KEF T205 Home Theater Speaker System - Product Review

Just as LCD and Plasma TV technology resulted in flatter, thinner, TVs that could be mounted on the wall. Speaker manufacturers have been inspired to do the same. The KEF T205 is a uniquely European-designed system that features an extremely flat and slim main and satellite speakers combined with a compact subwoofer. To find out more, keep reading. First is an overview of each speaker, followed by further evaluation and perspective. After reading this review, be sure to check out my supplementary KEF T205 Photo Profile.

Here are the features and specifications of the KEF T301c center channel speaker provided for the T205 system:

Frequency Response: 80Hz to 30kHz.
Sensitivity: 91 dB (wall mounted), 88db (stand mounted). This represents how loud the speaker is at a distance of one meter with an input of one watt. Maximum SPL (sound pressure level) output 110db.
Impedance: 8 ohms. (can be used with amplifiers that have 8 ohm speaker connections)
Drivers: Voice-matched with dual 3-inch midrange and 1-inch-dome tweeter.
Power Handling: 10 to 150 watts.
Crossover Frequency: 1.7kHz (represents the point where frequencies higher than 1.7kHz are sent to the tweeter).
Enclosure Type: Sealed.
Connector Type: Insert with screw.
Weight: 3.3 lb
Dimensions: 5.5 (H) x 23.6 (W) x 1.4 (D) inches.
Mounting options: On counter, On wall.
Finish Options: Black

Product Overview - KEF T301 Left/Right Main Channel Speakers

Here are the T301 Front Left/Right front speakers provided with the KEF T205 Home Theater Speaker System:

Frequency Response: 80Hz to 30kHz.
Sensitivity: 91 dB (wall mounted), 88db (stand mounted). This represents how loud the speaker is at a distance of one meter with an input of one watt. Maximum SPL (sound pressure level) output 110db.
Impedance: 8 ohms. (can be used with amplifiers that have 8 ohm speaker connections)
Drivers: Voice-matched with dual 4.5-inch midrange and 1-inch tweeter.
Power Handling: 10 to 150 watts.
Crossover Frequency: 1.7kHz (represents the point where signal higher than 3.7kHz are sent to the tweeter).
Enclosure Type: Sealed
Connector Type: Insert with screw.
Weight: 3.3 lb
Dimensions: 23.6 (H) x 5.5 (W) x 1.4 (D) inches.
Mounting options: On counter, On wall.
Finish Options: Black

Here are the features and specifications of the T101 Front surround speakers provided with the KEF T205 Home Theater Speaker System.

Frequency Response: 80Hz to 30kHz.
Sensitivity: 90 dB (wall mounted), 87db (stand mounted). This represents how loud the speaker is at a distance of one meter with an input of one watt. Maximum SPL (sound pressure level) output 107db.
Impedance: 8 ohms. (can be used with amplifiers that have 8 ohm speaker connections)
Drivers: Voice-matched with single 4.5-inch midrange and 1-inch tweeter.
Power Handling: 10 to 150 watts.
Crossover Frequency: 1.7kHz (represents the point where frequencies higher than 1.7kHz are sent to the tweeter).
Enclosure Type: Sealed
Connector Type: Insert with screw.
Weight: 2.2 lb
Dimensions: 13.0 (H) x 5.5 (W) x 1.4 (D) inches.
Mounting options: On counter, On wall.

Finish Options: Black

T-2 Powered Subwoofer - Product Overview

Here are the features and specifications of the T-2 Subwoofer provided with the KEF T205 speaker system.

Subwoofer Type: Powered Front firing closed-box subwoofer with 10-inch driver.
Frequency Response: 30Hz - 250Hz
Low Pass Filter: Fixed at 250 Hz (any crossover adjustments should be made using available crossover settings available on a connected home theater receiver).
Power Output: 250 watts RMS (Continuous Power) - Class D amplifier.
Phase: Switchable to Normal (0) or Reverse (180 degrees) - synchronizes in-out motion of sub speaker with in-out motion of other speakers in system.
Bass Boost: Switchable for 0, +6, +12 db. Increases the relative output level of the low frequencies at 40Hz and below.
Connections: 1 RCA Line Input, AC power receptacle.
Power On/Off: Two-way toggle, Additional Power Auto/Manual Switch.
Dimensions: 15-inches (H) x 14.6-inches (W) x 7-inches (D).
Weight: 28.6 lbs.
Finish: Black

Home Theater Receivers: Onkyo TX-SR705 and Onkyo HT-RC360 (both receivers used in 5.1 channel mode).

Blu-ray Disc/DVD Player: OPPO Digital BDP-93

CD-only Player sources included: Technics SL-PD888 and Denon DCM-370 5-disc CD Changers.

Loudspeaker System used for comparison: EMP Tek E5Ci center channel speaker, four E5Bi compact bookshelf speakers for left and right main and surrounds, and an ES10i 100 watt powered subwoofer.

TV/Monitor: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor.

Additional Level checks made using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter

Additional Software Used in This Review

Blu-ray Discs: Across The Universe, Avatar, Battle: Los Angeles, Hairspray, Inception, Iron Man 1&2, Megamind, Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour, Sherlock Holmes, The Expendables, The Dark Knight, The Incredibles and Tron: Legacy.

Standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: The Cave, Hero, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut), Lord of Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander, Moulin Rouge, and U571.

CDs: Al Stewart - Sparks of Ancient Light, Beatles - LOVE, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Sade - Soldier of Love.

DVD-Audio discs included: Queen - Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles - Hotel California, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible.

SACD discs used included: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Steely Dan - Gaucho, The Who - Tommy.

Unpacking and setting up the KEF T205 system was very easy. The speakers are so thin, that when you open the box, you may think that you are looking a box of speaker grills. However picking up the individually wrapped "grills" out the box, it is evident that they are the speakers. They are well-sealed to protect them from shipping damage.

Also supplied are the table stands (floor stands are optional), and the speakers can also be wall mounted, if desired (additional screws required).

Attaching the table stands is very easy. The table stand for the center channel speaker just slides on (see photo), and it only takes two screws to assemble the front and surround speaker stands and only one screw to attach the stands to the speakers (see photo).

However, besides the thinness of the speakers, the one thing that is noticeable is the lack of either screw-on or push-on speaker connections, but don't be alarmed. The speaker connections are actually recessed into the profile of the speakers (see photo). There are two holes (one red for positive, one black for negative). The holes may look small, but I was able to squeeze a 16 gauge wire in.

To attach the speaker wire, you first loosen the imbedded screws using on of the two Allen wrenches provided in the box, insert your speaker wire, and then refasten the screws. You are now ready to place your speakers and begin listening.

Proceed to Page 2: Audio Performance, Pros/Cons, and Final Take.