Any Thoughts on KEF's new IQ line?


I am planning to buy a pair of KEF IQ9's , but my decision is based solely on the many rave reviews and awards that these loudspeakers received.

I would like to know the opinion of people who have actually listened to the IQ9's (or to another model of the series). How do you rate these speakers? Are they truly as good as Hi-Fi Choice and What Hi-Fi? said they are?
figueiredops
Yes they are good.
If you are going to do surround sound I would stay away or at least rethink.
The center channel and surround speakers that "match" the iQ9 are a significant step down from last years version.
However, three iQ3's would work nicely as center/SL/SR.

Discount all reveiws. Audition them. They may not be to your liking, may not sound good with your equipment, or may not sound good in your room.

Good luck!
Before you buy a KEF iQ speaker, look at the cabinet up close, or find out whether it is real wood veneer or simulated wood veneer. I bought the KEF Q2ds (the dipole surround from the previous Q series), which looked good in the photos, but up close I discovered that the cabinet finish is simulated wood. You can see the halftone dots on the plastic laminate. Very disappointing! They do sound good however.
All of the iQ line and older Q line are faux wood veneers.
At that price I would question the guts if it had real wood veneer.
From 3ft or more you would be hard pressed to tell that the veneer aint real.
If you want something real to gripe about it would be the smaller midwoofers on the new center and surround speakers as well as wide variations in efficency.

The new stuf does offer one more option for veneer; wallnut.

The iQ7 and iQ9 are quite good. Both are improvements over last years models.
Can someone comment on the sound staging? Just how superior (if at all) is the Uni-Q driver at producing a deep sound stage in comparison to more conventional driver arrays?

I'm trying to decide between the KEF IQ9 and the Wharfedale Opus 1. Any advice would be helpful. My amp is an NAD C372 if this makes any difference.

Tony