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.
Kef Kube equalizer
Audio junkies: Can anyone explain the function of the Kef Kube equalizer, and tell me whether there is a viable substitute? I just bought a used pair of Kef Reference 103/4 speakers. I need to repair the dual-woofer surrounds, so I haven't heard them yet. I have read glowing reviews,however, but most recommend using the Kef Kube 200 active equalizer to bring out the bass response (without colouration, I'm told). I have submitted an Audiogon want-ad for a Kube 200, but I'm wondering if there is a substitute in the event I can't find one. Are these things simply graphic equalizers? Also, on the diagrams I've seen, the unit appears to just have RCA jacks. If that is true, can you even use one with a mid/high-end A/V receiver? Thanks. -KlipschKing
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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. |
Unsound & Klipschking, The KEF museum claims the 103/4 has useful LF to 50 Hz, so setting the crossover to a sub at 60 Hz might seem prudent, although I doubt 80 Hz is too high for most high quality subs. I've tried both with my 104/2s, and notice little if any difference, so I use 80 Hz in deference to the smaller 102s I use for center and side channels. Unless you're a pipe organ fan as I am, the 104/2s track the fretting of a jazz bass very nicely, but they won't give you that felt more than heard experience when a big pipe is invoked. db |
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