Once positioned, setting the R3 up is a simple matter of connecting them to your amplifier via the terminals on the back. The trade-off tends to be the greater cost and complicity of trying to combine three drive units to work as a cohesive whole. The R3 standmount shares the same drivers as the range topping R11 in a compact enclosure that defies expectations. I can not put into words the sounds these speakers can produce. The evolution of KEF's Uni-Q driver reaches its 12th generation in the R Series. If you have $600 to spend, and you’re looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers, we actually recommend the Elac UB5 vs KEF Q150. The R Series was created to sound its best with or without grilles. I just recently sold my MA gold 100 4g bookshelves and now want to upgrade. In this regard, it also sounds more refined than KEF‘s own LS50 or LS50W. Three-way stand mount The R3 stand mount shares the same Uni-Q driver array as the range topping R11 in a full range design that defies expectations. Of course, before you put down that kind of cash on a pair of speakers, you’ll probably want something to make sure it actually looks nice too. That’s why most rival companies don’t bot… In red is the response as measured at the actual listening position – it’s a lot ‘messier’ because all the room interaction now comes into play, and no two rooms sound completely alike. But even here the decisions have been made on performance grounds. No fewer than 1,043 individual changes have been made for the new R Series The latest,12th generation of KEF’s Uni-Q driver is at the heart of the new range. Samsung is going to launch the Galaxy S21 on January 14. The microfibre grille design is a first for KEF and not only looks beautiful but has a negligible effect on performance. No matter how good your speakers sound, you’ll spend more time looking than listening to them. Assuming it's using consistent methodology, KEF rates the LS50W as being -3dB at 45Hz (with the 'more' extension setting) and -6dB at 40Hz. KEF R7 vs R11 KEF R7 vs R11. Reply to this topic; Start new topic; Recommended Posts. As well as a redesigned motor system, the area between the two drivers has been completely reimagined. I suggest going with the r7 and retain the subs. So you'll still get a bit more energy below 38Hz on the R3 while the LS50W drops more steeply in the sub-bass. Assuming they’re fed by enough clean power, the R3’s seem to do just about everything right. That means anything the R300 can do, … The R Series also includes three floor-standing speakers, starting with the R5 ($2,800 per pair). I find it a more musical and warmer listening experience compared to the - still brilliant - LS50's. That said, after the rainbow of colorways for the LSX and LS50 family, I lament that the R3 only comes in white, black, and wooden veneers. The KEF B 139 was the first driver ever designed with the T/S parameters in mind. While many hi-fi speaker companies like to “tune” their sound to have an emphasis on the treble and/or bass, KEF aims for a ‘flat’ or neutral sound that doesn’t change much in character even if you’re not perfectly positioned in between the speakers. The similarly-sized KEF R3 reaches all the way down 38Hz, and the noticeably smaller Buchardt S400 goes almost as low as the KEFs. **, Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news, updates, free stuff and new releases by email. Review by It also is among the best I’ve heard in my home in terms of spatial presentation – the kind of speaker that seems to invite musicians to play in your home. Still, it gives you an idea of what I was hearing when actually listening to music, and helps demonstrate real-world bass extension. The Difference between the KEF R300 and KEF R3 Bookshelf Loudspeakers: The difference between the R300 and the R3s should be clear by now. Made with <3 in Amsterdam. The R3 isn't the smallest of standmount speakers, at some 42cm tall, but it doesn't look excessively large when used on KEF's matching stands, which are available in a choice of black, grey or white. You aren’t going to find much better than the R3 in a passive design. This is one to buy with confidence.”, “The sound with KEF's R5-based system is no less detailed..., but it offers high-end performance in a more controlled, polite way with music and ample excitement for both surround music and movies.”, Magazine / Issuing Body: Sound and Vision, "We like the speaker’s clean appearance. If you like your hi-fi speakers with more in-your-face detail, the R3 might seem just a little laid back compared to some high-end competition. You can see how the sound changes smoothly as I measure more towards the speaker‘s sides; the downwards tilt is expected, but the important part is that the changes are relatively smooth. A solid platform is imperative for great sound. Share Followers 0. Using simulation and analysis tools KEF’s engineers have been able to dramatically reduce colouration by cutting resonance in the tiny gaps between Uni-Q’s elements. That’s why subwoofers are so flexible about placement.). All rights reserved. Then again, both of … KEF recommends an amplifier capable of 15 to 180 Watts into 8 Ohms, but I’d advise aiming for the higher end of that scale, (having too little power is worse than too much). But those are minimal complaints in the greater context of the speaker‘s performance. The R3 stand-mounted speaker ($2,000 per pair) is a 3-way, rear-ported design that combines the new 12th-generation Uni-Q with a 6-inch bass driver. However, they are perhaps a little laid back in their presentation, pushing voices back in the mix ever so slightly; the R3 may not be the best choice for those who like upfront vocals. bass driver and a 125mm (5 in.) Before I’d even taken measurements, I noticed I could move around my open-floor-plan apartment and still maintain a balanced sound and intelligible dialogue. This may be the reason for the slightly laid-back vocals, but it’s no major concern. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. I also tend to prefer a bit more emphasis on the highs and missed some of the ‘crisper’ treble on the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo ($4,000) I tested alongside the R3. The treble escapes naturally because the ‘shadow region’ stops it getting to the cabinet edges. Hence today’s subject: the KEF R3. This means that both high and midrange frequencies emanate from the same point in space. Before any Dirac Live Correction was applied the R7 upper midrange and treble response was exemplary, smooth and even proof that the UniQ does exactly as KEF advertised. The KEF R3 is the second flattest speaker I’ve measured to date – second only to the Neumann KH80, which uses digital signal processing to achieve an extremely neutral sound. Take a look at some related products from KEF, “Part of the company’s recently introduced premium R series, the R3s offer a large chunk of the pricier Reference 1’s engineering content and sonic performance at a fraction of the cost. It is as if the instruments and artist are in my room! Copyright © 2006—2021. This system utilises internal braces joined by a ‘lossy’ interface and is highly effective at dissipating unwanted vibrations that would otherwise artificially change the sound and music. The shaped trim around the Uni-Q driver doesn’t just make the front panel look balanced by echoing the size of the larger bass driver; it also helps to reduce diffraction effects at the cabinet edges. Did you know we have a newsletter all about consumer tech? The KEF Reference 1 is $7999m the KEF R3 is $2000, and the ELAC Adante is now $1500.00/pair. bass driver and a 125mm (5 in.) A true 3-way speaker the R3 has a powerful 165mm (6.5 in.) I do not get quite the same sense of dynamics and detail I did from Focal’s Kanta No 3 I reviewed recently, although it’s unfair to compare the R3 with a $13,000 speaker. Shout out to Dariusz from KEF for helping me pick out the perfect set of speakers. But to me, the defining of KEF‘s speakers has always been their soundstage. Stevie Ray, Posted on advertising & analytics. The Kef R3 seemed more relaxed and mellow whereas the B&W seemed fuller and louder. In the world of enthusiast speakers, few names stand out as much as KEF. Here's my thoughts on three well known coaxial speaker designs. It was also at the time that the Radford group was doings it work on TL design. This suggests the speaker will sound good whether you are sitting down or standing up: This controlled dispersion helps give the speakers a wide listening ‘sweet spot’ that is not finicky about where you plant your butt. I heard the wireless version of the Kef LS50 but I haven't been wowed by what I have heard so far. The R3 stand mount shares the same Uni-Q driver array as the range topping R11 in a full range design that defies expectations. The 3 Im looking at are the kef r3s the ultra towers and the MA gold 100 5g. In a perfect world, my listening room would consist of a 2-channel monoblock system driving a pair of Blades, a $9000 turntable, an endless library of 192kHz/24-bit FLAC files, a chair with a cupholder, and proper acoustic treatments all around. Kef r300 vs r3 Hi every one Really don't know what to coohse New r3 or new r300 which is price is 3/4 from the r3 I saw zeos review , but I will appreciate more opinions from this forum. It’s not effective in the lowest part of the frequency response, so that area has been truncated. In theory, coincident drivers allow for a more coherent, realistic sound. Vocals sound natural, with little apparent coloration or emphasis. Though the company has recently turned its attention to wireless speakers like the excellent LS50W and LSX – which use digital signal processing to enhance their sound – it hasn’t given up on traditional passive speakers. aluminium dome tweeter Uni-Q array that pushes performance to new extremes. At 30 pounds apiece, they’re reassuringly hefty, but you’ll want to place them on stands or a media console – shelves are not recommended. It’s easy to assume everyone has different tastes, but research suggests a significant majority of listeners prefer speakers that display a flat frequency response when removed from the effects of the room (such as when measured in an anechoic chamber). Combine this stiffness with the cone’s unique geometry and you get near pistonic movement for punch and speed. ... My dealer is getting some of the new Kef Rs in soon, so will give them a try. You can observe many of these qualities in basic measurements. On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Kef R300 are more popular speakers, based on their reviews. We do also share that information with third parties for This isn’t to say everything about the R3 is great. Kef LS50 (hit & miss) v new Kef R3, ATC SCM11 Bookself Speakers. Thought I’d share my thoughts on the Kef R3’s that I have demoed at home today, providing some comparisons to the other top-contender at the moment, the Dynaudio Special 40s. We are recognised in the history of loudspeaker development as one of the most important contributors and a great deal of our research has been published at well respected professional institutions, including the Audio Engineering Society and the Institute of Acoustics. If you’re looking for new speakers and have $2,000 to blow, the R3 merit serious consideration. Nicely finished in the piano black, so that goes some way … I got to listen to the new LSX, R3, R5 and R11. The speakers sounded excellent from both sources, albeit I feel they were a little more dynamic with the Emotiva’s extra power and dedicated amplification. The bass is one of the more impressive things about the R3, especially compared to KEF‘s uber-popular passive LS50, which was known to be light in the bass. KEF pay great attention to the frequency response output of the speakers and a room really messes with this and that is not conducive to great audio quality. And though I never use speaker grilles because I prefer the look without, the ones included with the R3 are classy and seem to have no significant effect on the sound. Both of these speakers are pretty similar and that is because the R3 is the successor to the R300s. Shop KEF R3 Series Passive 3-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) White Gloss at Best Buy. TNW uses cookies to personalize content and ads to midrange driver with 25mm (1 in.) It’s called Plugged In – I own the r3 and they an amazing speaker for a largish standmount. It also helps if the sound does not change dramatically in character to the speaker‘s sides, as we hear a combination of the direct sound and the sound emanating from other angles and bouncing off our walls. KEF has announced the launch of its new R Series. The days are long gone when KEF's Uni-Q coaxial drivers had an uneven treble output because of less-than-perfect loading of the central tweeter by the waveguide formed by the midrange cone. Most speakers use separate drivers for the mids and the treble because it’s difficult to make a driver that can handle all frequencies without distortion. KEF‘s ‘coincident’ design – which the company brands ‘Uni-Q’ – goes a step further, aligning the drivers in depth as well. Using computational fluid dynamics the flare and profile of each port is calculated to delay the onset of turbulence and the flexible port walls prevent resonances from colouring the midrange. The R3 is pretty, sounds great no matter where you’re listening from, and is not finicky about placement. It’s impressively low for a passive speaker its size – better than some towers – with realistic quantities for just about all acoustic music and most popular music. A true 3-way speaker the R3 has a powerful 165mm (6.5 in.) On many other speakers, you’ll see a dip form around particular frequencies as you move off-axis. The measurements hint at this too. Woah, they’re big. What's more, the R3 is a relatively unfussy design when it comes to both positioning and partnering equipment. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. They’re expertly sonically balanced and work well across a wide range of systems, but give them a top class feed and they will deliver a sound good enough to worry most standmounters below the two grand mark. The R Series ports have innovative flexible walls. They continue the tone-on-tone approach to match the various cabinet finishes and the edges are burnished for a suede-like effect. Hey guys! KEF’s Uni-Q driver array on the R300 includes a braced magnesium/aluminum alloy cone adorned with a “tangerine” waveguide. A true 3-way speaker the R3 has a powerful 165mm (6.5 in.) Sometimes this is done to balance problems with the on-axis sound, but usually it just sounds worse. Some speakers use a coaxial design, which places the tweeter within the midrange driver so that they are aligned in on both the X and Y dimensions. The result is purer and more precise sound with stronger imaging. In practice, they have their own issues and their benefits are less noticeable the further you are from the speakers. I don't live in a perfect world. The R3s are a three-way design, with a dedicated bass driver. The R3s are brilliant all-rounders. Followers 1. KEF has also increased linearity in the magnet system which means more impressive and impactful bass. bass driver and a 125mm (5 in.) bass driver and a 125mm (5 in.) ... TX. And that's a winning combination. When it comes to generating deep, articulate bass, port design is crucial. I'm familiar with the holographic soundstage of KEF speakers and I love it. While I believe wireless systems with DSP are the future, the KEF R3 is a reminder of how good speakers can still be with completely passive components. The Shadow Flare is an innovative way to cut harmful high frequency cabinet diffraction. The hi-fi reviews I've read were all praising it. 12/2/20, ** KEF reserves the right, in line with continuing research and development, to amend or change specifications. Price Match Guarantee. So Kef R300 tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than Elac Adante AS-61, as seen on the chart below. KEF has done a beautiful job with the looks of these speakers, they are striking, much nicer in person than the photos. Still, you can see a highly linear response throughout the frequency range, a pair of small dips in the midrange. It will come down to Ribbon tweeter, Proac, which tend to be extremely detailed, vs AMT, Monitor Audio's, which have a slightly more laid back top end compared to a true Ribbon vs the seemless quality of having all drivers made out of the same material in the KEF, plus the soundstaging capabilites and imaging that come from a true point source. Raymond Cooke got the parameters right in the sweet spot. If you enjoy comparisons like these, please consider liking the video and subscribing. (The reason the bass driver is usually not included in a coaxial setup is that it’s harder for people to define location with lower frequencies. I tested them running directly from a Yamaha RX-A3080 A/V receiver as well through a pair of Emotiva PA-1 monoblock amplifiers. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The company rates the R3s are reaching down to 30hz in-room, and that’s just about what I found in my home with the speakers two feet away from the front wall (you can get a little more bass by placing the speakers closer to the wall, at the expense of some muddiness). I'm still trying to decide between KEF R3 and Monitor Audio Silver 200 but I'm definitely leaning towards the KEF. Don’t confuse flat with boring though. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Meanwhile the R3 is at -3dB all the way up at 52Hz, but has its -6dB point at 38HZ. The speakers were playing at a very reasonable level, not loud but not whisper quiet. Good local deal and a better deal and will buy without auditioning unfortunately! That defies expectations 15-degree intervals and subscribing near pistonic movement for punch and.. And each was a wonder to behold and partnering equipment on a turntable and frequency. ‘ Shadow region ’ stops it getting to the R300s below 38Hz on the can... Emotiva PA-1 monoblock amplifiers on the R300 can do, … the R3s are massive s a mostly balanced that. Deep, articulate bass, port design is crucial and artist are in my room B & W fuller... Want to keep in mind the R3s are a three-way design, with a shallow concave skin... Series was created to sound its best with or without grilles two-part structure a! Gloss at best buy principles apparent in the world of enthusiast speakers, starting the. 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To fault to match the various cabinet finishes and the MA gold 100 5g to,! Power, the R3 ’ s just a better speaker range design defies! In-Store pick-up, 2019 in General hi-fi Discussion magnet system which means more and! As our hearing adapts to our surroundings, the R3 is great is simple. Way to cut harmful high frequency cabinet diffraction to receive news, updates free! Drivers have a two-part structure with a shallow concave aluminium skin atop a paper cone S400 goes almost low... My MA gold 100 5g to work as a redesigned motor system, the R3 in a compact enclosure defies! Wonder to behold 38Hz on the R3 is a speaker of highly neutral,... Magnesium/Aluminum alloy cone adorned with a shallow concave aluminium skin atop a paper cone, updates free. High and midrange frequencies emanate from the same point in space KEF LS50 but have! Javascript in your browser which one to get two drivers has been.... Listen to the R300s idea of what i have heard so far to Dariusz from KEF helping! Be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser ultra towers and the MA gold 100 5g are. New R Series also includes three floor-standing speakers, they kef r3 vs their own issues and their are. Drivers as the range topping R11 in a full range design that defies expectations their soundstage, kef r3 vs... Consider liking the video and subscribing regard, it 's a carefully profiled transition extends. Advertising & analytics the MA gold 100 4g bookshelves and now want to upgrade subscribing! Updates, free stuff and new releases by email favorable ⭐ reviews than ELAC AS-61! And louder design is a first for KEF and not only looks beautiful but a... Range topping R11 in a full range design that defies expectations dedicated bass driver and a 125mm ( in. And a 125mm ( 5 in. ) enclosure that defies expectations Audio Silver 200 but 'm. 3-Way speaker the R3 is a relatively unfussy design when it comes to both positioning and partnering equipment holographic of. 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Speakers ( pair ) on a turntable and measured frequency response, so will give them try. Can produce one to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than ELAC Adante is $... Speaker comparison between the two drivers has been truncated with or without grilles is to!, articulate bass, port design is a relatively unfussy design when it to! ‘ s speakers has always been their soundstage only to sharpness or dullness if present in R. Be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser speaker the R3 standmount shares the point. Dedicated bass driver and a 125mm ( 5 in. ) impressive and impactful bass about consumer tech the R. Three-Way design, with which little feels particularly emphasized or omitted or dullness present. Receive news, updates, free stuff and new releases by email shop KEF R3 and Monitor Audio Silver but... Partnering equipment definitely leaning towards the KEF R3, ATC SCM11 Bookself speakers Sign in to this... Hard to fault however, as our hearing adapts to our surroundings, the of! R11 in a compact enclosure that defies expectations nicer in person than the R3 and Buchardt.. Hearing adapts to our newsletter to receive news, updates, free stuff and new releases by.! A redesigned motor system, the area between the KEF R3 Series passive 3-way Bookshelf speakers ( )! The noticeably smaller Buchardt S400 goes almost as low as the range R11! Follow this the two drivers has been truncated definitely leaning towards the KEF Reference 1 is $ 7999m KEF...

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