Hi Kelvin!Long time no see.Missed your videos pal!I'm glad you're back.

I’ve been pretending to tap away at my keyboard at work but I’ve been secretly watching this…much better than work!

I used to work for Whiteley Electrical Radio Co. Ltd., (manufacturers of WB loudspeakers) and attended many hi-fi fairs at Hotel Russel in London. I was blown away by the performance of KEF “studio monitors” they were demonstrating on their stand. They were fantastic, I’d never heard bass response like it and haven’t since. Many thanks for stirring up nostalgic memories.

I love listening to you Kelv. So glad your back doing this again. Having a few beers watching your videos. Cheers Matt

Hi Great to see you are back, my first real hifi speakers were a pair of Cadenza’s back on the 70s, Loved them. Keep the videos going Thanks from New Zealand.

excellent insight into that era

Missed your reviews, glad you're back.

Another wonderfully informative and insightful appreciation of this Kef model, the company and its products. Your contributions are much appreciated. Having owned decent stereo systems since 1970, but without your breadth of experience, your videos hit the spot. Again and again. Best wishes, Geoff.

I remember playing in my cousins back garden back in the late seventies and he’s J Travolta lookalike neighbour was playing lovely sounding music. When asked what speakers were producing such divine sounds. He lifted these huge KEF speakers up to the window It was like a revelation to me and we were blown away.. This was the world gone nuts golden Hi-Fi era.. One ive never recovered from 😊❤

WELCOME BACK MATE!!!!!!

It's good to see you back and your love your interest in vintage audio especially British loudspeakers also favourites of mine. I love KEF speakers and owned quite a few of them over the years. The best description I'd heard of classic KEF is the following... "The best thing about any KEF speaker is a complete lack of listening fatigue... they eliminate the rough edges from the sound. Once you've heard this kind of sound, you'll never go back". Exactly my sentiments.

Yesss! Welcome back! Good to see/hear you again!

Halcyon days for KEF. The building of many a BBC studio monitor, the famous B and T series drive units, used in many other manufacturers and kit speakers, and the great 103, 104, 105/2/4 and 107 monitor speakers. Kelvin back on the scene; we've missed ya, mate.

Happy to see this channel back.

You are a hero😊 that was my first speaker. Given to me by my brother 40 years ago😊😊😊😊

Love my my early 90s Reference model 1s so smooth you can listen all day with no fatigue. But when i picked them up from the store they had the top of the range model 4s hooked up to Naim monoblocks and they were jaw dropping.

I still have a pair of Corellis. Would be good to see a video review of those. Very different from modern speakers, but to my ears, sound lovely.

Hi Kelvin. Glad to see you back. I love your reviews. So honest I always trust your opinion. I own a pair of Kef Carlton2 speakers. I was gifted them from the guy we bought our house from. A bit later than the one's you are reviewing. Early 80s I think. I was told they had an upgraded crossover and they have that big extra bass you showed. Very efficient they sound great at really low volume and paired with my Sansui 221 receiver I love them. Maybe try and review a pair at a later date.

Loved my KEF Codas back in the day.

Another smashed out the park review thank you so much Kelvin

Glad to hear from you again! My dad has the Cadenza... He bought them 50 years ago with a td160 mk2 and a Kenwood amp - the whole equipment cost him more than one of his salaries back in the day. He made a hi-fi sideboard by cutting a chimney into equal sections, the kind with rounded corners, to form a series of empty cubes. Very 1970s, ... many years later he realised the chimney was probably containing asbestos, but it looked very good painted in mustard yellow, he says. The system is still in use today and sounds pretty lovely, although I pushed in the tweeter domes as a kid in the 90s and they've stayed like that ever since.

Good to see you back again 🎉.

Nice to have some really good information about hifi 👍 would you mix old with new equipment to get the best sound

Interesting info about Kef Kelvin and also, welcome back, great to see you doing reviews again. You are held in high regard.

Good to see you back great reviews 😊

Inam so so so Glad that Kelvin is back with us … and TBH I am also happy Mr Kelvin is fine and well … Kelvin we love you brother and keep on keeping on … HAPPY DAYS KELVIN HAPPY DAYS … This is London Bermondsey calling 👍👍👍

Falcon Acoustics have released their new M Series range and three of them are using the B200. Two floor standers and three stand mounts.

Love these videos. Thank you!

I have a pair of LNB speakers that use those two drivers, they are transmission lines and they were made in 1974, I absolutely love them!

The youtube algorithm has just brought me to this channel. Wow👍👍. I am of a certain age and when I started as a financially challenged teenager it was a Heathkit mono amp, Goldring Lenco GL 69 turntable and Dynaco A25 speakers (they were pretty good). Then a Sinclair 2000 amp to give me stereo, wow! After that a Quad 33/303 then a Thorens with a Transcriptors tone arm and a pair of RAM 200. Followed by a Technics direct drive turntable (SL110?) and SME arm and of course V15 cartridge. The I binned the lot for Meridian101 and active speakers and a Rega. Now in my 70’s with an ipod and headphones. Oh well🤷‍♂️.

This one has a very simple crossover,only three components. One of them is a capacitor (the black one) I changed them to completely new ones with the same specs, and the results where just jaw-dropping. The speakers suddenly opened up on all 3D parameters. The treble cleared up,the mids also and the sub bas more prominent. Its a completely new speaker with a much more lively signature as before. I suppose that the service life for the capacitor already had ended alreaday in the 90´s. Mine are 1973 and I got them for 50 quit 2 years ago. Dont wait for the "surgery" just do it , get in there with your soldering gun, and listen to the Cantors as they were intended more then 50 years ago !

Glad to see a new video from you. Not sure why it takes so long.

Kelvin and Stereo review X are back! Great stuff. We need you Kelvin to tell us what is good and what is not in vintage hifi. Great review on these KEF speakers- wow they are thin. Look forward to more. Cheers. John

Nice to see you again Sir

brilliant video as always! I too love 70s Kef, I have a pair of Cadenza's and they sound brilliant. The bass goes so low, just above around 30hz from memory

nice to see you back

Thanks for an interesting video. I never got round to buying any of those KEF speakers, and its a good job I didn't buy the Cantors based on your report. I bought instead the Celestion Ditton 15's which I couldn't get on with, so I replaced those with the B&W DM 110's which sounded much better and I was happy.

I always thought the name 'bookshelf' speaker was a misnomer, as who would actually put speakers on shelves? But it seems that's what people did in the 70s and explains the shallow design. Your videos are always an education.

I really love the way how you explain the sound, very understandable)

hi kelvin great video as always and a great speaker review take care looking forward to the next one 😁😍

2:32 KEF Concerto used the B139 SP6171 (bigger & lower wattage). The B139 shown here came later and it can even be seen in the video that it's the SP1044 variant.

I love the old KEF range. Still have a pair of 104ab and my father has couple of larger pairs (concerto I presume) with the active woofer, midrange and tweeter. They sound amazing to my ears.

Kelvin your back 👍👍👍👍👍FANTASTIC MATE

OMG! I am so glad to see you again! And, I hope to see you more often again from now on! I really missed your way of presenting your content on your channel! Your channel closes the gap between dead serious presentation of HiFi Gear, and a channel like the cheapaudioman perfectly. You don´t joke around, but you are not that uptight too. I mean... how can I say this...hm... Your Nose sits at the right height! That´s it. I want to say, that your way of presenting is charming! Humble and charming. It would be really a loss if you disappeared again! So, I hope you stay healthy and determined enough to go on with your channel, and you never lose the determination to create! I wish you all the Best here!

These are very good in a smallish room or if you are used to near field listening

Yet another good real world review

Best KEF I ever heard was the 103.2, would love to see you review those. I keep meaning to buy a pair.

By the way, the "KEF Cantor" (English: KEF "singer") measures are 279mm x 470mm x 121 mm. (WxHxD) And the Bookshelf trend back then was a funny thing. Suddenly everyone demanded books in this time! And so Did the famous Ernst Happel, when he retired from being the national Austrian Soccer Trainer, and moved to Innsbruck/Tirol. He told his Architect: For my new house i want to have a wall with Books! At least 5 shelves in height, and 6 meters long! " The architect asked:" What kind of books do you prefer Mr. Happel?" So E. Happel answered: " I don´t mind, as long as they are leather bound!"Leather! OK?" In fact, this famous man didn´t read a single book in his life in his life.

I have a set of Cadenzas stacked in the corner of a room not being used, inside their original cardboard boxes. The original owner had the passive radiators refoamed. They sound really good to my ears. Unfortunately, I don’t really have a need for them as use other speakers on the three systems I have in my house. Should probably sell them but…

I have the Concorde circa 71 £40 Cleaned up the cabinets I like them They sound fine

Hi Kevin..ive stiil got a paìr of nice KEF Cantata . They're huge ,i wheel them out now and again . Im glad you're back too.

We missed you! Were were you sir? Don't leave us like that no more please! :)

Enjoy his past stories and memories of vintage hifi!

🙋‍♂️GREETINGS KELVIN ,FROM ACROSS THE POND ( IN OHIO. )💚💚💚

Kelvin, you’re back. Brilliant news, yeah. I’m sure I was not alone in thinking, where’s he gone? Great to see you back, yeah. So much has happened in the last few years, streaming, vinyl revival etc but I think the biggest change is Class D amplification. According to measurements the Purifi module amps are incredible and very affordable. Maybe you should give some a go? Go and compare! Cheers

Hi, great interesting video. Kef seemed to produced at that time quite narrow depth speakers, another great speaker at that time was Carina , I did have carina mk2.years ago but now have those on one my system . Regards Mark

Hello Kelvin ,greetings from Turkey! I am using ditton 33's since 2 years and somehow I can not change that because of the beefy sound in your term :) What do you think ,did you ever have the chance to listen to it? It would be nice to hear from your perspective. Thank you ! btw nice to see you back again.

Versions of the B200 got used in some classic 70s and 80s designs e.g the Linn Sara in isobaric mode (one driver behind the other). Those Linns had phenomenally tight and, when needed, deep bass.

Nice, I developed a itch for English speakers and it's your fault. Bought some wharfedale vintage and then some mission speakers came up. You are infectious!

good to see You Sir

Being of a younger generation....My first Kef was the coda 7. Not sure how, but it just sounds fun even in it's mostly plastic box. Have tried Royd coniston and others, but there's something about the 7 that just hits the right balance. Maybe they were trying for a bit in the mid 90's?

Are you going to review that Meridian 101 in the Background Kelvin?

Wow super thin , never seen the cantor , great run down on kef , 70s drivers indeed something else , hope you get your hands on the Cambridge audio r50 aka tl200 , have the concerto drivers in a transmission line design...the old Monitor Audio ma-5 and 6 with the kef b200 , ma-1 with b139 do justice to the kef drivers . bextreme on the cones might be special spice with the 70s stuff ...

Maybe these would work out better with a sub. You would probably have to take a look at the crossover parts as well.

Had a pair of m s festival 2s many years ago think they were kef drivers?

My first speakers were KEF Cadenza’s bought for £110 in 1974!

Carn't stop looking are that unit over your left shoulder with the big flip switches.

All that fantastic information!

i know Kef even Mission in the 70¨ good speakeers tu for video

Great that your back, I would love to hear your opinion of the Concorde lll's if you can find them. Love the show matey.

Nice review. Btw,i always liked the Calinda.

Cheers.

Hey...glad your back.. missed you 😊

Hi kelvin , love your video review !! Long time 😊 pls talk about your opinion on kef c45 and c20 / c30 if you can Tnx ❤

hell yeah! he's back!

There is a benefit of having not a deep box, more the issue is it's just not big enough for the driver, if it was ported be about the right size, that might help if the driver will accept porting. Changing the crossover could be beneficial in its slope and frequency, changing the tweeter for a slightly bigger 1.5" seas say. Would be better What you could do is cut the baffle out put some strips of wood and raise it 15mm and put another 12mm marine ply baffle raising it forward flush with the front or slightly a bit more, move the woofer up 15mm And put a slit at the top 14mm by 140mm acrossand, and bend it just to the top of the basket of the woofer so about halfway down the speaker cabinet at the back, giving it 12mm deep by 140mm, it might get you down to about 40-5 hertz I think the speaker probably goes down to about 70 or 65Hz as it is?? it should work best against the wall that's the benefit of having a thin speaker keep them against the wall.

Good to see you sir the best to you sir cheers.

Hi Kelvin. We used to refer to the KEF 'C' range as the coma range as they would send you to sleep. I've owned them all over the years and still have my Concero's with Falcon crossovers fitted. A big improvement by the way but they still sound ponderous to me. A good Naim amplifier wakes them up a bit though. My ears are not what they were so that t27 is becoming a mystery these days. LOL. Too much headbanging with Yes and Rush lp's. Have fun.

yipee! he's back

Hello kelvin 😊

I never knew that speaker existed

Any plan to review Boothroyd Stuart Meridian 101 displayed in the background?

Nice speaker

awesome review Kelvin! When are you gonna do a review on the Kef Reference 101?

I have some chorale from my dad❤ love them i have 104 ab but prefer my chorale🤷🏼‍♂️

Hi man, looking for a small (or mid size) monitors for 10W tube amp. So far I used Usher s-520 but efficiency is not for my amp (great details, small bass). I have spotted KEF Cadenza and KEF Corneli for nice price. More money (still great tag) is for Spendor BC1 and Goodman Magnum K2. What are the efficiency of those in dB as my amp low power one.

My sister still has my KEF Cadenza's.

Hello there yourself! Rock on!

👍💯👍

Nostalgia lasts 15 minutes

I wanted to ask you Kelvin if your Cantors still have the crossover network untouched since 1974 ?

I'm an idiot fir selling my KEF Chorales.

and KEF Carlton ?

The KEF calinda is an expert at annoying one's neighbours 😂

P r o m o S M

Moist

Christ i HATED the 70s, everything was brown and orange, people were miserable, and the music was shite

Heyday 😂😂😂😂had kef concertos. Crap

I still use a pair of KEF104aB-Ref's and love their sound, even if they are some 40 years old types... They are, i believe, the revamped Cadenza's. A closed +/-30ltr box, two way design with the passively radiating race-track 'bass' driver. The sound from these nimble speakers i bought secondhand some time ago for 200 euro's is still to die for, imho.

Hello Mate 🤩