Dali Vs KEF...

[Maxprocrj]

Dear All

I have narrowed down my bookshelf search to Dali Zensor 3 and KEF Q 300. I have taken audition of both of them and found, both of them are in same league. Though KEF Q300 was a bit bright to neutral with very good bass while Dali Zensor 3 was on much smoother even just out of box on warmer side. but both of them are very pleasant & musical.

On any day I can live with any one of them !!

Friends & experts please share your thoughts ,will be remain highly obliged.

confused:indifferent14:

Rest of the chain is PC ,CA 651A , Parasound ZDAC

Thanks,

 

[kestrel5915]

I have auditioned Dali Zensor 5 and KEF Q300.
What I feel is that the Q300 are overall much better speakers than the Zensor series.
But that is just my opinion because I demoed them in different setups.
If you felt that the Q300 were a bit bright the reason is their clarity in the high and mid range frequencies.

It'll be good for you if you can audition them in the same setup with the same amp (preferably a CA).

 

[shibashis]

Hello Max...,
So you have not let go of your 651A. Do you plan to or will stick with it?
When I was on my hunt a couple of months or so back the Zensor 3 was not yet available in Kolkata and so missed out on auditioning them. Judging by my experience with Zensor 1, the Zensor 3 should be really good.
In my auditions I heard pretty much everything that was available in Kolkata in the range of upto 45K, Q300 came second by my reckoning and eventually I went for the Usher.

I will recommend the Ushers, I really like them but if you are staying with the CA 651A then this is a bright combo, Marantz did better with Usher than CA. Still you should at least listen to the Ushers at Harmonie Audio.
At the same time Dali and CA are a safe bet, they match quite well, so Zensor 3 will be a good call.

 

[Danieljohn]

I Suggest any [Kef] "Coaxial" Speakers over Similarly priced Conventional Speakers.

 

[Maxprocrj]

Hello Max...,
So you have not let go of your 651A. Do you plan to or will stick with it?
When I was on my hunt a couple of months or so back the Zensor 3 was not yet available in Kolkata and so missed out on auditioning them. Judging by my experience with Zensor 1, the Zensor 3 should be really good.
In my auditions I heard pretty much everything that was available in Kolkata in the range of upto 45K, Q300 came second by my reckoning and eventually I went for the Usher.

I will recommend the Ushers, I really like them but if you are staying with the CA 651A then this is a bright combo, Marantz did better with Usher than CA. Still you should at least listen to the Ushers at Harmonie Audio.
At the same time Dali and CA are a safe bet, they match quite well, so Zensor 3 will be a good call.

I know that Usher model ,you are talking about...its really good

I got to change my amp. for sure if I get that....its vfm one indeed...

I will change my amp. only when I will have the sufficient budget like 70-80k appx to upgrade it. I have that plan too....not for now:licklips:

 

[musicbee]

Another plus for KEF Q300, having used them in the past.

 

[reignofchaos]

Honestly comparing a Q300 with the Usher V-601 with is like comparing chalk and cheese. They are not in the same price bracket. Nor do they compete with each other. I'd pick the V-601 in a heartbeat if space is not a concern.

The Q300 is really bright - obnoxiously so. KEF gets interesting from LS50, R300 onwards.

 

[RajithKumar]

Have Not auditioned KEF ..but my experience with Dali Zensor series are very good..(both for movies & music) ..

 

[paramesh]

Hello Max...,
So you have not let go of your 651A. Do you plan to or will stick with it?
When I was on my hunt a couple of months or so back the Zensor 3 was not yet available in Kolkata and so missed out on auditioning them. Judging by my experience with Zensor 1, the Zensor 3 should be really good.
In my auditions I heard pretty much everything that was available in Kolkata in the range of upto 45K, Q300 came second by my reckoning and eventually I went for the Usher.

I will recommend the Ushers, I really like them but if you are staying with the CA 651A then this is a bright combo, Marantz did better with Usher than CA. Still you should at least listen to the Ushers at Harmonie Audio.
At the same time Dali and CA are a safe bet, they match quite well, so Zensor 3 will be a good call.

Any idea abt ushers dealer in bangalore location ?

 

[manniraj]

Any idea abt ushers dealer in bangalore location ?

Paramesh, I think ARN systems at Frazer town deals in Usher speakers.

 

[shibashis]

You may not have to wait for a budget of 70-80K for the amp. I wrote to FM 'sonosphere' who has the Ushers and asked him about amplifiers in budget for Ushers. He has given me some very good ideas.
He suggested me to use a Prometheus pre-amp, a pre-owned one should come for around 20K according to him. I am on the lookout for one, and use a NAD 325/326 as a power amp, again an used one. According to him pre-power combo brings the best out of the Ushers and that performance can not be achieved unless you go higher than a lakh for an integrated. So a new option for you to ponder.

 

[john_k_antony]

I use KEF Q300 in my bedroom setup. The bass sounds pretty overwhelming in my bedroom of size 13' x 17.5'. Sound is pretty good. At low volumes, its not that bad. I am using a pretty old Onkyo HTIB AVR to power them. May be the exaggerated bass is due to poor / wrong amp-speaker synergy. I am soon going to try my Marantz NR 1402 and see if things get better.

Well, it was a disaster when I tried to use Q300 as main (LCR) HT speakers in my dedicated room.

-John.

 

[magma]

A 5 star rating on what Hifi
Or an award of what Hifi
Has no meaning

They are bought most of the time
What hi if ratings are no way to judge equipment

Stereophile is a better judge by miles
Though every pro review outfit always do have their own cakes to bake

Hear the speaker
Or trust a knowledgeable person
More than a what hi if review


And please do get over the notion
That front ported speKers have no placement hassles and can be pushed against a wall


I think someone
Mentioned
With the new key stuff
The fun begins only post 50k

This in fact is almost becoming a norm unfortunately with the dollar skyrocketing

And budget stuff being dumped down the consumers throat
Without exposing him to something better

 

[john_k_antony]

+1 to magma on the "5 start rating" on What-HiFi. With my very limited experience, I was not impressed with most of the 5 star rated products by What-HiFi. Stereophile does a great review as magma suggested. I also look at 6moons for some good reviews. But to even get their "B+" rated products, you have to shell out a good amount of money and most of them are not available in India easily.

A 5 star rating on what Hifi
Or an award of what Hifi
Has no meaning

They are bought most of the time
What hi if ratings are no way to judge equipment

Stereophile is a better judge by miles
Though every pro review outfit always do have their own cakes to bake

Hear the speaker
Or trust a knowledgeable person
More than a what hi if review


And please do get over the notion
That front ported speKers have no placement hassles and can be pushed against a wall


I think someone
Mentioned
With the new key stuff
The fun begins only post 50k

This in fact is almost becoming a norm unfortunately with the dollar skyrocketing

And budget stuff being dumped down the consumers throat
Without exposing him to something better

 

[magma]

The thing is john
The guys selling good stuff can't be bothered about what hi if
Now most Indians having less exposure to brands rely on what Hifi

So now what to do the dealers in India do.?
Bring down products that are what hi if star rated

So starts the circle
Of feeding junk to the consumer

Now when some Good Samaritan tries to get down a really good sounding speaker
He tries hard
But can't break through because most of us are so concerned about what others think and how the hi if mags rate a product
That we turn a blind eye to this non discreet and he can't sell

So next time he doesn't bother
And just falls in line with what Hindi

So starts the circle again
Feed junk

 

[Maxprocrj]

Quote of the day....so true......

The thing is john
The guys selling good stuff can't be bothered about what hi if
Now most Indians having less exposure to brands rely on what Hifi

So now what to do the dealers in India do.?
Bring down products that are what hi if star rated

So starts the circle
Of feeding junk to the consumer

Now when some Good Samaritan tries to get down a really good sounding speaker
He tries hard
But can't break through because most of us are so concerned about what others think and how the hi if mags rate a product
That we turn a blind eye to this non discreet and he can't sell

So next time he doesn't bother
And just falls in line with what Hindi

So starts the circle again
Feed junk

 

[john_k_antony]

Well said sir.

I always recommend my friends to auditions the electronics before they buy them and if possible get a home audition when it comes to speakers.

I have personally experienced the "horror" of speakers sounding way different when you set them up in your room.

My 2 cents.

-John.

The thing is john
The guys selling good stuff can't be bothered about what hi if
Now most Indians having less exposure to brands rely on what Hifi

So now what to do the dealers in India do.?
Bring down products that are what hi if star rated

So starts the circle
Of feeding junk to the consumer

Now when some Good Samaritan tries to get down a really good sounding speaker
He tries hard
But can't break through because most of us are so concerned about what others think and how the hi if mags rate a product
That we turn a blind eye to this non discreet and he can't sell

So next time he doesn't bother
And just falls in line with what Hindi

So starts the circle again
Feed junk

 

[Hari Iyer]

I happen to listen to the Dali Fazon F5 speaker at Sountech, Thane and can certainly say that this is a junk product. I could not stand more than 10 minutes listening to this speaker. hyeah: The highs were very bright and cluttered and masked the entire mid-range and lows. Only GOD knows how Whats Hi-Fi gave 5 stars to the this junk. Now more and more guys are of-late realizing the game of these so-called reviewers and these magazines are fast loosing all credibility.

 

[vijwilso]

I happen to listen to the Dali Fazon F5 speaker at Sountech, Thane and can certainly say that this is a junk product. I could not stand more than 10 minutes listening to this speaker. hyeah: The highs were very bright and cluttered and masked the entire mid-range and lows. Only GOD knows how Whats Hi-Fi gave 5 stars to the this junk. Now more and more guys are of-late realizing the game of these so-called reviewers and these magazines are fast loosing all credibility.

what was the electronics that it was paired with .

Few years back I felt the same with the mid-variant Dali Speakers , but later figured-out that it was the pairing issue .

 

[Hari Iyer]

what was the electronics that it was paired with .

Few years back I felt the same with the mid-variant Dali Speakers , but later figured-out that it was the pairing issue .

I think it was paired with the new NAD amplifier & NAD CD player.