Kii Three - my impressions and pro reviews

[baconbrain]

Guys,

 

Have you ever driven a Ferrari? You know before you even start the engine that it just doesn‘t compare to the upper mid class sports sedan that you currently own. It is in a different league, and mostly likely in a price class you will never be able to afford, but if you are a car buff, the experience will more than likely be unforgettable.

 

Does expectation bias play a role? Most definately, but the experience is undeniable when you press the throttle to the floor. Are you humbled when you drive off in your sports sedan at the end of day? Probably, but reality tells you that it still is the best sports sedan that you can afford. 

 

I really enjoy my Kii‘s, but I still find it incredibly fascinating what is possible when listening to the Ferrari‘s of the audio industry.

[baconbrain]

2 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Well said. 

 

By the way, are you going to the Munich High End show?

Thx, if family and work permits, definitely.

[baconbrain]

8 hours ago, firedog said:

No one sane ever said the Kiis can't be beat. Obviously if you are going to spend 40K Euro on speakers and big amounts on suitable electronics to go with it - you can do better. I still say in a smallish space you are going to encounter quite a challenge to beat the Kiis on price/performance, especially if you want something approx full range like the Kiis.

 

You have a fantastic system. Probably better than 99.9% of the setups in existence. Can't you just be happy with it?

I'd also like to know what your friend's system is.

It is a top of the line Naim System (but not the Statement) with the supporting infrastructure and Verity Audio Sarastro II speakers.

[baconbrain]

2 hours ago, tomjtx said:

Test drive a dual motor Tesla. No car can match it’s zero to 60 time. 

I have. Fantastic vehicle but it definately doesn‘t sound like a Ferrari  😉

[baconbrain]

I don‘t know wether it was the the new flagship streamer, the basic room treatment measures, or a combination of both, he put into place during the last upgrade, but the sound imo is now heavenly. 

[baconbrain]

On 3/8/2019 at 3:03 PM, firedog said:

https://listen.tidal.com/album/4321025

 

I have added a couple more to the playlist which you can access here:

 

https://tidal.com/playlist/768432eb-b8ba-4a1d-b90a-a4c9a9ba8d85

 

Just let me know if someone would like to add ...

[baconbrain]

On 3/16/2019 at 1:00 PM, Hydrology said:

Bubbles by Yosi Horikawa

https://tidal.com/track/73020591

Excellent!

 

It‘s in.

[baconbrain]

2 hours ago, moby1977 said:

Hello 

 

Anyone compared the Kii with Avantgarde Zero ?

Both are on my.shortlist (and the 8c) .

 

Thanks 

Alex 

I personally like the Avantgarde sound, and honestly if I would have the space for them, it would be a tough choice. Any chance of finding a dealer who would accommodate you auditioning them within your home?

[baconbrain]

17 hours ago, Gastronaut said:

Few days ago I had a chance to try/test https://www.kempelektroniksshop.nl/blue-horizon-mains-noise-analyzer.html.

Well, the result was disappointing. Very "dirty" power, but I knew that more or less. So, the question is what you use to "clean" your AC power, and what is suitable for the Kii's? I have tried Audience Power Conditioner once and the change was positive, but not sure is the amount of change worth that amount of money. 

 

13 hours ago, fpalm69 said:

I tried an Isotek Polaris power strip and that did not work out.  Lost dynamics...plugged them back in the wall...much better.  I do have Supra power cables that I made with pure copper plugs and floated the screen (Faraday Cage) and that seems to help a tiny bit compared to the stock cables.  These were the newer silver/copper Supra power cables.

I tried a couple of large balanced transformers (Equitec)  but that did not seem to help either.  Maybe the Kii is somewhat immune to line noise by design or has a built-in filter?  My other Hypex amps do not seem to respond to line filtering/conditioning either.

 

My experience has been very similar to fpalm69's. Active filtering seems to negatively impact the dynamics, while straight out of the socket does make them susceptible to noise. The best overall result for me has been passive filtering given that I also have a "dirty" LED ceiling lamp in my listening room.

[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.

[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?

[baconbrain]

So finally had the chance to listen to the Bxt Extensions at the High End In Munich over the weekend.

 

They had them setup in such a way that you could turn the extensions on or off during playback which provided a good opportunity to hear titles with or without them. 

 

My impression was very positive and they certainly warrant a dedicated session in a more suitable environment to further explore their full potential.

 

Attached is a pic of rig used to toggle between with / without the Bxt.

 

 

[baconbrain]

16 minutes ago, Mazza said:

From the photo it looks like they were pulled well away from sidewall and backwall? 

Approx. 2 meters (6 feet) from the back and side walls. The Innuos Statement Server was located behind the white curtain with the printed interior scene. 

[baconbrain]

I have added a few highlights from the Munich High End Show (Tracks 18 - 28) to the Kii Three Community Tidal Playlist which you can access here:

 

 

https://tidal.com/playlist/768432eb-b8ba-4a1d-b90a-a4c9a9ba8d85

 

Enjoy

[baconbrain]

3 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

I spent some time in this room, but the sound just didn't do it for me. I believe my lack of enthusiasm for the sound is mostly because of music selection and ambient noise level in the room. These are very competent speakers that I still need to demo properly. 

Totally agree about the ambient noise. Probably the biggest disadvantage with High End Event. (or any other audio happening of that size..) Give them a try in a suitable environment and I would be surprised if they disappoint.

[baconbrain]

4 hours ago, firedog said:

The controller works with either an RC5 type or Apple type remote protocols. There’s a definition in the controller you set for the type of remote you are using. Once you do that all you have to do is pair the remote acc’d to how it is supposed to work. 
I’m not familiar with your remote. If it works with one of those protocols it will work. 

 

I could never get my RC5 remote to work but the apple one worked from the start like a charm.

[baconbrain]

Excellent list. Thanks for sharing!

[baconbrain]

13 hours ago, Cazzesman said:

Good afternoon fellow Kii 3 owners 😀   Damn I am so happy I can now say that out loud.   Woohoo!!!!!

 

Picked them up Lunch time Monday and on getting home I had music in an hour or so.    Slow and steady wins the race I'm told.     I had to put the stands together for starters.   Heavy mothers.

 

AES from Mutec USB 3 into the Kii 3.    12 months ago I was in Japan and came across a pretty decent Audio store in Shibuya.  They had a number of AES 110ohm cables for sale so I snapped one up even though I had no use for it at the time.  My wife said....."You can put it in the box with the other 100 cables".  She's a cynical women at times 😀

 

She knows the old adage..............."he who dies with the most cables wins".    Being a Quilter she knows the adage as...........

"She who dies with the most material wins".     She is so far in front I have no hope in that race.

 

I took great pleasure in telling her I used the cable.  She grinned and wandered off.   Small victories after 30 Years. 🤗

 

Set them up in general situ and played with the Controller, getting my head around what it did.    Used them with the TV that night and even the wife commented about the sound clarity.   There's a win right there IMHO.

 

Tuesday morning was proper play day.   I had a 4pm start for work so plenty of time I thought................thought?   

I removed my previous speakers from the area and went about placement and the tweaking, tweaking, tweaking, tweaking.......damn this Controller is a trap for young players when you can play music and instantly adjust stuff from you lounge chair.    I like the 4 metre Cat6 cables that came with the Speakers. 

 

My phone rang and it was someone from work with a question.   Looked at my watch..........@#$%^!!!!    3pm.    I am well aware of the PC Black Hole Syndrome (BHS) and I now have Kii 3 BHS.    Probably not a bad 'rash to get' all things considered. 🤩

 

Quick tidy up and set everything via the Controller so that when the beloved got home all she had to do was turn the TV to on and 'Abracadabra' let there be sound.     I get a text message later that evening to say....'You done good".     Enough said, praise galore.

 

How do they sound........................that's not a question Kii 3 owners say.    What they say is............."How #$%^ good do they sound!!!"

The Kii 3's are a statement not a question.

 

I won't bore the converted with superlatives............you know the gist.     Bruno and Co are pretty damn smart folks and I am happy I could give them some $$ towards their retirement.

 

As I type this I am listening to Paper Airplane by Alison Krauss and Union Station.    And I am grinning like an idiot.  

 

Can't wait to tweak some more.....................that way leads to insanity I suspect.

 

Regards Cazzesman

 

 

 

 

Enjoy them! They are really fantastic speakers imo!

 

Btw., I have added most of your playlist (95%) to the Tidal KII Community one referenced on page 25.

[baconbrain]

20 minutes ago, Bernstein said:

I enjoyed your playlist a lot. One proposal: rather than adding songs which aren't already be listened aka verified 🤣 with the KIIs, I would prefer if you could only add songs which sounds really good as a benchmark playlist. Just a proposal. 

Thanks and point taken. The only difficult part about that is that the tastes vary so it is a bit challenging to find a list which sounds "really good" for everybody. 

[baconbrain]

1 minute ago, Bernstein said:

 

Yes not an easy task. Nevertheless good approach and looking forward to explore new music. Everyone can also create their own „good to go“ playlist picking songs from your playlist. 

Exactly, and if there are any you would like to add, just let me know.

[baconbrain]

5 hours ago, ragwo said:

@baconbrain

What is the # of the post with the Tidal playlist? Couldn't find it on page 20-30. 

Here the link:

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/768432eb-b8ba-4a1d-b90a-a4c9a9ba8d85

 

[baconbrain]

On 7/3/2019 at 9:49 PM, Bernstein said:

 

Oh: there are qobuz playlists of KII provided on FB. 

 

https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/2300473

 

https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/2186759

 

I have now incorporated these into our Tidal List. 186 Tracks and growing ...

[baconbrain]

8 hours ago, fas42 said:

How are the speakers locked into place on the stands? If I had these, one of the first things I would do is experiment with various ways of coupling the cabinets to the stands - to see what that told me.

Actually something which I also have contemplated given that the cabinet vibration of the Kii‘s has been measured (read it in a review somewhere...) to be fairly high. Would seem that sand filled stands certainly help but have their limits if the cabinets just rest on top of them ....

[baconbrain]

1 hour ago, ragwo said:

I'm thinking of using Blu Tack for coupling the speakers to the stands and sorbothane discs for decoupeling the stands from the floor. Hopefully it will prevent my dog or kids from toppling the speakers over. A bonus will be better sound, I hope. 

 

@baconbrain

Could you please add Tord Gustavsen Trio with Simin Tander - The Journey to your playlist? Sounds excellent, with good dynamics. 

 

Could it be that the title of the song is „Journey of Life“ ?

[baconbrain]

15 minutes ago, ragwo said:

Yes it is, sorry for not specifying that. The album is called "What was said". The whole album is a gem in my opinion, but a bit much to add to a playlist. 

 

All good, I have added it.

 

You have also made me curious and looking forward to giving the album a listen.