I am using this model1 with YBA intgre delta amp & YBA CD3 CDP & north star essensio DAC and using the cable MIT MH750 cvt. I am KEF mania and I have used 107, 104/2 new, 104/2 old, 102, 103/3, R300, LS50..., Celestion 7000, B&W...etc. Of course, The most satisfying speaker was KEF 107. But Model 1 is the best speaker I've got while looking for the right speaker because my listening room has become smaller than then using 107. Model1 has hi-end revel sound. Model 1 surprises me by making a better sound as raising the amplifier, the sauce device and the cable. Model 1 will only hear that much sound if it is connected to the $500 dollar amplifier, and if it is connected to the $5,000 dollar amplifier, it will make the right sound. Perhaps few connect Model 1 to the $5,000 amplifier. Usually it will be connected to a $200 to $500 amplifier. But Model 1 must be connected to an amplifier and a source device with a medium and high price of at least $1,000, so you will know its true value. I compared the latest R300 and LS50. However, the KEF reference level Model1 show me the different sound with those R series. But it is clear that the R300 and LS50 are also very good speakers. Model 1 offers musical pleasure in classical music with very smooth yet high resolution. This small speaker shows the best music not only in symphonies but also in string instruments, pianos, vocals, etc. Max Richter, Vivaldi 4 season ; Not only the musical pleasure, but also the grand sound and the sense of separation of each instrument reveal how well the recording of this performance was recorded. Younsun Nah Immersion ; The record, which is very well-recorded, conveys the delicacy of Na's vocals, the deep bass of background instruments, and so on.

It feels a little slow in hard rock music.

Clarity, precision, detail.

Weaknesses: none, in my opinion. I am running these speakers bi-amped with a NAD C350 for the bass and a C340 for the mids and tweeters. Phenomenal. I would have to agree heartily with other posters here: if you can't bi-wire with your current setup, buy a second amp. That is all.

Kef reference one wonderful speaker I am driving them with music first passive pre amp, two Cyrus power x in mono block mode psx r. As a giving musician I am impressed with the speakers openess and the better the source material the better these speakers sound, also they are magnetically shielded .

Honest and smooth, does not resist big orchestras.

Good speaker, maybe new models are better.

Mario Franco

LES KEF REFERENCE ONE ONT UNE BELLE IMAGE ET C`EST TOUT. LA MUSIQUE QU`ELLES RESTITUES EST
SANS VIE. LES BASSES SEMBLENT VENIR D`OUTRE- TOMBE ET LES AIGUES SONNENT LE PLASTIQUE .
JE LES AI REMPLACÉS SANS REGRET PAR DES EMINENT TECHNOLOGY LFT8 .

Beautiful tonality, accuracy and imaging. They just sound great and they are quite attractive.

None

I had read a great review about the Kef Q series, so I went to Harvey in Manhattan to take a look. I had a helpful salesperson that told me to forget the Q's and step up to the Reference One. I'm really glad I did! I love these speakers. I never fail to marvel at how good they sound every time I listen to them. I since added the TDM-45B subwoofer, and it is really the icing on the cake. It does not make for good neighbor relations, particularly when you live in a highrise apartment. I get noise complaints sometimes from two floors away. Oh well...

Detail, sweet treble, startlingly real vocal and acoustic instrument reproduction. And they look lovely.

A difficult speaker load, with some quite sever phase swings and impedance drops for your amp to deal with...

I also would have to disagree with the comments about these speakers' bass response. Of course these things are relative to the size of your listening room (mine is rather small), but I found when I upgraded my amplification to a high-end Marantz model, the speakers seemed to gain another octave of depth! I now get similar depth to that of my Rel subwoofer (although without the headroom). The thing about the Kef Reference range is the impedance drops rather dramatically around the mid-bass region, so if your amp isn't able to deliver the necessary current, you're going to lose out in the bass response. Besides the rich, full-bodied bass, the detail in the upper frequencies is excellent. When partnered with suitably able equipment, vocals do seem to leap out, and acoustic guitars and strings in particular seem very natural, and finely textured. Perhaps these were expensive speakers when they were first released, but now you cna pick them up second hand for as little as £600, and for that price they really are a steal.

Fantastic pinpoint imaging and good soundstage

ported boomy bass, lacking any true fundamental bass

Really a good sounding speaker with fantasic finish. Over 90% of the sound spectrum they can't be beat. The treble needs to be boosted a bit. Where they fall down, particularly in light of their cost is the bass. If you like the reference uni-Q sound, which I do, go with the RDM one and a good subwoofer like the M&K MX 125. You end up spending less, and get the uni-Q sound with better bass than even the Reference 4 is capable of. Bass so anemic I can only give it a four and for value a 3.

i have been living with these speakers for about 6 months now wow these are very good sounding speakers for the priceuniq-Q is wonderful thanks tannoy.i am running with dennon avr-3600 match up is excellent. the only down fall about the model one's i would say is the lack of deep bass. not to worry thank's to m&k's mx-200 subwoofer took me a while to match these speakers to the sub oh how sweet this sounds now kef sound with bass down to 18hz. highly recommend these speakers.

Midrange. Treble. Dynamic. Build Quality.

none

Great detail. the midrange is unbelivable and the bass is tight and fast. Many on this site complain about the lack of bass, just bi-wire it and match with good amp and you're in heaven. Very detailed speakers with dynamic sound. Many pair it with cheap electronics (cheap receivers) and you get it revealed in these wonderful speakers. You have to remember that these are reference speakers and reveal every good and bad details of what is put into it. Spend time to match it with a quality amp and you won't regret it. The sound is warm and the great midrange puts the female and male voice separated from the music and it's not harsh like you hear in so many speakers. There's not coloration in the sound and you get what is recorded on the cd's. A perfect reproduction. The build quality is solid and the style is attractive. These list new for $2500.00 but you should be able to find an used pair for around $1100.00-$1300.00 if you're lucky. The soundstage is also wide and deep and the imaging is wonderful. It sounds like a refined bookshelf speaker. very sweet indeed.

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