Bel équilibre tonal, bonne définition, peu coloré,
belle finition et prix abordable.

Médium manquant un peu de corps.

Ces h.p fonctionnent déjà bien avec un ampli peu cher.

Dynamic with good bass as a bookshelf, sounds "big" at high volume, suits rocker and dance beat.

Detail overshaded by "laidbackness", not the taste of jazz and vocal lover.

System:
1) NAD C340 Integrated Amp.
2) Marantz CD63-Mkll (IK Signature version) CD Player.
3) Kef Cresta 2 Bookshelf Speakers.
4) B & W DM302 Bookshelf Speakers.
5) QED Qunex 2 Interconnects.
6) QED Original Speaker Cables.
7) 'Squash balls cut-in-half' underneath the amp. & player.
8) non-branded component rack & speaker stands.

Being an audio enthusiast for only 2 months (all above equipments were bought within the period), my comments might sound shallow or superficial to many audiophiles, yet they are truthful from me. Thus, kindly correct me for any mistakes.

As a result of detailed (from my view point) audition, listening, magazine esp. "What Hifi" reading, website viewing, comments from hifi shop etc., I bought both DM 302 & Cresta 2, mainly due to the popularity and "crystal clear" sound of the former and the review's high rating and "dynamism" of the latter.

After I have "run-in" both pairs of speakers for 2 months, with both normal CDs and "Test CDs", this might be time to give initial comments on their performances.

The DM302 absolutely sings wonderfully with its slightly forward and bold mid-range, crystal clear tweeter's "highs", though at certain expense of understated "lows". The difference between the 302's clarity and other similar priced competitor is quite clearcut. Listening to the percussion of Kari Bremnes's "A lover in Berlin" from the Album "Norwegian Wood", the extremely strong "imaging" gives a feeling of live concert. If you argue that this clarity is due to the "Audiophine" recording of the Kari's album, then please take a listen at Frank Sinatra's "Strangers in the night" & "Theme from New York, New York" from "My Way - The Best of Frank" album with ordinary recording. The 302 plays Sinatra's magnetic vocal and string tuttis in tremendous detail. The so-called "brightness" of the 302 claimed by some reviewer is actually "clarity and detail" for my listening.

On the other hand, the highly acclaimed Cresta 2 (Best Buy award of "What Hifi" magazine) will only beat the 302 under following circumstances, by playing the same Kari's and Sinatra's album:

1) to play the Kari's CD at relatively much higher volume to hear more details of instruments. Only with this higher volume level the Kresta 2's lower frequency (bass) will create the dynamism which can offset the "detail loss" during its playing at lower volume. Comparatively, the 302 undeniably provides more musical details at the said lower volume.

2) play "audiophile recorded CD" - the dynamism only appear when the Cresta 2 plays 24 bit audiophile CDs which are costly, or some minority excellently recorded 16 bit CDs. In this case the Cresta definitely plays the Kari's (24 bit recorded CD) much better than the Sinatra's (ordinary recorded CD). The other alternative to improve the Cresta's performance is to couple these speakers with more expensive higher graded amplifier, which might be out of budget of most audio enthusiasts.

In conclusion, the Cresta 2 will only out perform the DM302 at generally higher volume playing, on expensive audiophile CDs, and when coupled with dearer (non-budget level) equipments.

Before I forget, true enough, the DM302 sounds bright at higher volume. But why should it be bothered, as most audio fans should put their amp. at average, but not at high volume level. Who bother to put up a high volume, as at low volume one will be satisfied and joyed with all musical details and clarity.

Rating: *** for Kef Cresta 2, ***** for B&W DM302.

Similar Products Used:

B & W DM 302

It sounds like it looks, wonderful! Smaller is better :)

bass (what do you expect, it's a bookshelf), but even it's decent for its size.

Well, this will be my second to last review for any speakers that I'll submit to this site. After I sent the Castle Severn 2s (you can read my overly-elated reviews on those, too) back to the store and got my money back it was time to hunt for a set of speakers that I could deal with, price-wise. So, I searched for cheaper speakers and found stuff like the PSBs, which had good bass but were too boomy, Totems (Rokk I think) which sounded funny, the B&W602s ($1000CDN with stands, yikes!!) and down to the 305s. The 305's sounded just as good as the 602s for 300 less.

Then I went to Hi-Fi 2000, one of my favorite shops around here, where I knew I could get a good deal. So, I listened to all their Pardigms, Angstroms, and their Kefs. I came across the Crestas hooked up with a subwoofer, and the combo sounded great. So I worked out a deal to get them together for $1100CDN even, including all tax (originally 1250-1300CDN or so, before tax!).

Now, I have these great, sleek, black speakers in the other room, playing right now (minus the sub). I just got through the Dune soundtrack, the Labyrinth soundtrack, and am now on Rush. What I have noticed so far is the articulate percussion. That is what really stands out this far away. But I can also hear some decent low end, just a little less than my old infinity's. Voices come through great, no sibilance like I heard on the Q15s, and a nice, even midrange, unlike the Q45s and the Totems which made oboes "honk". They sound like the $800CDN Q35s, but with less bass. I have not had these speakers running on pink noise for hours, I've only hade them playing for the last hour or two, yet they sound wonderful. They sound like a bookshelf should, not like the Castle Severn 2s which were towers that sounded like little bookshelfs. I feel happy with the price, and the fact that my $1100 this time is going toward 3 speakers that do what they ought to, instead of toward 2 underachieving mini-towers.

I've learned my Hi-fi lesson the hard way: Be careful how you spend, don't test speakers on equipment that is many, MANY dollars above yours, don't set your sights on the high end right away, there is very great stuff on the lower end (the Q35s sounded great on a Technics receiver!). Last of all, don't listen to the audiphiles, they are not the gods of audio bliss. There is a world of excellent sound south of NAD, Classe, Rega, Nakamichi, Castle, nOrh, B&W Nautilus' etc. etc., so on and so forth. Just because audiophiles avoid anything that costs less than about $500 like the plague only because their pocketbooks and egos are too inflated to think below a certain level doesn't mean that it's crap (read responses to the discussion on Revolutionary thought among audiophiles to see evidence of this mentality). In fact, you shouldn't even read these reviews, they only distort your judgement. You know what you want and that's all you need. I should have learned these lessons when I got my wonderful Infinitys years ago, which were only $367 US in their day, but the lesson has been firmly absorbed this time.

Similar Products Used:

Auditioned: Kef Q15, 35, 45; B&W 601, 602, 305; NHT 1.5, super1; PSB Image 4t, 5t; Totem towers and bookshelf; Castle Severn 2
Already own: Infinity SL30

Cost, Clarity, Looks!

Thumpy bottom lows, mid-bass, a bit bright

Love the clarity.
Bass bottoms are a bit thumpy tough, just don't place these babies near a solid wall. Overall, impressive clarity at this price range.

transparent, honest!!

sounds sometimes a little bit thin

For the money good buy.

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B&W 601 S2

Natural and musical very good mid bass, mid range and treble

None at this price.

These speakers needed two weeks of break in for the tonal balance and base to improve. The more I listen to them, the more impressed i am at how natural and warm these little speakers can sound. They have the soundstage of a floor stander. Base extends far enough to realistically reproduce piano, snare and even base drum(kick). Mid range is lushious and treble is adequate. Splash symbols, base guitar, electric. Overall very balanced and musical. They even come with two sets of quality binding posts for bi-wiring. Try these before spending more.. make sure you break them in for at least two weeks!!!

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psb, paradigm,nht,monitor,mission, B&W

Looks good and sounds great. Awesome bass for such a small speaker.

None for the price

I have yet to hear of such an incredible speaker for the money. These speakers have a very nice bass and preform very well on the high end. I am using an onkyo amp with them and the sound great. They are attached to my computer so dvd's also sound great.

Dynamic. Good bass for size. Involving and musical. Makes music come alive.

None... but may be a little brash for some.

I've recently "upgraded" my Kef Cresta 2's to Kef Q35.2 floorstanders, which still have a considerable running in time to go. The Cresta 2's are without doubt one of the finest budget standmounters around. Anyone who likes their music to be involving and dynamic, must think about these speakers. Those who like their sounds 'shanti' and laid back better look at other speakers. One of the great speakers and can be bought for next to nothing.

Similar Products Used:

Tannoy Mercury, Eltax, Celestion, Kef Q35.2
with Arcam 8R amp, NAD 540 CD player.

Coherent, balanced sound. Obvious quality of workmanship.

None at this pice range.

These speakers needed two weeks of break in for the tonal balance and base to improve. The more I listen to them, the more impressed i am at how natural and warm these little speakers can sound. They have the soundstage of a floor stander. Base extends far enough to realistically reproduce piano, snare and even base drum(kick). Mid range is lushious and treble is adequate. Splash symbols, base guitar, electric. Overall very balanced and musical. They even come with two sets of quality binding posts for bi-wiring. Try these before spending more.. make sure you break them in for at least two weeks!!!

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Dynaudio Audience 52

work well with all types of music

none

I read a review of these speakers in Q magazine and was impressed with what they compared them with (jordans, tannoys, missions, heybrooks). I have owned a pair now for over 12 months and am still amazed that such a small speaker can deliver such great sounding music. These speakers are faithful to all types of music including fey female vocals (ie Dot Allison) and loud rock (Tool). This despite being matched with an AMC 3025a amp which I think is a little under done and am currently upgrading. These speakers can also be bi-wired (as all good speakers can). I totally recommend these fabulous speakers.

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