrange which I guess could lead to what you've heard. I can only say they are the most natural sounding speakers I've ever had in my room and I've had speakers from Joseph and Aerial there just before the Blade 2. FWIW, I've been a musican all my life and am very happy with the Blade 2. It can do piano very convincingly as well. As a frame if reference, I have a Bosendorfer Imperial downstairs. They can convey the dynamics, scale and nuances without skipping a beat.
Even though I can't play I'd love to have Bosendorfer grand piano downstairs just to listen to that magnificent tone ...Good to know that Kef keeps it's standards although I've never been a fan and you're happy with the sound .The over the top orchestrated advertising campaign and crowded rooms at the shows are a little off putting since nothing what I heard would qualify the speakers as a ground breaking product. But ,I guess the old company deserves some buzz after quiet years.
Rgrds, L
Have you heard the Joseph Audio Pearl 2 or Pearl 3?
If so, can you comment on their presentation?
I have heard both Pulsar + Perspective models.
Happy to know homogenizing plastic zing in the midrange is not nasty sounding ...
Why would it? We chew plastic in various forms for last 30 years and it's everywhere , paint , carpet , walls why not speakers ? But better to keep the boxes in the attic instead of a living room :) Ah, this pitiful audiophile life ...bunch of old farts being served by car dealers.
Saxguy-
did you audition the Joseph Audio Pearl2 or Pearl3, prior to the Blades?
I didn't listen to the Pearls. The forward facing larger bass drivers would probably not play nice in my room. I have heard multiple people report that they are really nice, though. The Blade 2 goes really deep and the bass is always well defined. One of the most impressive aspects of the speaker is that as the volume levels increase, the clarity, imaging and soundstaging is never lost. Many of the speakers I've listened to can sound congested at higher volumes. I had someone listening to them last weekend. He had just demoed Magico, Kaiser and some of the other well respected and much higher priced speakers. To say he was impressed was an understatement. I've asked him to post his impressions here. Hopefully he will at some point.
I am sorry for taking so long to post my reactions to the Blade 2 demo. Saxguy and Craig of Theatermax hosted in a very gracious style, befitting the speaker.
I arrived with my music on a USB memory stick and Saxguy pulled selected tracks into his MacbookPro so we played a mix of my music and some of his selections. An very broad and effective mix for a demo.
Saxguy, let me call him George since that's his name, had the speakers in a room that approximates mine pretty well.
I have been seeking to upgrade my current speakers, Aerial 9s' and have heard Aerial 6t/7t, B&W 802, Dynaudio C2, Revel Salon Ultra II, Magico S3, Rockport Atria, Raidho S3, Kaiser; you get the idea! I've been listening, within the parameters of demo situations. In other words, I can't control the rooms and associated equipment in each demo I heard so my conclusions are the best I could draw for my ears and preferences.
The short story is that I am down to 2 speakers, the Magico S3 and Blade 2. The Magico demo included some of the most amazing mid range from a 1960's pressing of Dean Martin played through a $60,000 turntable and Goldmund electronics. I've simply never experienced anything quite like it in 50 years of critical listening. The highs were smooth and clear, no glare. Low end was clean and nicely defined but not too deep on the S3. I found the sound to be towards the neutral side, not overly analytical. I liked the ability to be able to place the speakers almost anywhere.
The Blade 2's were surprisingly close to the Magico's in some very important respects. They throw an impressive sound stage; you can't miss it! The mid range was clean and clear on the Blade 2's also but not quite the same as the Magico's. You must understand that mids on the Blade 2 are outstanding; they don't get stepped on (generally) and project nicely into the room. As to the difference between the mids on my 2 contenders, I would neeed to hear both on the same system in the same room to really know. But I have a hunch...
A major suprise to me was that the aluminum tweeter did not get harsh until it was turned pretty far up. I understand that KEF has been able to deal with the typical aluminum tweeter breakup at levels we hear so I will have to listen again. It could be due to break-in time still being needed on the speakers (100 hours when I heard them). While I am on the negatives, I also heard some bloom in the upper bass on some cuts that shouldn't have been so pronounced.
The bass blew me away. I know this is a smaller speaker than the Blade but it really reached down deep and vibrated the heck out of the room while the cabinet remained totally vibration free. Interesting that KEF seems to have engineered a totally inert cabinet like Magico but using a different approach that weighs just 100 lbs!
I learned that I could stand directly behind the speaker while it was cranking and hold a conversation at normal speaking levels. Point source throws the sound sideways and forward, it really does! That means the speakers get out of the way of the sound and you just listen to the music, not the speakers.
The speaker is very cohesive and is fun to listen to. It seems KEF has a knack for producing engaging speakers. I'm just setting up a Devialet 200 wtih a pair of the KEF LS50's and find myself listening much longer than anticpated and tapping feet and hands! The Blade 2's are more of the same engaging style. Bigger soundstage, finer definition, way more extension, more natural mids and smoother highs, and still fun to listen to!
Overall, like the Magico, this is a neutral sounding speaker with a couple exceptions my gut tells me can be worked with. That's where I am at in the selection process. I didn't expect KEF to be a finalist but here they are! Great value proposition for what feels competitive with some of the more expensive speakers I heard in the past few weeks. Hard to believe it at these prices but it appears to be a very good value.
No discussion of the Blade 2's is complete with mentioning the issue of positioning! It seems these speakers are very responsive to proper positioning and upstream equipment. They also have been widely reported to sound uninspired when proper care in set up is not exercised. The pair I heard had been tweaked in their set up by KEF. In fact I feel very much alone as the only person I've seen independently writing about these speakers. They are new and if you love music you should hear them. If you have a KEF dealers ask them to get a pair in. They won't last too long! And contact George if you are anywhere near southern NJ. It is worth your time to hear these speakers. This pair may be the 1st and currently only demo pair in the US. KEF, you guys need to get more of these speakers out for people to hear. One word of advice; take the time to make sure each and every pair is set up properly. If they are, the Blade 2's will speak for themselves.
popspin
Bob
Bob, it was a pleasure sharing some listening time with you. They are amazing speakers and the Stereophile measurements in the June issue are nothing short of incredibly impressive. It's great that KEF is able to do all the engineering and design in house while keeping the price of the Blade Two reasonable. Though some may say that it is not inexpensive, in order to get the same level of performance and full range sound from other manufacturers you would need to spend significantly more.Break in is also starting to reveal the true nature of the Blade Two. The soundstage is getting larger and images are carrying even more weight than when you were here. There is also a change in the midrange that is hard to describe. Some people talk about a blanket being removed from speakers as they break in. This isn't really the case with the Blade Two, as they never gave that presentation. In the case of the Blade Two it is like there has been a clearing of a light London fog. The clarity has become uncanny.
Just for clarification, I am in Central, NJ, close to the Freehold area, if anyone is considering a demo of the Blade Two
Edits: 05/16/15 05/16/15 05/16/15
Hello George:
I am very interested in hearing the changes you describe in the Blade Two. A slightly more resolved mid range and more sound stage would make the speaker even more impressive than when I heard it!
Its the clarity you describe that I find so appealing. Last night I heard some live jazz in NYC; clarity in abundance!! I want that in my speakers!!
Can you tell me about any changes in the lower frequencies or are they as they were?
When I think about all the technology and the resulting sound from this speaker, even as you note, at a price, I agree that this speaker is an outstanding value. All the speakers I demoed were good; they used different approaches and accomplished their mission within their price ranges. I heard speakers providing frequency range similar to the Blade Two but they cost significantly more, much much more!
I really hope there are eventually going to be more people out there who will hear this speaker and be able to describe it.
Sorry I said you were in southern Jersey, George; central Jersey it is! At any rate, I hope some you get some new people who will listen and discover what this speaker is about.
Bob
Another interesting aspect would be how pair(s) JA sells of the Pearl 2 or Pearl 3 ?
Thanks! for sharing. The JA Pearl 2 or Pearl3 has to be one of the most-elusive loudspeakers out there. It is very difficult to find people who have auditioned it? There is plenty of info on both the Pulsar & Perspective, though...
I don't know if I mentioned it, but the Blade 2 replaced my Perspectives :)
Both Pulsar & Perspective models are over-priced.
Kef seem to have made a lot of fans with these designs.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Congrats. I was quite impressed hearing these at a show a few years back. They made me take the chance on the LS-50 which I own. I really like the style of them as well.
> So today is the day. Finally, I get to demo my new Blade 2s...I review the Blade Two in the June issue of Stereophile.
Regarding the set-up, there is a bubble level at the rear of the base.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Edits: 04/12/15
In terms of the review of the Blade 2, I think it is very positive. They are easy to place in the room to get a very, very good sound. If you take the time to really dial them in they are spectacular and giant killers in every sense of the word. Toe in on the Blade 2 not only effects imaging and soundstaging, but also bass response in the room. When Johan Coorg came to visit us, the Blade 2s were initially pointed straight down the long axis of the room, as they are positioned along the short wall and this was what "everyone" had said to do. Johan had us toe them in a bit and the bass became completely coherent and deep without any bloom. Soundstaging and imaging improved as well. In the weeks that have passed since his visit I have experimented with the toe in, and can very easily eliminate any bass bloom in my room by getting them into the proper position.
As they are breaking in the frequency response is starting to settle in, soundstage is widening significantly (even on the short wall, which is really impressive) and imaging is three dimensional, solid and lifelike. Lydia Grey's recording of Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word is hauntingly present and it is as if she is there in the room, singing unamplified. It's hard to imagine unless you've experienced it. Bass response is phenomenal. On Marcus Miller's Cousin John the bass guitar is well defined over the incredibly deep bass effects that are on the recording with no smearing of images or loss of definition. One track that I have used for demoing drums - Jim Keltner's Improvisation off of the Sheffield Drum and Track CD - showcases the ability of the Blade 2 to capture the timbral nuances of an acoustic drum kit. It is easily the closest I have heard a set of speakers reproduce what it is like to actually be in the room with a drummer playing a kit, as the decay of the drum heads can clearly be heard. The list goes on, but describing everything the speakers do is futile - there's no substitute for hearing them.
Sounds like a winner sax guy, the measurements performed by JA were also that of a well designed speaker.....
Regards
Thanks John, the spirit level was really helpful being that the Blade 2 has no truly flat surfaces to help with setup. Looking forward to reading the review. Very positive impressions in my room.
If you want to have some fun, do what the KEF folks do at audio shows: at the front and highest point of the speaker, stand a nickel on it's edge (the nickel has no ridges). The speakers have to be pretty straight vertically and it may take some doing to get the nickel balanced. Once standing, crank up some music with a particularly heavy bass track. The nickel won't fall over. Then have your friends feel the cabinet- absolutely dead. That is a pretty good demonstration of the force canceling woofers and one I've enjoyed doing. The main difference between the Blade and Blade 2 is the size of the cabinet and the four woofers- 9" vs 6.5 in. They both use the same Uni-Q midrange/tweeter unit. Outside of that, they are pretty much the same speaker and I'm sure sound wonderful in your room. I think the Blade 2 is a remarkable speaker. It's good to see you have them positioned straight ahead. I don't know if it still does, but the user guide for the original Blades recommended toe in. I had never seen the Blades toed in at shows so I contacted KEF who told me that they are designed with no toe in. These speakers image like few others and are truly a remarkable design that punches way above their weight class. However, they do like to be positioned with extreme accuracy. Check the distances from the outside of each speaker to the side walls and the back of each speaker to the rear wall. If they are exactly the same ( a digital last measurer works well for this) you might find that the imaging and soundstage improves dramatically. You might also try about one to two degrees of forward tilt as that seems to lock them in. All of this, of course, is trial and error and based upon your own likes. I have every belief you will very highly enjoy the Blades. By the way, you have a nice looking system and room set up.
Paul, just wanted to give you a quick update. I was lucky enough to have Johan Coorg pay me a vist a couple of weeks ago. He had me to them in (contrary to what I had read and heard). The bass became much more focused and the imaging was spot on. The interesting thing is that even if you don't take the time to measure them out, they sound really good. Measuring things out takes them to a level far beyond their price point.
Funny, I did measure everything out with a Fluke laser distance meter which is accurate to +/- 1mm. I played with the forward tilt, but I think because the Uni Q is positioned slightly lower in the Blade 2, it becomes unnecessary to tilt them forward. They sound stunning, even at extreme volumes' never losing any of the tonality, sounstage or imaging weight and accuracy. With the Prometheus we were pushing them really hard and they were crystal clear. They are amazing speakers for people with more typical rooms. The original Blade has four 9" drivers per cabinet and I can only imagine how that could overload a smaller space. These are perfect, and from what I read have almost the same real world in room response as the original Blade when used in the appropriate room size.
Beautiful pic. Nice room and system.
Nice room and system. I bet that sounds really good.
Oz
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
Nice setup, I've only heard them at shows but they certainly sound wonderful. Definitely keep the thread going.
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