Thank you for this outstanding review. My partner and I have been testing loudspeakers and components for months on our quest to find a new stereo system for our very problematic room and our very different tastes in music (heavy classical stuff vs. hard electronic stuff). Thanks to this review our attention was drawn to the Kii Three (happily we ignored the price, they are much cheaper here in Germany). We got the chance to test them for a month - and never returned them. The Kii Three are all we ever wished for. In our untreated and acoustically very difficult room they produce a sound so clear and accurate, especially in the low frequencies (such a tight and detailed bass without any problems!) - I'm still stunned and both of us are absolutely happy. Thanks a thousand times for your review which set the hare running!
After 39 years of audio (audiophile) engineering and even longer being an audiophile, I've always known (from experience) that beautifully designed "active" systems were the way forward. I've been knocked greatly for that opinion until a high end active system are experienced by those who simply don't know. Things have progressed much further. This review is a perfect example of the direction we should take. I look forward to future developments 👍
Yup, active systems allow speaker designers to fine tune their designs to degrees they wouldn't be able to otherwise. The only real downside to active is they're more expensive than their passive counterparts
@@frosty6845 Some might argue that they are actually cheaper when you factor in the cost of buying an amplifier, DAC, etc. Another aspect which is a much bigger downside for me is the fact that your system becomes much less modular and therefore much less flexible if you decide to get active speakers. What this means is that you can not reuse amplifiers, DACs, or other components if you for example decide to get different speakers, or if your speakers somehow break, or if one part of the whole audio chain ends up breaking. There is a reason for why active speakers typically have a much shorter warranty. For example KEF has a 5 year warranty for passive speakers, and a 2 year warranty for active speakers. You might argue that speakers should last much longer than that anyways, but there is a reason why such a difference exists.
I like the speakers but the remote seems to be the worst design in respect to all the buttons being around the knob and the very small LCD screen. The knob in the video is wobbly or bent looking as it turns and the buttons resemble that of a credit card remote. Hardly worth of being with 20'000 dollar speakers. I think you need to redesign that remote or offer a second option that is a proper rectangular control unit with quality tactile aluminum buttons and common placed volume not in-between an array of buttons with maybe a common IR remote that you can use at the listening position. Hmmm I describe a typical hifi amplifier. I understand you want a different stand out design but I envision using that remote and it being so impractical and downright cheap and silly looking.
Heard these today at the audio show in Toronto. It was about the 20th room we went into so there was lots to compare them to before and after. These were the best of the show. Think about it, as much as 50% of any system you listen to is 'the room'. This system virtually eliminates 'the room', leaving just the performance. Astounding to say the least. If I only had $20,000.
I have a pair: Everything the man says is true! I thought they were way off budget until I realised I could sell all of my amps etc. The proverbial curtains being lifted off the speakers. I've never had better sound at home (ex Linn / Naim / Shahinian user of 40 years standing).
Excellent reveiw sir, absolutely proper explanation of all the tech of the product in review Also production value of the video is at par with any of top UA-camrs currently No compromise in Making the video
Thanks - you've seen precisely what we are aiming for with these videos: to make high-end audio more understandable, more relatable and to quote another reader. "doing so much more than sticking a camera on a tripod and talking for 30 minutes."
Hi.i work in the store that import these speakers for my country,we alredy instaled some pairs in clients houses and audioshows,they,re better with the subs,especially in bigger rooms and if you requeired more sound pressure,they sound really good,and are very easy to install,even some "old school"audiophiles love the speakers and they,re sound,punchy,fast,accurated,and musical at the same time.If you,re more into music and less in equipment go gor it. Your video is great. D
heard these a couple weeks ago, amazing speaker. also heard them with the active bass cabinets, WOW, $50k is out of my price range but now I know what hi end sounds like and I like it
My problem with Future Fi is longevity and reliability. I had an NAD M2 and it was great until a fault just outside the 5yr warranty turned it into a brick. Even though it had been a flagship product and was only just over 5 years old, NAD couldn’t provide the required parts and it couldn’t be repaired. I will never be able to be convinced of high end, fully integrated devices unless manufacturers offer lifetime warranties. So for me, for major purchases, I want the elements that probably can’t be repaired, to be stand alone. For me, it’s too much of a potentially risk for a major investment.
In the past I have literally bought homes based upon my speakers working well in what would be their chosen room. That was back when I ran Accoustat model 8 opera speakers. First it was hard to find a room these monoliths would fit into (4' 8" wide and 7' 10" tall) let alone where they could breath. Not to mention that between the speakers and the Threshold 800A's there was well over $20k there. Then to make our home more a home and less a listening area surrounded by a house, I got a pair of Matrix 800"s that now play through SA-1 monoblocks that I still use to this day. Your review has really peaked my interest. Well done. Where in Florida can I go and audition these speakers? I can very easily sell the amps and the speakers for $20k.
Be warned, unless your listening room is small enough in volume these speakers won't put out much low bass at normal listening levels. SPL is limited. I understand the company is developing larger louder models for larger rooms.
I love this channel, alot of the information goes over my head as I'm new to the hobby, nevertheless I find it very informative and entertaining, count me amused. Keep up the good work, respect from Melbourne, take care = )
Thanks, Bruce. It's like steering a large ship but slowly, video by video, my aim with this channel is to make high-end audio more accessible to a wider audience.
I listened to the "floorstanding" option.. impressiv sounding high-tech speakers .. but others not so perfectly playing speakers stole my heart.. let me think about it again when i have the grands..
I love the concept of active speakers. I'm building three way towers with two SB-Acoustics Satori 10" woofers, a 6,5" midrange and beryllium tweeter driven by a DSP driven three way Hypex plate amp.
Excellent review - and I agree totally having heard them at the last Melbourne International HiFi show where I felt they gave the best sound at the show. It's worth mentioning that there is now an additional add on bass module for them as I understand it, to extend the bass for those who need more. Bang & Olufsen, also a stalwart of 'complete' fully active speaker systems, has similar but slightly more advanced (and more expensive) room compensation technology in their flagship Beolab 90 and the Beolab 50 - both much more expensive than the Kii 3 - but with rumours of further models to come. Either way, to my ears, having heard them all, the Beolabs and the Kiis are very much as you put it - the future of Hifi - especially for people who love music/movies, and want a really high performance/high fidelity system, without all the attendant and all to common audiophile neurosis about mixing and matching passive separates systems, and getting caught up in the pseudo science and foo which seems to permeate the audiophile world unfortunately.
These are quite intriguing, thanks for sharing. I wonder how long until some off brand replicates this to the "mainstays" level that the average joe will purchase.
Great review, good to hear someone using objective terminology and cutting through the crap. I like that you simplify the difference between colour and accuracy, having come from a music production and sound engineering background, my leisure listening preferences tend towards clean and clinical accuracy, once you've listened to Fleetwood Mac on some flat response studio monitors in a well treated room you realise how important it is to spend more money on acoustic treatment than just spending more on HiFi equipment. I do love that these speakers take a serious approach to reflections, and if I had that money I'd certainly consider them, but I don't :(
two things that needs to be addressed before powered speakers really can take over. first they have to do real time processing, Kii Three has a option to bypass some dsp to get no delay but that defeat many of the benefits of the speaker. second they need to fix the hiss issue, no noise has to come out of the speaker at any volume. people will allow for some leeway here, within 1 feet you can allow for some noise but farther away it should be in audible.
Ha yeah I think John has been too long away from pokey UK flats and semis. His room looks bigger than mine (which is a converted farm shed) - I've always thought of mine as a cavern compared to most places I go to. Even if they're bigger than, say 3x3 often they're awkward shapes precluding setting up a decent listening space.
it is the same as when you would have a large grand piano, the sound needs to go somewhere, so for having a big sound you are better of with a bigger room, 3x3m could be a weird bathroom (you want to avoid square floor, similarly you are avoiding spheres (or their parts) for acoustical reasons)
In a typical household those bass operating in 40-300hz would be in the modal region, which means the radiation pattern doesn't matter (whether omni, cardioid, or dipole) and the room modes dominates. The use of cardioid pattern, hence, is more useful in large arena/stadium. In home use it is an uneccessary complexity and expense. I would agree the cardioid pattern is beneficial in geometric region 300-400hz and above where the pattern smoothly transition to forward-directional nature of the Seas DXT tweeters. This will be superior to other typical loudspeakers where the transition from omni to forward directional is abrupt.
Talking to Chris as to how to import these into my country of residence, and will eventually get my hands on a Graphite pair. Great review to touch on nearly all subjects, vielen Dank JD!
Great video. I've been waiting for years to see more of this DSP magic that's taking over the audio world now days. This equipment is way to expensive right now, in a few years this will be more common place and affordable.
I would worry about when (not if) they fail. Lots to go wrong in these whole system option. Hope the warranty is at least 10 years, especially at $20K.
This is a great review, and kudos to Jana for the wonderful video. I have been looking at the Kii Audio equipment and I am intrigued. Given the cost of all the separates one would normally have to put together to get the same functionality, these may even be considered a bargain.
It would be interesting for you to compare Linn Exakt DSM connected to Exakt Akudoriks with the Kiis please Darko. Not saying they'd be better, but it would be an interesting comparison of a similar set of technologies implemented in a different way, to see which is the most effective at solving the problems.
Very neat! However if I've got an extra $20,000 sitting around I'll completely renovate my kitchen, and continue listening to my $4,000 hodgepodge hifi system with cd player and turntable.
Can someone help me out? I am not an electrical engineer but I don't understand having a 40bit floating point DSP and then manage the time domain of the wall reflections without a microphone.
The probably do a bunch of testing with mics to create algorithms baked into the system, hence why you have to tell it different parameters of the room.
Apparently, Andrew Jones also thinks this is the direction high-end audio is headed. His ELAC Navis (Argo) series is also accommodating today's audiophiles with the "everything-in-one-box" approach. And it makes perfect sense, both from both an engineering standpoint and the consumer's wants and needs, not to mention better musical reproduction. While Andrew's speakers are 1/10th the cost, they pretty much accomplish the same goal, albeit, with fewer bells and whistles.
I have a small room, 4m x 3,6 x 3 and been measuring response in different monitor placement, before and I after I go the stands. They do work in a small room, like a real small room, not like yours :)
Thanks John. I really enjoy how you approach reviews. A quick question about digital conectivity. The remote reminds me of the controller I use for a set of PMC monitors, which is fine on a desk or console in a studio, but doen't lend itself to a home environment. Have you or a guest in your home tripped over the cable? Are there any plans for a remote for the remote, or perhaps control via and iPad or similar?
Love the term “FutureFi”. This is an interesting system. As a old school “audiophile” this isn’t for me. However, I wonder what a rich enthusiast with not a lot of time would think. I still don’t think this gets to “wife endorsed”.
So... using them as outdoor speakers is kind of redundant them. Got it.
4 роки тому
Interesting, I come from pro audio land and use KEF R3s as my main nearfield monitors ( i made a video on that odd choice too too). Things are gradually starting to cross over into both fields as some audiophiles start to discover that very neutral presentation and convenient active technology exists in the pro space. If I had the pounds to drop I would like to use Kii 3, but TBH the R3 with a sub sound full-range and excellent. Have you explored Sonarworks software? It's room correction used in pro studios, you may enjoy it and find it interesting to profile your listening space. If you want to hear some more interesting pro audio speakers, check out Hedd Type 20, and maybe some of the smaller Barefoot raange.
Hi John, thanks for this review. I'm really interested in changing my passive set up and upgrading to these active loudspeakers. Whats holding me back is my room configuration. I have to run a minimum 10 meter rca cable from my Rega p6/ fono mc (the room is triangular shaped and there is no other option). To Connect it with an adapter to the xlr port of the slave. I'm afraid this will not do the sound any good. I've also read your review on the PS Audio NuWave phono converter (2013). I'm now considering replacing the Rega Fono mc with the PS Audio, so I can connect the P6 digitally to the Kii Three's. I'm a bit anxious to spend the extra 2 grand above the 15 grand and would really appreciate your advice.
When I heard them at a show, sitting perfectly in the sweet spot, the music sounded restrained, like in a straightjacket, and just wouldn't flow freely. Very weird!
John , have you ever listened to Shahinian loud speakers . I bought Arcs 5 years ago and dont think i will ever change them , it would be wonderful if you could review Arcs or Obelisk at some stage , Best
Living in the US...I have limited ability to go out an hear a pair of these speakers (Portland, OR). They sound exactly like what I am hoping to find as my music room has a wall of windows closest to where the speakers will be and there really is not realistic ways for me to add room treatments (primarily wife related). I have a pair of KEF LS50 wireless in another room...so I know how nice it is to have the DSP settings to help mitigate the effects of neighboring walls. Are there other speakers out there similar to the Kii Threes that will allow me to control such things? I am tempted to just pull the trigger on the Kii's without hearing them...but I know that is foolish.
Just catching up with this video review. IF they have conquered one of the most difficult variables in audio, the particular room in which a system will be operating in, that would be quite an accomplishment. I do respect your opinion and am impressed that you are so impressed with the Kii Three. My only issue with this set up is the putting of all of one's eggs in one basket. If any issues develop with either speaker, you have no more sound system. The price doesn't scare me off, I have twenty grand invested in my present system but that is spread out over 8 pieces of hardware. If something happens to my $6000 speakers, that is not going to negate the $14,000 worth of investment I made in the rest of my system. I have had a rather difficult time getting my speakers set up to sound just right and I'm in a perfect environment, my library is also my sound room, so I find this technology very attractive. But while I have no problems with all-in-one computers (I'm on one now), I'm not quite ready to accept the same premise for my sound system. At least, not yet, and especially at that price point.
Do you own a car? What happens when the clutch goes? The whole car has to go to the shop. We buy don't a transmission from BMW, a chassis from Toyota and an engine from Ford. ;)
Any auto shop with even a modicum of mechanical expertise can fix a component on a car. What happens when if I suffer a malfunction with my Kii? My point is that if I suffer an issue with my speakers, I can just get new ones and do not have to replace my whole system. Or I could get my main pair repaired and listen to another (we always have at least one pair store somewhere, don't we?) while they are in the shop. If I have a problem with the Kii, my entire system, all $20,000 worth, (I found the whole system including the controller for $14,790 at frontendaudio.com) would be out of commission until they were repaired. And I think it's safe to assume that only the good folks at Kii could do that. With that kind of investment I would INSIST on it. You're a very smart guy but in this case I think your logic is flawed. Naturally, my argument has nothing to with the fact that I am salivating to hear those things. But, as I am not willing to take such a leap of faith at that price point it will have to be your Kii Three's at your house. I live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA, should I bring some crab cakes? (That's not a dessert, by the way.)
BUT when one part of your car breaks down the whole car has to go into the shop. I guess you are bemoaning the lack of hifi repairmen on the high-street. But that's true for ALL hifi components. And when they break down, our first port of call is to our dealer.
Yes and no. There is a decided lack of hifi repair shops but they do exist. I have had vintage components repaired and upgraded just fairly recently. But the techs at those shops would probably be out of their element when it comes to the internals of the Kii. And, I think my point is still valid. Without the Three's functioning properly, all of my other audio components are worthless. This is not the case with traditional systems. But I will grant you that the problem solved by the Kii Three's is quite remarkable as was your review of them. It wasn't just what you said about them but HOW you said it that impressed me. Your facial expressions were even more convincing. I am absolutely sold on their performance but still have some reservations about how all that performance is packaged.
Does it play very loud in that room? Probably just loud enough. It's said to be a near field system. They now have the BXT unit for larger spaces, That wasn't needed by you evidently? I get that with this loud volumes may not be 'needed'. Could you address this loudness/size of room issue someday? The Remote isn't really a remote when other inputs are attached is it. Then too you still have that cable. How long is it.
A clear and informative review. You say they sound great with electronic music. What about acoustic music? I listen mostly to classical. Are they as good in that realm?
No worries. Thanks for the reply. You don't listen to it at all? I'm crestfallen. Might I suggest the following classical music mini starter kit: 1. Kansas City Symphony, "Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso..." 2. Anne Akiko Meyers, Largo 1056 3. Britten Sinfonia, Variation 1 4. Minnesota Orchestra, Awakening of Cheerful Feelings Upon Arrival in the Country For best results, they should be played loud, with a slight boost to both bass and treble. Cheers
They offer exceptional transparency and soundstage specificity with indie rock like Grandaddy, Robyn Hitchcock, Low, Giant Sand, Bright Eyes, Joanna Newsom.
Awesome review! Intriguing concept! Just a thought: You talked about volume being significantly lower behind the speakers which makes sense. So besides the obvious acoustic advantages in preventing room related problems... Does it also work as noise cancelling for neighbours?
While I don't have these speakers, I don't see why not. Unless I'm misunderstanding something, it's not like the system is cancelling the output only up to a certain distance to the sides and back of the speakers. The output is getting attenuated, period. To me, these would be ideal speakers for someone in a condo or townhouse where another residence adjoins to the wall behind your Kii's and/or your side walls. Of course, if you have an adjoining residence in the direction of where the speakers are pointing, that doesn't help you at all. But there are plenty of scenarios where you might only have one back wall or side wall attached to an adjoining residence.
Excellent review! I’ve heard many time and they are good especially in small and medium size room. What is the best digital input for best audio quality? Can you hear much difference between a regular computer and a top quality streamer connected to the kii controler ?
Also a piece of vinyl is real, no floating numbers. You get the whole package, and it's a better feeling then buying a cd or digital file. It just is, unless you were born in the 90's....ofcourse
@@Projacked1 Not a great argument a vinyl is a piece of material and digital just numbers. This is, precisely, why digital is so far superior in every aspect to vynil (I'm not saying to analog). When "audiophiles" will understand a single word about digital beyond their prejudices and self-deceptive convictions, wich are religious-like ones?
"audiophiles" have a taste about sound and "accuracy" which is completely subjective. Watch Steve Gutenberg's videos too about some thought process about audio equipment discernment.
John, I see where you're going with this, but its not what I consider a 'complete system' : you still need a *source* Amigo - granted, hardly the usual source+preamp+monoblocks+speakers Russian roulette combination, but reality nonetheless. Thrilled to see that the Oz markup on this (with stands and Kii Control) is nowhere near the +70-100% we seem to cop on everything else over 5K that gets imported into this country. Thanks for the video.
True, but you're valuing your computer/Roon server, your router and your Roon membership at zero dollars. Your assumption seems to be that everyone starts from the same base, esp if they're using a computer to access UA-cam and watch this vid / read your blog - I just know how quickly Roon demands a significant upgrade on whatever you've got lying around the house. Too much time on the CA forums ? Probably, but that's how I see it. Thanks again.
Well, you see incorrectly when it comes to what I do. If you think I spend even a minute on the CA forum, you clearly don't read them enough. And you're right, Roon isn't cheap. But who mentioned Roon? I didn't. The Raspi can also be configured as a Spotify endpoint. Or a UPnP endpoint. Or a Squeezebox endpoint.
And I have indeed used my Pi DACPlus as a UPnP endpoint, but lets cut to the chase John - even as a JRIver user, I admit that Roon's default DSP is better than any of its competition (at least IME). Even UPnP needs a server - granted, it doesnt have to be the Nucleus+ or anything at that level, but even the most basic laptop will set you back a couple hundred Euros. Where the whole thing got a little silly for me was when Hans Beekhuyzen started promoting 900 Euro power supplies - one for the Pi and one for the HAT board. I have no doubt that sound quality is improved, but you're rapidly in SoTM/Sonore territory without the single, neat box they provide. My comment re CA referred to *my* time browsing (I rarely post) those forums to get a feel for the intense thrash in digital audio, something that you're undoubtedly aware of and with a far more personal connection to the people putting out multiple press releases every month or so. I apologise if I inferred that you spend time on the forums - I'm well aware of your attitude to keyboard warriors and I'm happy to leave it there.
Jeez, Arthur, you're swinging all over the place with your thoughts. Let's keep it focussed: as you say, a Raspi can do UPnP for €35 and can be fed by a budget PC for ~€200. But as almost no hi-fi system comes with a PC or Mac, the latter point is moot.
Doesn't this scare you? Soon speakers all come active with self calibration to fit the room, you're just focused on the music. You'd at most load speaker/gear profiles from your mobile phone (VST convolvers) to experience how old school stereos sounded like...
Hey John, I recently stumbled upon your channel and I'm really enjoying your reviews. One question, what is the song that is played during the transitions in this video?
Brilliant video but poor case for buying $20000 speakers, if I'm spending that money as an audiophile half the fun is building the system. That being said though I've heard such great things about these speakers and would love to get a pair for my studio, just gonna have to wait a couple of years!
Eh, Bang & Olufsen did more or less this in late 2015 (though maybe not a cardioid pattern specifically). And I'm sure others have as well, but that's the one I remembered off the top of my head. The Kiis are very cool as well though, don't get me wrong. Have a nice day :)
If you want to use it in the studio you're adding latency on top of your audio interface? That's not ideal. Seems like they've come down a lot in price £12300 including controller. Definitely wouldn't pay £2000 for stands or £1000 for a custom colour. I'm very curious about acoustic testing done with this system and how far they alleviate the need for room treatment. I'd rather have these than spend a few £1000 on acoustic treatment but perhaps you need both anyway?
the problem with such solutions is that absolutely complete, error-free knowledge is required to create such a complex device. Companies think that they have this complete knowledge. So they think they have it, which probably isn't true. The results can be listened to at the exhibition, at shows . Do not buy such a thing online without listening and comparison.
@darkoaudio Great review and explanation, I aspire to own these speakers one day. Since you, like me, enjoy Autechre and FSOL, have you checked out Carbon Based Lifeforms?
I've not heard the LS50 with a sub for a looooooooong time but the KEF combo doesn't have the Kii's all-important cardioid dispersion pattern (so not a fair fight).
Have have both the LS50 with a DB1 sub using a Parasound JC2 preamp WITH JC1’s as amps, and the Kii three’s. A price difference but the Kii’s are far away better. Waiting to get the BXT’s.
Nicely produced vid, but at $20K, I'm not buying it (literally). For that amount, I can buy a pair of legendary speakers, like the Harbeth 40.1, and an integrated from Hegel , Plinius, or McIntosh. I cannot imagine, all things considered, the Kii will surpass that sort of combination. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I hate to say it but as someone who has Harbeth Compact 7 and a Hegel amp here, you're wrong: the Kii win out on bass extension, bass tightness, image specificity and soundstage depth. The Harbeth is a great sounding combo but a passive loudspeaker cannot adjust its output to avoid room reflections as can the Kii.
@@DarkoAudio Thanks for the reply! OK, well, I'll push my (rather heavy) bias aside and give these a listen. Of course, my budget is a fraction of the Kii's retail price, but I guess I need to hear what modern DSP/powered speakers are capable of.
@@DarkoAudio In that case, you've delivered your message well!! Many thanks for the great vid series. Do you think it would be useful to provide a snippet of the gear in action? I know, no way will the full experience be transmitted, but it might at least give us a taste.
Thank you for this outstanding review. My partner and I have been testing loudspeakers and components for months on our quest to find a new stereo system for our very problematic room and our very different tastes in music (heavy classical stuff vs. hard electronic stuff). Thanks to this review our attention was drawn to the Kii Three (happily we ignored the price, they are much cheaper here in Germany). We got the chance to test them for a month - and never returned them. The Kii Three are all we ever wished for. In our untreated and acoustically very difficult room they produce a sound so clear and accurate, especially in the low frequencies (such a tight and detailed bass without any problems!) - I'm still stunned and both of us are absolutely happy. Thanks a thousand times for your review which set the hare running!
After 39 years of audio (audiophile) engineering and even longer being an audiophile, I've always known (from experience) that beautifully designed "active" systems were the way forward. I've been knocked greatly for that opinion until a high end active system are experienced by those who simply don't know. Things have progressed much further.
This review is a perfect example of the direction we should take.
I look forward to future developments 👍
Yup, active systems allow speaker designers to fine tune their designs to degrees they wouldn't be able to otherwise. The only real downside to active is they're more expensive than their passive counterparts
@@frosty6845 Some might argue that they are actually cheaper when you factor in the cost of buying an amplifier, DAC, etc. Another aspect which is a much bigger downside for me is the fact that your system becomes much less modular and therefore much less flexible if you decide to get active speakers. What this means is that you can not reuse amplifiers, DACs, or other components if you for example decide to get different speakers, or if your speakers somehow break, or if one part of the whole audio chain ends up breaking.
There is a reason for why active speakers typically have a much shorter warranty. For example KEF has a 5 year warranty for passive speakers, and a 2 year warranty for active speakers. You might argue that speakers should last much longer than that anyways, but there is a reason why such a difference exists.
Great video. I actually watched the whole thing. Your passion and feeling and conviction for the subject drew me in.
Thanks so much for this awesome video John - absolutely fabulous!
I like the speakers but the remote seems to be the worst design in respect to all the buttons being around the knob and the very small LCD screen. The knob in the video is wobbly or bent looking as it turns and the buttons resemble that of a credit card remote. Hardly worth of being with 20'000 dollar speakers. I think you need to redesign that remote or offer a second option that is a proper rectangular control unit with quality tactile aluminum buttons and common placed volume not in-between an array of buttons with maybe a common IR remote that you can use at the listening position. Hmmm I describe a typical hifi amplifier. I understand you want a different stand out design but I envision using that remote and it being so impractical and downright cheap and silly looking.
Heard these today at the audio show in Toronto. It was about the 20th room we went into so there was lots to compare them to before and after. These were the best of the show. Think about it, as much as 50% of any system you listen to is 'the room'. This system virtually eliminates 'the room', leaving just the performance. Astounding to say the least. If I only had $20,000.
I have a pair: Everything the man says is true! I thought they were way off budget until I realised I could sell all of my amps etc. The proverbial curtains being lifted off the speakers. I've never had better sound at home (ex Linn / Naim / Shahinian user of 40 years standing).
I second that and I feed my pair with Linn sources.
What do you feed them with?
Excellent reveiw sir, absolutely proper explanation of all the tech of the product in review
Also production value of the video is at par with any of top UA-camrs currently
No compromise in Making the video
Thanks - you've seen precisely what we are aiming for with these videos: to make high-end audio more understandable, more relatable and to quote another reader. "doing so much more than sticking a camera on a tripod and talking for 30 minutes."
@@DarkoAudio How would this compare to something like the Grimm Audio LS1be?
In next 5 years, most of the speakers manufacturers adapt for this technology
Cracking review shit all over mine 😭
Hi.i work in the store that import these speakers for my country,we alredy instaled some pairs in clients houses and audioshows,they,re better with the subs,especially in bigger rooms and if you requeired more sound pressure,they sound really good,and are very easy to install,even some "old school"audiophiles love the speakers and they,re sound,punchy,fast,accurated,and musical at the same time.If you,re more into music and less in equipment go gor it.
Your video is great.
D
heard these a couple weeks ago, amazing speaker. also heard them with the active bass cabinets, WOW, $50k is out of my price range but now I know what hi end sounds like and I like it
david h ... sounds like you are in a dance club eh? The bass from the BXT is just madness.
My problem with Future Fi is longevity and reliability. I had an NAD M2 and it was great until a fault just outside the 5yr warranty turned it into a brick. Even though it had been a flagship product and was only just over 5 years old, NAD couldn’t provide the required parts and it couldn’t be repaired. I will never be able to be convinced of high end, fully integrated devices unless manufacturers offer lifetime warranties. So for me, for major purchases, I want the elements that probably can’t be repaired, to be stand alone. For me, it’s too much of a potentially risk for a major investment.
A comparison with the Buchardt Anniversary A10 would be nice
Love the idea that this is a smaller room :O I think many Japanese would disagree ;) However as per usual a superbly informative review.
It warms my heart to see "Sign 'O' Times" in the background.
In the past I have literally bought homes based upon my speakers working well in what would be their chosen room. That was back when I ran Accoustat model 8 opera speakers. First it was hard to find a room these monoliths would fit into (4' 8" wide and 7' 10" tall) let alone where they could breath. Not to mention that between the speakers and the Threshold 800A's there was well over $20k there.
Then to make our home more a home and less a listening area surrounded by a house, I got a pair of Matrix 800"s that now play through SA-1 monoblocks that I still use to this day.
Your review has really peaked my interest. Well done.
Where in Florida can I go and audition these speakers? I can very easily sell the amps and the speakers for $20k.
Be warned, unless your listening room is small enough in volume these speakers won't put out much low bass at normal listening levels. SPL is limited. I understand the company is developing larger louder models for larger rooms.
Your review is spot on and superb
A 6 x 5 meters small room is the best "first world problem" I have ever heard of!
And that room is so ‘Small’ 🤔
Welcome to continental European room sizes. The living room in the house I'm currently building is 7.5x6. In London I've been smaller 1br flats.
It's definitely not a big room tho.
I love this channel, alot of the information goes over my head as I'm new to the hobby, nevertheless I find it very informative and entertaining, count me amused. Keep up the good work, respect from Melbourne, take care = )
Thanks, Bruce. It's like steering a large ship but slowly, video by video, my aim with this channel is to make high-end audio more accessible to a wider audience.
Now I understand why my husband has a pair of Kii Three
I listened to the "floorstanding" option.. impressiv sounding high-tech speakers .. but others not so perfectly playing speakers stole my heart.. let me think about it again when i have the grands..
Wow gr8 review with so much information. 👍👍👍
Excellente émission, merci John.
I love the concept of active speakers. I'm building three way towers with two SB-Acoustics Satori 10" woofers, a 6,5" midrange and beryllium tweeter driven by a DSP driven three way Hypex plate amp.
Excellent review - and I agree totally having heard them at the last Melbourne International HiFi show where I felt they gave the best sound at the show. It's worth mentioning that there is now an additional add on bass module for them as I understand it, to extend the bass for those who need more. Bang & Olufsen, also a stalwart of 'complete' fully active speaker systems, has similar but slightly more advanced (and more expensive) room compensation technology in their flagship Beolab 90 and the Beolab 50 - both much more expensive than the Kii 3 - but with rumours of further models to come. Either way, to my ears, having heard them all, the Beolabs and the Kiis are very much as you put it - the future of Hifi - especially for people who love music/movies, and want a really high performance/high fidelity system, without all the attendant and all to common audiophile neurosis about mixing and matching passive separates systems, and getting caught up in the pseudo science and foo which seems to permeate the audiophile world unfortunately.
These are quite intriguing, thanks for sharing. I wonder how long until some off brand replicates this to the "mainstays" level that the average joe will purchase.
Great review, good to hear someone using objective terminology and cutting through the crap.
I like that you simplify the difference between colour and accuracy, having come from a music production and sound engineering background, my leisure listening preferences tend towards clean and clinical accuracy, once you've listened to Fleetwood Mac on some flat response studio monitors in a well treated room you realise how important it is to spend more money on acoustic treatment than just spending more on HiFi equipment.
I do love that these speakers take a serious approach to reflections, and if I had that money I'd certainly consider them, but I don't :(
two things that needs to be addressed before powered speakers really can take over.
first they have to do real time processing, Kii Three has a option to bypass some dsp to get no delay but that defeat many of the benefits of the speaker.
second they need to fix the hiss issue, no noise has to come out of the speaker at any volume. people will allow for some leeway here, within 1 feet you can allow for some noise but farther away it should be in audible.
Nice boards of Canada shirt
Meridian got this right in the 90s. Way ahead of their time.
great review John! The Kii Three is the best thing I ever heard except maybe the 400.000€ MBL system..
Is 6x5 meters considered a small room?? So 3x3 meters is minute then??
Ha yeah I think John has been too long away from pokey UK flats and semis. His room looks bigger than mine (which is a converted farm shed) - I've always thought of mine as a cavern compared to most places I go to. Even if they're bigger than, say 3x3 often they're awkward shapes precluding setting up a decent listening space.
it is the same as when you would have a large grand piano, the sound needs to go somewhere, so for having a big sound you are better of with a bigger room, 3x3m could be a weird bathroom (you want to avoid square floor, similarly you are avoiding spheres (or their parts) for acoustical reasons)
Everything You Do Is A Balloon, John
In a typical household those bass operating in 40-300hz would be in the modal region, which means the radiation pattern doesn't matter (whether omni, cardioid, or dipole) and the room modes dominates. The use of cardioid pattern, hence, is more useful in large arena/stadium. In home use it is an uneccessary complexity and expense.
I would agree the cardioid pattern is beneficial in geometric region 300-400hz and above where the pattern smoothly transition to forward-directional nature of the Seas DXT tweeters. This will be superior to other typical loudspeakers where the transition from omni to forward directional is abrupt.
Talking to Chris as to how to import these into my country of residence, and will eventually get my hands on a Graphite pair. Great review to touch on nearly all subjects, vielen Dank JD!
Astounding summary, Mr. Darko
Great video. I've been waiting for years to see more of this DSP magic that's taking over the audio world now days. This equipment is way to expensive right now, in a few years this will be more common place and affordable.
wow !
I would worry about when (not if) they fail. Lots to go wrong in these whole system option. Hope the warranty is at least 10 years, especially at $20K.
Now playing; Scuba 🎶🎵🎶🔊
Love the production quality and the company of these videos. Good work and interesting presentations! Thank you.
absolutely true. Exceptional. I have the Kii3's. I have never heard anything as good for the money spent...not even close.
I’m thinking about buying a pair. I have a medium size living room. Do you think they produce enough bass?
Looks fantastic, a little too rich for my blood though LOL.
Great review
This is amazing 😍
This is a great review, and kudos to Jana for the wonderful video. I have been looking at the Kii Audio equipment and I am intrigued. Given the cost of all the separates one would normally have to put together to get the same functionality, these may even be considered a bargain.
That's my take, yeah. And I'm delighted that you see Jana's hard work. :)
"These guys are way ahead of the curve with this system" ....B&O says whaaaattt?
B&O have been doing this for years, you should check out the Beolab 90s and 50s.
Are you going to review the kii bxt now with the kii three????
20к let's call them Euros, buys a hell of s system built around some really top notch speakers.
It would be interesting for you to compare Linn Exakt DSM connected to Exakt Akudoriks with the Kiis please Darko. Not saying they'd be better, but it would be an interesting comparison of a similar set of technologies implemented in a different way, to see which is the most effective at solving the problems.
I have yet to see any well known youtube reviewer test Linn or Naim systems. Maybe the companies don’t want it?
Great video John! Would love to hear these speakers, although way above my pay grade..............
Wow that’s high technology, to see how it works amazing. Where are they made? Really a great looking product.
Very neat! However if I've got an extra $20,000 sitting around I'll completely renovate my kitchen, and continue listening to my $4,000 hodgepodge hifi system with cd player and turntable.
Headphones can offer so much more bang for your buck, and you don't have to worry about how rooms affect sound.
Can someone help me out? I am not an electrical engineer but I don't understand having a 40bit floating point DSP and then manage the time domain of the wall reflections without a microphone.
The probably do a bunch of testing with mics to create algorithms baked into the system, hence why you have to tell it different parameters of the room.
@SMOG thanks, that's a good explanation! But wouldn't including an mic-input give even better results compared to simple trim-pots on the back?
Apparently, Andrew Jones also thinks this is the direction high-end audio is headed. His ELAC Navis (Argo) series is also accommodating today's audiophiles with the "everything-in-one-box" approach. And it makes perfect sense, both from both an engineering standpoint and the consumer's wants and needs, not to mention better musical reproduction.
While Andrew's speakers are 1/10th the cost, they pretty much accomplish the same goal, albeit, with fewer bells and whistles.
Just reviewed the Navis on this channel actually. They are very, very good but no match for the Kii.
I have a small room, 4m x 3,6 x 3 and been measuring response in different monitor placement, before and I after I go the stands. They do work in a small room, like a real small room, not like yours :)
Good to know!
I thought the same thing when he said "small room" and mentioned his specs.
Thanks John. I really enjoy how you approach reviews. A quick question about digital conectivity.
The remote reminds me of the controller I use for a set of PMC monitors, which is fine on a desk or console in a studio, but doen't lend itself to a home environment. Have you or a guest in your home tripped over the cable? Are there any plans for a remote for the remote, or perhaps control via and iPad or similar?
Good question! I've not once tripped on it and an Apple Remote can be paired with it for a remote control of the Kii Remote.
@@DarkoAudio And with an Android device?
Android is today the more extended and used portable system, by far (don't think the world ends at the USA).
Really good review....but what about the amplifiers driving them?
They. Are worth every penny
Love the term “FutureFi”. This is an interesting system. As a old school “audiophile” this isn’t for me. However, I wonder what a rich enthusiast with not a lot of time would think. I still don’t think this gets to “wife endorsed”.
Great video John, future-fi can't come soon enough. I also recommend viewers to watch the interview that John did of the man himself (Bruno).
Would love to have heard the difference between the volume front vs back/sides
You can do that here: vimeo.com/263856571
So I still need some shelving for my CD player, Tape, Record etc.🤷♂️ I think I’ll wait till those are things are all included without any cables😉😬🖖
So... using them as outdoor speakers is kind of redundant them. Got it.
Interesting, I come from pro audio land and use KEF R3s as my main nearfield monitors ( i made a video on that odd choice too too). Things are gradually starting to cross over into both fields as some audiophiles start to discover that very neutral presentation and convenient active technology exists in the pro space. If I had the pounds to drop I would like to use Kii 3, but TBH the R3 with a sub sound full-range and excellent.
Have you explored Sonarworks software? It's room correction used in pro studios, you may enjoy it and find it interesting to profile your listening space.
If you want to hear some more interesting pro audio speakers, check out Hedd Type 20, and maybe some of the smaller Barefoot raange.
nice review of thoughts.....
Could you include the album's you mentioned in the video description
Hi John, thanks for this review. I'm really interested in changing my passive set up and upgrading to these active loudspeakers. Whats holding me back is my room configuration. I have to run a minimum 10 meter rca cable from my Rega p6/ fono mc (the room is triangular shaped and there is no other option). To Connect it with an adapter to the xlr port of the slave. I'm afraid this will not do the sound any good. I've also read your review on the PS Audio NuWave phono converter (2013). I'm now considering replacing the Rega Fono mc with the PS Audio, so I can connect the P6 digitally to the Kii Three's. I'm a bit anxious to spend the extra 2 grand above the 15 grand and would really appreciate your advice.
When I heard them at a show, sitting perfectly in the sweet spot, the music sounded restrained, like in a straightjacket, and just wouldn't flow freely. Very weird!
So THIS or D&D 8c?
John , have you ever listened to Shahinian loud speakers . I bought Arcs 5 years ago and dont think i will ever change them , it would be wonderful if you could review Arcs or Obelisk at some stage , Best
Living in the US...I have limited ability to go out an hear a pair of these speakers (Portland, OR). They sound exactly like what I am hoping to find as my music room has a wall of windows closest to where the speakers will be and there really is not realistic ways for me to add room treatments (primarily wife related). I have a pair of KEF LS50 wireless in another room...so I know how nice it is to have the DSP settings to help mitigate the effects of neighboring walls. Are there other speakers out there similar to the Kii Threes that will allow me to control such things? I am tempted to just pull the trigger on the Kii's without hearing them...but I know that is foolish.
Just catching up with this video review. IF they have conquered one of the most difficult variables in audio, the particular room in which a system will be operating in, that would be quite an accomplishment. I do respect your opinion and am impressed that you are so impressed with the Kii Three. My only issue with this set up is the putting of all of one's eggs in one basket. If any issues develop with either speaker, you have no more sound system. The price doesn't scare me off, I have twenty grand invested in my present system but that is spread out over 8 pieces of hardware. If something happens to my $6000 speakers, that is not going to negate the $14,000 worth of investment I made in the rest of my system. I have had a rather difficult time getting my speakers set up to sound just right and I'm in a perfect environment, my library is also my sound room, so I find this technology very attractive. But while I have no problems with all-in-one computers (I'm on one now), I'm not quite ready to accept the same premise for my sound system. At least, not yet, and especially at that price point.
Do you own a car? What happens when the clutch goes? The whole car has to go to the shop. We buy don't a transmission from BMW, a chassis from Toyota and an engine from Ford. ;)
Any auto shop with even a modicum of mechanical expertise can fix a component on a car. What happens when if I suffer a malfunction with my Kii? My point is that if I suffer an issue with my speakers, I can just get new ones and do not have to replace my whole system. Or I could get my main pair repaired and listen to another (we always have at least one pair store somewhere, don't we?) while they are in the shop. If I have a problem with the Kii, my entire system, all $20,000 worth, (I found the whole system including the controller for $14,790 at frontendaudio.com) would be out of commission until they were repaired. And I think it's safe to assume that only the good folks at Kii could do that. With that kind of investment I would INSIST on it. You're a very smart guy but in this case I think your logic is flawed. Naturally, my argument has nothing to with the fact that I am salivating to hear those things. But, as I am not willing to take such a leap of faith at that price point it will have to be your Kii Three's at your house. I live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA, should I bring some crab cakes? (That's not a dessert, by the way.)
BUT when one part of your car breaks down the whole car has to go into the shop. I guess you are bemoaning the lack of hifi repairmen on the high-street. But that's true for ALL hifi components. And when they break down, our first port of call is to our dealer.
Yes and no. There is a decided lack of hifi repair shops but they do exist. I have had vintage components repaired and upgraded just fairly recently. But the techs at those shops would probably be out of their element when it comes to the internals of the Kii. And, I think my point is still valid. Without the Three's functioning properly, all of my other audio components are worthless. This is not the case with traditional systems. But I will grant you that the problem solved by the Kii Three's is quite remarkable as was your review of them. It wasn't just what you said about them but HOW you said it that impressed me. Your facial expressions were even more convincing. I am absolutely sold on their performance but still have some reservations about how all that performance is packaged.
Does it play very loud in that room? Probably just loud enough.
It's said to be a near field system. They now have the BXT unit for larger spaces, That wasn't needed by you evidently?
I get that with this loud volumes may not be 'needed'.
Could you address this loudness/size of room issue someday?
The Remote isn't really a remote when other inputs are attached is it. Then too you still have that cable. How long is it.
A clear and informative review. You say they sound great with electronic music. What about acoustic music? I listen mostly to classical. Are they as good in that realm?
Sorry, Mike, I don't listen to classical.
No worries. Thanks for the reply. You don't listen to it at all? I'm crestfallen. Might I suggest the following classical music mini starter kit:
1. Kansas City Symphony, "Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso..."
2. Anne Akiko Meyers, Largo 1056
3. Britten Sinfonia, Variation 1
4. Minnesota Orchestra, Awakening of Cheerful Feelings Upon Arrival in the Country
For best results, they should be played loud, with a slight boost to both bass and treble.
Cheers
There are PLENTY of hi-fi reviewers using classical music to assess gear. I'm just not one of them.
Any impressions with any acoustic music? Live, Non electronic?
They offer exceptional transparency and soundstage specificity with indie rock like Grandaddy, Robyn Hitchcock, Low, Giant Sand, Bright Eyes, Joanna Newsom.
Awesome review! Intriguing concept! Just a thought: You talked about volume being significantly lower behind the speakers which makes sense. So besides the obvious acoustic advantages in preventing room related problems... Does it also work as noise cancelling for neighbours?
Ahhh, I just saw your vimeo video regarding volume on the back/sides. Did you check if this translates to lower "noise" in neighbouring rooms?
No, I didn't.
While I don't have these speakers, I don't see why not. Unless I'm misunderstanding something, it's not like the system is cancelling the output only up to a certain distance to the sides and back of the speakers. The output is getting attenuated, period.
To me, these would be ideal speakers for someone in a condo or townhouse where another residence adjoins to the wall behind your Kii's and/or your side walls. Of course, if you have an adjoining residence in the direction of where the speakers are pointing, that doesn't help you at all. But there are plenty of scenarios where you might only have one back wall or side wall attached to an adjoining residence.
So... Did you like them?
Absolutely I did!
@@DarkoAudio Just suscribed, refreshing approach to hifi. Keep the great work.
Excellent review! I’ve heard many time and they are good especially in small and medium size room. What is the best digital input for best audio quality? Can you hear much difference between a regular computer and a top quality streamer connected to the kii controler ?
I tackle that exact question in the video and in my written comments. Click the Darko.Audio review link in the video description box.
I'm deciding between this or dynaudio confidence 20 with Hegel h590. Any suggestions?
So there is no speaker cable cluttering up the room but....
Each speaker has a power cable, xlr cable/connector and a network cable.
If "audiophiles" want the most accurate sound possible, then why the heck are they using god damn LP's?
Also a piece of vinyl is real, no floating numbers. You get the whole package, and it's a better feeling then buying a cd or digital file. It just is, unless you were born in the 90's....ofcourse
--- So I bet I get more accuracy out of my small 35€ kitchen radio in the studio --- Yes. Whatever you say...
@@Projacked1 Not a great argument a vinyl is a piece of material and digital just numbers.
This is, precisely, why digital is so far superior in every aspect to vynil (I'm not saying to analog).
When "audiophiles" will understand a single word about digital beyond their prejudices and self-deceptive convictions, wich are religious-like ones?
"most accurate sound possible" is like a pussy smelling too much soap.
"audiophiles" have a taste about sound and "accuracy" which is completely subjective.
Watch Steve Gutenberg's videos too about some thought process about audio equipment discernment.
John, I see where you're going with this, but its not what I consider a 'complete system' : you still need a *source* Amigo - granted, hardly the usual source+preamp+monoblocks+speakers Russian roulette combination, but reality nonetheless. Thrilled to see that the Oz markup on this (with stands and Kii Control) is nowhere near the +70-100% we seem to cop on everything else over 5K that gets imported into this country.
Thanks for the video.
I think it's a non-issue when a Raspberry Pi can be added for €35. And a VERY good-sounding Raspberry Pi can be added for €200.
True, but you're valuing your computer/Roon server, your router and your Roon membership at zero dollars. Your assumption seems to be that everyone starts from the same base, esp if they're using a computer to access UA-cam and watch this vid / read your blog - I just know how quickly Roon demands a significant upgrade on whatever you've got lying around the house. Too much time on the CA forums ? Probably, but that's how I see it. Thanks again.
Well, you see incorrectly when it comes to what I do. If you think I spend even a minute on the CA forum, you clearly don't read them enough. And you're right, Roon isn't cheap. But who mentioned Roon? I didn't. The Raspi can also be configured as a Spotify endpoint. Or a UPnP endpoint. Or a Squeezebox endpoint.
And I have indeed used my Pi DACPlus as a UPnP endpoint, but lets cut to the chase John - even as a JRIver user, I admit that Roon's default DSP is better than any of its competition (at least IME). Even UPnP needs a server - granted, it doesnt have to be the Nucleus+ or anything at that level, but even the most basic laptop will set you back a couple hundred Euros. Where the whole thing got a little silly for me was when Hans Beekhuyzen started promoting 900 Euro power supplies - one for the Pi and one for the HAT board. I have no doubt that sound quality is improved, but you're rapidly in SoTM/Sonore territory without the single, neat box they provide.
My comment re CA referred to *my* time browsing (I rarely post) those forums to get a feel for the intense thrash in digital audio, something that you're undoubtedly aware of and with a far more personal connection to the people putting out multiple press releases every month or so. I apologise if I inferred that you spend time on the forums - I'm well aware of your attitude to keyboard warriors and I'm happy to leave it there.
Jeez, Arthur, you're swinging all over the place with your thoughts. Let's keep it focussed: as you say, a Raspi can do UPnP for €35 and can be fed by a budget PC for ~€200. But as almost no hi-fi system comes with a PC or Mac, the latter point is moot.
Doesn't this scare you? Soon speakers all come active with self calibration to fit the room, you're just focused on the music. You'd at most load speaker/gear profiles from your mobile phone (VST convolvers) to experience how old school stereos sounded like...
Hey John, I recently stumbled upon your channel and I'm really enjoying your reviews. One question, what is the song that is played during the transitions in this video?
Sorry - I don't give tracks IDs.
Brilliant video but poor case for buying $20000 speakers, if I'm spending that money as an audiophile half the fun is building the system.
That being said though I've heard such great things about these speakers and would love to get a pair for my studio, just gonna have to wait a couple of years!
Yes, but maybe Kii aren't aiming this system at audiophiles who enjoy the sport of being an audiophile, swapping amps and cables every six months.
Wish they would make something 1/4th of the price that was 90% as good as these. I can’t fathom why these are so damn expensive…
Does it also play records?
What about meridian? They have been doing it for many years!!??
I would definetly consider this one if i were very rich obviously.
finally, speakers are in the current century! first speakers ever that are high tech
Eh, Bang & Olufsen did more or less this in late 2015 (though maybe not a cardioid pattern specifically). And I'm sure others have as well, but that's the one I remembered off the top of my head. The Kiis are very cool as well though, don't get me wrong. Have a nice day :)
The ME Geithain speakers have a cardioid bass response since the 1980's ;)
MHTRTC!
If you want to use it in the studio you're adding latency on top of your audio interface? That's not ideal. Seems like they've come down a lot in price £12300 including controller. Definitely wouldn't pay £2000 for stands or £1000 for a custom colour. I'm very curious about acoustic testing done with this system and how far they alleviate the need for room treatment. I'd rather have these than spend a few £1000 on acoustic treatment but perhaps you need both anyway?
the problem with such solutions is that absolutely complete, error-free knowledge is required to create such a complex device. Companies think that they have this complete knowledge. So they think they have it, which probably isn't true. The results can be listened to at the exhibition, at shows
. Do not buy such a thing online without listening and comparison.
@darkoaudio Great review and explanation, I aspire to own these speakers one day. Since you, like me, enjoy Autechre and FSOL, have you checked out Carbon Based Lifeforms?
No - don't know them.
John Darko ua-cam.com/video/SD6hsVJQtiY/v-deo.html
$20K for speakers. Must be nice. I've got to go eat some Ramen Noodles now because that's all I can afford, lol.
whats the music from?
Technologically they seem to be very similar to the Meridians, is there anything new the Kii's offer compared to the Meridians?
Did you watch the section in the video about how the six drivers use DSP to facilitate a cardioid dispersion in a certain frequency range?
John Darko ahh gotcha. Thanks again for the very compelling review 👍
Good review, but would have benefited from a couple of minutes of dynamic music with commentary.
Great review ❤️thank you John
How close would the Kef LS50 with a sub be to these??
I've not heard the LS50 with a sub for a looooooooong time but the KEF combo doesn't have the Kii's all-important cardioid dispersion pattern (so not a fair fight).
Have have both the LS50 with a DB1 sub using a Parasound JC2 preamp WITH JC1’s as amps, and the Kii three’s. A price difference but the Kii’s are far away better. Waiting to get the BXT’s.
Stimpy&Ren they are not average, I’ve heard average systems, but the LS50’s with a very good amp are hi end sounding.
Nicely produced vid, but at $20K, I'm not buying it (literally). For that amount, I can buy a pair of legendary speakers, like the Harbeth 40.1, and an integrated from Hegel , Plinius, or McIntosh. I cannot imagine, all things considered, the Kii will surpass that sort of combination. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I hate to say it but as someone who has Harbeth Compact 7 and a Hegel amp here, you're wrong: the Kii win out on bass extension, bass tightness, image specificity and soundstage depth. The Harbeth is a great sounding combo but a passive loudspeaker cannot adjust its output to avoid room reflections as can the Kii.
@@DarkoAudio Thanks for the reply! OK, well, I'll push my (rather heavy) bias aside and give these a listen. Of course, my budget is a fraction of the Kii's retail price, but I guess I need to hear what modern DSP/powered speakers are capable of.
Good for you! Keeping an open mind to new tech and then seeking out your own direct experience with that new tech is the main message of my video. :)
@@DarkoAudio In that case, you've delivered your message well!! Many thanks for the great vid series. Do you think it would be useful to provide a snippet of the gear in action? I know, no way will the full experience be transmitted, but it might at least give us a taste.
ua-cam.com/video/BT_8AA1ipYA/v-deo.html