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Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $480.00 from used

Summary:
I feel obliged to write a report for this outstanding speaker. Snapped from the 2nd market at a very attractive price, I was stunned by its performance just after 1 week. The seller told me that he didn't use it for 3 months before selling it to me, the RDM2 initially sounded a bit strained and thin especially in mid-range which compelled me to think of changing the interconnect to complement this baby. 1 week passed, listening to the same songs heard before, it becomes totally different, no hint of neither strain or thinness in mid-range, instead silky mid-range and very engaging music was stalled. Soundstage is as exceptional & transparent as what KEF's renowned for. Bass is clean, though not massive but punchy with agility. Build and finish is unexpected for what the price tag suggests. It looks so elegant as a fine art and I can proudly place it in my home. For the first time, I feel I won't be changing my speaker in lengthy time. 5 stars, no reservation.

Strengths:
Silky and noble sound, airy, transparent, deep and wide soundstage. Agile and punchy bass, no hint of boom. Artistic cosmetics and solid build quality.

Weaknesses:
None! I really can't think of, it meets all my standards.

Similar Products Used:
KEF Cresta 10, Monitor Audio Silver 2, JM Lab 806s

Price Paid:  $720.00 from AMSOUND.COM

Summary:
OUTSTANDING MINI MONITOR, WHY BUY CRAP LIKE BOSE. LOOKED AT ENERGY, PARADIGM, AND DEF TECH.,ALL 'PRETTY GOOD' NOT VERY GOOD- FOUND A CLOSE-OUT AT "DR_AUDIO@MSN.COM" TURNS OUT THEY ARE A SMALL CUSTOM JOINT THAT CAME INTO A BUNCH OF THESE AT WHAT APPEARS TO BE NEAR WHOLESALE COST. THE ONLY THING THAT I DIDNT CARE FOR BUT AM LIVING WITH IS THEY HAVE ONLY THE 'GREY' FINISH--BIG DEAL! IF YOU WANT A TRUELY MUSICAL SOUND IN AN INCREDIBLY SMALL PACKAGE -GO HEAR THESE BETTER YET CALL THESE GUYS AT 1-800-889-5845 THEY HAD ONLY A SMALL QUANITY MID-JULY............GOOD LUCK! STEVE

Strengths:
CLERA MID-RANGE WITH GREAT IMAGING, DEATIL, AND DEFINITION

Weaknesses:
NEED'S SUB FOR LOW-END EXTENSION

Similar Products Used:
ENERGY VERITAS V2.0, PARADIGM MINI MONITORS

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Price Paid:  $800.00 from custom installer

Summary:
Building a new 18x20' family/theatre room with built-in cabinetry required that I replace a pair of floorstanding KEF Calinda's that I enjoyed for 25 years. I always liked the very natural sound of KEF's so I ordered a pair of the KEF RDM2's. True to this manufacturer's history, these speakers offer a beautiful and true sounding midrange that brings vocals into the room, and in spite of their small size they also have decent upper bass down to about 80hz that provides warmth to the sound, altho not a lot of punch. The soundstage is well spread and open, with vocalists front and center. On some CD's the high end can sound constrained and harsh, but I suspect it's more due to the recording's quality rather than the speaker because this "fault" stands out only on some recordings. I've added a KEF model 100 center, Klipsch RSW12 sub, and KEF Q85s surrounds, powered by an Outlaw 1050 a/v receiver, and the overall sound is GREAT. (The Klipsch is an excellent sounding sub, BTW, but there's not a topic to discuss it in these forums!).

In the 70's when I originally bought KEF they seemed to have a more significant presence in quality hi-fi stores than they do now, and it's a shame because their sound is so natural and beautiful, without coloration or distortion of the music intended to be heard by the performer. I can only imagine what their floorstanding reference series must sound like!!! In any case, if you're in the market for a very high quality bookshelf size speaker, find these.

Strengths:
beautiful midrange, decent upper bass, compact size good for bookshelf/cabinet mounting, excellent value, nice finish

Weaknesses:
high end a bit confined

Price Paid:  $730.00 from Beijing

Summary:
I spent over 1 year for searching a speaker, which can really bring me into music palace. And after I listened almost all kinds of speakers ( B&W, Dynaudio, ProAc, JM lab, Sonus FaberSpendor, Mission, Harbeth, AE, JBL, Infinity ......), I finally choose the KEF RDM2 as my final choice both for its excellent sound quality and its rational price.

Before I bought this speaker, I used Warefedale Diamond7.2 for almost 4 years. That is absoulte not a good choice for a music lover. With also cheap equipment, an cheap AV amplifier and CD player, the final sound is tight, harsh and dry, especially people vocal, even worse than my aiwa stereo system speaker. And my ear is very easy to be fatigued with it. So, when I graduated from university, my first idea is to change this system.

Since last year, almost every weekend I spent my time in the hi-fi shop, listen to many, many speakers I mentioned above, but only the KEF give me the most impressive memory. Maybe due to my special loving for vocal, both pop and opera, I still remember last year when I first listen to the KEF RDM2, I was fasinated by it at all from the first second it sang. What a beatiful sound, extreme smooth without any harsh, full of strength and passion, making me heart flying with the song. The sound is natural without any tight, let you listen for very long time but do not feel bored and tired. That is my first impress of RDM2, then
after that time, I listen it at serveral different place with different equipments, every time it bring me a good enjoyment. I begin to consider buy it. But as the KEF's dealers are all not very good, the price is somewhat too high,about $900 - $ 1100, I hasitate. However, the beatiful sound always surround my ear forcing me to the shop time to time. At last, I make my big decision to get it back home if I can get a good price. After I fought with dealer wittily, I finaly got $730 for a new pair, that is really really a good value for money.

Now I have owned RDM2 for two days, every day I enjoy it for over four hours. What else in the world has the magic strengh to fasinate one man? Maybe KEF RDM2 is just the one.

Strengths:
extremely smooth midrange, natural and consonant sound, wide 3D stage, refined and abundant details, highly musical taste ...... and very very stunning looking!

Weaknesses:
no low bass, a little muddy when play symphony climax

Similar Products Used:
Warefedle Diamond7.2

Summary:
I have been auditioned more than 50 bookshelf speakers so far and this one is the one of top 5 best I regard. And finally, I bought this one due to the price & value comparing with Nautilus or 1.3 SE whose price is far beyond this.
I listen all kinds of music except Rap & country.
This one digest everything with unbelievable flexibility from Bach's air, Piazzolla, Miles, Holiday, metheny, blackbox, zeppelin, metallica, to underworld. When I listened to the 1958 recording of Autumn leaves by Miles and the recent vocal, Ave Maria by Sumi Jo , I realized there was tears on my eyes...
I am not gonna imply about the details of sonic side cause it was already mentioned by reviewers below. They are correct.

What I can say is that this was the first time hearing the sound far outside of speakers... which you can't imagine through this small thing. airy.... so airy....

Please be prepared to be spoiled... like I have been.

Happy listening

Strengths:
Too many...

Weaknesses:
None as far as concerned.

Similar Products Used:
B&W,Dynaudio,spendor,JBL,infinity,Paradigm,Vienna,AE,Dali,....