Floor standers circa £400, KEF C7?

Floor standers circa £400, KEF C7?

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Brummmie

Original Poster:

5,284 posts

222 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
quotequote all
Hi Guys,

I have some Linn Index that i am using, along with a Yamaha 5.1 amp.
Love the sound, but i am having a remodel and the 22year old Linns look dated now, and i would like some slick floor standers to go with a new flat screen and all that, i'll keep the Yam amp for now.
I have noticed that KEF c7's can be had for £400ish, any good?

TonyRPH

12,977 posts

169 months

Saturday 24th July 2010
quotequote all
Probably won't sound as good as the Linn's.

But I guess that depends on whether your priorities lay with sound quality or appearance.

I also seem to recall that the C7's didn't get very good reviews. Ever.

You would be better of with something from the Kef IQ series.


Brummmie

Original Poster:

5,284 posts

222 months

Saturday 24th July 2010
quotequote all
TonyRPH said:
Probably won't sound as good as the Linn's.

But I guess that depends on whether your priorities lay with sound quality or appearance.

I also seem to recall that the C7's didn't get very good reviews. Ever.

You would be better of with something from the Kef IQ series.
Kef IQ's like those too, are they about the best for the money?

bdx

75 posts

190 months

Saturday 24th July 2010
quotequote all
The ultimate test is your own ears.

Go and have a listen.

TonyRPH

12,977 posts

169 months

Saturday 24th July 2010
quotequote all
Brummmie said:
TonyRPH said:
Probably won't sound as good as the Linn's.

But I guess that depends on whether your priorities lay with sound quality or appearance.

I also seem to recall that the C7's didn't get very good reviews. Ever.

You would be better of with something from the Kef IQ series.
Kef IQ's like those too, are they about the best for the money?
As BDX says, it's what suits your ears.

However, my son has a pair of IQ7's (not the SE version) and they compare favourably with Linn Keilidh's that I have.

The IQ series have always been well received in the audio press - particularly the IQ5 / IQ5SE.

I have no affiliation with Richer Sounds - just posted the link for your info.






Edited by TonyRPH on Saturday 24th July 18:05

jackal

11,248 posts

283 months

Monday 2nd August 2010
quotequote all
TonyRPH said:
Probably won't sound as good as the Linn's.
Linn arent known for their speakers ! and the Index weren't a high point either.

How about a pair of Naim IBL on ebay for about 250 quid. Fabulous speaker but don't feed them rubbish IMO.

TonyRPH

12,977 posts

169 months

Monday 2nd August 2010
quotequote all
jackal said:
TonyRPH said:
Probably won't sound as good as the Linn's.
Linn arent known for their speakers ! and the Index weren't a high point either.

How about a pair of Naim IBL on ebay for about 250 quid. Fabulous speaker but don't feed them rubbish IMO.
Of course I know that Linn are better know for their turntable kit (Sondek etc.).

I've owned some older Linn electronics, Pretek / Powtek amps and wasn't impressed either.

But I do have a pair of Keilidh speakers, and they are still pretty good IMHO.

And agree about the Index model - I was mistaking those with the next model up from the Keilidh. (model name forgotten).





sonic_2k_uk

4,007 posts

208 months

Monday 2nd August 2010
quotequote all
Depends what you want them for, linn will have some good second hand options.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...


jackal

11,248 posts

283 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2010
quotequote all
TonyRPH said:
jackal said:
TonyRPH said:
Probably won't sound as good as the Linn's.
Linn arent known for their speakers ! and the Index weren't a high point either.

How about a pair of Naim IBL on ebay for about 250 quid. Fabulous speaker but don't feed them rubbish IMO.
Of course I know that Linn are better know for their turntable kit (Sondek etc.).

I've owned some older Linn electronics, Pretek / Powtek amps and wasn't impressed either.

But I do have a pair of Keilidh speakers, and they are still pretty good IMHO.

And agree about the Index model - I was mistaking those with the next model up from the Keilidh. (model name forgotten).
Kans and isobariks are still incredible speakers. 30-40 year old designs but they do the basics so well, much better than 99% of most modern speakers costing thousands and thousands of pounds.

Other linn speakers... hmmm, not so sure. I heard the £20,000 Kilmax the other day. Shocking things.

Edited by jackal on Tuesday 3rd August 16:37

slomax

6,677 posts

193 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
The only problem I have found with the Kef IQ's is that the it has a double layer cone. The tweeters in the centre of the larger drive unit. This means that the tweeter is permanently moving externally of making its own sounds. This creates the higher notes appear fuzzy and become confused, no matter how good the rest of the system is.

Despite never having heard this particular model, I would be looking at something like the Mordaunt Short Aviano 6 and judging by other models I have listened to, should be worth a look. These can be had for a little more than £400.

There is of course the Tannoy DC4T which have had some fantastic reviews.


TonyRPH

12,977 posts

169 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
slomax said:
The only problem I have found with the Kef IQ's is that the it has a double layer cone. The tweeters in the centre of the larger drive unit. This means that the tweeter is permanently moving externally of making its own sounds.
Wrong.

The tweeter is actually bolted to the magnet, and does not move with the woofer.

This has always been one of Kef's selling points for the Uni Q design - that there is little or no modulation of the higher frequencies, from the movement of the woofer.




Edited by TonyRPH on Wednesday 4th August 15:37

Brummmie

Original Poster:

5,284 posts

222 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
Like the look of those Aviano 6's though, £449 could be a winner, must get a test drive!

slomax

6,677 posts

193 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
TonyRPH said:
slomax said:
The only problem I have found with the Kef IQ's is that the it has a double layer cone. The tweeters in the centre of the larger drive unit. This means that the tweeter is permanently moving externally of making its own sounds.
Wrong.

The tweeter is actually bolted to the magnet, and does not move with the woofer.

This has always been one of Kef's selling points for the Uni Q design - that there is little or no modulation of the higher frequencies, from the movement of the woofer.




Edited by TonyRPH on Wednesday 4th August 15:37
Okay, apologies for the lack of knowledge about the manufacture of the Kef drivers.

I merely presumed that this was the cause of the muddy high frequencies, either way, I wasn't too impressed by the sound quality towards the top end.

TonyRPH

12,977 posts

169 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
slomax said:
TonyRPH said:
slomax said:
The only problem I have found with the Kef IQ's is that the it has a double layer cone. The tweeters in the centre of the larger drive unit. This means that the tweeter is permanently moving externally of making its own sounds.
Wrong.

The tweeter is actually bolted to the magnet, and does not move with the woofer.

This has always been one of Kef's selling points for the Uni Q design - that there is little or no modulation of the higher frequencies, from the movement of the woofer.



Edited by TonyRPH on Wednesday 4th August 15:37
Okay, apologies for the lack of knowledge about the manufacture of the Kef drivers.

I merely presumed that this was the cause of the muddy high frequencies, either way, I wasn't too impressed by the sound quality towards the top end.
My son has a pair of IQ7's and the high frequencies sound pretty good to me.

I have also previously auditioned IQ5's (including the SE version) and they were ok too.

Are you sure you don't have a weak link somewhere else in your system?

P.S. No need to apologise. tongue out

slomax

6,677 posts

193 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
It was a Demo, we didn't buy them, but it was a similar set up to what they were going to go with. Pioneer D9, Naim power supply, pre and power amp. We ended up deciding that compared to the rest of the equipment we had, it made sense to get a more expensive pair of speakers to match. We managed to find a pair of Ex demo PMC GB1, which were an absolute steal, it also meant that they didn't need running in. However, i wouldn't be looking to Kef for a set of mid/high end speakers.

TonyRPH

12,977 posts

169 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
slomax said:
It was a Demo, we didn't buy them, but it was a similar set up to what they were going to go with. Pioneer D9, Naim power supply, pre and power amp. We ended up deciding that compared to the rest of the equipment we had, it made sense to get a more expensive pair of speakers to match. We managed to find a pair of Ex demo PMC GB1, which were an absolute steal, it also meant that they didn't need running in. However, i wouldn't be looking to Kef for a set of mid/high end speakers.
Well the PMC's are in a class of their own there! At least they completely outclass the IQ7's.

And I would have thought that the Kef's weren't good enough for the Naim kit either.