Received my KEF KHT 3005 Speakers & Subwoofer this week, what a fabulous modern package. The way it came was as good as I've ever seen, each one in a real strong box with the speakers and the sub in contoured foam with a sock around each.

The speakers are in jet black and 2 pac (they can be had in grey too), are heavy and extremely well made. The speaker input poles are a tad finicky to get the cables in but once done, there forever. The sub is large and round and packs a wallop, real nice mid mellow sound with no thumping. The other 5 speakers are music to the ears and once run in for 90 hours they (KEF) say, should be even better.

One could say the WAF is up there with the best, so if looking for something small and very, very stylish to suit your home (rather than those ugly boxes IMO), your partner should be easy to agree as to buying them.

I can see why these KEF'S have won so many international awards in 2006/2007.

my pics link:

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=53853

What users say..

http://reviews.cnet.com/surround-speaker-s...91.html?tag=sub

They do look good. I notice the US price on cnet is around the $1500 mark. What is the street price here in Oz?

In OZ RRP is $2599 can buy around $2K pm me if your interested.

Interested to know where is the best price for the new model of these KFT3005SE in Australia, if they are available...

thx

Very modern looking. Look the goods.

I just struggle to imagine these sounding as good as bigger speakers.

Maybe it's the bose coming out of me I may have to get out and give them a chance one day!

They don't sound as good as big speakers most would say, but then again few have never heard them or would want to believe how fantastic they sound, to my ears they are wonderful. And I hate those ugly boxes as well. Also the amount of inernational awards the Kef' Eggs have won let alone "users" ratings of 9/10 says it all.

Thats true, they do speak for themselves don't they (so to speak )

I'll put them on the "To audition" list when I get there, may as well give them a chance...probably will have a fantastic WAF as well. Much better than most I will be looking at!

Make sure you do take the good woman with you WAF is important!.

Hi Foxy, just wondering if you auditioned any of the other KEF models (thinking particularly the KHT5000s, although I believe these are more expensive than the 3005s)? I've been interested in the KEFs for a while, due to the good reviews they get (and the relatively small size - good for apartments). Just your comment about WAF reminded me, that when I showed my partner a picture of the 3005s, she wasn't all that happy about the egg shape of them - the semi-cylindrical shape of the 5005s was more appealing. Basically wondering whether you tried other small speaker/cub combos? I've found the Focal Sib/Cubs for a similar price, as well as some B&W speakers. Was it that the KEF 3005 are available so widely, making it easier to audition them, that helped your choice?

They are probably the best of their type and having not heard them I should shutup, but like OakenShield, I cannot imagine that they could sound as good as a decent set of floorstanders. I don't believe in subs and satellites. IMHO subs are for under 50Hz only.

Of course they don't sound as good as decent floorstanders. But not everybody has the space for full size speakers, particularly if you're trying to fit into a small lounge room, or you don't want your enormous HT system dominating a room. As such products such as these (good sound, small size) fill a niche

Being in Cairns one is a tad limited what to audition in this type of speaker/sub combo, even though my local demo was lacking (due to poor set up) and sales drone tried to sell me something else, even them I was hooked at the beautiful clear sound I heard and the finish/look. I purchased from down south

I agree for a small room they fit the bill.

After hearing them 2 other friends are now buying a set each.

Cool, thanks for your reply. Thinking that if new speakers are given the okay, I might be able to swing the WAF on the grounds of their sound quality and unobtrusiveness. Will have to take my partner along for an audition and see what she thinks.

Drop back here and let us know how it goes.

where can you get them for $2k?

Your DTV count is too low to PM so email me.

gocairns@gmail.com

Hello.

Any chance of giving me a run down of how these speakers sound now that you have them run in?

I bought B & W M1 speakers and just not sure if they were working to their full potential.

The centre speaker seems to struggle with spoken words and the surround sounds from movies seems to be over powering.

I have the Denon 2807 AVR and have played around with it and even made it do an automatic set up to try and maximise the sound, but not sure if it is the amp or the speakers that are just not impressing me.

I have had both for about a year now, and having just bought the LX508 I wonder if it is time to change speakers to match.

Will try and source a place here in Sydney that displays them to get a chance to listen to them, but where did you get yours for the 2K mark?

cheers

Alan

G'day Alan,
I own a Denon AVR2807, too, so I hope that I might be able to suggest something. I found the auto set-up rubbish, to be perfectly honest. Then, I read MarkTecher's pinned-up thread regarding manual calibration, went to Dick Smith Electronics, bought a manual SPL Meter, and a 9-volt battery, did everything as per MarkTecher's thread, and voila, the results were brilliant!

Hope this might help.

Dan.

can you point me in the direction of the MarkTecher's thread and also how much is a SPL meter?

I will give it a read.

Alan

I recently bought a set for a friend, helped him set it up and left very impressed. Got it from www.eastwoodhifi.com.au and they had a set up for auditioning there. My mate has only paired it with a entry/mid level receiver and even used the Auto set up on the Yamaha with very encouraging results. Paid $2150 for them and also received discounts on other equipment and decent cable thrown in etc.

hi Foxy,

I also have an Onkyo 605 and just added the Kef 3005 set up to them. I am struggling to get any reasonable kind of sound out of them, they seem a bit tinny to me and the Bass is not as deep as expected. I connected them up with flat monitor speaker wire.

Do you have any tips that may help? I set them up using the Audyssey Auto Set up.

Dont get the shonky ones from ebay!!!!!

Hi John

I have recently purchased a ONKYO 606 (replacement to 605) and KEF 3005 and I am experiencing the same issue as you. The sound is a bit less than what I expected and the bass is weak. The centre channel seems to do a lot of the work. I also I set them up using the Audyssey Auto Set up. (may be this is where the problem is). Perhaps they need to be run in, or it may be its the setup. Also, I read in a CNET review that the cutover of 120Hz works better than 80Hz. I have emailed KEF because they recommend 80Hz and have specifically said not to use Full Range cutover option as this could cause damage. I am being cautious in changing from 80Hz even though 120 Hz does seem to sound better.

Any info on how you have progressed will be much appreciated.

Cheers

Fernei

I just used the Audessy set up and they sound good to my "old ears", guests comment how good they sound too, but then again I'm no purist.

Whats the difference between the 3005 and 3005se?
Are they really worth the $1k over the 2005.2?

From my experience, if you can afford it, the 3005 is worth it over the 2005 (however that really depends on what you are after in the long run) For the 3 or so people that I have helped buy the 3005 it looks like it will keep them happy for years to come and has already done them a heap of justice. Where I think the 2005 could have some asking for a little bit more in the long run. You need to audition them both and factor in your room and how they'd go at home, and also what you are driving them with and what you are using them for.

The SE to me, isn't worth the premium over the older non SE version. Supposedly there are some tweaks and enhancements in the tweeter however the improvements there aren't worth the good deals and big savings you can get on the older 3005 right now. Unless you are afflicted with the need to have the latest and greatest I'd go with the 3005.

I got all 3 sets from www.eastwoodhifi.com.au

I would try a manual setup to make sure it is not the Audyssey screwing up. You just need a measuring tape for a rough guide. If it shows improvement then maybe buy or borrow a SPL meter.

With the previous model Subwoofer the recommended Xover was at 120Hz. Small sats will not go very low so at 80Hz you get a hole in the frequency response.
Should be O.K. with the AVR set at 120Hz sats set to small.

I tried 150Hz too with my 5005 setup but could not detect any difference so left it at 120Hz.

If there is no Bass maybe the Auto Setup has set the satellites to LARGE.

I can buy the 3005SE package for about $1000 USD + Shipping from American Ebay.

What do guys think?

Fairly big saving with the exchange rate. Im guessing I can just replace the power cord?

Any thoughts?

Sounds good depending on shipping costs. The Sub should be 115-240V switchable unless US ones are single voltage only.
The Power Cord is standard Computer/Kettle type 3 pin.

You will cop for Customs duty etc etc if it comes by Courier DHL etc. I think AUS$1000.00 value or over.

I am sure somebody will know more about this hidden cost.

The freight will be expensive, they weigh a lot especially the sub. Probably not worth it IMO.