Kef Kube equalizer

Hi Unsound

Thank you for the detailed response and the suggestions. I've reached out to KEF America to see what they say regarding the KUBE and other alternatives for the 103/3s. I'm also looking for older KEF KUBE EQs and those other manufacturers you mention. I think though with my KEF speakers there was a specific KUBE EQ that was made exactly for it. I saw a KEF KUBE for a 102/2 as well as a KEF KUBE 200 but I don't think those will work with my speakers.

I was hoping an older cheaper Hafler EQ I found locally or an SAE Mark 1 XB could do the job but to get optimum sound quality from the 103/3s I think I have to set my sights higher.

Eldartford

Thanks for chiming in as well. I had seen the DEQ2496 used before in other applications but didn't think it would work for my KEF 103/3 speakers. I'll keep an eye out for one used. New it is over $300 and bit over what I had wanted to spend. I read in another thread I may be able to handle the bass issues I'm having my getting a sub and crossing it over where the 103/3s roll off. The thing is that I don't know what the exact roll off point is on the 103/3s.

Well again thank you both and I have some thinking and searching to do. The help is appreciated.

Jedinite24... I have a couple of Bose 901s in my swimming pool room, where they perform far above what audiophiles would expect. I use a Behringer DEQ2496 instead of the Bose equalizer that came with the speakers and I think it sounds much better. The equalization curve (which includes room effects (as well as the speaker characteristics) is really extreme... much more than what your KEFs would need.

I have a pair of KEF 104.2s, four 102.2s, and four 102s. I don't use my KUBEs with any of them. Instead, I use two Velodyne HGS-15s with the 104.2s and 102s (2.1 & 5.1) and an HGS-10 with the stacked 102.2s (2.1). Cross over to the sub at 80 Hz and don't worry about the roll-off frequency. Crossing over at a higher frequency relieves your amp and speakers of LF duty, leaving it to the sub. I think you'll find that your mains sound better without LF duty, more open with a greater sense of air and transparency.

db

Crossing over to subs at a higher frequency will certainly work. Yes, relieving the lower frequencies from the mains will relieve your main amps and speakers from some stress, but those frequencies were designed to be covered by the mains with the KUBE, and most subs work better when not asked to go too high. You'd be tossing away some of what the KEF's were designed to do, and stretching what the sub was intended to do. Furthermore, despite claims to the contrary, unless your running more than one sub, I think you'll have better upper bass sound coming from your stereo mains than from a single sub.

Hi DB

Thanks for chiming in too. The subwoofer solution that I mention in my post above turns out came from a thread years ago here in the forum that you contributed too. I couldn't post to that thread because it was preserved for archival purproses.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl_u?cspkr&1269575571&&&&&/KEF-103-3-KUBE-substitution

Eldartford and Unsound

Thank you both again. I have a lot to think about. Do I go with the DEQ2496 or do I get subs and not have the KEF 103/3s work to their full potential? That and the extra equipment I would have to bring into my set-up where the 103/3s will be. 2 subs are going to take up space that I'm beginning to run out of. I'm probably going to try the EQ first and then if not MAYBE a larger single sub. I'm hoping it can do the job of 2. This is for my secondary set-up which I do mostly nearfield listening.