Amp for KEF Q300

[bishwarupdas]

I have done audition of the Q300 speakers at PROFX Kolkata recently I liked the speakers. But at profx there is very limited AMPs, so I did a audition of of other amps at a different shop in kolkata where I liked the CREEK evo2 amp. I am also considering NAD C356BEE DAC amp for my speakers but I do not have them for audition at Kolkata. Can any one please help me to choose which amp will do better with the speakers.

 

[tirthankar]

NAD supposedly goes well with KEF. There is another FM from Kolkata, I forgot who, who was looking for amp for KEF q300 and settled for CA Azur 650a and is pretty surprised.

I have heard the Creek and I felt it to be a bit bright and "slightly" noisy. What speaker did you listen it with?

 

[bishwarupdas]

NAD supposedly goes well with KEF. There is another FM from Kolkata, I forgot who, who was looking for amp for KEF q300 and settled for CA Azur 650a and is pretty surprised.

I have heard the Creek and I felt it to be a bit bright and "slightly" noisy. What speaker did you listen it with?

I was listening to quadral ARGENTUM speakers with creek. I also heard the CA Azur 650a amp but i did not like them.

 

[yahoo0212]

NAD for KEFs... if u want a bright combo, go for Marantz 600x series

 

[Flash]

NAD 326 / 356 to roll off the highs and tame the KEF's bright signature However it would be a little bass heavy
Marantz PM6004/7004 has good synergy with KEF Q300 . Several FM's have this combo
Arcam A28 / A38 again warm without additional low end boost.
Sort of a Tube sound. (Not heard them with KEF but it should mate well)

 

[bishwarupdas]

NAD 326 / 356 to roll off the highs and tame the KEF's bright signature However it would be a little bass heavy
Marantz PM6004/7004 has good synergy with KEF Q300 . Several FM's have this combo
Arcam A28 / A38 again warm without additional low end boost.
Sort of a Tube sound. (Not heard them with KEF but it should mate well)

I found that saronoelle is using Rotel RA-1520 with his KEF Q300 speakers and he says the combination is working fine for him. Will Rotel match with the speakers any idea?

 

[Flash]

I found that saronoelle is using Rotel RA-1520 with his KEF Q300 speakers and he says the combination is working fine for him. Will Rotel match with the speakers any idea?

Well it depends on what sort of sound signature you are looking for and also your music preference.
I am not too sure about the Rotel with KEF.
If you are ok with a clinical, sterile sound then Rotel could be the amp for you.
I personally feel Rotels are better suited with warm - neutral speakers. (Again a personal opinion)

I feel an Arcam A28 / A38 would mate very well with KEF.
Also look at Advance Acoustics MAX 150 / 250

But then again it boils down to your listening preference

 

[tirthankar]

Have you finalized on the KEF? Then the best thing might be to buy it and take it with you for auditioning with different amps and choosing one. That is, of course, if it's possible for you to take the speakers around with you for auditions.

 

[rrana]

Hi Biswarup, pls vo through this thread , it will definitely help u a lot. pls share your experience with us Thank you.www.hifivision.com/amplifiers/23179-yahama-as500-kef-q300-suggesations.html

 

[vraned]

My KEF Q300 is paired with Marantz PM6004/CD5004, and they sound fantastic. Almost seems like both the manufacturers worked together in designing the systems. Try and audition it if possible.

 

[rohitmusic]

JFYI..

Whathifi recommends the KEFQ300 as best speakers to pair with PM6004
Marantz PM6004 review from the experts at whathifi.com

"B&Ws 685s (380) or KEFs Q300s (450), both standmounted designs, are also highly recommended partners for what is a simply superb, affordable, hi-fi separates system."

 

[Flash]

JFYI..

Whathifi recommends the KEFQ300 as best speakers to pair with PM6004
Marantz PM6004 review from the experts at whathifi.com

Take Whathfi recommendations with a pinch of salt ..... However yes their take on KEF and 6004 is right on the mark

However this is a joke

------------------------------------------------------------
Add a pair of Tannoy Revolution DC6 T floorstanders (800) and youll be especially happy, but B&Ws 685s (380) or KEFs Q300s (450), both standmounted designs, are also highly recommended partners for what is a simply superb, affordable, hi-fi separates system.
------------------------------------------------------------

B&W685 with the PM6004 is a joke and the Tannoy Revolution with the 6004 is a even bigger joke

 

[canchi]

I've got the same combo, KEF q300 with the marantz pm6004. The KEFs were bass heavy out of the box , but opened up after burning them in. Sweet sound now!

 

[Kittu]

opened up after burning them!

:lol:

 

[Sunderpalanivel]

:lol:

:clapping::clapping::clapping:

 

[canchi]

:lol:

My bad! So it is the "break in" period then, albiet, "burn in" has a better ring to it. Burning them in is obviously better than burning them up, I guess .
All in all, the burn in produces crisp and sweet sound from the speakers and that is in keeping with the idiom "burn to a crisp", though the idiom actually means badly burnt !

 

[bishwarupdas]

Thanks guys for the feedback, but there is no option for audition the Marantz PM6004 amp at kolkata, so I look to audition it at delhi when I go there.

 

[Shivam]

NAD amps are good with KEF in general especially if your source is digital with bright high end.
Marantz amps are also good but opt for them if your source is not very bright (like Rega, ProJect or Thorens turntables).

 

[ruenigma]

Heard the KEF Q300 at Soundscapes today. Paired to a 5004. It was an uninspiring experience. Partly due to the underpowered amplification but bigger problem seemed the el-cheapo pioneer dvd-p whoch did a terrible job of playing the discs.

Even with my DAC (MAv D1) connected to my laptop the combo sounded recessed. It did a little too good on female vocals and the overall higher mids, but the highs were almost always unpleasantly presented. The lows were satisfactory as I am not really a basshead and preferred the subdued sound. Anyone with even a mild bass preference stay away from this combo. People listening mostly to Classical, NewAge, Soft rock etc might enjoy the combo.

Overall it was evident the speaker is more capable but the combination with Marantz could have been better.

PS: Another observation was the speaker a touch too axes specific. Even slightly off axis vertically changes the experience. I guess the point source config is to blame here.

 

[Craigo]

I've paired the 6004 with Kef R100s and they sound sweet!