JohnNick72

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $635.00 from e-Bay (in USD)

Summary:
I recently purchased a pair of Cherry finished Keilidhs, with the Ku-Stone bases, 2nd hand for what I think was a steal - $635 (these were ~$2K new a few years ago). I am running them in Bi-Amped AKtiv mode through Tara Labs RSC Prime 1000 powered from 2 Linn LK140's sourced by a Linn Mimik CD player, and a Linn Majik IP Integrated Amp. I am amazed at the level of clarity, imaging, and the wonderfully full-bodied sound that these little monsters put out. These speakers, with this Linn setup, sound absolutely fabulous. I have listened to a random sampling of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, David Gray, Ben Harper (with the Blind Boys of Alabama), Travis, Radiohead, Sting, Smashing Pumpkins, Charlotte Martin, Elliott Smith, Dave Matthews Band, & Ray LaMantangue in the 2 days since I had all the equipment, and they handle all of it perfectly. I just can't get the smile off my face! :-) Do yourself a favor and pick up a pair of these, and run them with an all Linn system for maximum enjoyment!

Strengths:
Great Looking Great Sounding Aktiv Flexibility

Weaknesses:
None Detected (so far)!

Similar Products Used:
I have some Linn LS120 Index (on Ku-Stones), but they aren't even close to these in performance. I auditioned the Kaber, and Keltik a while back (in the early 90's) and they were fabulous also. Linn makes great gear!

Price Paid:  $885.00 from Image Audio

Summary:
When i first lisened to the Keilidhs, i knew i wanted them, i had at the time Karik cd, Wakonda, and two Lk100 amps, they sounded much better than my Linn Index speakers, which was no suprise! But i found that the bass could not keep up with certain music, this was sorted when i added active cards to the Lk100, it sounded alot better, it inproved further when i bought another Lk100 with Aktive card, but it was then that i found that the Keilidhs were not bringing out the best in my all Linn system, which was then Tri- active, the bass was abit 'one note' so i now going to change them for Linn Espek, which will then bring out the full potential of my system, but at £885 they certainly made me 'hear the music' for a very long tine.

Strengths:
They gave the music emotion.

Weaknesses:
They need alot of power for the bass, eg: they need to be 'Aktive' for you to fully enjoy the speakers

Similar Products Used:
Mission, infinity.

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Off a Friend

Summary:
Laying back for the first time to listen to the Keilidh's i tried a variety of musical forms. It excels in all forms with great feeling coming through in soft music such as Shawn Colvin or The Beautiful South. It also brings out the life in more upbeat music creating a real "toe tapping" sensation, but where the Linns shine best for me is when i relax and sit back to some Easy Listening and classical music. Frank Sinatra's live album goes a long way to show the quality of the speakers. The only fault (if any) with the Keilidh's is a tendency for bass to be mixed on more dancy records. All in all excellent value for money

Strengths:
Clarity and feeling in the music

Weaknesses:
Bass can on occasion be blurred

Similar Products Used:
Linn Ninka, Kef KHT2002

Price Paid:  $1100.00 from Local authorized dea

Summary:
I had a friend moving to Shanghai, who didn''t want to spend a lot to set up his HT. This gave me a chance to sell my 1st HT system. And now it''s my turn. During the test, it didn''t give me strong 1st impression but did present all details of music and very balanced. Overally it''s good for sound reproduction. Besides its decent name is also of additional value. Unfortunately I was given an offer which can''t be given up at great cut of my budget for a pair of MS Performance 860, which is at different level of reproducing greater energy. (For interested friend, please check my review under Mordaunt-short 860). Wish all users good experiences with your Keilidh.

Strengths:
Good reproduction with Hi-end flavor

Weaknesses:
Not really, but from my personal feeling, it doesn''t have much strong character in sound.

Similar Products Used:
NAIM

Price Paid:  $1000.00

Summary:
Keilidh is a very smooth speaker never fatiguing even at high volume levels.The central image & the soundstage it creates is great for a $2K speaker.What i like most about them is the ability to listen for hours & i mean hours,without getting tired. I use the Keilidhs in an all LINN system & this review is also on the same context.For some reason i did not bother to change my old AQ speaker cables to LINN.Recently i replaced them with the K400 & that was the day i really started respecting the Keilidhs.I had an entirely new system with better bass,slam & more detail.It sounded full and gone was the feeling "something is missing".So,for anyone using Keilidhs with other wire you owe it yourselves to try them. Anyway they don''t cost the earth. For me the true test of a speaker lies in how much emotion they can evoke in you & not hearing a pepsi can falling somewhere in the audience.The Keilidh does this admirably & you get soaked in the music. To date,every time before hitting the stop button i pause for a second or two ,just to be able to catch that last ounce of excitement. Need i say more !! P.S. - There''s around 30 reviews on the Keilidhs under "Center Channels ??"

Strengths:
Beautifully Built ,Quality & most of all - "Music as heard from Keilidhs"

Weaknesses:
Bass only goes down to 50Hz(passive)

Similar Products Used:
Linn Espek,Ninka,KEF Reference,Sonus F, Tannoy,Naim Intro