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Kef 104ab...

50.109.246.4
Posted on July 2, 2017 at 17:45:53
hapinoregon
Audiophile

Posts: 118
Location: SW Oregon
Joined: June 21, 2007
 We're considering a Kef 104ab and need opinions/thoughts about suitability for placement against rear wall, but up off the floor. SO's loom placement dictates such placement...

A bit larger than average size room with much "stuff" in it. Listening is 90% classical from Haydn trios to Mahler 8th. Electronics are Sonic Frontier SP1 pre to McCormack DNA 125.

Our current speakers are DALI 111, acoustic suspension 2 ways from ~1985. They are off the floor ~15" & against the wall and sound good, especially for their age...

As always, many thanks for any & all thoughts...

 

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change., posted on July 2, 2017 at 21:24:33
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15387
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 the S.O.
...regards...tr

 

RE: change., posted on July 3, 2017 at 09:55:39
hapinoregon
Audiophile

Posts: 118
Location: SW Oregon
Joined: June 21, 2007
 Thought about it, but good SOs are harder to find than good speakers. I can live with the DALIs. Not sure I can live with another SO. Or that another SO could live with me...

 

Choices, posted on July 3, 2017 at 11:14:45
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15387
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 We have to make them.
...regards...tr

 

Good answer. nt, posted on July 4, 2017 at 06:57:14
G Squared
Audiophile

Posts: 8490
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Joined: November 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: May 23, 2023
 .
Gsquared

 

RE: Kef 104ab..., posted on July 4, 2017 at 17:40:26
Pat D
Audiophile

Posts: 12506
Location: Fredericton NB
Joined: June 20, 2000
 I had Kef 104aB speakers for a number of years and liked them a lot. Their response in the listening window is excellent, but since their off axis dispersion from around 1K to 3K is not very even, they can be difficult to place, but can sound excellent with careful placement away from side walls. They have a good, strong bass response so I suspect placed right against the back wall they would sound a little bassy, although with just one reinforcing surface it may be OK. Placed on the floor against the wall or (horrors) in a corner, they would be very bassy. Just placed against the back wall, there would only be one surface to reinforce the bass, so it might be OK with a little bass cut (a Quad preamp would be ideal for any of those placements).

What sort of shape are the old Kefs in? Do they have the foam grilles, which in my opinion much improve the clarity of the sound?
-----
"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser

 

Rooms are such a crap shoot......, posted on July 5, 2017 at 19:18:39
viridian
 but certain speakers are designed to be placed against a wall and some are not. The 104ab is not. That's not to say that it won't work.

If vintage is your thing, there are speakers designed to be used against the wall, such as those from Linn and Naim. Surely there are many more if you do a bit of Googleing.

Good luck....always so hard to find something that will work with a given room and electronics.

 

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