Conference hips::uk_audioo

    
    
    I understand (and sympathize with) exactly how you feel.  I've been
    seriously listening to systems, with an intent to buy, for about
    a month now and had been following the traditional (British) principle
    of front-end first and speakers last - until I heard the 104's.
    They blew me away.  I will have them and everything else will have
    to work with them.  The only speaker I've heard that comes anywhere
    close is a well positioned Isobarik (although I've not plucked-up
    courage to audition the 107's), but already we've doubled the price.
    I'd be interested to know what you are planning to drive them with
    since although they are fairly efficient at 92dB/W @1M the 4 ohm
    load is still fairly current greedy.  I contacted Musical Fidelity
    when I decided on the 104's,as my favorite amplifer until then was
    (were) the MA50 class A 50W monoblocs, and they seemed distinctly
    dubious as to the amps capability of supplying sufficient current.

    
    I've had a pair of 104s for some time now. First powered by a Yamaha
    AX-700U and now an Adcom GFA545, either amp would power the 104s
    to very high SPLs without any sign of strain. The Adcom, however,
    seems to maintain a better low end and is a little less bright at
    'lounge levels'. My main listening is acoustic jazz and I feel very
    few speakers that I've heard approach the 104s in their ability
    to reproduce this music with a complete sense of realism.
    
    ENJOY
    bb    

    I've owned a pair of 104's for 18 months.  They are very enjoyable.
    If you are interested in hearing the extreme low end from these
    speakers, I would recommend auditioning them with the appropriate
    KUBE (KEF's User-variable Bass Equalizer).  This unit will extend
    the low end response, but it will also place additional demands
    on the power supplies of your power amp.
    
    Great sounding speakers!
    

    Hi again
    
    I've ordered the boxes already, but still waiting to get them at
    home (walnut colour not at the dealer site).
    I went to my dealer with the HK655Vxi in mind to drive them, but
    he pushed me to try an Onkyo 8190 (100w per) and it showed a more
    natural and deep bass, and seemed to be less coarse, I'd say more
    sweet than HK. I finally took it home. This amp has a quite big
    input transformer, two good enough capacitors and (this is a propietary
    diff) an in-phase transformer to get the bass on phase signal.
    I tested it some time and it seemed to me to have power enough to
    drive such 104's with no trouble though they demand a good current.
    Every circuit is bypassed to the power amp section if you defeat
    the knobs. I'd prefer a british one, (audiophile oriented devices),
    but they are less versatile, and even lacks some fundamental things
    (Cambridge Audio P/C75 have no phones socket, Cyrus II from Mission
    doesn't allow to disconnect speakers when listening to the phones,
    and has no output for the video input, and I have a Hi-Fi Sony
    used as a quality and cheap music/hour tapedeck, MF have no
    "independent record selector" to choose a different source to tape
    and to listen to, etc).
    I know this Onkyo amp is not at the heigh of the speakers, but ...
    I'll change it in some years if something special and not too expensive
    comes to the Hi-Fi arena.
    The Adcom are from U.S. and costing double here. The British apparel
    will become cheaper for me after 1992 (CEE common taxes, no economic
    borders, etc), and then I'll come back again to study the market.
    (I'm even a current subscriber of Hi-Fi Choice Mag.)
    O.K. Thanks for your inputs
    Jose

    re.4-->                                          The British apparel
    will become cheaper for me after 1992 (CEE common taxes, no economic
    borders, etc), and then I'll come back again to study the market.
    
    Though British apparel will be cheaper too... I meant appliance,
    of course, or apparatus.
    I think I should carry my pocket dictionary in every moment, but
    sometimes I'm have no doubt till is too late. Sorry about that.
    Jose