All-round reproduction of music, excellent stereo imaging (who needs surround-sound if you have good stereo?) They let you enjoy the music and stop worrying about the equipment :-)

None - within their specification. But: not available new and I believe no longer fully supported by KEF themselves - sob!

Yes £70.00! (Price is in GBP as I live in England, UK, so equivalent to about $140) I'd been after a pair of these since I was a teenager - I thought they looked so great with that real wood veneer and three-point mounted woofer + my Dad had these KEF Chorales (early 1970's speakers) that I thought sounded amazing - I was an impressionable 4 years old when he got his first real HiFi so I guess that "KEF sound" is one of my earliest memories! He's still got the Chorales and they still sound great BTW. Prior to these I had been using Tannoy M2's (on stands), then I got some KEF C40's, also on stands. The C40's had been purchased 2nd hand and were better than the more modern Tannoy M2's in terms of resolution but the cabinets weren't that great and the bass was a bit of a let down: despite having twin 8" drivers the frequency response wasn't that good (68Hz) and, more worryingly, what bass there was seemed coloured by the speaker itself - probably the cheap cabinet construction. The Tannoys were OK but had that typically fluffy "hole in the middle" sounding bass stemming from their tuned port design, also the sound of cymbals and other tinkly bits from their tweeters was less than crystal - mind you they were only £120 new so maybe I am being unreasonable. I was expecting better things from the 103.2's... They didn't disappoint! I finally had a "real" HiFi system on my hands and I eagerly re-explored my CD collection! Superb neutral but revealing sound, as others here have commented. I have seen someone write (not on "audioreview") that older KEF speakers have a flat and lifeless mid-range, the first part of that statement is true - the second is not. They thrive on a big amplifier with plenty of "overhead": make sure that you have lots of Volts available to get information through that complex crossover... almost as if you were driving 16 Ohms instead of 8 - and don't expect miracles! This is a 25 year old design after all - maximum spl 106dB (peak). I use a brace of NAD 214 amps (each bridged) to achieve an "effortless" (transparent) drive to the speakers. Their bass response is very clean and smoothly rolled off by design. KEF engineers didn't trade away quality of sound for extended (or ragged!) bottom end. The frequency response is +/-2dB from 20kHz (basically flat) all the way down to 60Hz (-10dB at 37Hz and 30kHz). This is good from 19 litres closed volume, but what is better is how it sounds in practice! A revelation to me is that the timbre of bass notes is clearly reproduced by the speakers - you can hear the way in which a bass guitar is being played so clearly, you get all the emotion in a string bass - they are quite amazing at this. Other reviewers have been equally complimentary on their sound at other frequencies and in particular I would agree on the sheer presence of vocals from these speakers. I think they benefit from being partnered with a "stiff" transistor amplifier source, such as the NAD in my own system. I don't think a low power "delicate" source (e.g. small Class A) would be a good match for these speakers. Given their "head", I would say that you CAN play satisfyingly Loud Rock Music through 103.2's but that somehow it doesn't feel right to do so - I think I need a cheap pair of large & sensitive speakers to switch in for modern compressed / high-volume rock listening :-) I'm building a sub-woofer to use with the 103.2's (using a KEF B139 driver) but I am going to have to be very careful with the crossover and phasing etc so as not to upset the clarity of the lower notes from the 103.2's. I don't think I'd ever want to sell the 103.2's - they are keepers. The only problem is that my CD player is the next "weak link" due for upgrade and I doubt I'll find such a bargain as I did with the 103.2's. One final thing: I've seen people write that you can do "this and that" with crossover networks in some of these older Reference KEF speakers to "improve the sound". Be very wary! Do you really think that you can improve on a team of professional audio engineers long hard work by the simple expedient of, e.g., shorting out a capacitor to "improve the bass response"? These 1970's Reference designs are just that: Reference. The components were carefully selected, individually in the case of capacitors, to each pair of drive units to achieve the +/-2dB response and resultant excellent stereo imaging. Maybe you can improve by replacement with some modern components but unless you have the original data, the exact values of the components when the system was built, you will most likely not make improvements. Bottom line is: if they sound great, leave them alone! My 2p (or 4c) worth :-)

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None compare - would love to try some 105.2's though :-))

Great response. Compact size. Great value if you find a pair at a good price.

Lack of low bass. The KLH's fill that in.

I bougnt these speakers at a yard sale for $10 for the pair. They are in good shape, although only one speaker had a cover on it. I knew KEF was a good speaker, but I was shocked to find out that these originally had a cost of $900 a pair! Unfortunately, I don't have the class of equipment that the others have - I have an Onkyo TX-904 receiver (60 watts per channel) and the speakers are fine. They have good all around sound. I have each speaker sitting on a KLH Model 6 speaker and I use them together. They require about the same power. I live in an apartment so I can't blast them loud anyway. The KLH's provide the bass response and the KEF's provide the rest. I agree with just all about all the reviewers. The speakers are great for chamber music, classical and jazz. Bad recordings don't give them justice. But I do use them to listen to all kinds of music. Marvin Gaye sings great out of them.

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Advent loudspeaker, KLH Model 6, Infinity SL 10's.

You can listen to them all day. The music is right, but make sure you have the amp to do them justice. My new ADCOM 120 is'nt quite there. I miss the Luxman.

They don't make them anymore

Other than an 1985 Land Cruiser, this was the best purchase of my life. They have outlasted a bunch of good equipment including a Luxman Class A Amp, a Rega Planer Table, 2 Denon CD/DVD player etc. They reproduce the music like it was meant to be heard. A high end audio dealer in Denver once put it to be prefectly. "Hey man, I listen to this stuff all day, when I go home I HAVE TO listen to KEF's"

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Rega Planer 2 Ortofon MC-20 w/ T-20? Luxman 150 Watt Amp Denon DVD MK Sub Woofer B&W Center & Surrounds

Low coloration,stereo imaging,and very good bass response for a system this size.Super neutral frequency response that allows the speaker to tell it like it is about all recordings.

Lacks the hyper,exaggerated treble of todays'hifi speakers,though I'll bet that the Kef speakers are more accurate.

I've owned these speakers for 20 years now and still enjoy listening to them on a daily basis.They are probably the most neutral response loudspeaker I've ever owned.This neutrality allows the speakers to sound smooth and accurate with any recording you play.To get this type performance today from a speaker system be prepaired to shell out no less than $2500 a pair.I've listened to the Spendor SP2/3 and Harbeth compact 7s' and I do not feel the urge to upgrade yet! This says alot about the importance of reference grade parts used in the Kef 103.2's!This speaker was designed to reproduce music as flat and accurately as possible ,absoluteley the best during its' day.Probably the only thing the Spendors and Harbeths do is play louder and have a slight edge in detail retrieval,that's it ! The day is fast approaching when I'll need to replace the woofers and Kef no longer makes the drivers or the speakers.I don't know what I'll do, I guess retire the speakers. Kef should seriously consider bringing a new 103.2 out.They could even make money just supplying drivers and other parts to Kef 103.2 faithfuls. Kef if you are reading, there are a lot of 103.2's out there and their owners refuse to part with them .I highly recommend this speaker to serious music lovers.They are reasonable as a used speaker.They have the smoothness of my AR 303's but lack the sheer bass power and impact of the 303's.In all a very nice set of speakers ,even by today's standards.Once you've become accustomed to the sound of the Kef's you'll espect it in other speakers but others fall far short.

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Spendor SP2/3,Harbeth compact 7's and the Classic AR 303's

Seamless and uncolored.

The are no longer made.

These KEF 103.2's are pushing 20. Originaly interested in KEF 101's, I used a student loan to upgrade to the 103's after hearing the bottom extension. These speakers have never fatigued me except when I'm forced to lug demo speakers back to the dealer after giving me no reason to upgrade. We have listened to Snell, Martin Logan, Thiel, ProAc, Linn, B&W, and newer KEF in many price ranges, and the 103's are still in our home. Perhaps KEF should go back to this original design and build replicas much as VW did with the Beetle.

Incredible bass from such a small enclosure

None

This is maybe the best bookshelf speaker ever made. They have bass that is unbelievable in such a small enclosure. You will find no dynamic speaker that is more accurate, either. I have the speakers connected to perhaps $10,000 worth of associated equipment. There is no upgrade in sight. Over the eighteen years that I have owned them the entire system has changed, except the KEFs. They are truly the last great bookshelf speaker. The previous reviewer was correct, however, in pointing out that decent stands are not an option.

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None, but have heard many.

Tight fast bass, warm mid, clear - yet not overly bright treble

I first heard these speakers 12 years ago in college in a showroom. The far outperformed every other speaker in the house (except the 104/2's). I wanted them right away, but alas, could not afford them.

Finally I have them, and they are everything I remembered and more. I combined them with a Velodye sub to take the low bass and I can turn them up for hours on end and never have any listening fatigue. Probably one of the greatest purchases of my life.

JUST SOUND GREAT

MY AUDIO UPGRADE AFFLICTION
STANDS CREATE PERFECT HEIGHT FOR DRINKS DURING A PARTY.

I MOVED THESE SPEAKERS UP TO MY CABIN IN THE MOUNTAINS COUPLED WITH AN OLD LUXMAN AMP,THEY JUST LOOKED OLD FROM THE GLASS MARKS ON TOP AND TATTERED CLOTH COVERS. I LEAVE MY LINN AND ROTEL AT HOME AND ESCAPE TO THE OLD TIMERS FOR A REMINDER OF THE SOUND I LOVE!
WITHOUT TOO MUCH AUDIOPHILE TALK, THESE SPEAKERS MAKE LISTENING FUN, THEY MAKE YOU FEEL THE FEELINGS THAT THE MUSIC OF YOUR CHOICE IS TRYING TO SAY,WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY THINKING WOW THIS IS A GOOD SOUND SYSTEM!

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LINN
KEF UNI Q
SONUS

Most musical speaker around

Though phenomenal for the size of the speaker, the bottom bass just isn't there. Suggest using a subwoofer

For twelve years, I have been ready and willing to spend more for a "better" speaker, but I have yet to find one as pleasurable as this. I agree with all the comments by the other posters. There is simply no listening fatigue with these, and the human voice has never sounded better. The sealed box bass is liquid and superior to newer ported designs. This is basically the BBC LS3 5A in a stiff, rosewood box, with near perfect imaging and a warm, warm sound. The sole "problem" is a lack of truly deep base. My only regret is that I didn't have the bucks to buy the more expensive, big and ugly 105.2, perhaps the best speaker ever made.

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B&W 803

flat response,power handling,value,quality of materials.

none

originaly purchased back in 1980,have owned numerous high end speakers since then,but the 103.2s remain a favorite.If you are looking for true audiophile sound at a modest price this is the speaker,back in 1980 they were only 900.00 a pair so a good used pair should be very resonable.These speakers sound like systems costing much more,clarity,imaging,transiant response,soundstage,almost perfect,with a good high power amp they will surely impress you.I drove these speakers with a phase linear 700b and it was no problem for them,If you can find em buy them ,definately one of my all time favorites.

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B&W,large Advents,KEF104.1s,AR3,