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Kef 104.2 Speakers. Suggestions Discussion Forum

KEF 104/2 SPEAKER OWNERS.

Lets have a tips and suggestions forum on how to improve these wonderful speakers.

Topics could include speaker placement, speaker tweeks, best speaker cables (interconnects, power cords etc), best amps (receivers, cd players etc), best compatible center and rear surround speakers, care and maintence, repair shops and more.

Here is a review (see below) that I found on the web concerning KEF 104/2 Speakers.

In over 10 years of doing high end audio reviews, enjoythemusic.com has given out a total of 59 awards for product excellence. The KEF 104/2's were among them. Out of those 59 awards, only 5 were to speakers and that includes speakers in the $10,000+ catagory. The editor has a section he calls "my personal list of products that deserve to be heralded as something truly special" and the KEF 104/2 speakers are included.

The Review summary: Back in the 1980's KEF was a wonderfully British company making their own drivers with a top-notch team. While their top range model was the 107 that produced deeper bass (down to 20Hz), after careful auditioning the KEF 104/2 was the obvious winner. KEF's 104 model saw various versions and the 104/2 was the final result of the product's evolution. This relatively high sensitivity loudspeaker, at 92dB/W/m at 4 ohms, produced frequencies from 55Hz to 20kHz (+-2dB) with five drivers. The tweeter is KEF's T33 25mm (1") silk dome with slight horn loading. It was flanked above and below by the B110 100mm (5") doped Bextrene midrange cone in a D'Appolito technique. Bass was produced by a pair of coupled cavity B200 200mm (8") paper cone drivers with their center magnets connected by a metal pole.

The midrange/tweeter/tweeter panel (weighting about 25 lbs) is completely removable from the woofer cabinet (at nearly 45 lbs) and both loudspeaker cabinets are very rigid. Each midrange is enclosed in its own sealed section to reduce any interaction while the tweeter is press fit to the cabinet via a rear screw. The internal woofers' output exits via a flanged port the same size as the midrange units. And thus the brilliance! The tricks up the 104/2; proverbial sleeve is that the sound wave of the midrange and the bass drivers is the same size, plus add in the point source-like output from the midrange/tweeter/midrange D'Appolito configuration.

As for sound, the highs are smooth and midrange is very well presented. Bass down to about 50Hz is excellent and tuneful. Do not use the KEF Kube, an external box said to enhance bass down to lower frequencies, as this clouds the sound. If you need lots of bass below 50Hz get a separate subwoofer. The soundscape thrown by the pair of 104/2 is remarkable! When present, not only is the sound totally enveloping, but you get height information too.
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I welcome and look forward to your input.
buyfast1
buyfast1 OP
18 posts
 
QUESTION TO KEF 104/2 OWNERS:

The Kef 104/2 speaker owner's manual discusses how to determine the correct polarity. Has anyone done this?

This is what the manual says: Correct polarity is vital to the proper operation of the system. Once you have made the connections described above (red and black speaker cable connections) you can check the polarity in the following manner. Place the two loudspeakers close together facing each other (2'-3" apart). Play a recording which has plenty of deep bass such as an organ solo, operating both speakers simultaneously with the amplifier switched to "mono". Repeat the test after changing over the connections on one loudspeaker. Correct polarity is indicated by firm, full bass. When polarity is incorrect, the bass will be noticably much weaker. Keep the speakers facing each other and, after establishing correct polarity as above, again reverse the connection on one loudspeaker. Using the same piece of music and keeping the signal in "mono", rotate the balance control on your amplifier on either side of "center". You will hear a point at which the signal almost disappears. At this point the output from both loudspeakers is the same. In an ideal symmetrical listening set-up this should be the setting adopted, (don't forget to corect the polarity change you have just made!). You may need to use the balance control to compensate for an "off center" listening postion, or asymmetrical speaker positions within the room. Model 104/2 imaging capabilities are outstanding and it is worthwhile spending some time in achieving the correct balance between the two speakers from your normal listening postion.
buyfast1 OP
18 posts
 
I found this information on the web (but it is not verified). Can any one verify?:

This relatively high sensitivity loudspeaker, at 92dB/W/m at 4 ohms, produced frequencies from 55Hz to 20kHz (+-2dB) with five drivers. The tweeter is KEF's T33 25mm (1") silk dome with slight horn loading. It was flanked above and below by the B110 100mm (5") doped Bextrene midrange cone in a D'Appolito technique. Bass was produced by a pair of coupled cavity B200 200mm (8") paper cone drivers with their center magnets connected by a metal pole.
buyfast1 OP
18 posts
 
Does any one know how to determine the age of the Kef 104.2 speakers based on the the serial numbers or some other method?

buyfast1 OP
18 posts
 
What is the best location arrangement (distance from side/rear walls, amount of toe in) for the Kef 104.2 speakers?

What is the best listener's position when facing the Kef 104.2 speakers? (e.g. speakers directed at the listener's ears, or listener positioned behind the speakers sound wave crossover, etc.)
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,686 posts
 
What is the best location arrangement (distance from side/rear walls, amount of toe in) for the Kef 104.2 speakers?

What is the best listener's position when facing the Kef 104.2 speakers? (e.g. speakers directed at the listener's ears, or listener positioned behind the speakers sound wave crossover, etc.)

There is no one "best" way to position any speaker.There are too many variables involved.Only you can determine what sounds "best" to you.Experiment with some different placements and find what sounds "best" to you.
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