As someone who uses 2 of these in a condo surround setup, this is where these things can be a perfect option like Erin said, in about a small to medium room... You'll definitely want two for a larger open space where you're near 2500-3000 cu ft. Couple important notes: This is going to be a much more popular option outside of the US, as you guys have way more options to choose from. This is also going to be something more where cabinet size (and aesthetics) is of upmost importance for the room, but can still do decent at volumes up to around -10 to -15 on your AVR. At MSRP, it is something that might be hard to recommend, but remember, this isn't an internet direct company like most other options that people will compare to... You can get discounts at your local dealers, and refurbished units online for much cheaper.
I own the KF92. It's the only sub I"ve ever owned so not much to compare it to, but holy balls. I watched a movie one night and my neighbor (I have a standalone house) texted me to say she heard rumbling. Paired with R3s it sounds fantastic. It's expensive but I wanted a slick compact sub in my living room that would deliver major thud. Highly recommend it.
I want to but it’s not easy to do via video. There is really a hands-on element to it. I can teach it in person because they are there to hear the changes in real time and I can explain those changes. But via video … it’s tough.
If it's hard to do it via video, then write a text guide on this subject! 😂 Joke aside, I would love some from of guidance. I don't want to use dsp and up until now I was too afraid to buy subwoofers thinking I would not be able to properly integrate them. Could you at least point me to a guide that you think would help us aligning the subs to the mains? Thank you!
@@sebastiantomita5956 AVS Forum has countless how to submissions on subwoofer integration. AVS'er Matt Grant I believe has a good one. Also ... DSP is quite easy following a few simple steps.
Another great review, thank you for taking the time Erin. This subwoofer doesn’t seem to have as compelling a use case as the KC62. Something like the Arendal 1961 1s or SVS SB1000 Pro isn’t massively bigger and they have 15dB and 10dB more output at 20Hz. The KC62 is at least mind bogglingly small to counter the anaemic sub bass output at higher volume levels
Even the RSL Speedwoofer 10s is only about 1-2" bigger and has significantly better output at only $450 shipped. Or the SB1000 Pro is pretty much the same size as the KC92. You do get more features with the KEF of course and it's prettier. Probably a great option for people that hate money and want pretty.
@@Jon-nz3dm You guys only looking at output are adorable. Like just looking at horsepower on a car. It's actually worse. Accuracy in bass is something grossly missed in most sub spec. Manufacturers know this and design subs to hit 1 or 2 low numbers, ignoring much else, to get chumps to jump at buying.
@@thomasc1753 you say you guys are "adorable" which really means "I think you're idiots" anyways, I'm looking at _value_ particularly. I don't know anyone that "only looks at output". If you want to drop knowledge on idiots go to walmarts speaker section and find some bros. Erin's comment section isn't the right place.
All your points are so valid i highly recommend, disconnecting your speakers and walking around to subdue or remove all the rattles. You never know when there is a lobster pot in pantry that you haven't used in years rattling its soul away.
Given my size constraints (as I live in a condo) I decided to go with two of these subs. Overall I've been very happy with the sound quality and low frequency extension. Now keep in mind that I don't push my system beyond 90db so I'm definitely not over driving them. In a perfect world I would have loved to have gone with the Rhythmik sealed 12" F12SE, but the additional 2" all around was just not an option and would have overwhelmed my living space.
You raise some great points in this video Erin, about subs in general, the importance of understanding certain variables, like various “distortions,” and setup issues.. I think people really need to know what their needs are to obtain the best equipment for their purposes, and then know how to set up their “system” appropriately. I believe that this particular subwoofer has a limited use case and probably isn’t the right fit for most people, due to performance and/or price. It’s also quite expensive, so you don’t want to even think about its purchase if it can be avoided.
@shipsahoy1793 I think Erin was more saying (or at least I am!) that if 💰 is not the no.1 driving factor (let's be honest, it is for most of us peasnts), buying KEF is to sponsor development of better audio equipment. They genuinely push the boundaries forward for high end, which is not common. Yes, I'm a fan boi.
@@Audio_Simon Yes, you are. I’m not so sure about Erin. I think he would probably tend to agree with me that that product is not going to be for everybody, whether due to price, performance requirements, or both, that depends, but that’s not to say it’s a bad product; it’s just that, like many products, it will only appeal to certain people. Some products have more “universal” appeal than others.
I would love a KC62 but both my Kef R400 subs made a high pitch squealing noise when in standby mode and I had similar problems with a set of Kef LSX speakers. Now I only buy passive Kef speakers and other brands for subs.
They both have limiting built in. So that alters the response at higher volumes (which is my one gripe about the KC62, though it's expected). I would normally say 2x is better than 1 but in this case I think the KF92 might be the better bet assuming you have one primary spot you can EQ to taste. If you have multiple seats and/or no EQ then the 2x KC62 might make more sense.
I habe the kf92 and the kef kube 12b. Honesty the kube 12b is a monster! Its not much bigger but it outperformfs my kf92 at max volume arround 6db in the 10-40hz region. I hope that you can check t too:)
Nice review, not many youtuber review this kef kf92. Also not many youtuber review JL subs. This KF92 probably similar size to JL D110 or E110. Would be nice if you can do some comparisons.
Erin, thank you for a thorough helpful review. One thing I learned right off the top was about group delay response and how a steeply sloped region can make it difficult to have seamless integration with your main speakers at those frequencies. This becomes a very critical measurement for me and may be the reason I have had difficulty integrating subwoofers with my current main speakers. My current speakers do play quite low and dictate a crossover of 40 Hz or so, so again group delay curves seem invaluable. Thank you. A few things I would like to see is if you could measure the cabinet resonance. It does little good setting a low crossover point if the speaker enclosures are going to have audible energy up into the midbass regions and muck up the midrange clarity. Another thing would be room response at the lowest crossover points. On paper a low pass crossover slope should be 24db/octave yet measures in-room as if the crossover is not nearly as steep. Again my goal is to avoid muddying the midrange which many subwoofers unfortunately do. I am super critical about my sound quality ! Thank you for your reviews and thoughts. PS any chance you could review the ELAC Varro RS500-SB? This one looks super interesting and checks all the boxes on paper.
I have an audioengine S8, and if my ears are anything to go by, my 350$ 8 inch goes ALMOST as low as the 10 inch 2k KEF, it hits 24 hz, and arguable 23 (but it's really garbled). Kind of insane that there aren't really better frequency responses unless you double the size or at least 5x the price. imo, it's definitely worth taking a look at, for testing and for budget audiophiles. And if it's as good as I think it is, then it'll put pressure on people's preferred manufacturers to improve their offerings frequency response.
Hey Erin, great reviews. I love the mix between data and your opinion. Got a question: My kitchen, dining table and living space in one room, 9.8 x 3.8 meters. The living space is on one end and occupies 4 x 3.8 m. I would consider that room to be small and I only need a smaller sub, is that correct? I'm sitting 3m away and that's where I need the bass. Another question if you got the time to answer: Is the R3 Meta the right choice in that room where one side of the living space is "open"? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance Philipp
Great video! One question: Does a room with high (possibly vaulted) ceilings, say 17 ft (9+8) but a "smaller" floor area, say 300 sq ft, count as a room with 5100 cu ft volume or smaller equivalent room for the purpose described?
Man oh man all of these videos on compact subs are coming out at the right time. I’m saving for Black Friday/Cyber Monday come November. I’m stuck between getting a SVS SB-1000 Pro or the SVS 3000 Micro. I’m willing to spend up to $1k, no more and if I can pay less for more boom all the better. I’ve looked at REL HT-1005/1205 and RSL Speedwoofer but just can’t decide if they are competitors. I have a 13’x12’ room. I use a desktop setup with Kilpsch the Sevens. I want a sub to take over the low frequencies because I recently heard the Sevens at a friends house who has an SVS SB-2000 Pro hooked up and they really just had me jaw dropped for a solid half-hour listening to some of our favorite music.
@@demonreturns4336 damn dude you really have me contemplating where I should throw my $! Really appreciate the heads up! Quick question what are your music taste. I’m leaning more towards the SVS SB-1000 Pro because I listen to House/Synthwave sometimes and other music that reaches down low. Primarily though I jam Classic Rock.
Thank you for the review. KEF Subs look incredible and perform amazing for their size. I have (2) pairs of the cheapest KEF bookshelf speakers (Q100 & Q150). Bought each pair when they were heavily discounted on Amazon. They sound amazing and you cannot tell they have metal tweeters. They do not have the annoying sibilance metal tweeters typically have. When we moved one of the Q100 drivers somehow had its voice coil smash against the metal cone and ruined it. I contacted KEF and they SENT ME A BRAND NEW DRIVER for me to install free of charge!!!! KEF KNOWS how to do customer service. When our budget allows I will definitely add KEF Speakers to swap out some of our other speakers. As far as subs go, I prefer building large vented enclosures tuned as low as possible and run Crown XLS amps. My main setup is an XLS2000 with a Rolls line level signal converter MB15B Pro Match RCA to XLR line level driver, which allows me to add some line level gain to compensate for Crowns pro audio high input requiring XLS2000 amp. We run (2) subwoofer boxes that are 4.6cu foot vented enclosures made out of MDF. We used fiberglass on the inside to make the wood non porous and help with rigidity. Added minor bracing. The cabinets are tuned to 21hz. We sanded, used bondo, sanded some more, used hole filler, sanded some more, used primer repeatedly, sanded some more, then spray painted high gloss black. From far away they look amazing. Close up you could pick out all the flaws. But the moral of the story is, if you are willing to perform hundreds of hours of manual labor you can have some deep loud bass without spending $2k but it will never be as cool as KEF and will take up 10cu foot of floor space. Cost approximately: (2) 12" Infinity Reference 1262W $60X2=$120 (like 8 years ago & 300 to 400 RMS power handling each) (2) 4.6cu foot MDF boxes including bondo, fiberglass, primer, pain $100X2=$200 (1) Crown XLS2000 was like $375 from Crazy Eddies (like 8 years ago) (1) Rolls MB15 $60 to $80 cant remember but currently they are $89 on Amazon Total= around $800 If you model the 12 Infinity Reference 1262W in any of the freeware box modeling programs like Winisd you get a near ruler flat response to 21 hz in a 4.6cu foot vented box. I recently swapped out (1) of the 12 Infinity Reference 1262W with an Alpine Type R from Crutchfield which models similar with slightly more output and slightly deeper in frequency with triple the power handling but at almost 5X the price though ($275 on closeout). Sounds amazing. The Infinity 12" still works and has no issues, I just had the itch to do some swapping and see if we could get even more output. Only reason I went with the Infinity Reference all them years ago is because the Infinity voice coil is not aluminum, its a form of high temperature plastic that doesn't warp when overheated. I competed in DB drag for a few years back in 2000 and metal formers always warped when overheated. The Alpine Type R is an aluminum former so I do worry it could overheat with the XLS2000 on extended bass scenes in some movies. So far it has been flawless.
i haven’t heard this unit but if you’re interested in music subwoofers, especially in pairs, then do check out Rythmik, especially their F12 SE. Rythmik don’t market themselves well but their product really does stand apart from their competition. compared to lifestyle systems like the KEF and REL compact subs in particular, their value is off the charts
Hello Erin, very nice review. For subwoofers where size matters more than price (like the KF92), I think one of the best choices is the Sigberg Audio 10D. It is only a bit larger than the KF92 but it has a lot more output. Of course, it does cost $1k more, but that probably isn't going to be a huge deal for people shopping in this segment, and it looks to double the output while only costing 50% more. It uses a Hypex nCore amp with a 10-band parametric EQ and is made in Norway.
I liked your video and I decided to place an order for one. It’s going into a smaller office at around 12’ x 12’. Would you call this more of a musical sub versus a home theater sub? I didn’t hear you mention it and I’m not sure if that plays a role in your data or not. I do hear people talk about texture when they talk about the Rel sub and sometimes the KEF.
It looks like, given good room correction, this subwoofer could give me a flat response from 10 Hz to 400 Hz at 70 Db SPL. That's about the loudest I want to hear anyway (and probably my neighbours too), so that would be pretty good.
Is it? Is there data that corroborates this? When it comes to subwoofers, I rarely trust manufacturers specs because they tend to take liberties in how they give them.
Thanks Erin.🙂 This one, I don't know... it doesn't have the cute form factor of either the KC62 or 3000 Micro... At that price (2399€ in EU, pretty uncommon when a KEF product is actually cheaper in US...) and size, it is simply not competitive against SVS, Monolith or XTZ.
@@JRadian Sure. But, I'm talking from some EU perspective. Rythmik doesn't have any distribution at all here. They say that they could ship overseas, but it will become insanely expensive if you add shipping + taxes + custom fees to the USD MSRP... 😕
As always, thanks for a good review. Any chance you'd be able to test the Kali Audio WS-12? Your one the few places for proper measurements, and the Kali sub has been hard to find anything on.
in my country the 92 cost 33% more than the 62, it is not clear in the video what performance difference there is. compareign from the 62 review it looks like 6 db more output, that is a lot below 50hz at least. two times the physical punch i guess. for higher frequencies where loudness matter it is closer to 50% louder. that is why i think the 92 is much higher value subwoofer, on par with the competition. i am not comparing to ported speakers or passive radiator, do not think people cross shop that.
I got 18" for 4x4mx2.65m room and I wouldn't go with anything smaller. 20hz and below -10db from reference level is something amazing. Im planning to add another sub for better frequency response
Excellent review. One note to make here. 0 and 180° in polarity.. there is no "in between" option possible. When placing the sub somewhere in front of the listener, set it to 0°. When it is behind the listener put it to 180° and it will be kind of perceived as being in front. Bit comparible to reversing stereo 180° when you are sitting with your back against two loudspeakers. Fortunately a sub behind a listener is a little bit more common than the latter.
Excellent review! I love that you brought up group delay and phase! That price is so crazy to me. I have always built my own subwoofers for that reason because then I don’t have to buy a $4k subwoofer or whatever. I have built small systems for my parents and in laws. For them I will buy used 12-15” subs to integrate with the speakers since usually a nice one will cost $100-200
Hi, Erin. Nice review. I'm kind of surprised by the performance envelope of this unit. For $2k, I was expecting something that would better things like the SVS SB 2000 Pro, and match the performance of the SB 3000 in a smaller, better engineered package. Instead we've been given something for that price which does not even come up to the performance of the SB 1000 which is one quarter of its price. Personally, I don't think the size difference between this unite and an SB 2000 or a Rythmik L12 is really all that great. I own two SB 2000's which I pair with my LS 50 Metas in a small room, and I don't regret spending the money (which is less than either KEF offering) or allocating the extra couple of feet of floor space. And given the amazing DSP programs like Dirac DLBC, setting up a sub like this for optimal performance (including High/Low pass crossovers, PEQ, phase, timing) is a snap. Given that, it's just far better IMHO to have a real subwoofer, properly crossed over and DSP'd, so you can have a true full range system. To me, the Kef's look more like cannily engineered and designed woofers than true subs.
Thanks for your videos. I wish you’d time stamp a section where you officially give your review product a thumbs up or thumbs down, so to speak. I have tried to watch several videos, but I end up fast forwarding, looking for whether it’s amazing, decent, or crappy. I would watch all of your videos if you did that - just my measly two cents. Thanks again.
I want to integrate a Kef Kube 10 subwoofer to a Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 with Roomperfect and Neat Acoustics Motive SX2 speakers. Kef does not give specs about the dsp delay time. Set the delay time to 0,5 ms according to a test with Kef KC62 subw. Anybody have some specs for the Kube 10?
Hey Erin thanks for all the information. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions regarding the K62 or the mini sub from SVS Is there a way to hook up one of this subs to the center channel only and do you is worth it? I know the later will be subjective but I still would like to hear your opinion. I currently have two SVS- sb 3000 in a 17x12 room. Hope to hear from you. This could be a good separate video up for discussion too. Thanks for everything you do for the crazies here in the audio community.
I'll echo some other comments that you should know what you are getting when you purchase a sub like this. You are significantly sacrificing output, distortion performance, and value to get that smaller and lighter cabinet...you can easily buy aesthetically pleasing subs for much less than this that will blow the KF92 out of the water from an output and distortion performance perspective, and some of the choices really aren't much bigger (Rythmik F12SE, for example). If one really is limited to only this size of sub, I guess that's (literally) the price you pay, but I would make all efforts to make a slightly larger sub work.
I think it is time to re-reviews some Rythmik subs now that you have a more standard test setup. Your F12g review was very detailed but I think a lot of people will appreciate the simpler graphs.
Even keeping in mind the size of this subwoofer, I don't see ever wanting to buy it. It's too small. It's paying extra for a smaller subwoofer. If I need something small, DIY is where I'm going. You could make a force cancelled sealed dual 12 subwoofer for 550 dollars that will put out 12-16 more db than this. It wouldn't be quite as small, but the people I see buying this subwoofer tend to have tower speakers as well. If you have room for floor standers, you have room for a properly sized subwoofer. I just don't think this is a big enough subwoofer.
Well that thing sure is purdy lookin..... But I just don't see $2k worth of anything sitting there. When you can get an 18" with 1500 watts on the side and still have a night out on the town with money left over the next morning, I mean, C'mon. Big speakers move big air, little speakers, well. Doubling up baby drivers do not double up the performance, only the cost. I don't know why so many keep doing this. Cheers 🍻
@@tanpreetsingh696 : Yeah, some folks just focus on the seemingly practical and/or the aesthetics and throw cost to performance ratio out the window. They may not think of an 18" sub as a piece of furniture, but it certainly can be. A simple square 4 cubic foot enclose is about the perfect size for an end table. It's also the perfect size for many 18" subs. It's not good to set your soda on while in use, but otherwise, pretty much everybody has the room for an 18" if they can see it as furniture. It kinda hurts my soul a little to watch folks spend so much money on so little performance, just for the sake of aesthetics. If it's too loud/powerful, one can always turn down, but when you really want to jam and you're already at 100%..... There's no place to go but regret town. Cheers 🍻
it is maybe not as bad as you think, 180 degree phase shift comes at no cost of delay. everything else adds delay. if you need 30 degree phase shift that means your subwoofer is a whole cycle behind or more. at that point the subwoofer is not going to sound great.
@@peterpida1840 of course that is a worthwhile tradeoff. if you can live with the delayed response from that subwoofer in that location. you know there is dsp you can add to synchronize the sub with the speakers to have it in perfect phase and delay, or place the subwoofer closer to you by the amount of delay the subwoofer adds and get it done that way.
If I bought this subwoof with as much $$$$ as it costs I’d hope by the time I got home my family and my pet dog would slap immediately the shit outta me to put some sense into my head
@@xaerothehero the micro is great but its a lot smaller than the kf92. There many reviews wich compare the kc62 to the micro and they trade blows, but the kf92 smash the kc62 on the bottom in this reviews easy
As someone who uses 2 of these in a condo surround setup, this is where these things can be a perfect option like Erin said, in about a small to medium room... You'll definitely want two for a larger open space where you're near 2500-3000 cu ft. Couple important notes: This is going to be a much more popular option outside of the US, as you guys have way more options to choose from. This is also going to be something more where cabinet size (and aesthetics) is of upmost importance for the room, but can still do decent at volumes up to around -10 to -15 on your AVR. At MSRP, it is something that might be hard to recommend, but remember, this isn't an internet direct company like most other options that people will compare to... You can get discounts at your local dealers, and refurbished units online for much cheaper.
I own the KF92. It's the only sub I"ve ever owned so not much to compare it to, but holy balls. I watched a movie one night and my neighbor (I have a standalone house) texted me to say she heard rumbling. Paired with R3s it sounds fantastic.
It's expensive but I wanted a slick compact sub in my living room that would deliver major thud. Highly recommend it.
With R3 or R3 metas?
Hi Erin. Something you mentioned in this video made me think would be a great video is a how-to on integrating a subwoofer to the mains. Thanks !
I want to but it’s not easy to do via video. There is really a hands-on element to it. I can teach it in person because they are there to hear the changes in real time and I can explain those changes. But via video … it’s tough.
If it's hard to do it via video, then write a text guide on this subject! 😂
Joke aside, I would love some from of guidance. I don't want to use dsp and up until now I was too afraid to buy subwoofers thinking I would not be able to properly integrate them. Could you at least point me to a guide that you think would help us aligning the subs to the mains? Thank you!
@@sebastiantomita5956this would be awakme
@@sebastiantomita5956
AVS Forum has countless how to submissions on subwoofer integration.
AVS'er Matt Grant I believe has a good one.
Also ... DSP is quite easy following a few simple steps.
Another great review, thank you for taking the time Erin. This subwoofer doesn’t seem to have as compelling a use case as the KC62. Something like the Arendal 1961 1s or SVS SB1000 Pro isn’t massively bigger and they have 15dB and 10dB more output at 20Hz. The KC62 is at least mind bogglingly small to counter the anaemic sub bass output at higher volume levels
Even the RSL Speedwoofer 10s is only about 1-2" bigger and has significantly better output at only $450 shipped. Or the SB1000 Pro is pretty much the same size as the KC92. You do get more features with the KEF of course and it's prettier. Probably a great option for people that hate money and want pretty.
SVS SB1000 comes in pretty white tho! @@Jon-nz3dm
@@Jon-nz3dm You guys only looking at output are adorable. Like just looking at horsepower on a car. It's actually worse. Accuracy in bass is something grossly missed in most sub spec. Manufacturers know this and design subs to hit 1 or 2 low numbers, ignoring much else, to get chumps to jump at buying.
@@thomasc1753 you say you guys are "adorable" which really means "I think you're idiots"
anyways, I'm looking at _value_ particularly. I don't know anyone that "only looks at output".
If you want to drop knowledge on idiots go to walmarts speaker section and find some bros. Erin's comment section isn't the right place.
@@Jon-nz3dmI don’t think people buying this subwoofer are interested in value. They will be buying SVS speakers.
All your points are so valid i highly recommend, disconnecting your speakers and walking around to subdue or remove all the rattles. You never know when there is a lobster pot in pantry that you haven't used in years rattling its soul away.
This was a very healthy, robust review.
Thanks.
Given my size constraints (as I live in a condo) I decided to go with two of these subs. Overall I've been very happy with the sound quality and low frequency extension. Now keep in mind that I don't push my system beyond 90db so I'm definitely not over driving them. In a perfect world I would have loved to have gone with the Rhythmik sealed 12" F12SE, but the additional 2" all around was just not an option and would have overwhelmed my living space.
He was trying to show off the sub, but my eyes were on the TMNT arcade. That was beautiful.
Can you do one for the new KC92? I'm curious if it's any better.
Awesome review man, working on trying to implement subs myself in two chan. Glad to have stumbled in here.
You articulated what I wanted to say about KEF vs. Monoprice very well.
That’s the first time someone has accused me of articulating anything. 😂😂
You raise some great points in this video Erin, about subs in general, the importance of understanding certain variables, like various “distortions,” and setup issues..
I think people really need to know what their needs are to obtain the best equipment for their purposes, and then know how
to set up their “system” appropriately.
I believe that this particular subwoofer has a limited use case and probably isn’t the right fit for most people, due to performance and/or price.
It’s also quite expensive, so you don’t want to even think about its purchase if it can be avoided.
@shipsahoy1793 I think Erin was more saying (or at least I am!) that if 💰 is not the no.1 driving factor (let's be honest, it is for most of us peasnts), buying KEF is to sponsor development of better audio equipment. They genuinely push the boundaries forward for high end, which is not common.
Yes, I'm a fan boi.
@@Audio_Simon Yes, you are. I’m not so sure about Erin. I think he would probably tend to agree with me that that product is not going to be for everybody, whether due to price, performance requirements, or both, that depends, but that’s not to say it’s a bad product; it’s just that, like many products, it will only appeal to certain people. Some products have more “universal” appeal than others.
Kef just released the new version, KC62. Curious at your opinion 🤓😁
I would love a KC62 but both my Kef R400 subs made a high pitch squealing noise when in standby mode and I had similar problems with a set of Kef LSX speakers. Now I only buy passive Kef speakers and other brands for subs.
Did you review subwoofer from Rythmik? I would cut my leg for your opinion on servo subwoofer!
Great review. I hope one day you get a chance to review a Rythmik sub, maybe their E15HP2, which is a sealed 15”.
Thanks for another great review, Erin! I have 1 KC62. In your opinion would I be better off getting a second KC62 or replacing with a single KF92?
They both have limiting built in. So that alters the response at higher volumes (which is my one gripe about the KC62, though it's expected). I would normally say 2x is better than 1 but in this case I think the KF92 might be the better bet assuming you have one primary spot you can EQ to taste. If you have multiple seats and/or no EQ then the 2x KC62 might make more sense.
I habe the kf92 and the kef kube 12b. Honesty the kube 12b is a monster! Its not much bigger but it outperformfs my kf92 at max volume arround 6db in the 10-40hz region. I hope that you can check t too:)
Thanks Erin. I enjoy your reviews!
Nice review, not many youtuber review this kef kf92. Also not many youtuber review JL subs. This KF92 probably similar size to JL D110 or E110. Would be nice if you can do some comparisons.
Erin, thank you for a thorough helpful review. One thing I learned right off the top was about group delay response and how a steeply sloped region can make it difficult to have seamless integration with your main speakers at those frequencies.
This becomes a very critical measurement for me and may be the reason I have had difficulty integrating subwoofers with my current main speakers. My current speakers do play quite low and dictate a crossover of 40 Hz or so, so again group delay curves seem invaluable. Thank you.
A few things I would like to see is if you could measure the cabinet resonance. It does little good setting a low crossover point if the speaker enclosures are going to have audible energy up into the midbass regions and muck up the midrange clarity.
Another thing would be room response at the lowest crossover points. On paper a low pass crossover slope should be 24db/octave yet measures in-room as if the crossover is not nearly as steep. Again my goal is to avoid muddying the midrange which many subwoofers unfortunately do. I am super critical about my sound quality !
Thank you for your reviews and thoughts.
PS any chance you could review the ELAC Varro RS500-SB? This one looks super interesting and checks all the boxes on paper.
I have an audioengine S8, and if my ears are anything to go by, my 350$ 8 inch goes ALMOST as low as the 10 inch 2k KEF, it hits 24 hz, and arguable 23 (but it's really garbled). Kind of insane that there aren't really better frequency responses unless you double the size or at least 5x the price. imo, it's definitely worth taking a look at, for testing and for budget audiophiles. And if it's as good as I think it is, then it'll put pressure on people's preferred manufacturers to improve their offerings frequency response.
Would be nice if you can do the RSL speedwooder next, and do a shoot out of all the smaller (10" and under) subs.
They’re sold out of the RSL 10 mkii currently.
Hey Erin,
great reviews. I love the mix between data and your opinion. Got a question:
My kitchen, dining table and living space in one room, 9.8 x 3.8 meters. The living space is on one end and occupies 4 x 3.8 m. I would consider that room to be small and I only need a smaller sub, is that correct? I'm sitting 3m away and that's where I need the bass.
Another question if you got the time to answer: Is the R3 Meta the right choice in that room where one side of the living space is "open"?
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance
Philipp
Great video! One question: Does a room with high (possibly vaulted) ceilings, say 17 ft (9+8) but a "smaller" floor area, say 300 sq ft, count as a room with 5100 cu ft volume or smaller equivalent room for the purpose described?
Volume = LxWxH
the H stands for height in that equation so yea….. it factors into the volume of a room
Man oh man all of these videos on compact subs are coming out at the right time.
I’m saving for Black Friday/Cyber Monday come November.
I’m stuck between getting a SVS SB-1000 Pro or the SVS 3000 Micro.
I’m willing to spend up to $1k, no more and if I can pay less for more boom all the better.
I’ve looked at REL HT-1005/1205 and RSL Speedwoofer but just can’t decide if they are competitors.
I have a 13’x12’ room. I use a desktop setup with Kilpsch the Sevens.
I want a sub to take over the low frequencies because I recently heard the Sevens at a friends house who has an SVS SB-2000 Pro hooked up and they really just had me jaw dropped for a solid half-hour listening to some of our favorite music.
The RSL is DEFINITELY worthy of a being a competitor
Do NOT over look it
@@demonreturns4336 damn dude you really have me contemplating where I should throw my $!
Really appreciate the heads up!
Quick question what are your music taste.
I’m leaning more towards the SVS SB-1000 Pro because I listen to House/Synthwave sometimes and other music that reaches down low.
Primarily though I jam Classic Rock.
Thank you for the review. KEF Subs look incredible and perform amazing for their size.
I have (2) pairs of the cheapest KEF bookshelf speakers (Q100 & Q150). Bought each pair when they were heavily discounted on Amazon. They sound amazing and you cannot tell they have metal tweeters. They do not have the annoying sibilance metal tweeters typically have.
When we moved one of the Q100 drivers somehow had its voice coil smash against the metal cone and ruined it. I contacted KEF and they SENT ME A BRAND NEW DRIVER for me to install free of charge!!!! KEF KNOWS how to do customer service. When our budget allows I will definitely add KEF Speakers to swap out some of our other speakers.
As far as subs go, I prefer building large vented enclosures tuned as low as possible and run Crown XLS amps. My main setup is an XLS2000 with a Rolls line level signal converter MB15B Pro Match RCA to XLR line level driver, which allows me to add some line level gain to compensate for Crowns pro audio high input requiring XLS2000 amp.
We run (2) subwoofer boxes that are 4.6cu foot vented enclosures made out of MDF. We used fiberglass on the inside to make the wood non porous and help with rigidity. Added minor bracing. The cabinets are tuned to 21hz.
We sanded, used bondo, sanded some more, used hole filler, sanded some more, used primer repeatedly, sanded some more, then spray painted high gloss black. From far away they look amazing. Close up you could pick out all the flaws.
But the moral of the story is, if you are willing to perform hundreds of hours of manual labor you can have some deep loud bass without spending $2k but it will never be as cool as KEF and will take up 10cu foot of floor space.
Cost approximately:
(2) 12" Infinity Reference 1262W $60X2=$120 (like 8 years ago & 300 to 400 RMS power handling each)
(2) 4.6cu foot MDF boxes including bondo, fiberglass, primer, pain $100X2=$200
(1) Crown XLS2000 was like $375 from Crazy Eddies (like 8 years ago)
(1) Rolls MB15 $60 to $80 cant remember but currently they are $89 on Amazon
Total= around $800
If you model the 12 Infinity Reference 1262W in any of the freeware box modeling programs like Winisd you get a near ruler flat response to 21 hz in a 4.6cu foot vented box.
I recently swapped out (1) of the 12 Infinity Reference 1262W with an Alpine Type R from Crutchfield which models similar with slightly more output and slightly deeper in frequency with triple the power handling but at almost 5X the price though ($275 on closeout). Sounds amazing.
The Infinity 12" still works and has no issues, I just had the itch to do some swapping and see if we could get even more output.
Only reason I went with the Infinity Reference all them years ago is because the Infinity voice coil is not aluminum, its a form of high temperature plastic that doesn't warp when overheated. I competed in DB drag for a few years back in 2000 and metal formers always warped when overheated.
The Alpine Type R is an aluminum former so I do worry it could overheat with the XLS2000 on extended bass scenes in some movies. So far it has been flawless.
Another great review. My music doesn't have content under 40 Hz. These subs (two would be even better) would work great for me. Thanks Erin.
i haven’t heard this unit but if you’re interested in music subwoofers, especially in pairs, then do check out Rythmik, especially their F12 SE.
Rythmik don’t market themselves well but their product really does stand apart from their competition.
compared to lifestyle systems like the KEF and REL compact subs in particular, their value is off the charts
Thanks! 👍
Hello Erin, very nice review. For subwoofers where size matters more than price (like the KF92), I think one of the best choices is the Sigberg Audio 10D. It is only a bit larger than the KF92 but it has a lot more output. Of course, it does cost $1k more, but that probably isn't going to be a huge deal for people shopping in this segment, and it looks to double the output while only costing 50% more. It uses a Hypex nCore amp with a 10-band parametric EQ and is made in Norway.
Thanks for the info, James!
I liked your video and I decided to place an order for one. It’s going into a smaller office at around 12’ x 12’. Would you call this more of a musical sub versus a home theater sub? I didn’t hear you mention it and I’m not sure if that plays a role in your data or not. I do hear people talk about texture when they talk about the Rel sub and sometimes the KEF.
@vrusimov great feedback and 100%for music.
It looks like, given good room correction, this subwoofer could give me a flat response from 10 Hz to 400 Hz at 70 Db SPL. That's about the loudest I want to hear anyway (and probably my neighbours too), so that would be pretty good.
it looks nice. am happy competition such as the tonewinner d6000 is giving us cheaper options for more output
Is it? Is there data that corroborates this? When it comes to subwoofers, I rarely trust manufacturers specs because they tend to take liberties in how they give them.
I have 2 SVS PB-16 Ultras front L and R. wonder if two of these KF92s behind seating position would be beneficial?
Please review a tv1813 or tv2112. There are no pro meausrments of it so this would be a BIG hit video for sure
Good to hear you talking about group delay especially rate of change around the crossover region 👍
Have you got any Arendal subs lined up for review?
Not currently. I do have all their monitor series speakers on hand to review, though.
I was wondering is RBM subwoofers were going to catch on and improve, but I haven’t seen it happening!
Please review other SVS subwoofers
Thanks Erin.🙂
This one, I don't know... it doesn't have the cute form factor of either the KC62 or 3000 Micro... At that price (2399€ in EU, pretty uncommon when a KEF product is actually cheaper in US...) and size, it is simply not competitive against SVS, Monolith or XTZ.
I would add Rhythmik subwoofers to the list.
@@JRadian Sure. But, I'm talking from some EU perspective. Rythmik doesn't have any distribution at all here. They say that they could ship overseas, but it will become insanely expensive if you add shipping + taxes + custom fees to the USD MSRP... 😕
@@JRadian Rythmik are a jewel of the Americas 🎉
As always, thanks for a good review. Any chance you'd be able to test the Kali Audio WS-12? Your one the few places for proper measurements, and the Kali sub has been hard to find anything on.
Maybe. They sent me the WS-6.2 so I’ll be reviewing that soon. I can ask about the 12.
Was this sub replaced by the KC92?
Kef need to explain how they charge $2000 for this in America but £2,500 in UK...
Because it's a UK compa... Oh wait WHAT?!?!
Money affi mek 😅
Yes, setting up pro systems phase is very important , 0-180 would result mostly in crappy sound.
in my country the 92 cost 33% more than the 62, it is not clear in the video what performance difference there is. compareign from the 62 review it looks like 6 db more output, that is a lot below 50hz at least. two times the physical punch i guess. for higher frequencies where loudness matter it is closer to 50% louder.
that is why i think the 92 is much higher value subwoofer, on par with the competition. i am not comparing to ported speakers or passive radiator, do not think people cross shop that.
I love your channel, thanks
Sparechange was super enthusiast about these. he checked if the bigger subs he have where switched off. so how is that possible
Can you ask for the reference 8b subwoofer. Pretty please with sugar on top
How is kf 92 compare with reference 8b? I have never seen a review of reference 8b.
I got 18" for 4x4mx2.65m room and I wouldn't go with anything smaller. 20hz and below -10db from reference level is something amazing. Im planning to add another sub for better frequency response
It seems like it's an isobaric design I don't think I heard him mention that but I don't see how else it would work with 2 woofers.
Please review the Audio pro 5.1 active speakers
Excellent review. One note to make here. 0 and 180° in polarity.. there is no "in between" option possible. When placing the sub somewhere in front of the listener, set it to 0°. When it is behind the listener put it to 180° and it will be kind of perceived as being in front. Bit comparible to reversing stereo 180° when you are sitting with your back against two loudspeakers. Fortunately a sub behind a listener is a little bit more common than the latter.
Phase is variable. For example, the relative phase can be 180 degrees or 32.70 degrees.
Excellent review! I love that you brought up group delay and phase! That price is so crazy to me. I have always built my own subwoofers for that reason because then I don’t have to buy a $4k subwoofer or whatever. I have built small systems for my parents and in laws. For them I will buy used 12-15” subs to integrate with the speakers since usually a nice one will cost $100-200
Reducing my room distortion in my shared use space is my biggest problem. Spending $10K on subs would not be money well spent, yet.
Hi, Erin. Nice review. I'm kind of surprised by the performance envelope of this unit. For $2k, I was expecting something that would better things like the SVS SB 2000 Pro, and match the performance of the SB 3000 in a smaller, better engineered package. Instead we've been given something for that price which does not even come up to the performance of the SB 1000 which is one quarter of its price.
Personally, I don't think the size difference between this unite and an SB 2000 or a Rythmik L12 is really all that great. I own two SB 2000's which I pair with my LS 50 Metas in a small room, and I don't regret spending the money (which is less than either KEF offering) or allocating the extra couple of feet of floor space. And given the amazing DSP programs like Dirac DLBC, setting up a sub like this for optimal performance (including High/Low pass crossovers, PEQ, phase, timing) is a snap.
Given that, it's just far better IMHO to have a real subwoofer, properly crossed over and DSP'd, so you can have a true full range system.
To me, the Kef's look more like cannily engineered and designed woofers than true subs.
This subwoofer or 2 SVS SB3000 for a medium size room that opens to the kitchen?
I would almost always recommend two subs over one.
@@ErinsAudioCorner thanks!
Again Kef with the silly 11hz -3db spec when the measurements show low 20's...come on guys!
Thanks for your videos. I wish you’d time stamp a section where you officially give your review product a thumbs up or thumbs down, so to speak. I have tried to watch several videos, but I end up fast forwarding, looking for whether it’s amazing, decent, or crappy. I would watch all of your videos if you did that - just my measly two cents. Thanks again.
I want to integrate a Kef Kube 10 subwoofer to a Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 with Roomperfect and Neat Acoustics Motive SX2 speakers. Kef does not give specs about the dsp delay time. Set the delay time to 0,5 ms according to a test with Kef KC62 subw. Anybody have some specs for the Kube 10?
Hey Erin thanks for all the information.
I wanted to ask you a couple of questions regarding the K62 or the mini sub from SVS
Is there a way to hook up one of this subs to the center channel only and do you is worth it? I know the later will be subjective but I still would like to hear your opinion.
I currently have two SVS- sb 3000 in a 17x12 room.
Hope to hear from you. This could be a good separate video up for discussion too.
Thanks for everything you do for the crazies here in the audio community.
If I live in US, would prefer DSP equipped JL Audio Fathoms. Second REL. Hope you review one of them.
is this the GameChanger ive been waiting for????
Keep going kef!
I hope they expand their subwoofers and start making some big boy subs for their thx select, ultra and dominus certification line.
If these small micro subs are any indication
If they were to make 12 inch subs the price would be astronomically high and out of order
nice little sub
I was hoping for better honestly. But having an internal high pass should not be under valued.
It’s a pretty expensive piece. I have the 12” Kube, waaay cheaper. It sounds good and has a great value.
I'll echo some other comments that you should know what you are getting when you purchase a sub like this. You are significantly sacrificing output, distortion performance, and value to get that smaller and lighter cabinet...you can easily buy aesthetically pleasing subs for much less than this that will blow the KF92 out of the water from an output and distortion performance perspective, and some of the choices really aren't much bigger (Rythmik F12SE, for example). If one really is limited to only this size of sub, I guess that's (literally) the price you pay, but I would make all efforts to make a slightly larger sub work.
Can you talk about group delay and how that can make people think that some subs are fast and some are slow?
I think it is time to re-reviews some Rythmik subs now that you have a more standard test setup. Your F12g review was very detailed but I think a lot of people will appreciate the simpler graphs.
i just cannot image choosing this over an SVS SB1000 Pro...about 1/3 the price and equivalent or better performance.
How do they get away with advertising an F3 of 11hz? Maybe they measured it it in a clown car to get that number. At least it looks nice.
Even keeping in mind the size of this subwoofer, I don't see ever wanting to buy it. It's too small. It's paying extra for a smaller subwoofer. If I need something small, DIY is where I'm going. You could make a force cancelled sealed dual 12 subwoofer for 550 dollars that will put out 12-16 more db than this. It wouldn't be quite as small, but the people I see buying this subwoofer tend to have tower speakers as well. If you have room for floor standers, you have room for a properly sized subwoofer. I just don't think this is a big enough subwoofer.
is it my imagination or did you, years ago, review one of the Rythmiks?
maybe i’m confusing you with somebody. i’m old and forgetful
I did. The F12. I reviewed it for hometheatershack. But not in the same way. I wasn’t doing CEA-2010A testing back then.
@@ErinsAudioCorner aha!
Nice TMNT cabinet btw! :)
Thanks! 😁
Well that thing sure is purdy lookin..... But I just don't see $2k worth of anything sitting there. When you can get an 18" with 1500 watts on the side and still have a night out on the town with money left over the next morning, I mean, C'mon. Big speakers move big air, little speakers, well. Doubling up baby drivers do not double up the performance, only the cost. I don't know why so many keep doing this. Cheers 🍻
A person looking at this isn’t looking for an 18” sub. But agreed, just get an svs or monolith and pocket ~$1000+
@@tanpreetsingh696 :
Yeah, some folks just focus on the seemingly practical and/or the aesthetics and throw cost to performance ratio out the window. They may not think of an 18" sub as a piece of furniture, but it certainly can be. A simple square 4 cubic foot enclose is about the perfect size for an end table. It's also the perfect size for many 18" subs. It's not good to set your soda on while in use, but otherwise, pretty much everybody has the room for an 18" if they can see it as furniture.
It kinda hurts my soul a little to watch folks spend so much money on so little performance, just for the sake of aesthetics. If it's too loud/powerful, one can always turn down, but when you really want to jam and you're already at 100%..... There's no place to go but regret town. Cheers 🍻
Ridiculous that they would claim 11 Hz when it barely goes to 20.
-3db @ 11hz. i don't where they get it from. 1 review from amazon said did not go low enough.
numbers just a joke in audio.
my windows vibrate, i no longer use subs that go below 30hz anymore
Kef htb2. Best for 30hz and above in a small room. They are TINY
Its criminal that subwoofer for 2000 dolars dont have knob for linear phase shift. That applies for smaller KEF 62 as well.
it is maybe not as bad as you think, 180 degree phase shift comes at no cost of delay. everything else adds delay. if you need 30 degree phase shift that means your subwoofer is a whole cycle behind or more. at that point the subwoofer is not going to sound great.
@@sudd3660 one cycle is nothing compared to hole in sound.
@@peterpida1840 of course that is a worthwhile tradeoff.
if you can live with the delayed response from that subwoofer in that location.
you know there is dsp you can add to synchronize the sub with the speakers to have it in perfect phase and delay, or place the subwoofer closer to you by the amount of delay the subwoofer adds and get it done that way.
If I bought this subwoof with as much $$$$ as it costs I’d hope by the time I got home my family and my pet dog would slap immediately the shit outta me to put some sense into my head
I would rather have 2 $1,000 subs than 1 $2,000 sub.
I’d be happy to just have $2,000.
Yup 2 subs over one all day every day
JL has the D110 gloss on sale for $999. I have 2 on the way.@@ErinsAudioCorner
You don't have to go up to 15 to get better performance. Just 1 inch. Similar form factor
That's not alot of output.... Looks like SVS 3000 Micro smashes this for less than half the price
The micro don t have this outputlevle and is more comparable to the kc62
@@91DivineAngel yes it does, I have two of the 3000 Micro
@@xaerothehero the micro is great but its a lot smaller than the kf92. There many reviews wich compare the kc62 to the micro and they trade blows, but the kf92 smash the kc62 on the bottom in this reviews easy
@@91DivineAngel the kc62 is quite alot weaker than the svs 3000 micro
Did you say $2000 lol . I guess some people have more $$$$ than sense.
Specs do not tell you how a sub will sound, a good sub both home and pro will have a well made and heavy braced box with a cast basket driver.
Cool thanks 👎🏽
Hi erin.your videos are great.i will sub to you