These R3's are bigger than i expected. Excellent review as always. No one can describe sound into words as detailed as you can.

like your down to earth evaluations without overly technical aspects. It’s about how it sounds and you tell us that. Thank you!

Terrific video, really good analysis and assessment.

Excellent review! One of the best regarding the KEF R3! Great job!

Thanks for taking the time to share your detailed and clear insights.. Really helpful for me as I get ready to make the decision about buying these R3's

You my friend have golden ears. You just describe exactly the sound of the R3. I've been living with these for quite a while and you nailed it

Thank You for your review. I always enjoy Your speaker and headphones reviews. The way You describe sound, and Your rationales for Your conclusions are excellently laid out. I've only recently come across You and will look forward to going through the past, and future reviews of Yours.

Keep up the excellent reviews!!

Just found your channel. Excellent and well explained review with no bs. Subbed

Excellent review ..I enjoy the way you describe the flavor of sound . Good comparison and assessment.

Great review, as always - and thanks!

Rly good and detailed review! Good job!

Fantastic review. Thank you. I also have LS50 and have been looking at these for some time. I agree with you entirely on the holographic and revealing nature of the LS50. Just spot on.

Just found out IIWI meaning (is it worth it?) after 2 years subscribed, hahaha LOL. Verry nice review man! Keep up the good work! Thanks.

What a great review, thanks man

excellent review, bravo

I didn't use jumpers, but I did bi-wire my R900s to my JC1 mono blocks and noticed a significant improvement. I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by the sweeter vocals. Brass and nickel just aren't as good of a conductor as copper. The fit and finish on the R series is top notch, but Kef cut corners on the terminal connectors. At least it is an easy fix. The first time I turned those knobs I was very skeptical of the quality of connections. Thanks for bringing that to light, even though I fixed it by accident. I have other Kef speakers in different systems which aren't bi-wired. Your reviews are like the finish on Kef R series speaker; perfect, top to bottom.

A great and honest review

Hello! I confirm the soundstage you mention. I have them for a year now. They're paired with NAC C388. I can't say yet if this amp is doing good or bad in conjunction with them, but they seem to do a decent job together. I haven't got time (I am lazy, I know) to play with their position in the room, but from the little space I have available (they are located between two doors in the room and I can't pull them much in the room's center), but differences were noticed. I can't really say if they are supposed to to be used in direct positioning to ears (triangle) or not. Still testing, but all in all, I am quite happy with the way they sound.

Damn dude, you are beyond detailed with your review. This was unreal, I honestly feel I can order these without even listening to them prior. 😅

Well done review.

Excellent review... :)

Great review. Handsome looking speakers. The grill is nice... like lingerie, you can still see some bits.

1.5x and this review is perfect. great job

I have the original LS50 and had them paired with class D amp (NAD) with good results. But recently I switched to Cambridge Audio CXA81 amp (AB class) and that ended up to be much better pairing with LS50s . I don’t know if the difference was due to differences between class D and class AB, or if it was due to Cambridge Audio’s slight warmer tone, but the combo sounds really great. LS50 always had good sound stage, but even that got bigger with CXA81.

This was well done

great review for me. I have LS50’s and looking to upgrade and checking out options available where I live which is a bit restrictive, but KEF is accessible so 🙏

About the jumpers and the mid and high tones; Always connect the main wires direct to the mid/high section. For the bass line the internal connection is fine 🙌🏼

As happy as I am with my R900s and JC1 mono blocks, I have also had my LS50s in the same system and I agree with everything you said about the difference. The LS50s are the most finicky speakers I have owed, but when you get things right they are hard to beat. I am missing that airiness and everything else you mentioned about the LS50s. It's not like the R series don't have air, but when compared to the LS50s you notice the difference. I am thinking about getting a good sub and putting the LS50s back in. Probably a Kef sub with resonance canceling opposed drivers. I have other subs that never seem to be able to meld well and disappear. I need to have a sub that disappears, otherwise I can't listen to it. If you have any good suggestions, please let my know. The JC1 mono blocks can control the bass (3.2 ohm dip) on the LS50s perfectly, which allows them to shine at their best and produce super tight bass at much higher volume (my room is quite large), but I want a little more "grunt". I have a 150 watts/ch high current Parasound amp and it can't properly drive the LS50s (the bass gets muddy which destroys the entire sound). In a big room the LS50s need quite a bit of juice to shine where the bass doesn't start to get muddy. I don't know why Kef rates the LS50s at 8ohm speakers. They are 4ohms and not very efficient, but I think that is a good thing for small speakers so they have the stiffness in the drivers (which compromises efficiency) to stay tight when you push some current into them (more like they suck the current they need at 3.2 ohms). As long as the amp is competent enough to driving such a difficult load. I have a wide variety of decent amps and only my JC1s can properly drive the LS50s. I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from buying LS50s, but they do need at least a decent high current amp to drive them even remotely to their full potential.

Very good review. I really like what you are doing. I have choosen R300 over LS50 7-8 years ago and i have paired them with arcam dac and amp A19. For me R300 was the better pick because i wanted one speaker to do everything(music, gaming, movies). But I have also found that arcam a19 is not powerful enough and more power will be a good update. Would you suggest hagel if i would like to improve the stage ? I am not a bass addict...Also how R300 compared to R3 i feel like it wont be any significat update for me...

Great review! Please review Amphion Argon 1 and 3S.

I have two pairs of R3s in a stereo line array configuration, supported by a pair of Martin Logan Dynamo 1100X subs. I am currently powering the R3s with a NAD C388 but I have a Hifi Rose RA520 on order which I anticipate should arrive around end of December in Canada.

Very comprehensive review. Please review the Focal chora 806 if you can get your hands them!

I have been using Kef R300 with Denon 4500 in home cinema and also I listen to music.Tempted to upgrade to R3 now

I recently set up my LS 50s in a well damped room with a high current A/B channel amp also driving the woofers of Polk RTI A9s, and placed the speakers 2 meters from the wall. The vocals moved way back to the wall. The sound stage became huge and 3 dimensional. Especially in depth, but nothing came forward from where the speakers were placed. The airyness was still there, but moved back where it is never in your face. LS50s sound best 1/3 into the room. I moved them a little bit at a time to see where they sounded best. Most people don't want their speaker 2 meters off the wall, but I care most about sound quality.

Great review. Which would you recommend for side and rear surround speakers for a home theater system?

I wanted to use the R3s as surrounds for my home theater using a Yamaha RX-A6a receiver. Does using the receiver versus the Amp you talked about make a difference

Awesome review! Is there possible a review of LS50 W II in the works also? :)

Excellent review. Extremely detailed! Any plans on reviewing the Dynaudio Contour 20i’s ?

Hi, have a go with LS 50 META, they are simply great and i think they have everything you need! 🤓

Hi, I'd value your opinion of the Buchardt S400 Speaker in comparison to the KEF R3. Im sure many of us who follow your content would be interested to know your views on both these speakers.Your content is very informative. Thanks.

Awesome video, my friend! New subscriber!

i owned the original LS50s since 2015 and paired them with a single SVS SB2000 sub and they did not lack for low end grunt. I've recently upgraded to the LS50 Metas, and if you think the originals were holographic, you should hear the Metas. The originals are now surrounds, and that's makes for a great stereo and 4.1 surround system as well. Debating whether to get a third Meta and have a center as well. Very fine example of a subjective review. If only TAS, Stereophile, Darko, Guttenberg and the rest would lay off the purple prose and just say what they're hearing (like you do) it would save everyone a lot of time.

Thanks for the great analysis. I always enjoy your content. I also appreciate how you manage to review products by trading with audiophile friends. Thanks for saying what iiwi means. I always wondered!

Great review. Should ask Buchardt to send you the new S400 mk2 for review ;) would love to hear your thoughts.

Regarding speaker stand height, what's your opinion on the 'ideal' height (is there such a thing) - is it aligned with the conventional wisdom of tweeter height at ear level? I've watched a few videos and some suggest placing it higher than ear-level, and there's also a small minority that advocate for below ear level. I am looking at the Q150 speakers - and the manual for the Q150 suggests 18" - 24" (45-60cm) speaker stands - that seems awfully low and would be below ear level if I sit on my (or any conventional) couch. But the KEF designers/engineers surely must have put this in the manual for a reason? Does this mean they designed or voiced the Q150s in a way that aligns with 18" - 24" and therefore it would be prudent to strictly stick to getting stands within 18 - 24"? If not, should I go with 28" or 32" inch? 32" would be putting it at or just 1" above ear level I'd say, but given how conservative KEF were in their manual, I was wondering whether 28" would be a better choice too... Any advice here would be so helpful! Thank you.

What else would you recommend for around the same price? And do you think an Audiolab 6000A Play would be ok with the R3? Or too weak?

The Dynaudio has been upgraded twice and in its latest incarnation as Evoke 10 (which I own) it performs well across the entire frequency range and IMO is the class leader.

Great review! Maybe add one or two REL`

Great review!!!!How does it compares with Quad Z2???thanks and cheers

Were you comparing to the LS50's or the LS50 meta? Nice review, I'm surprised I haven't seen your channel before today.

Hello, What would be KEF's model speaker stands for their R3 speakers and are the speakers bolted to the speaker stands. TIA.

I just got a pair. VERY A - NICE!!!

Could u pls comment on comparing rs3 vs rs5 and ls50 all with subwoofers is it necessary?

I choosed my R3 over ls50 2 years ago for the reasons you explained in your (very good) video. What amplifiers did you connected to R3? What Is the best combination in your opinion? Thank you. I'd like to upgrade my amp (Cyrus 6dac)

When we can expect review of SMSL SD-9? Do you recommend to change raspberry pi with digi+ pro for SMSL SD-9?

Great review. I am planning to buy one or the other between R3 or LS50W II + KC62. I wonder if KC62 will be able to add the grunt that is missing in the 50s.

Is it worth it! I didn't know that's what it stands for, cool. I echo the LS50 + sub(s) comment by the way... Subs really set the foundations firm in my system.

Would you ditch your LS50s for these or get a sub to go with the LS50s?

Is it worth it ? Stenheim? TAD ? Great review, well done!

Thanks for the well-executed and informative review! Question, please: If I add the KF62 or a Reel Subwoofer to my Kef`s will I archive similar results?..Best Stef

Terrific review Professor !! I detect a Russian, Slovish or Polish Accent. But that's no matter because you have nice detail of the English language. Your review is well presented with Flowery comments. I'm thinking to upgrade to either these R3s or LS50 Metas from my KEF Q350 Bookshelf speakers (probably could use them elsewhere in the house or give them to a relative). I have the Q350s connected to an Emotiva A300 Amp (in an IOTA SA3 and PA3 Stack) playing in Finished Basement "studio" or Mancave created during COVID hibernation. In your opinion, how would either KEF upgrade speaker play with the Emotiva? I alos have a pair of Elac Debut 6.2 Bookshelf speakers connected to the IOTA stack. I play them either separately or simultaneously. When played together - which is an Audiophile No-No - it actually enhances the sound to almost Concert Hall levels. Pertaining to KEF speakers in general... I purchased KEF 104/2 s Tower speakers in 1987 for my Living Room system (NAD 1300 & 2600 Stack), with No SWs or EQs - and they play great , with clarity, just the right amount of Bass, excellent Mids and Highs. They have performed w/o any problems for over 35 years !!. FWIW, When I acquired the KEFs at the Stereo HiFi store, I had never heard of them but in the sound room compared them with Polk, Klipsch, JBL, and a few others. They were the Winner in my book. Later that week, in a Sunday NY Times Stereo review section the KEF 104s were being reviewed. They were rated Nimber 3 Speaker in the World! I guess I did thorough shopping and comparing. That me proud and satisfied.

I got the r300 and are great!

Which one do you recommend for movies I’ll be using a subwoofer ls50 or r3?

Great review. I have KEF R300s with a Martin Logan sub. I don't understand how LS50 and subs can possibly be an alternative for music. Subs don't reproduce kick drums and bass like regular woofers so aren't you missing that critical piece? I run all my speakers large in my 5.1 to hear the rhythm section for classic rock. Imaging is decent but I'd like hear what ls50 pinpoint is like but in my opinion you can't reproduce that full range floor standing speaker with ls50s and a sub.You can with R3 and a sub I'd think. Sub just fills very bottom end. Can anyone explain how to get drum slam and bass guitar out of a 12 inch sub that sounds clean and tight? These certainly don't sound the same coming from a sub as they do a. bookshelf or floorstanding speaker's mid bass woofer yet I always hear people talking like just adding a sub is the same? Trust me, my KEFs are not nearly as dynamic when I high pass them at 80 vs.50 or run them small. I'm certainly no bass head ( a little too much quickly muddies the music so I keep mine pretty low) but I can't do without fat bass and slamming drums for most rock tracks. If this all just the tradeoff then I guess bookshelfs and subs are ideal middle ground between imaging and dynamics

Do you think it is possible to use this speaker as a near field monitor similar to the LS50meta?

Great review. New sub here :) Will they work good with class-d amps ?

Are there any issues with the tweeter having doppler problems, being mounter in the center of another driver?

I also found the Kef R series to be a lil ho hum (though still great in general). Try terminating it diagonally instead of on top or bottom as well as using spare speaker wires for jumpers(after disconnecting the built-in link). I found that the Kef R series had a more direct and coherent midrange and soundstage when cabled this way.

What do you think of pairing ls50 and r3 or r5 with Adcom 554 and 555 amp and preamp?

Please could you review some Quad S-2 speakers? :)

Great review ☺️ Whay you didn't compare it to ls50 meta?

Thanks for the Pepe Romero suggestion. He's amazing!

I’m getting a great deal on a pair of r3s, but only have a Raga IO to drive them. Will my amp work ok with these in your opinion?

Maybe something for your friend to improve the sound stage of his R3's and then for you to review: Blackice Foz SSX sound stage expander. (Designed by the inventor of Dolby btw).

What is that speaker behind you?

Do you run your standmounts with a subwoofer? I have a pair of LS-50s and I'm trying to decide if I buy a subwoofer (like a Rythmik 15") or just save up a bit and go for one of the R-series KEF floorstanders (maybe R11). I totally understand what you mean about dynamics with the LS50, even with a powerful amplifier (AHB2), feels like you're missing a little bit of the dynamics. I think they sound fantastic near field in a smaller room with less volume, but my living room might be a bit too big to really show their strengths (17'x19', but opens to the dining room / kitchen).

What does "sweet" mean when it comes to treble frequencies?

' larger' ? I come from the classic late '60's > mid 70's.... EPI 100, AR 6 , 'small' Advent , Dynaco 25 - all 20 in tall approx and not considered large. compared to Advents, AR 2 - 3 , JBL 100 on and on. Ahh the good 'ole days. Great review.

The most similar speaker to this that leaps to mind is the Elac Uni-Fi Reference - *very* similar driver setup. The price though is $1199 US.

With the LS50 Meta's being slightly more rolled off on the top end, I don't think warmer components are as necessary. 13th Note suggests pairing them with good quality Class D amps such as the Mytek Brooklyn series for more top end detail, especially for electronic music.

Should I change my A Klasse for this E Klasse 63 AMG?

Great! I guess LS50 with a rel t7x will kick the grunt of the R3 :)

🤗🤗🤗EXCELLENT REVIEW OF THE KEFS AND 😉 SORRY 😞 TO SAY BUT I AM ON YOUR FRIEND’s side WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOUNDS AND LOOKS 🤩…THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US 😍😍😍

Please review Topping E50 and L50.

"2.5-way because of the crossover and things like that"? Oh me oh my.

Do you prefer Kef LS50 over Dynaudio Focus 160?

There's another KZfaq channel that I really like, called E Project, and he doesn't do reviews. Instead he does sound samples of a huge assortment of amp and speaker combinations, always using the same set of sample tracks, which makes it very easy to compare different speakers with a single amp or different amps with a single speaker. In my experience with his videos, the R3 is one of the most consistent sounding speakers ever, and always sounds very much the same, whether if it's being driven by an expensive class AB amp, or by a low cost receiver or class D amp. It's one of my favorite speakers of all time

Random question, what is the name of your rack? Looks really nice!

I always enjoy with your reiews, thank you ​​@UCVtYo5Gjso0bHAezHGH0BIQ I have a pair of Kef C55 that I love. It's a 8" Uni-Q driver (I think is the first Uni-Q generation) together with a 8" passive radiator and the R3 are the most similar in design, therefore I wonder if they will sound as good or better than my C55 In the other hand I have also a pair of Kef iQ3, beautiful design and nice sound but I tink I prefer the C55 sound. When I think in the possibility to improve my system, R3 could be an option, but I always think in LS50 Meta together with the Kef KC62 subwoofer, something that you mentioned at the end of the video, to use LS50 with subwoofer as a possibility to get more fullrange. My serious doubt is if the LS50 or even R3 will are a really improvement over my speakers (C55 and iQ3), has you ever have the chance to test C55 or iQ3? Another alternative speakers that catch my attention are the Tannoy Revolution, specially the Revolution XT6F for matching with a subwoofer or the revolution XT8F as autonomus solution. These are speakers I would like you have the chance to test ;) In the other hand, recently I am speculating about the possibility to use powered speakers instead the passive ones and create a new equipment, with a DAC and preamp together with the powered speakers and my thougts go to the Tannoy Gold 8 (or 7) and the Adam Audio A77X (or A7X). I know they are studio monitors, but tgh idea is to use them in mid field. What do you thnik about that idea?

Your comment about the LS50 being more airy and having better sound stage/precision was so on spot. I got the R7s after listening to the LS50s but I still remember LS50s being more lively. Btw, you need a sub with any stand mount, especially the LS50s...

It's better in every aspect.. measurements included

I've seen opinions on LS50 + well integrated sub gets you very close to KEF Reference 1. So LS50 Metas should be that much closer. I'm currently having a difficult time getting my R3's positioned well in my small apartment. In a good room R3's have outstanding imaging and soundstage.

Excellent professional review with integrity. I find that speaker synergy is so important in matching with amps. I just got a Hegel H190 with love R100 but hates AE 109. Personally love warmer sound for long listening sessions.

Your description of these speakers makes me want to eat them! Excellent job brother.

Have you listened to the ls50 Meta's?

Lovely speakers - but I'd need to buy a bigger bedroom. :)

It’s not the ls50s that need replacing it’s the amplifier. These baby’s sing with the right power behind them.

LS50 + sub(s), is essential.

LS 50 with a sub will have deeper and more convincing bass, but the dynamics will not improve. This is their biggest limit. "The Wall" sounds very good, but it will distort over 90 dB SPL (at three meters distance). And yet somehow in still in love with the LS 50.