Tom the Bomb Posted February 23, 2006 Posted February 23, 2006 Hi Guys, Anybody has experinec with KEF Cara Digital Series Speakers 100W. I can get them secondhand but do not know too much about them. These are about 10 years old and are bass reflex. From KEF website, KEF seem to be fairly top end type of stuff but I have no experience. and their website does not show anythign about them. I am also thinking of purchasing a Denon 3805 receiver and a Richter Thor IV sub. Can anybody recommend with this set up what centre speaker to get (around $500) and rear speakers ($500) to make up my 5.1 system. How important is it to match speakers, as long as the impedence ir right and wattage adequate all this hype about matching speakers I do not understand. I also want to use the Denon for 2 channel CD audio listening and I have been told it is good for that but I am yet to audition one. Cheers Tom
norpus Posted February 23, 2006 Posted February 23, 2006 Firstly Tom, this should be in the HT section, as it is not a review In answer to your questions, the 3805 and Thor are very good choices and quite cost effective at the mo as they are not at new release prices. Kef's also have a great rep from many years ago, but I do not know that particular model. Buying speakers second hand can be fine, even if ten years old, speakers if well cared for can last much longer than any electronics gear. You should get <<50% off retail for 2nd hand, so if closer to 20-30% it is likely to be a bargain. For a centre, it is best to voice match the centre with same/similar drivers as the mains, so that when the sounds pan from left to right there is not a change in pitch. You may struggle to match 2nd hand mains with a 2nd hand centre tho. Centre is most important speaker in HT, mains in music. Get a relatively large similar quality centre with good vocals, as this is where dialogue comes from and it wants to be crystal clear. Rear speakers are not so critical to be the same. Some say to choose the speakers first (front 3) and then match the amp to it. Maybe the denon is a bit of a jack of all trades and can run most adequately that you will be looking at.
Tom the Bomb Posted February 23, 2006 Author Posted February 23, 2006 Firstly Tom, this should be in the HT section, as it is not a reviewIn answer to your questions, the 3805 and Thor are very good choices and quite cost effective at the mo as they are not at new release prices. Kef's also have a great rep from many years ago, but I do not know that particular model. Buying speakers second hand can be fine, even if ten years old, speakers if well cared for can last much longer than any electronics gear. You should get <<50% off retail for 2nd hand, so if closer to 20-30% it is likely to be a bargain. For a centre, it is best to voice match the centre with same/similar drivers as the mains, so that when the sounds pan from left to right there is not a change in pitch. You may struggle to match 2nd hand mains with a 2nd hand centre tho. Centre is most important speaker in HT, mains in music. Get a relatively large similar quality centre with good vocals, as this is where dialogue comes from and it wants to be crystal clear. Rear speakers are not so critical to be the same. Some say to choose the speakers first (front 3) and then match the amp to it. Maybe the denon is a bit of a jack of all trades and can run most adequately that you will be looking at. Thanks Norpus, Sorry for placing in the wrong section. So, if I decide to buy the second hand KEFs does that mean that I should also look for a KEF centre. I would probably buy new centre speaker and hence a good retailer should be able to advise me what centre to match with the KEF Caras. Cheers Tom
Møa Posted June 10, 2008 Posted June 10, 2008 Hey Tom. I actually have a 10 or 11 year old pair of Kef Cara, my dad gave them to me and they work to perfection. i have a Cambridge Audio Azur 640a Amplifier. and they play very good. i could defenetly recomment them, even if they are second hand. Good luck speaker searching.!
ozcal Posted June 11, 2008 Posted June 11, 2008 Hi TTB, here is a link with a lot of info on the speakers : http://www.hifiloudspeakers.info/speakerta...wtopic.php?t=21 Seems the Cara's were made for the Lasky's hi-fi chain in the UK. Gordon
Mining Man Posted June 11, 2008 Posted June 11, 2008 ~Good luck speaker searching.! You reckon he's still looking after two years?
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