HP Pavilion dv5t, $649.99
- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 13 reviews Back to product review
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Full user review
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13 out of 13 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"This is the best small speaker system I have heard."
Pros: Even my wife thinks that it sounds and looks good - and that is really saying something.
Cons: None - except that the brochures/manual are a bit 'ordinary'. I have read that the speaker terminal connections are a bit difficult but I didn't have a problem with them at all.
Summary: I purchased the KHT3005 system (black) early July 2006 and although very good from the start, improved even more after run-in. I only have them hooked up to a budget priced receiver (Panasonic SA-XR25) but the sound is very impressive - mainly used for watching movies and music dvds such as The Eagles and Bee Gees - but they also sound much better than my previous systems with music/cds. I have had quite a few small speaker systems over the years (have to stay with small speakers due to wife factor), the previous being some JBL sats coupled with a Rel Quake. I thought they were pretty good, but none are in the same league as the new Kef eggs. The impact of the new (enlarged) Kef 3001 centre speaker leaves all previous ones way behind. All of the 'eggs' are very clear and detailed and I am now hearing mid range tones with music dvds and cds that I have not heard before.
The big surprise packet, however, is the Kef HTB2 3000 series sub. Due to my wife's total dislike of the look of subwoofers in the lounge room, in recent years the sub has been hidden/placed in the front corner of the room behind a lounge chair (don't laugh). I have tried a number of subs including Rel Quake, JBL, Dali. I have read that you can put a sub anywhere in a room because the bass/sound in non-directional. Not correct for me. 90% of the time in the past I could tell the bass was coming from the front corner of the room (which annoyed the hell out of me). The new Kef sub is unbelievable. You cannot see it and anyone who walks into the room doesn't know it exists because it's behind the front corner lounge chair, but the bass is terrific and sounds as though it is coming out of the centre and front speakers. I have not experienced a sub before that blends so well with the speakers. It is also the tightest sub I have had yet, and really comes to the fore with music. I have it facing diagonally out of the corner (behind the lounge chair which is also placed diagonally). Bass boost on the sub is set to '0' and Phase is set to '180'. Bass cut-off filter on the receiver is set to 100Hz. The Kef sub doesn't 'rattle' the room like some larger ones I have had in the past but it is easily the best sounding and best performing sub I have had.
In summary, as you can tell, I am delighted with the new Kef 3005 system, so much so that I went to print with this 'user opinion', this being the first user opinion I have ever done and submitted.Updated
Some months ago I upgraded my amp/receiver to the Panasonic SA-XR700 and after playing around with the various amp settings during that period I changed the speaker size for Center, Front and Surround from 'Small' to 'Large' (everyone knows that if you have small speakers such as the KEF eggs you normally set the speaker size in the amp to Small and that is how I had them set from when I purchased them). However, I can tell you that the result by setting all the speaker size to 'Large' is an even greater soundstage throughout the room than before. Seeing that I set the speaker size to Large I was a bit worried that insuffient bass would go through to the sub so I played around with the Bass Boost on the sub by upping it from 0dB to +3dB. I have subsequently put it back to 0dB because it blends so beautifully with the speakers at that level. As I have said before, you cannot see the sub in the room because it is hidden (thanks to my wife) behind a chair, but you can hear heaps of bass that sounds like it is all coming from the center and front speakers. In summary, try the amp speaker size setting at 'Large' rather than 'Small' for all speakers. In my case it is terrific and has improved the soundstage even further. I am toying with the idea (if it doesn't lead to divorce as I have not mentioned to wife as yet) of trying a Yamaha amp with the speakers as I have always had a soft spot for Yamaha amps. If I do I will report back with the result.
- 2 replies to this review
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Sounds like your wife should be returned to circuit city. Or you could just get a spine. Thanks for the review though. I'll get the speakers soon!
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Can the sub be placed against a wall or does it need space between a wall and the sub itself? Thanks
Where to buy
KEF KHT3005 (black):
$364.96 - $1,749.95
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$1,749.95 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$1,310.00 | Yes |
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