Boomzilla's Journey (ongoing)
Feb 22, 2017 14:11:59 GMT -5
thompson12, copperpipe, and 1 more like this
Post by Boomzilla on Feb 22, 2017 14:11:59 GMT -5
Several changes lately. The Tekton Pendragons are second in the speaker pecking order now at chez boom. They were ousted by (surprise, surprise), the diminutive KDF LS50s. Now to play in the big room, the KEFs do need the subwoofers (but barely). And, needless to say, the KEFs can't match the Pendragons on large-scale, high-volume music. The KEFs are also far more picky about back-wall-distance, toe-in, and width. Get them wrong, and ugh! But at their best, they're surprising.
So far, I've heard them only with the $8K Audio Research Corporation VT80 and with the Emotiva PT-100/Crown PSE-2 combos, but their imaging is the best I've heard in my room. I have yet to try the speakers with my remaining closetful of amplifiers (including the Vacuum Tube Audio ST-120, the Sherwood stereo receiver, and the Heathkit 12-watt monoblocks). But I'm eager to hear what they can do.
Am I surprised by the KEF's takeover? I am. The Pendragons are absolutely no slouches as speakers. They do it all, and well. The Pendragon's bass is superior to the KEFs as is the dynamic capability (particularly at high volumes). The Pendragons are also significantly more sensitive. But the Pendragons' "shortcoming," (and it isn't really much of one) is the midrange. I never noticed any problem in the midrange until I heard the KEFs. The KEFs "unpack the midrange" with detail, bloom, and imaging that the Pendragons just can't match. And even then, it isn't a big difference.
I could totally understand many (most?) preferring the Pendragons, depending on your listening style. Like loud pop or even power symphonic music? The Pendragons are for you. Is your room huge or do you consistently listen at higher volumes? The Pendragons are better. Like to USE all that power you purchased from your testosterone-fueled amps? You'll be at home with the Pendragons.
But if you're an imaging freak, have a smaller room, listen softly, and/or prefer acoustic music, the KEFs are worth listening to. I've heard only two speakers ever that had the KEF's midrange. One was the Thiel 1.5 / 1.6 / 1.7 series of floor-standing two-ways. The other was the Avalon Symbol - again, a floor-standing two-way. None of those speakers are made anymore, so of the current market, the LS-50s are the best small monitors I've heard. There may well be plenty of equivalent speakers on the market, but I've not heard them. I have listened to B&Ws, to Sonus-Fabers, and to Martin Logans at the local Magnolia, but none (to me) sounded as good as the KEFs.
I'll probably keep both the Pendragons and the KEFs, swapping them out on a periodic basis for variety. But for those who've not heard the LS-50s, consider them endorsed!
Boomzilla
So far, I've heard them only with the $8K Audio Research Corporation VT80 and with the Emotiva PT-100/Crown PSE-2 combos, but their imaging is the best I've heard in my room. I have yet to try the speakers with my remaining closetful of amplifiers (including the Vacuum Tube Audio ST-120, the Sherwood stereo receiver, and the Heathkit 12-watt monoblocks). But I'm eager to hear what they can do.
Am I surprised by the KEF's takeover? I am. The Pendragons are absolutely no slouches as speakers. They do it all, and well. The Pendragon's bass is superior to the KEFs as is the dynamic capability (particularly at high volumes). The Pendragons are also significantly more sensitive. But the Pendragons' "shortcoming," (and it isn't really much of one) is the midrange. I never noticed any problem in the midrange until I heard the KEFs. The KEFs "unpack the midrange" with detail, bloom, and imaging that the Pendragons just can't match. And even then, it isn't a big difference.
I could totally understand many (most?) preferring the Pendragons, depending on your listening style. Like loud pop or even power symphonic music? The Pendragons are for you. Is your room huge or do you consistently listen at higher volumes? The Pendragons are better. Like to USE all that power you purchased from your testosterone-fueled amps? You'll be at home with the Pendragons.
But if you're an imaging freak, have a smaller room, listen softly, and/or prefer acoustic music, the KEFs are worth listening to. I've heard only two speakers ever that had the KEF's midrange. One was the Thiel 1.5 / 1.6 / 1.7 series of floor-standing two-ways. The other was the Avalon Symbol - again, a floor-standing two-way. None of those speakers are made anymore, so of the current market, the LS-50s are the best small monitors I've heard. There may well be plenty of equivalent speakers on the market, but I've not heard them. I have listened to B&Ws, to Sonus-Fabers, and to Martin Logans at the local Magnolia, but none (to me) sounded as good as the KEFs.
I'll probably keep both the Pendragons and the KEFs, swapping them out on a periodic basis for variety. But for those who've not heard the LS-50s, consider them endorsed!
Boomzilla