Back to speaker conundrum

[Per]

Another speaker conundrum!!

I went to Richard at AV-Sales today to look at the Panasonic projector - awesome is all I can say (surprised how big it was but that's not an issue!)

Anyway - Richard has re-recommended that I look at AE Aelite's, but finding somewhere that has them to audition is a headache!

So, I popped in to Hi-Spek in Hatfield on the way back from AV-Sales and they do the Aelites - only had the AE1's in Cherry and no 3's on show, but they weren't on demo.

I demo'd the KEF IQ9's front, IQ1's rear, IQ6C centre and PSW2500 sub, and it sounded fantastic - better than the B&W 686/686/HTM62 and ASW10 sub combo.

The chap suggested that the KEF's were a better quality sound than the AE's, and the price quoted was actually very good.

Anyone on here used KEF IQ series speakers, any comments/opinions?

Cheers

Per

[chelsea.tone]

Again it comes down to personal taste. I have heard the KEFs and have to disagree with the sales person the Q's IMO do sound good, but not better (far from it). But thats only my opinion.

[Per]

If only they had the AE3's to compare the IQ9's against!!

Still undecided, but to me so far the IQ9's had more oomph, more bass and a fuller sound than the B&W684's, BUT and its a big but, the KEF's had been run in and the B&W's were straight out of the box.

So so far
B&W -
(a) too new to tell if sound is 'good for me'
(b) vinyl finish still not to my taste
(c) very boxy
KEF IQ9's -
(a) I like the sound - warm, full, plenty of oomph
(b) nice choice of finished - I saw them in warm apple, but they are available also in Walnut, which I like
(c) love the curved shape
AE3's -
(a) not heard yet
(b) great finish in Cherry from the one I saw
(c) love the curved shape

So - scores on the doors
B&W 2 OUT OF 5, KEF 5 OUT OF 5, AE's ????

Per

[chelsea.tone]

You're gonna HAVE to demo the AE's if only to decide they're not to your taste (doubt that would be the case tho)

[Per]

Trying to find a set to demo is proving harder than finding rocking horse poo. No one locally to me (or within say 75miles of home - Stevenage) seems to have the AE3's in store to demo!!

Several places I have spoken with have said the B&W's would come out tops once run in and warmed up, with the KEF's a not far behind. This is do I ignore the vinyl finish and go for the B&W's, go with the KEF's or spend god knows how long hunting down AE3's to audition???

This is so not easy!! Will be worth it in the end though, what ever I chose!

Cheers

Per

[Dark Knight]

I have to agree with Tony Per..... You MUST bear with it and somehow demo the AE3's.... if all else fails, Tony will have to put the kettle on and some cool ones in the fridge

[chelsea.tone]

I have to agree with Tony Per..... You MUST bear with it and somehow demo the AE3's.... if all else fails, Tony will have to put the kettle on and some cool ones in the fridge

I did offer Dean

[Per]

Hmmmmm. Where do you live again - PM me!!

Per

[Per]

OK - cold stats

IQ9
38hz to 40khz
2 x 165mm drivers
1 x 165mm driver with concentric 19mm tweeter
91db @8 ohm
16.6kg
942h x 220w x 327d
Cross over - 250hz, 2.8khz

B&W684
44hz to 22khz
2 x 165mm drivers
1 x 25mm tweeter
90db @ 8 ohm
18.2kg
910h x 198w x 330d
Cross over 150hz, 4khz

AE3's
34hz to 27khz
2 x 125mm drivers
1 x 110mm driver
1x 25mm tweeter
89db @ 8 ohm
920h x 230w x 297d
Cross over - couldn't find details

So
- IQ9's - wider frequency range than the other 2 - bass closest to AE3
- IQ9's - Bigger drivers than AE3's, but same as B&W's
- IQ9's - marginally taller than both, marginally narrower than AE3, a smidgin shallower than B&W's
- IQ9's - lighter weight than the other 2 - AE's & B&W's similar weight

So hard to decide till I have seen and heard the AE3'S. I have seen a pair of AE1's - they looked lovely in Cherry Wood - as good as the IQ9's in Dark Apple.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....

Per