Help Identifying Vintage KEF Speakers


Hi. I’m new to the forum and am hoping someone can help or at least point me in the right direction.

I lost a pair of 1960s/70s KEF speakers in a fire recenlty and need to make a claim on my insurance, but don’t know which model they were. However, If I saw the back of the speakers, am pretty sure I’d be able to identify them.

Having looked at the photos on KEF’s online archive (I know the grilles covered 100% of the front of the speaker), I’ve narrowed it down to the following:

Cresta (1970s)
Chorale
Celeste
Cadenza
Duette
Cantor
Coda

 

I’m pretty sure the speakers were from the 1960s, but it is just possible early 1970s

The rear panel of the speakers was not made of the same wood as the sides. For some reason, I though chipboard, but am not sure KEF would have used it. I do remember it had a ’mottled’ pattern to it. There was also a paper label.

The speakers were possibly bi-wireable and the sockets/connectors were in the centre on the horizontal axis and possibly in the centre or above centre on the vertical axis.These were in a round cut out with a rounded edge and recessed into a black material with a switch, possibly to change the impedance (?) value.

If anyone is able to help (especially with a photo), I’d be extremely grateful.

 

 

sidneyr

Goggle KEF speaker museum. KEF has a great resource for thier past conceptions. 

Thanks.I should have said I've been through their archive, but they only show the fronts and sometimes inside of their speakers.

Hello sidneyr.  Is the dealer you bought them from still in business? They may have a detailed reord of the sale. Other long term KEF dealers may be able to help. The insurance company may not need more than the spproximate $$ you bought them for. They are just going to depreciate that figure anyway. Good Luck!

You should be able to narrow it down quickly if you ever pulled the grills off.  KEF drivers are specified by type & approximate diameter in mm (25.4mm/inch).  A B200 is an 8" bass driver, a B110 a bit over 4".  This also works for the T27 1" tweeter and the T15 1/2" tweeter.  The oddball B139 is the legendary oval 13" x 9" woofer; the BD139 is the passive radiator version.

If not, try to remember the rough box dimensions.  A speaker using a 4" woofer will be noticeably smaller than the one with an 8" woofer & 13"x9" drone.  If you can narrow it down to 2 or 3 options, I'd assume you had the most expensive ones.