AMPLIFIER MATCHING with the KEF Q Concerto Meta

This episode is brought to you by Bowers & Wilkins:

🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: John Darko

👉 As seen in this video...

The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin ZOETROPE vinyl

KEF Q Concerto Meta video review

KEF Q Concerto Meta

KEF SQ1 stands

NAD Masters M66

NAD Masters M23

Hegel H590

Wharfedale Super Linton

Wharfedale Linton

Musical Fidelity A1

Quad 33 and 303

Audiolab 9000A

Luxman L-505Z

Rega Planar 8

Grimm MU2

Cables and power products by AudioQuest

Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel

Room treatment by Vicoustic

Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a '🛒'.

Darko.Audio is an Amazon Associates Program member, an Audio Advice Program member and a Howl Program member.

__________________________________________________________________
📖 PLEASE READ *before commenting*!
1) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome
2) No URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories
3) All comments here are moderated by a third party

__________________________________________________________________
⏰ How our YouTube videos get made:

Darko.Audio FAQ:

Why are/were comments turned OFF?

What the bloody hell am I talking about?

How is Darko.Audio funded?
__________________________________________________________________
🎧 Check out the Darko.Audio podcast:

__________________________________________________________________

[iainsolly]

John I had a very interesting testing session with a friend on Kef R5 recently. The most striking difference was the NAIM uniti atom vs the NAD C399 which is the amp he bought. The NAIM became distorted far earlier than the C399 which ws extremely interesting. After digging deeply into this I found out that the damping factor seemed to have a significant role to play here. The damping factor (not teaching you to suck eggs) is effectively the way a speaker can absorb the flyback current generated by a speakers movement. So when a speaker moves it wants to bounce back and the bounce back needs to be damped as fast as possible to avoid distortion. Just like a cars suspension needs to damp bumps to avoid a bouncy ride. High damping results in a "punchier" sound the bass is sharper, maybe not as full but more precise.Fuller bass would come from less well damped amps. Your description matches the damping factor. The Hegel has a damping factor of 4000 (Huge), the NAD M23 800 (very good) The Luxman is only 200 which is just about acceptable as is the Musical Fidelity 150. I am guessing the Quads are probably about 300. This is not the be all and end all because digital amps don't necessarily behave like more traditional amps. So power is important because without enough power you can't control a speaker driver effectively BUT you also need to stop a driver as fast as you can start it. I think there is a whole minefield of work to be done here! Hope this is of interest! BTW I have the Lyngdorf 1120 with G5050's what a combo! thanks for introducing me to this amazing amp!

[mchrome]

I learned alot from this video and the comments afterwards. I’m learning how clueless I was 25 years ago in my first stint as an audiophile. Your channel and some others to be fair are resources that even 10 years ago we had no way of knowing the complete picture. And in this hobby know just enough at your own risk of being perpetually baffled why you can’t find the perfect setup. Thanks again

[jvrietveld]

What a wonderful story. It can be a meaningful comparison between watches and amplifiers—their craftsmanship, engineering, and performance. This story is not about the watts an amp can output; it’s about focusing on their character, which makes them unique.

[AnotherAnonymousMan]

Another casually excellent video from Darko.

A lot of people on certain forums throw shade at reviewers who aren't measurement based, but to my knowledge, I've never seen anyone else make this point.

Maybe the range of amps we audition speakers with should be as big of a focus as the range of songs.

[hjkFB]

As a physicist I feel obliged to say that the idea of being more sure about the correct time using only a single mechanical watch as opposed to two watches is just an illusion. Your measurement uncertainty goes down by a lot when doing 2 measurements, you just don't 'feel' how wrong you are when doing only one.
Of course, in music we're not looking for the 'correct' music listening experience. (as I've heard you speak about many times) So, if our first 'measurement' or 'listening experience' brings us joy and excitement, there's no need for a second measurement (or watch), since we've already found what we're looking for.
So, now that I'm done being annoying. Thank you very much for the video! The gear looks like an absolute blast to listen to music with.

[NisuUuno]

I think a Rega Elicit Mk5 would go well with these KEFs. Underrated amp, should be reviewed more.

[gerhardreinecke]

Enough teasing glamour shots of that Thorens Anniversary turntable, we need the review, soon...

[davidrivera]

It's well known that KEF distributors love to pair Hegel amps to drive KEF speakers. I use a Hegel h190 to drive my KEF R3 meta, with a subwoofer up to 300hz. KEF states that the ohm load on their stand mounts doesn't dip below 3.2 ohm. In reality when driven up to 95 hz peaks, on bass heavy tracks, it will deep to 2.5 ohm. This being the case an amp that delivers a lot of current, when the load demand increases, is extremely beneficial. Thanks JD.

[stovall]

I am powering mine with a Belles Aria integrated. It sounds phenomenal with ample bass. Maybe a little warm with the EQ flat, but can be EQed to taste. I love the combo.

[dixieflatline]

The KEF's are circa $1300. If someone was going to build a new system, sure they are going to try to match equipment - but they are also going to have a budget (it's a bell curve, sure - some people price isn't a factor, but average buyers it's important)

Matching the KEF's with amps that are x3 or 4 price multiplier's doesn't seem a thing in most buying scenarios. That John has these amps to hand is fab - but it's also the reviewers dilemma.

Still, a good story well told as always. The mechanical watch analogy is top tier ❤

[anzhuliu]

I am using the concerto meta (same colour) with a Wiim amp pro and also marantz M1, which I just got 2 days ago. Better bass than anything ive seen, extends deeper than the r3 meta (even kef's official spec sheet states so). The concerto also has better directivity than the r3 meta... and dynamic range... (compression when playing super loud, 96db, 100+ db, erin's audio review).

[adsph]

Thanks for sharing. Good points with regard to different amps.

[Wolek]

Thank you very much for that video. I have just upgraded my old NAD c350 for NAD c379. I am running Dali Oberon 3’s. Sound quality is like day and night, especially in higher volume range. I was also thinking about upgrading to these Kef’s, but now I will have to give them a good listen session, as I will have to decide if I will have to buy an power amp to my c379 to doesnt waste their potential.

[dejangruhn]

After several reviews in that Hegel amps were covered I think the Hegel empathies in the punchy base. Not only the higher integrated´s. Its all the way through their products.

[syanhc]

Everything in music depends on timing. The more accurate the time, the better the music performance and reproduction. Good watch analogy....❤

[Another_Audiophile]

From burgers to watches. Is getting better all the time 😂nice video!

[andysmith]

Saw Lips play the album in its entirety supported by Dinosaur Jr, great gig.

[mrkitewine]

It is all to do with synergy between the amp and speakers.
I recently upgraded my amplifier and found one brand (naim) had a crazily impactful bass thump with my speakers (neat) and a vastly different presentation to the others. It made me question what the “truth” was.
In the end I bought one from Exposure.

[stevenhunter]

Love how you think about things John, how you think of these analogies ? 👍Thanks

[archimagosmusings]

Impedance matching needs to be considered given the perceived frequency variations between the amps.