Kii Three - my impressions and pro reviews

[baconbrain]

7 hours ago, Mazza said:

 

It seems to me that just as many would disagree too.....it seems that the commonly reported  reason is usually around the ability of the active filter [which is usually a transformer driven power supply with various other gubbins] to respond to the voltage and current swings for the  amplifier/speaker demands. If they can't cope then compressed dynamics is the probable outcome.

 

So mixed results dependant upon the kit. Hence, YMMV! It's always worth a loaner and try-out if you think you may have benefits from such a route.

 

Also agree, I am quite certain that all active filters do not perform the same. I can only reflect the experience I have had with my setup and perhaps the opinion of a few others.

 

Think the loaner suggestion is a good one.

[AMR/iFi audio]

On 4/9/2019 at 8:23 PM, baconbrain said:

Think the loaner suggestion is a good one.

 

+1. The only viable way to find out what's going on is to find out for yourself. 

[Craig1512]

I’m struggling to get the boundary settings correct on my Kii Threes. Speakers are on Kii Stands, 18cm from center back of speaker to front wall, RH speaker is 160cm from center to wall and LH speaker is 70cm from center to wall. Walls are Gyprock/plaster board fixed to timber stud frame with fibreglass insulation. Kii boundary settings range from 0 to -12. I’m trying to better dial the bass in and find I have to increase the low shelf to 5.0 to get good bass in my large 9m x 4.6m x 2.7m room. Any suggestions on the correct/best settings in my situation. Should I move the speakers out from the wall slightly more. I really wish Kii had a similar boundary setting to D&D 8c where you set boundary in 10cm increments.

[firedog]

What happens if you set them to "0"? You should be getting the most bass boost then. If that's too much, gradually dial the number down towards -12  till you think  it sounds as it should. If  the "0"  setting isn't enough bass, then either you are insane (😉) or something is wrong.
You may also find they sound better to you farther out into the room. I have a much smaller room and even though they sound fine in the corners (which is the position that makes the most sense given the size of the room), I prefer them farther out in the room and closer to my listening spot. 

I also find it a little odd that Kii doesn't give new users a bit more guidance about how to use the boundary settings. 

[fpalm69]

Also consider moving your listening spot....you may be sitting in a bass null.  Just a foot or so forward or backwards can make a difference in the bass response at that spot in your room.

[bobfa]

I have been keeping an eye and ear, where possible, on several of the new speaker systems that have integrated most system components into the speakers.  KEF, Dutch and Dutch, Kii, B&O are all in that club.  As most of the folks posting in this therad now these  are NOT “just a powered speaker.”  I want to shout out to @firedog and @mitchco  for their writing here.  This was a big help!

 

I am not going to go into the whole decision tree of why I picked the Kii Three speakers.  Let’s say that they are the “Goldilocks” model for me. The top buttons that they push for me are room compensation, the connectivity, and both the firmware and hardware upgrade paths.  So where does that leave me in my story?  I spent many hours in research mode, talking to people I know and trust, and reading and watching reviews on the Internet.

The first opportunity to listen to the Kii Three systems was the Axpona 2019 show.   Chris R., the CEO of Kii Audio, was leading the demos and I had a great time talking with him and learning. What I heard in that un-treated hotel room was dramatically more than what I had hoped.  (Expectation bias, maybe some, but 8-10 hours of listening takes that away)

 

A little re-arranging is needed in the listening room:  the old gear had to be moved out, some furniture re-arranged.

 

 

 

 

Then I had this crazy idea to re-purpose my grandmothers RCA Victrola console into the system as my “rack” for holding the little bit of gear I need. 

 

 

 

So with all of the electronics removed and 60+ years of dust cleaned up it is now the centerpiece of my system.  I am planning some unique additions for it soon. The family helped me to make the system visually friendly we now have the system up and running.  

 

 

 

I have been looking for a better Phono stage for the old system and decided to try the Musical Fidelity MX-VYN on the Kii Three system.  So a little reconfiguring has to be done.

 

 

 At first blush, this is an excellent addition to the system. Now I have to go clean some more records!  

I am balancing the system and getting the feel of how the room controls function on the Kii Three system. I have a couple more friends coming over to listen.  This "software-defined audio system" is fascinating!  I am still working on the digital/streaming front end, and I am looking for an SACD transport that is narrow enough to fit in the Victrola.  I have some other ideas to make better use of the console.  Time will tell.

 

 

Now for some listening!

 

I have one final note:

I want to thank the team at The Sound Organisation for all their help.  I also am very grateful to Chris R. For his mentoring at the show. I have not only decided to purchase a set of Kii Three speakers and the BXT modules I am now a Kii Audio Dealer.   I have listed this in my signature and have also informed @The Computer Audiophile.  All above board!  

 

Ping the folks at Soundorg.com to find a dealer near you!

 

[AMR/iFi audio]

21 hours ago, bobfa said:

 

This looks VERY COOL! Enjoy!

[bobfa]

I am having a lot of fun and learning more every day!

 

[coot]

Very cool, Bob! Looking forward to your future reports.

[Emlin]

Yeah, but how do they sound?!

[Ralf11]

can the DSP fully correct for shoving them back into the corners?

[Emlin]

1 minute ago, Ralf11 said:

can the DSP fully correct for shoving them back into the corners?

According to the specs, yes.

[atletico]

The placement according to the back wall and side walls  will influence the overall presentation from the Kii Three's. This is my experience after listening to these superb speakers in my living room for two years now. 

Yes,  the DSP settings can do much especially for the lower frequency beneath 50-60 Hz but I find the overall sound performance are even better with more air around the speakers. 

@bobfa I will recommend testing this beautiful Kii There/BXT setup with some different placement, especially from the back wall and also the toe-in towards your listening position.

Congratulation with a superb setup! 

[baconbrain]

On 4/30/2019 at 1:31 AM, bobfa said:

 

I have been looking for a better Phono stage for the old system and decided to try the Musical Fidelity MX-VYN on the Kii Three system.  So a little reconfiguring has to be done.

 

 

 

Owned the Musical Fidelity for about a year and then swapped it out for a Gold Note PH-10. IMO a more appealing sound signature at about the same price point. Something perhaps worth giving a try if you are still looking?

[bobfa]

4 hours ago, atletico said:

The placement according to the back wall and side walls  will influence the overall presentation from the Kii Three's. This is my experience after listening to these superb speakers in my living room for two years now. 

Yes,  the DSP settings can do much especiallyfor the lower frequency beneath 50-60 Hz but I find the overall sound performance are even better with more air around the speakers. 

@bobfa I will recommend testing this beautiful Kii There/BXT setup with some different placement, especially from the back wall and also the toe-in towards your listening position.

Congratulation with a superb setup! 

I am working this very slowly.  I have the toe-in set to the listening position.  So far the really do what I expect of them.  There has not been enough listening time to really evaluate things. 

 

The idea will be to bring them together and out in one step.  So in the picture I would swap the speakers so they are closer to the old console and the chair and the plant are on the outside and pull them out so there is say 12-16 inches behind them and the wall.  

[bobfa]

2 hours ago, baconbrain said:

 

Owned the Musical Fidelity for about a year and then swapped it out for a Gold Note PH-10. IMO a more appealing sound signature at about the same price point. Something perhaps worth giving a try if you are still looking?

I will check that one out down the line.  It looks like it is around $1500 and $1100 for the PS.  I have to see if my LP listening is enough to start down that path.   Thankss

[bobfa]

10 hours ago, Emlin said:

According to the specs, yes.

From what I can tell yes it does.  I have been fussing with settings to get it right.  I have been working on music server stuff and have not gotten back to tuning.

[bobfa]

10 hours ago, Emlin said:

Yeah, but how do they sound?!

I am VERY HAPPY.  

[tomjtx]

6 hours ago, atletico said:

The placement according to the back wall and side walls  will influence the overall presentation from the Kii Three's. This is my experience after listening to these superb speakers in my living room for two years now. 

Yes,  the DSP settings can do much especially for the lower frequency beneath 50-60 Hz but I find the overall sound performance are even better with more air around the speakers. 

@bobfa I will recommend testing this beautiful Kii There/BXT setup with some different placement, especially from the back wall and also the toe-in towards your listening position.

Congratulation with a superb setup! 

This is my experience with my Kii speakers I've had for more than a year. They sound great anywhere but they really shine a bit more out from walls

[tomjtx]

 

 

About 2 feet from back wall

[bobfa]

15 minutes ago, tomjtx said:

 

 

About 2 feet from back wall

What are your boundary settings?

[tomjtx]

1 minute ago, bobfa said:

What are your boundary settings?

I'll verify tonight. Not home now but I think it's -2 

 

[tomjtx]

BTW. I didn't have the controller stand in the photo. It's an ipad stand that works great. I'll take a pic tonight

[atletico]

The two woofers on  the back of my Kii Three's are aprox. 60 cm / 23 inches out from the wall. Boundary setting are now 0. 

I have made an angled stainless stand for my Kii Control. The dB settings are visible from my listening position.

 

[bobfa]

18 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

can the DSP fully correct for shoving them back into the corners?

I have just about finished dialing them in today and I can say an unequivocal yes.

 

 

I have been slowly going from -6 down.  At -10 things just jumped out.  I am now at -11 on both speakers.  

 

Listening to these two albums to "verify"

 

Soundtrack of Blade Runner 2049 and

 

BT's  Untitled Album

 

 

 

The inside corners of the speakers are 4.5 in from the rear wall and toe in puts the other side 7in.  They are 11in from the sidewalls.

 

 

With some more listening there may be some more tweaks.  For now call me Mr. -11.