The "New England Sound" ........

[E-Stat]

Well then I guess the $10 I spent on the KLH was a good choice.
It was either them or a $20,000 pair of Kef's.............

I'll see that and raise you, er lower you! I was given a pair of very similar KLH 20s by an "inmate" at another forum who lives in the same town as I. I also have a double pair of New Advents that I use in my garage system. Long live the New England sound!

rw

[thekid]

I'll see that and raise you, er lower you! I was given a pair of very similar KLH 20s by an "inmate" at another forum who lives in the same town as I. I also have a double pair of New Advents that I use in my garage system. Long live the New England sound!

rw

E- You win..... I can't go lower than free!
I was just listening to Neil Young "Harvest" on the 17's and they were awesome!

[Styx]

Another member of the East Coast Posse here. I got a pair of EPI Magnus CD55's from a buddy that purchased them in '85. They sat in storage, boxed up for years. He gave them as a gift to me about 4yrs ago.....very good friend I must say. The surrounds on the woofers were shot so I bought a set of woofers from Humanspeakers. Very good quality replacements.....a rather odd fellow though. They sound as good as I remember.

[thekid]

Styx- Very nice speaker there!
I am used to associating EPI with the "fried egg" tweeter. How would you say your Magnus do with the highs vs. older EPI's?

[Auricauricle]

Very unusual, interesting looking speaker.....The "brilliance" and "presence" controls are quite remarkable.

In a similar vein, I was wondering: A local person is interested in selling a pair of KEF 304.1's for about $250.00. From his report, these were reference speakers that were rather expensive when they were released in or around 1981. Does anyone know anything about 'em?

[Styx]

Styx- Very nice speaker there!
I am used to associating EPI with the "fried egg" tweeter. How would you say your Magnus do with the highs vs. older EPI's?

The only older EPI's I've heard were the 150's many many years ago so it's hard to comment on the differences. As for the CD 55's they're bright and clear. No fried egg here.

[Styx]

Very unusual, interesting looking speaker.....The "brilliance" and "presence" controls are quite remarkable.

In a similar vein, I was wondering: A local person is interested in selling a pair of KEF 304.1's for about $250.00. From his report, these were reference speakers that were rather expensive when they were released in or around 1981. Does anyone know anything about 'em?

Don't know anything about those speakers....but I did find this:

http://www.kef.com/kefamerica/history/1970/model304.asp

[Auricauricle]

Thanks. Been there.

Welcome to the Looney Bin, BTW. Where you hailing from?

[Styx]

Southern Maryland.......about 40 miles south of DC.

[Auricauricle]

Cool! Well, welcome and hope you enjoy it hear with the rest of us meatballs....

[thekid]

Southern Maryland.......about 40 miles south of DC.

Welcome aboard.
I am familiar with the St.Mary's-La plata area.
I used to work in the area on occasion a few years back.

[Styx]

II've been working in Leonardtown Md (St. Mary's) for the last 3 years. My 1 1/2 hrs commute to DC was cut to 25 mins.......what a quality of life change. You wouldn't recognize Waldorf, La Plata (Charles County) or Lexington Park (St. Mary's County) now.....they're getting like Northern Virginia. I guess change is inevitable.

[bobsticks]

Hey Styx...sticks here. Welcome aboard, eh and nice gears. Got some nice vintage feelies going on there and I'm bettin' some great sounds. And, you're right about the commute thing. I've recently gone from 17 minutes to 40-45 and it does negatively impact quality of life.

Auri, I can't claim to have heard that particular model but that may be a bit steep. I think if you shopped around on e-bay you kind find something newer and up a line or two for the same kind of money.
I'm pretty vocal about my love for KEF products. I've got the Q7 that I use in my computer set-up and they're great, all-purpose little speakers. I would imagine you could find those or their baby brothers for around the same price and save yourself a decade or so of wear and tear.

Peace

---sticks

[Auricauricle]

Thanks for the word, 'Sticks, and nice to "read" from ya!

You probably know I'm listening to a keen pair of Polks, now, and thought the KEF might signal a solid upgrade without breaking the bank. As far as something more up to date, well, I'm gonna hafta put that on hold until I start practice.

Still, I'll be checking the KEFs out tomorrow or so and if y'all want to know my thoughts about 'em, I'll post accordingly....

[Styx]

Hey Styx...sticks here. Welcome aboard, eh and nice gears. Got some nice vintage feelies going on there and I'm bettin' some great sounds.

---sticks

Thanks. Vintage more out of necessity than choice.

[Auricauricle]

Gave a listen to the KEF's this morning. Here are a few thoughts.....

At 14 kg per speaker, the unassuming dimensions 680 x280 x 315 mm of the KEF 304’s footprint which has been described as “modest” (http://www.kef.com/kefamerica/ history/1970/model304.asp), belied my first appraisal of the loudspeaker. To be honest, this was a dismissive mistake that reminded me very quickly of the adage about big things in little packages (conjure up photo of atomic bomb here).

The speakers were set up in a corner of a modest yet cozy living room. The electronics consisted of consumer products that were neither overtly showy nor cheap: a solid Yammy receiver driving a non-nonsense Toshiba DVD player. Audition started with a female vocalist who was described as yet another very talented musician who hadn’t made it to the airwaves in a performance that simply floored me in the first minute. The 304’s produce 107 dB SPL, an incredible amount of energy that was accentuated by a prodigious amount of bass that was clean, clean, clean. Further surprises revealed themselves with a playing of Tom Waites’ I Wish I was in New Orleans, from My Funny Valentine. Waites’ voice was beautifully reproduced by the speakers, which did not stray from their task or inch away from any detail. I detected a slightly sibilant quality in Waites’ voice, something that would probably escape my notice on a lesser speaker and kicked myself for not being more familiar with this album. Waites is a strong pianist, and on the KEF’s not only were individual notes heard but also sonorous resonance of the instrument, reminding me of the muscular performances of Liszt and Rachmaninov.

Imaging was equally impressive with each instrument assertively occupying his side of the microphone. Perhaps this last remark says more about the receiver or the CD player, but on the KEF’s musicians voices and the placement of their instruments were rock steady. The lower end of the sonics was massive, and while the 304’s were perched atop stands to remove interference with the floor, they produced heaviness that bloomed amazingly well. Bass drum and guitars resounded in lightning fast time and were played firmly and professionally. Mid range was initially somewhat bright, but clocking back the treble to 1130 or so was translated quite nicely, leading me to think that the speakers were tube-ready and had me wishing I still had my HK Citation 5. Highs were equally smooth, not at all harsh or grating, and the subharmonics that seemed to occupy this domain rang out with a fluidity that nearly made me weep.

In my years of listening to loudspeakers--and I have listened to many--there were a few could be rightfully described as really and truly incredible. Such loudspeakers remind me why I took up this strange hobby in the first place, for they transcend casual listening into an active engagement that brings me ever closer to that intellectual and visceral connection that is, so oftentimes, so elusive.

[thekid]

Auricauricle

Good review-Sounds like you got some keepers there.
KEF is definitely one of the brands I have never seen in the thrift aisles or even on CL.

[Auricauricle]

Thank you for the compliment, Kid:

Although I fell in love with the speakers, I told the fellow who was selling them that doing so would be a mistake that would be sorely regretted, if he did so at this time. The seller, a local contractor and frustrated author, has fallen upon hard times and was putting speakers up as an act of desparation---a situation that I could not, in good conscience, take advantage of. This guy clearly loves music, and has an excellent ear and a passion for form--it would be like taking away a limb or a vital organ.

Still, we agreed that when things get better economically, he said he would give me first dibs....

[bobsticks]

Nice review, my man. Clearly you heard some of the attributes that far too few on this side of the pond will get to. It really is a shame that their marketing scheme doesn't include a greater focus on the States. There's several KEF models that are competitive for "Best for the Bucks" in their respective categories.

--sticks

[Styx]

Thank you for the compliment, Kid:

Although I fell in love with the speakers, I told the fellow who was selling them that doing so would be a mistake that would be sorely regretted, if he did so at this time. The seller, a local contractor and frustrated author, has fallen upon hard times and was putting speakers up as an act of desparation---a situation that I could not, in good conscience, take advantage of. This guy clearly loves music, and has an excellent ear and a passion for form--it would be like taking away a limb or a vital organ.

Still, we agreed that when things get better economically, he said he would give me first dibs....

Class act.......

[Auricauricle]

I agree with you, 'Sticks. These speakers reawakened a passion that I have not experienced for quite some time.

And thanks, Styx.

[thekid]

I refoamed the Genesis 10's and hooked them up today. I A/B them with my Genesis I's which seem to have the same woofer/tweeter combo and I can't tell them apart. Excellent highs and solid bass! The strings on Vivaldi's Four Seasons really sing and the drums are quick and tight on my Michael Buble' CD. I have actually stacked the Genesis 1's on the 10's and seems to work pretty well.

Only problem at this point is that the 1's have their original beige cloth and the 10's have black. The cabinets for both of them are in excellent condition with no scratches or gouges so new cloth fronts would really complete them. I have heard people have used "regular cloth" for speakers grills any reason why I could not find something at a local fabric store that will work? I am thinking of staying with beige since the KLH 17's next to these have their original beige covered grills. I could probalby do all 3 for not too much coin.

[Feanor]

....

Only problem at this point is that the 1's have their original beige cloth and the 10's have black. The cabinets for both of them are in excellent condition with no scratches or gouges so new cloth fronts would really complete them. I have heard people have used "regular cloth" for speakers grills any reason why I could not find something at a local fabric store that will work? I am thinking of staying with beige since the KLH 17's next to these have their original beige covered grills. I could probalby do all 3 for not too much coin.

Purpose specific grill cloth is easy enough to find and not particularly expensive. For example, check out Parts Express' selection.

[thekid]

Purpose specific grill cloth is easy enough to find and not particularly expensive. For example, check out Parts Express' selection.

Thanks for the link but they want like $16 a yard and i am thinking I could get it for around a 1/3 of that price. The weave of the fabric on the older Genesis and KLH seems pretty think almost like burlap so I'm think I should be able to find it out there. Cloth is cloth right??

[Auricauricle]

Way to go Kid!

Why don't you pop by a coffee shop and see if they have any of the burlap bags that they ship coffee beans in? You'll get the bonus of music that smells good, too!