Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: KEF Reference Three/two Speakers by Gatos

Model:	Reference Three/two
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$A 8,000
Description:	4 way, 5 driver floor standing
Manufacturer URL:	KEF
Manufacturer URL:	KEF

Review by Gatos on November 29, 2001 at 05:55:42
IP Address: 210.50.30.3

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for the Reference Three/two

This is a massive speaker (not by American standards!..:) ), that needs a fair amount of space to give you it's very best.
..but it's very best is ABSOLUTELY magic.
It also needs a fair amount of grunt, as the 'low' impedance of 4 ohms makes it a current demanding load, if one wants to listen to music in 'realistic' levels. So, no little wimpy integrades here, the more the better.
Let me tell you that this loudspeaker excells mostly with Classical material, as the very low colouration that is blessed with, allows the various instruments to sound exactly as they should.
Another point about these monsters is that they are VERY revealing.
I mean, the slightest change in the chain of the rest of the system (source, cables, preamp, cartridge etc.) is immedietly noticed, so one needs only high quality components to do justice to the KEF's.
My KEF's are driven by a pair of Valve monoblocks, custom build, which deliver a punchy 200 watts/ch. enough for my particular needs.
Of course, the valve sound shines through these lovely speakers, you'd think they were made for one another!
The size of my room is 5,5 X 7,5 metres with carpeted floor on concrete.
Prior to KEF's, I had a pair of Infinity Kappa 8.1i which stayed with me for 5 yrs, and yes, they were good speakers but...they were not Kefs..if you know what I mean...
In direct comparison between the two, I would say the Kappa's would suit mostly a system that played headbanging music at very high SPL, without too much concern about the finer details of the sound, more like the 'Club' sound.
The Reference thee/two is by contrast a civilized beast, that pays a lot of attention to detail, and for that alone is much closer to what I understand a 'High End' speaker system is, than the Kappa.
One last point, the Uni-Q tweeter system is magic.
No problems of frequency integration here, no matter where one sits, the stereo image is stable as a rock.
So to sumarise:
Quality of sound: 9 out of 10.
Imaging: 9 out of 10.
Efficiency: 8 out of 10.
Load to amplifier: medium to difficult.
Soundstage: 7 out of 10.
Dynamic range: 9 out of 10.
Quality of build:10 out of 10. (I have the more expensive burr finish).
Value for money: Very good by Australian standards.
Final advice: Unless you're prepared to match them with VERY GOOD components, you better forget them...you will not be doing them justice!
Happy listening.

Product Weakness: Some may need a subwoofer to get that very bottom end that shakes windows, but other than that absolutely nothing.
Product Strengths: Very clear, clean, uncoloured sound reproduction with effortless
dynamics.
Musicallity at it's best.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Valve monoblocks (custom build) 200 w/ch.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Research LS 2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Linn Sondek LP 12 / Rotel Mithci CD player.
Speakers:	KEF Reference Three/Two
Cables/Interconnects:	Levinson (madrigal) pre to power amps, and Audioquest as interconnects.
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Variety, Classical, Jazz, Relaxation, South American etc.
Room Size (LxWxH):	7.5 mtrs x 5.5 mtrs x 3mtrs
Room Comments/Treatments:	NIL
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Six months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Musical Fidelity XLP-S phono stage.
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Some may need a subwoofer to get that very bottom end that shakes windows, but other than that absolutely nothing.
Product Strengths:	Very clear, clean, uncoloured sound reproduction with effortless dynamics. Musicallity at it's best.