KEF KHT3005BL review (SE, glossy black)

The subwoofer's taut definition allows acoustic bass instruments to sound more realistic than most compact subs. The ripe bass lines rolling through the Belladonna CD had satisfying fullness and power, and the pitch of each note was clearly rendered. The Raconteurs' new CD, Broken Boy Soldiers, quickly demonstrated the little speakers weren't afraid to rock out. Jack White was doing his best Ozzy Osbourne impression on the title track's vocals, and his raucous guitar blasts came through loud and clear.

The KHT-3005's home-theater skills were even better. The House of Flying Daggers DVD was a treat, especially that amazing sequence where Ziyi Zhang dances and kicks massive drums. The subwoofer's deepest bass extended to the low 30Hz range in our home theater--a truly outstanding performance for a compact design. The KHT-3005's holographic presentation of three-dimensional space was extraordinary, with the jungle sequences on the King Kong DVD producing a seamless arc of sound encircling our home theater. We could pick out the sound of each bird and buzzing insect as they moved about.

So what are the KEF KHT-3005's limitations? Well, compared to a set of much larger speakers, they just don't offer the same volume capability, dynamic range, and home-theater impact. Higher-end full-size speaker packages simply play louder and deliver far greater home-theater impact. But if you're looking for a beautiful, compact, and reasonably affordable 5.1-speaker package, the KHT-3005 is as good as it gets.