KEF 2005.2 or ????

 

Lee
Unregistered guest
Hello, I'm getting ready to purchase some speakers. Have listened to many speaker combos including the KEF 2005.2 and really like the sound(wife likes the looks). I can get this speaker package for around $1000. However I would like some input on other speaker packages in the same price range. I am just doing a 5.1 system at this time. My room that these will be going into is 15x20 feet and opens up into the kitchen and dinning area, less than ideal for surround sound but I am going to give it a try anyways. As for the reciever I am also undecided but am leaning towards a pioneer vsx-43tx, marantz sr5300, or yamaha rx-v1400. Not really into the NAD line(does sound nice) but dont want to risk the quality issues. Sorry for all the questions and thanks......
 

New member
Username: Edison

Post Number: 63
Registered: 12-2003
I am getting this new digital receiver that is getting good reviews - panasonic sa-xr45 (only $300 shipped). It sounds so clean and smooth! Sounds like an upscale piece than an entry level one, despite it's affordable quality.

Read what people are saying about it, or better yet, hear one at Beatbuy if you are near one (they have sa-xr25 which doesn't sound as good but you can get the idea). Buttom of page15 of this sight will give you an idea of the buzz it's creating :
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/viewtopic.php?t=4991&highlight=saxr45&sid=2be 2804893305d0ad6c0fad29afcf599

---------------------------------------------

For speakers, Kef is good company - should be alright for only a grand. Others I like are:

Energy (can get them at goodguys web page)
Klipsch
Athena
Paradigm
Monitor Audio

Kefs are just as good as these - just a matter of taste. If your wife gave the nod, than you already found a good speaker value.

Are you a Korean by the way (or an English).
 

New member
Username: Edison

Post Number: 64
Registered: 12-2003
You can get the panasonic sa-xr45 here:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/handr-deals/30044.html

It looks nice too - slim and small to save space.
 

Lee
Unregistered guest
James, thanks for the input. I will have to take a look at the panasonic. Oh yeah, not Korean just or average English/American. Why was my grammer that bad?
 

New member
Username: Hawk

Post Number: 49
Registered: 12-2003
Lee:

If you get the KEFs, you will need some serious power as those beuatiful little guys need a lot of juice to do their job right. I don't really believe the receivers you list are up to the job--perhaps the Pioneer Elite, but I suspect you would need a tx45 to get the requisite power, especially for your room. That is a very good sized room (do you have a vaulted ceiling?) and the KEFs are going to labor to fill it. It is something to consider if you have demo'ed them in a much smaller room at the dealer. The KEFs can get lost in a large room without adequate power. Since you are afraid of quality issues with NAD, check out an H/K 525, which are being closed out for about the same amount of money as the Marantz 5300.

As far as another speaker to consider, I looked at the KEFs and also found another speaker set that is similar in size, yet is not as power hungry. Look at the JMlabs Sib/Cub system. Five two way speakers with a 5" mid/woofer (larger than the KEF 4") and a 3/4" dome tweeter (again, larger than the KEF 1/2"), together with an 8" subwoofer. It sounds very nice, although it is a bit brighter sounding than the KEF, making the Yamaha 1400 unsuitable.

Another couple of other good candidates in a small satellite system are the Aperion Audio Intimus system and the Athena Point 5 system. Here is the link for the Aperions, which have won a number of awards:

http://www.aperionaudio.com/

and here is a description of the Athena system:

http://audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=ATHP5SYS&product_name=Point% 205%20Complete%20Home%20Theater%20System%20-%20Gloss%20Black

Either of these systems would be a great match for the Marantz 5300 receiver or the Pioneer Elite 43.

I hope this is of some help to you.

Merry Christmas!
 

New member
Username: Edison

Post Number: 72
Registered: 12-2003
Atheana is pretty nice too - If you live near a Bestbuy, you can hear them. They have good prices on them too.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?CategoryID=cat03049&id=1051806302315&sku Id=5335979&type=product&ref=05&loc=01

I would add a sony sub to this set up:

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=sonsawm200&store=&catid=&AID=268111 4&PID=1358132

For $500, you can have the Athenas.

Your grammer was fine, as far as I can see - just the last name suggested it.

After you get all the components, hook them up with cables from here - the upgrade will reward. IXOS 6003 speaker wire is an affordable good one. Their gamma RCA cables are good too.

http://www.accessories4less.com/Amazing/index.asp?CartId=1144-EVEREST-4577AVWPY3 3&FCat=1&FSCat=++++++42
 

Lee
Unregistered guest
Thanks for the reply. Another thought, might I be better off to just spend the $1000 on a pair of front speakers say like the KEF QC series or similar and then work from there for my surround speakers? Reason for thinking this is by the time I get the whole system bought I should have my TV room finished in the basement fo my house. Any thought on this?
Thanks
 

New member
Username: Edison

Post Number: 83
Registered: 12-2003
It's good to match the quality between your components. For the receivers you are considering, that might be over kill - spending 4 times as much on speakers.

If you want to build it higher level, you want to get a better receiver as well - like the outlaw combo for $1598. As you can see, yo would have to spend alot more to get some quality upgrade.

These sound fine to me - not as loud but much better than a TV speaker, and will make you feel like you are at a theater. Pretty good for music too.

If you want to go with better speakers, let me suggest to you these - axiom. They sell direct to you so better quality for the price. They got great reviews. Read the reviews here:

http://www.axiomaudio.com/

This place has good prices:

http://www.vertigoonline.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

M3ti or M22 - front
AQQES - back
AVCCS - center
AES - sub

All for only a little more than $800.

This is the best speaker I know at the price, and will sound comparable (almost as good) to the QC series, for a fraction of the price. You will like them.

With the panasonic sa-xr45, you can have a decent sound for not so much money. The outlaw will give you more power, but you will be spending several folds to get not that much more as the difference in price suggest - law of diminishing return as you go upscale.

I would start with a $1100 system - this will sound much better than most of the all in one surround combos at your typical electric store, for not much more.

Hope this helps... You probably will like the set up.

The source is important - get a decent dvd player like upscale Denon. If you spend more to get this one, even you upgrade other compnents, you can keep this - and will give you better pciture.

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=158603
 

New member
Username: Hawk

Post Number: 57
Registered: 12-2003
Lee:

One of the other frequent posters on this board, John A., has exactly that type of system I believe. I know he has KEFs and I believe he uses a pair of the KEF satellites as his rear speakers. Certainly, the only reason to use the 2005.2 system is for space saving considerations or a small room. However, they simply cannot move that much air, so they are not going to sound as convincing as larger KEF speakers. Your room size would suggest that a larger speaker would sound better.

I have frequently suggested that a person consider buying better speakers for the three front positions and buying the rears and sub later on. You will end up with a higher quality system that I believe will be more satisfying in the long run.

Good luck.
 

marshster
Unregistered guest
I just purchased a Marantz 7400 and Kef 2005.2 speakers for a room 12x18. I have 2 doorways, one recessed on either side of my TV. This would be the optimal place to position the speakers. Will the Kef 2005.2 be right for this room. Can anyone suggest another alternative either sub sat or small bookshelf. My price range for speakers including a subwoofer is Approx $1500
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