KEF Q800ds surrounds replacing my LSi/FX

pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,092
edited August 2013 in Speakers
I've had them up & running for about a week now & I must say they were well worth it. Now mind you the LSi/FX surrounds are superb in their own right but they weren't quite the perfect match for my new KEF setup. Having the main 5 speakers timbre matched makes all the difference in the world. Dan (mantis) has always stressed the importance of timbre matching as much as possible & he is correct. The music & movie action & voices are more coherent & dead on accurate, the audio just pans & flows as natural as can be. You are more emmersed in the action & music score, it makes for a more complete experience.

Now does anyone need a mint pair of LSi/FX speakers?
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Post edited by pearsall001 on
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited April 2012
    Awesome! I need to get some Q800ds as well. So well worth it eh? I wasn't sure whether go get those or Q300s for the surrounds.
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • bobsauto49
    bobsauto49 Posts: 973
    edited April 2012
    I went with the Q300's and am very pleased! I ran them up front for a couple of hours,and was quite suprised at how well they did on their own! But as Phil has pointed out before,it depends on your set-up!
    Congrats Phil! Enjoy!
    "Everything I ever did in my life worthwhile I caught hell for"
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,092
    edited April 2012
    Glay you're enjoying the Q300's for surrounds...size wise they're just a tad too big for my best location. The 800's are a perfect fit for my room. Having all 5 timbre matched sure does make a difference.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited April 2012
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    The music & movie action & voices are more coherent & dead on accurate, the audio just pans & flows as natural as can be. You are more emmersed in the action & music score, it makes for a more complete experience.

    Good deal, congrats! I agree that is really makes a notable diffrence and makes for an awesome overall experience to have timbre matched speakers all around.

    Quick question: In the quote above, are you comparing the difference between lsi and kef in general. Or just the swap from fxi to q800 as surrounds?

    I'm interested to know the overall diffrence in sound of a full lsi setup vs a full kef setup for music and movies. Do you feel KEF is better at doing both movies and music compared to lsi. Or is it maybe only better at movies. This would be real interesting to know.
    Living Room 7.1 HT Rig:

    M70 | CS2 | M60 | Atrium5 - Surr. | SUB - Emotiva ULTRA12 + Tara Labs sub cable | Pioneer Elite VSX-52 | Parasound HCAs 1000A | Sony BDP-S790 | Belkin PureAV PF60 | MIT Exp2 Wires

    Bedroom 5.0 HT Rig (Music/Movies/Gaming) :

    LSi9 | LsiC | Lsi/fx | Marantz SR7002 | NAD T955 | Sony BDP-S360 | Belkin PureAV PF30 | AQ Blue Racer II ICs & AQ Type 4 wires | PS3
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,092
    edited April 2012
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    Good deal, congrats! I agree that is really makes a notable diffrence and makes for an awesome overall experience to have timbre matched speakers all around.

    Quick question: In the quote above, are you comparing the difference between lsi and kef in general. Or just the swap from fxi to q800 as surrounds?

    I'm interested to know the overall diffrence in sound of a full lsi setup vs a full kef setup for music and movies. Do you feel KEF is better at doing both movies and music compared to lsi. Or is it maybe only better at movies. This would be real interesting to know.

    I'll be brief & to the point...the full 5.2 LSi system that I had for quite awhile was very nice sounding & I was very pleased with it. However the New Q series 5.2 system has it all over the LSi system big time. For both HT & 2 channel it's no contest. These guys are staying put for quite some time!!!! They really are that good.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited April 2012
    I am totally with you on having matching surrounds and have had verbal gymnastics over this subject with a few people who claim it is not needed. I was just admiring your signature and noticed an NAD T765 AVR / preamp on it. I remember you were looking for a new pre and is this the new addition?
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited April 2012
    I am not sold on voice matching surrounds...

    Then again I refuse to have surrounds that cost more than a couple hundred dollars and i also refuse to have surrounds that I cant pull down and use for something else other than surrounds - just like my center channel(s)... lol
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Devlon
    Devlon Posts: 355
    edited April 2012
    To PrazVT:

    Sorry to interject this into the thread here guys, but I couldn't figure out how to email PrazVT direct and bypass this thread. Anyway, Praz I noticed in your signature that you had the XO modified in your Lsi9's. Did it make that much of a difference, and can you send me the name of who did that for you. Thanks.
    Living Room: HK AVR 354 as pre/pro, 2 x Polk Audio Micropro 4000, Adcom GFA-7500, 2 x Mirage OMD-15
    2 x Mirage OMD-5, 1 x Mirage OMD-C1, APC H15, Sony S790, Philips 52" LCD, Beogram 3000, FAT (Firestone Audio Tobby DAC), Harmony One

    Den: Sherwood R-972,as pre/pro, 2 x Velodyne SPL-1000R, 3 x Crown Drivecore XLS1500, 2 x Polk Audio Lsi9
    1 x Polk Audio Lsic, 2 x Polk Audio Lsifx, Sony S790, APC H15, Dspeaker Dual Core 2.0, W4S DAC 2, Keces DA-151
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2012
    VR3 wrote: »
    I am not sold on voice matching surrounds...

    Then again I refuse to have surrounds that cost more than a couple hundred dollars and i also refuse to have surrounds that I cant pull down and use for something else other than surrounds - just like my center channel(s)... lol
    Then you don't know what you're missing out on.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited April 2012
    Eh, I am just not that "hardcore" into HT or 2 channel anymore... if it turns on, is loud and shakes the house I am good! :)

    Maybe one day when my life isnt 85% work I will refocus and be crazy once more!! :)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited April 2012
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    I'll be brief & to the point...the full 5.2 LSi system that I had for quite awhile was very nice sounding & I was very pleased with it. However the New Q series 5.2 system has it all over the LSi system big time. For both HT & 2 channel it's no contest. These guys are staying put for quite some time!!!! They really are that good.

    Fair enough, thanks! I would imagine that KEF would not release an updated new line unless they had improved upon their products, so it makes sense that the newer speakers are better than lsi's which are great, but at this point are a slightly dated technology. This is also probably the reason lsim was released.
    Face wrote: »
    Then you don't know what you're missing out on.
    +1.:arrowu: What he said!
    Living Room 7.1 HT Rig:

    M70 | CS2 | M60 | Atrium5 - Surr. | SUB - Emotiva ULTRA12 + Tara Labs sub cable | Pioneer Elite VSX-52 | Parasound HCAs 1000A | Sony BDP-S790 | Belkin PureAV PF60 | MIT Exp2 Wires

    Bedroom 5.0 HT Rig (Music/Movies/Gaming) :

    LSi9 | LsiC | Lsi/fx | Marantz SR7002 | NAD T955 | Sony BDP-S360 | Belkin PureAV PF30 | AQ Blue Racer II ICs & AQ Type 4 wires | PS3
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited April 2012
    To PrazVT:

    Sorry to interject this into the thread here guys, but I couldn't figure out how to email PrazVT direct and bypass this thread. Anyway, Praz I noticed in your signature that you had the XO modified in your Lsi9's. Did it make that much of a difference, and can you send me the name of who did that for you. Thanks.

    Hey Devlon - yeah it helps. Improved clarity & cleaner bass response - to my ears, they woke the LSi9s up.

    You should check with VR3 about doing any xo mods, as he's done many.
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited April 2012
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    Fair enough, thanks! I would imagine that KEF would not release an updated new line unless they had improved upon their products, so it makes sense that the newer speakers are better than lsi's which are great, but at this point are a slightly dated technology. This is also probably the reason lsim was released.


    +1.:arrowu: What he said!



    The new LSIm's are a big step up from the originals IMO.
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  • BeefJerky
    BeefJerky Posts: 1,320
    edited April 2012
    Face wrote: »
    Then you don't know what you're missing out on.
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    +1.:arrowu: What he said!
    +2:arrowu:

    I used to feel the same way as VR3 until I actually tried matching surrounds. The difference was quite noticeable. To be exact, the surround field is truly more coherent in relation to the front and that makes it much more realistic.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,092
    edited April 2012
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    I am totally with you on having matching surrounds and have had verbal gymnastics over this subject with a few people who claim it is not needed. I was just admiring your signature and noticed an NAD T765 AVR / preamp on it. I remember you were looking for a new pre and is this the new addition?

    No, the NAD T765 is my current AVR/prepro. I'm in the process now of looking into a new AVR or processor. The T765 is a fabulous piece but a bit long in the tooth as far as current things go. I've been eyeballing a few units but the new Yamaha Aventage line, in particular the a3010 has got my attention. I'm not ready yet to make a move but it just might not be too far off either.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited April 2012
    Here is my problem with trying to choose whether to get Q300s or the Q800ds as surrounds. I have to position my surrounds directly to the sides of my couch. On the left side, about 1 ft towards the front, my fireplace juts out about 2 feet. So with dipole / bipole speakers, one side essentially fires into that wall. With the FXi5s I'm using now, it's not so much of an issue as they look to be thinner speakers and angle out more. The Q800 seems to be wider and angle less ... so I'm not sure if that fireplace would impact the sound.

    When my system was all RTi A, I definitely preferred the FXi5s as surrounds compared to the RTi A1s that were there before. Much better surround effects.

    Of course, if I move into a place in the next 6 months (a distinct possibility), I may not have any issues like this. Suggestions?
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2012
    PrazVT wrote: »

    Of course, if I move into a place in the next 6 months (a distinct possibility), I may not have any issues like this. Suggestions?
    Wait. ;)
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited April 2012
    Agreed - thank you voice of reason :cheesygrin:

    I'll have to wait anyway as I'm planning on trading in my Mazda 3 for a 2012 BMW 328i Sportline next month ;) Thus far I've quenched the occasional audio purchase urge w/ the odd cable purchase lol.
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,092
    edited April 2012
    Once you make the move & are settled in & ready to add new surrounds I highly recommend the Q800's. The design gives you a more diffuse pattern over the Q300's which is what you want for surrounds. The Q300 is a fantastic speaker but is forward firing & would be very easy to pinpoint where the sound is coming from. Where as the Q800's do a remarkable job of putting you right inside the action yet they don't give themselves away as far as where the sound is coming from.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • mystik610
    mystik610 Posts: 699
    edited April 2012
    Congrats!

    I'll take the LSiFX's off your hands =).
    My System Showcase!

    Media Room
    Paradigm Studio 60 - Paradigm CC-690 - Paradigm ADP-390 - Epik Empire - Anthem MRX300 - Emotiva XPA-5

    Living-room
    Paradigm MilleniaOne - Rythmik F12GSE - Onkyo TX-SR805 - Adcom 5400

    Headphones
    Sennheiser Momentum Over-Ear - Shure SE215 - Fiio E18 Kunlun
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,092
    edited April 2012
    mystik610 wrote: »
    Congrats!

    I'll take the LSiFX's off your hands =).

    I might be letting them go...shoot me a PM, maybe we can work something out.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Slickman
    Slickman Posts: 1
    edited August 2013
    Hi, I'm new here and I'm converting over to KEF. I heard the Q800DS surrounds aren't labeled left and right. How could you tell which one was for the left and which for the right?
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  • devani
    devani Posts: 1,497
    edited August 2013
    well, knowing it and doing it are two different things....everyone knows but not everyone's doing it....
    Video: LG 55LN5100/Samsung LNT4065F
    Receiver: HK AVR445
    Source: OPPO BDP-93
    HT: POLK SPEAKERS RTi6, FXi3, CSi5, VTF-3 MK2
    2Ch system: MC2105, AR-XA, AR-2A, AR9, BX-300, OPPO BDP-83
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