Neutrality, coherence, soundstage & ambience, macrodynamics.

None, though transients could be just a tad sharper

I''m absolutely tickled pink by the last few reviews below, because they confirm to me that I have been listening to an excellent pair of speakers for the last 10 years. I have taken good care of them and they''re practically in mint condition still. My experience was uncannily similar to Sol Weiner''s ? NAD/Adcom amplification, noticeable improvement with PBJ I/Cs and solid core 18 AWG wire, and finally complete upgrade with Conrad-Johnson PV10 tube preamp and MF2100 SS amp. That took care of that certain overemphasis on the upper mids/low highs that added a touch of excess zing to the reproduction of those frequencies, thanks to the much greater resolution of the C-J equipment (except, of course, with flawed recordings). The sound now is deeply satisfying not because of spectacular "hi-fi" effects, but in terms of its natural and tonally accurate character, its openness and clarity, ambience and soundstage (choral music is simply stunning), and most of all its quickness, precision and seamless integration. Not to mention the effortless dynamics and sense of scale. Recently, as an experiment, I replaced the cables to the HF section with three runs of extremely thin (30 AWG) enameled magnet wire. The results were astounding: the highs and mids became more liquid and the sense of air and space increased substantially, making the sound of digital and FM sources surprisingly close to analog. Needless to say, the thin wire is staying. For the LF section I''m still using 4 legs of 18 AWG solid-core hookup wire, which gives me a tuneful, tight and deep bass, within the speaker''s limitations. I might try magnet wire for the woofers too, because the absence of a thick dielectric might result in increased clarity overall. The only drawback is that close to a dozen runs per post are needed to ensure reasonable damping of the cones. That''s a lot of work $B!D (B I''ve heard speakers with more seductive qualities, but to those who are into the music rather than the "sonics" the KEF 103.4 offer an overall performance that''s hard to beat for the price.

Similar Products Used:

Mission

True sounding audio

None

I have idea what the previous people are talking about. I have these speakers set up with a Classe Audio "Seventy" Amp, Audio Alchemy DDT, Counterpoint 20-bit D/A converter, and a Carey pre-amp and the system sounds great, I mean GREAT. I will walk into the next room and it will sound like Sarah McLaughlin is in my living room actualy performing live! I mean who would listen to a T.V. with these speaker like previously mentioned, and xpect a good sound. These speakers produce it just as they recorded it. If the recording sucks then the sound sucks! Thats natural audio. People also need to get a amp thats built for home AUDIO and not for home THEATER. This will have a tremendous impact on the sound quality. The Kube (while not required) also increases your range so you get those TRUE bass sound. None of that "color" crap or window rattiling "air pollution".

Similar Products Used:

B&W Nautilis series

Reveals what is upstream in the system.

The spikes were a bit short. I replaced them with longer ones.

I ordered my 103/4 when they were first available in my area. I was upgrading from a lower level of Kef. I believe it was 1991. These speakers are the only part of my system that I have kept. At first I was disappointed in the strident sound of the system with these new speakers. All the electronics were NAD and the cabling was middle range Monster. A few months later I added the Kube 200 which improved the system. Next improvement was bi-amping followed by bridging. A significant improvement was changing to Kimber PBJ and 8TC. Later I replaced the PBJ with Silver Streak. But the most dramatic improvements were changing the amplification to conrad-johnson , the digital front end to Sony ES, and Analysis Plus Oval 9. Every change was easy to hear, even my wife noticed. These speakers simply reveal what is upstream they do not color or mask the sound signal. Those who complain that these speakers are inconsistent are likely hearing differences in recordings. My preference in music is natural music, un-amplified instruments and voices. These speakers do not put the bass in your face, for that go with Cerwin-Vega. Whatever bass that is in the recording it will be clearly and tightly reproduced. I used to make my living playing string bass and I like the bass quality and balance of these speakers. I no longer use the Kube, it degrades the sound of the system - takes away some fine detail.

everything except pinpoint accuracy detail and floor shaking bass.

hard to find equipment to match.

This is a follow up to my previous review.

Previously, I've stated that I had a hard time finding a amp to match the 103/4. No matter what amp I used, I couldn't get the speaker to perform without a slight harshness on the highs and edginess in the lows. I settled with my current amp, the aragon 8002, until I can afford a better amp.

After doing some extensive research, I learned it wasn't my amp's fault that was causing the edginess and harshness. It was the conglomeration of things that was going into my amp that was causing the edginess and harshness, namely the audio signal and the alternating currents.

I've done some extensive upgrading to my system since my previous reviews to my front end and cables. I improved the source by dropping the marantz 63se and nakamichi ca7a and adding a merdian 518 digital preamp and a delta/sigma cal audio trans/dac.

I've upgraded the power cords. A Lat International powercord into the aragon amp and the meridian 518. A mapleshade powercord into the delta transport. I've dropped my old cables, audioquest quartz, and added some audiotruth emeralds between the dac and amp and mapleshade cords between the trans, preamp and dac.

The quality of the AC is improved by using aftermarket powercords, and the audio signals are improved by negating a preamp and connecting the dac straight into the amp. Thus the full resolution of the tube dac is not interrupted by any preamp. Now the signal and current are clean.

My speaker cables are audiotruth argents for the highs and audioquest midnight for the lows.

Currenlty, my speaker sounds great. Everything is in the right place, details, pace, rhythm, and depth. The sound is not super detailed or super dynamic as larger and more expensive speakers i've heard, but none are more enjoyable and non-fatigueing as the kefs.

Currently, I am done upgrading, but I foresee upgrading my dac. I like to get a 20 or 24 bit dac with higher quality tube output stage to fully take advantage of my meridian 518. I am thinking about a Sonic Frontier SFD-2 or a Kora Dac. But I will wait until summer, my upgrading season.

At 600 dollars used, these speakers are definitely giant killers. And at this moment, they are performing better than I've ever heard them. 5 stars across the board.

Similar Products Used:

Kef q70, B&W CDM and Matix line, NHT, Linn, Von Schweikert, Martin Logan, Dynaudio, and Magnepan.

bass,mid,treble... No audible colorations just pure reproduction of the source!

what weaknesses?? Perhaps to revealing for some (?)

Just have these lovely speakers at my home for 2 weeks.. Never been so pleased with any speaker before except for the ESL's until one of the pair kicked the bucket.. I was a bit sad for a while. Now the music is back and how!

Might wanna buy a new pair of ESL when i can afford it but the Kef's sing unlike any other conus loudspeaker i have heard before. Especially the mid and the treble is almost unlike a conus and very near to what i was used to with the Quad ESL's.
Bravo!! Is all i can say.

And the bass is unbelievably tight and controlled as well. Especially when you pull out that little bit extra with the Kube 200.. But here room acoustics play a big role... If your room is to small forget about really low/deep bass tones. No matter what amp or speaker you use, sound will get boomy and mudled. But if your room is big enough... My god, i never knew that such a modest size speaker could sound so BIG while never losing control. The people at Kef really do know how to build a good speaker!

I love all sorts of music from Red Hot Chili Peppers to Mahler. And provided that the recording is ok these babies will bathe you in music!

Play another one!!!

Cheerio

Similar Products Used:

Quad ESL 57, Rodgers LS3/5a, B&W CM1+2

bass,mid,treble... No audible colorations just pure reproduction of the source!

what weaknesses?? Perhaps to revealing for some (?)

Just have these lovely speakers at my home for 2 weeks.. Never been so pleased with any speaker before except for the ESL's until one of the pair kicked the bucket.. I was a bit sad for a while. Now the music is back and how!

Might wanna buy a new pair of ESL when i can afford it but the Kef's sing unlike any other conus loudspeaker i have heard before. Especially the mid and the treble is almost unlike a conus and very near to what i was used to with the Quad ESL's.
Bravo!! Is all i can say.

And the bass is unbelievably tight and controlled as well. Especially when you pull out that little bit extra with the Kube 200.. But here room acoustics play a big role... If your room is to small forget about really low/deep bass tones. No matter what amp or speaker you use, sound will get boomy and mudled. But if your room is big enough... My god, i never knew that such a modest size speaker could sound so BIG while never losing control. The people at Kef really do know how to build a good speaker!

I love all sorts of music from Red Hot Chili Peppers to Mahler. And provided that the recording is ok these babies will bathe you in music!

Play another one!!!

Cheerio

Similar Products Used:

Quad ESL 57, Rodgers LS3/5a, B&W CM1+2

A pair of these speakers came to me as part of a trade, and I took them in the interest of getting the rest of the trade done. I would not pay much of anything for these speakers, as they are totally uninvolving. I am currently using them with a TV until the speakers we have ordered arrive. For serious music listening they are a waste of time.
The rest of the system includes Linn amplification, MIT cables and MIT line conditioning.

I recently acquired a Kef 103.3 Kube without the owner's manual and frankly I don't know the "conventional" set up and adjustments for them. The
former owner ia a non - English speaking Korean in Korea. Because you have the 103.4 speakerI am hoping you can advise me on set up and an understanding
of the KUBE. Thus far my rating of kef 103.3 is 1 because the bass is lacking
and the treble sounds exaggerated. Why does the speaker need the KUBE..was
it meant to be?

Your attention please: SANDER SHOLTEN, ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND.

I worked in a high-end store for a year that carried these speakers. They are lifeless speakers with poor definition, and a lousy soundstage. They are not fatiguing to listen to, but a piss poor choice for a high-end speaker.

I totally agree with Alberto. I have the 103.4 for 5 years now and I think it is very good - detail, transparent, & dynamic, but you need good source though. This speaker is quite revealling and very sensitive to the electronics. You just need to spend time to make it work for you.
I'm using them with Denon AV receiver, Rotel Pwr Amp, Sony CDP & Monster cables. They work pretty well together IMO.