Summary: I bougt KEF Q80 Speakers in 1990 and they are working fine after 10 years of heavy usage with various kinds of amplifiers. Even generations of cats crawling on the speakers and grabing the grills. I experiment this speakers with home made amplifiers to power amplifiers. Even with old mono block marantz amplifiers and a Denon POA2800 power amplifier. The sound of this speakers plays well with any kind of sound and music. They some how lack of mid range sound and needs a powerful amplifire to drive them well. Now they are working with my home theatre system Yamaha RX-V1400RDS very well. I have a friend who bought this speakers too and one of them have had a malfunction years ago. Mine fortunatly never had any kind of malfunction. Maybe more 10 years and still kicking.
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Summary: I.ve had these speaker system for 16 years already. I tell you guys, I love these speakers. Sounds really really good. Bass is excellent, mid is descent & hi is fantastic. Hooked it up side by side with my Klipsch SB 3. A no no match. Driving thse speakers is Hafler XL 280 power amp and controlled by Mac Intosh C26 pre-amp. Specially when you're into jazz music, boy, you'll forget your name. For the money these are one great spaeker system.
Strengths: Bass is excellent when driven by one good amp especially Hafler XL 280
Weaknesses: Mid is descent but not bad
Similar Products Used: Klipsch SB 3
SAE A501
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Rating Reviewed by: Scott Wichall(Unregistered User)
(Audio Enthusiast)
Review Date October 22, 2002
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review 4.90 of 5,
10.00 votes
Review 3 of 6
, from UK
Price Paid:
$700.00
Summary: I Purchased these speakers to go with my Original Home Cinema setup. Unfortunately, the Sony amp was not powerful enough, so I moved to a Harmon Kardan AVR30, which has given me 6 years of pro-logic bliss with these speakers. I have now moved onto Dolby Digital, and the sound these speakers produce on a high end Yamaha amp in DTS mode has to be heard to be believed.
Build quality of these speakers is excellent, and reliability has not been an issue.
Would make an excellent second hand bargain.
Strengths: Fantastic off axis soundstage, tight, low bass and involving treble detail.
Weaknesses: Slight lack of midrange off axis. Needs a powerful amplifier to drive them, and also benefits from directional OFC or silver cable.
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Summary: For several months ago, I adjust this speaker again. My amp was changed into sphinx myth 5 so that bass of Q80 was became excellent. Springiness and plentiful. And when I used new source that PS audio Ultralink II to connect it, Q80 have perfect intermediate and noble sound. Anyaway, shortcomings of it have not graceful high freguency. Now my equipment is list: amp: sphinx myth 5 CD player: Cambridge D500 DAC: PS Audio Ultralink two Speaker cable:Mit T2 and Onix sp-100 Coaxial cable: Mit T2 and Mit T3
Strengths: clear sound and exact location
Weaknesses: quality
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Summary: I bought a pair of used Q80's cheap. They look well made and solid. Connected them to my NAD C350 Amplifier and Sony ES CD player. The sound is very very good in this combination. Esp. if you do not want heavy (car audio like) basses. These speakers sound very natural and clear. Listening to jazz and light pop is allways a big pleasure. As my NAD needed a little repair I discovered that these speakers need a good amplifier to sound well (my cheap sony 40W. was running hot very fast! and the sound was crab). But if you like basses which shudder your house look for something else.
Strengths: Straigt sound
Weaknesses: Not much bass. They need a good amplifier.
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