I have been a fan of KEF speakers for some time now, and I have had extensive experience with a significant portion of the KEF line, including the KEF Reference system, which I had in my home. It was with pleasure and anticipation that I received a set of KEF Reference 203 speakers for re-view as a two-channel set. The KEF Reference line has been a critically acclaimed success, and the 203s are the starting point for the floor-standing models. With an MSRP of $5,000,they fall into a sector of the market where many excellent speakers are available. 

The most common misconception is that it doesn’t matter where you place a subwoofer. But placement affects performance in substantial ways, and the quality of the bass response and sound pressure level resulting from being placed against a wall can be higher than when freestanding. The10 CSB subwoofer takes that into account and to its advantage because it’s made specifically to fit into the corner of a room. So, it can be unobtrusive while still kicking out the jams with a heavy foot.  

Revel is a speaker division of Harman International, the giant audio company with multiple brands, including such famous nameplates such as Mark Levinson, Harman Kardon, Lexicon, and Infinity. Revel started some years back with the high-line industrial-design Ultima speakers,which were not only very cool looking, but also critically acclaimed. It was a good way to start for a new company, and it soon added the more traditional-looking and relatively lower priced Performa line.