Celestion Kingstons

[Rory]

Celestion Kingstons, and now with pics

ok
i am going to dem a pair as POSSIBLE (nothings definite) replacements for the ms860s. What i'd like to know is : is there anything i should be particularly looking out for- any known problems or issues with them? I know they're as rare as rocking horse droppings so i'm not expecting a huge flurry of replies but anythings useful

Cheers

 

[MO!]

http://www.audioreview.com/Main Speaker/Celestion/PRD_119296_1594crx.aspx

also, from the celestion site......

The Celestion Kingston continues the long history of technological advances. The Kingston was launched in 1995 and is both an evolution of the SL600 family and a major innovation - the cabinet is made from Alphacrystal, a moulded stone/resin aggregate - and tapers to a point at the rear such that the traditional back panel is eliminated.

HTH

MO

 

[leonard smalls]

If they're as good as the Celestion Ditton 66s they'll be a serious beasty...

 

[timpy]

They're going to be monsterously insensitive, and not an easy load either. They were seriously expensive when new as well. Look nice though with their aerolon shaped cabinet. They weigh a tonne. Make sure you get the matching stands, they really set them off. Actually, I think the stands are a little more integral IIRC, so they'll probably some with them.

What do they sound like? Well they sounded similar to the SL600, only slightly better if hi-fi is your bag. There's no real bass though, but not much cabinet colouration either. For me, they're a bit too restrained and polite, and the top end is very smooth. Definately a niche product. I doubt you'll be using them for parties, even with your capable amp. I haven't played them extensively though, just found some in a shop. Home demo is the key. I can imagine they are a little too frustrating with some music / systems / rooms, not a maximum compatibility design.

HTH

Cheers

 

[bottleneck]

Originally posted by timpy
They're going to be monsterously insensitive, and not an easy load either. They were seriously expensive when new as well. Look nice though with their aerolon shaped cabinet. They weigh a tonne. Make sure you get the matching stands, they really set them off. Actually, I think the stands are a little more integral IIRC, so they'll probably some with them.



HTH

Cheers

Are you sure about their insensitivity Timpy? the link above quotes them at 90db ( I dont know if the review is correct etc)

 

[timpy]

Seemed pretty insensitive to me to be honest. Some of the similar models in the cheaper ranges had sensitivities in the 82-85 dB/m range, so it didn't surprise me when I had to wang them up a little. I could be wrong, but all the clues to me seem to point to them being a little "special" in the sensitivity dept.

It could be thier soft balance as well though to be fair. Perhaps they measure as more sensitive than they sound. Probably a case of suck it and see but be prepared.

Cheers

 

[Decca]

Ahh, the SL600's, I still remember the comments John Bamford made when he said ââ'¬Å"it is like listening to reggae music with a Oxford accentââ'¬Â

Very nearly great speakers but way to polite

 

[Rory]

cheers Timpy, but arrived a bit too late I'm afraid- i picked them up today (from Nottingham- as Tone says, you gotta travel )

Chappy there was using a Linn Karik cdp (which astonished me in having a really nice detailed sound, but the mechanism was awfully clunky). I took my Plinius amp along but was shocked to see the vendor using Black Rhodium Violets ( i can just about stand these on my tv!!) and Black Rhodium S130biwire speaker cable (not really in the Kingston's league). So in other words they were up against it.

Oh, and the room was very tall, with air bed sofas , 4 QUAD hifi pictures, no curtains, thin carpet and no other furnishings apart from a solid coffee table. And there was a heck of an echo, and the speakers had alcoves around them. So, yet again, they were up against it.

They sounded OK. Quite smooth, inoffensive. Nothing was really lacking apart from a clearly defined sub 50hz bass. Imaging was a bit scrappy. Grieg's Piano Concerto no.1 sounded heavenly with detail i've never heard before but pop sounded unremarkable.

The vendor made it clear he'd just moved into this property and that was the first time he'd listened to the Kingstons like that (hes running old Naim floorstanders as stop-gaps). He wasn't bowled over by their performance either which is encouraging. He was clearly a fan though, having had the Sl600s (THEY DO DO BASS but it has to be one heck of an amp!!!) the Sl700s then finally these.

They are still in the car, and will be unwrapped tomorrow. Lets hope they sound better in my room

 

[MO!]

Originally posted by Rory
cheers Timpy, but arrived a bit too late I'm afraid- i picked them up today (from Nottingham- as Tone says, you gotta travel )

Chappy there was using a Linn Karik cdp (which astonished me in having a really nice detailed sound, but the mechanism was awfully clunky). I took my Plinius amp along but was shocked to see the vendor using Black Rhodium Violets ( i can just about stand these on my tv!!) and Black Rhodium S130biwire speaker cable (not really in the Kingston's league). So in other words they were up against it.

Oh, and the room was very tall, with air bed sofas , 4 QUAD hifi pictures, no curtains, thin carpet and no other furnishings apart from a solid coffee table. And there was a heck of an echo, and the speakers had alcoves around them. So, yet again, they were up against it.

They sounded OK. Quite smooth, inoffensive. Nothing was really lacking apart from a clearly defined sub 50hz bass. Imaging was a bit scrappy. Grieg's Piano Concerto no.1 sounded heavenly with detail i've never heard before but pop sounded unremarkable.

The vendor made it clear he'd just moved into this property and that was the first time he'd listened to the Kingstons like that (hes running old Naim floorstanders as stop-gaps). He wasn't bowled over by their performance either which is encouraging. He was clearly a fan though, having had the Sl600s (THEY DO DO BASS but it has to be one heck of an amp!!!) the Sl700s then finally these.

They are still in the car, and will be unwrapped tomorrow. Lets hope they sound better in my room

I don't get it. You spend the whole post saying they didn't truly impress, granted they were "up against it", and yet you still bought them?

I take it this is a case of give them a try and if not then sell them on?

Hope they impress MOre with your room/kit.

Interested to see what these look like. Any chance of a pic?

MO

 

[Rory]

Originally posted by MO!
I don't get it. You spend the whole post saying they didn't truly impress, granted they were "up against it", and yet you still bought them?

I take it this is a case of give them a try and if not then sell them on?

Hope they impress MOre with your room/kit.

Interested to see what these look like. Any chance of a pic?

MO

yeh. i knew they were good (as i'd heard the model 2 levels below (the Sl600) and was promised they totally outclassed them) and seeing as the vendor already had someone else lined up who was planning on paying MOre than I was i thought, what the heck, and just got them, safe in the knowledge i won't lose much if i don't like them.

i'm so glad i did- hooked them up today (not an easy task- when was the last time you had some standmount speakers that weighed 17kgs on their own and the stands weighed 15kgs) but ALAS!!! my Nordost Blue Heaven speaker wire was not long enough so had to use some £5/m Black Rhodium T90 silver plated copper stuff as a stop gap (albeit a surprisingly good stop gap actually...but thats all the white spagetti hanging about, if u wonder).

As for the sound, imaging is so impressive- very very 'larger than life' and as the cabinets are marble composite (or something) there is pratically no cabinet colouration. a very clear, clean sound.

possibly a lack of bass extension which sticks out a bit as my old MS860s (in the Classified section ) really hammered home the bass cleanly down to 20hz but theres ample weight down to 35hz or so and it probably won't feel lacking after a matter of time.

now, as for the looks...first thing that I thought was 'Wharfedale Evo 10'
sorry for the self indulgent two pics :MILD: :SCIDB: :Quad: RaT:

 

[Rory]

and another...:MILD:

 

[MO!]

Nice

Worth the risk it seems! Glad you're liking the sound. They look pretty nice too! Could have done with putting the lights on first

Can't realy work out the cabinet shape too well from the pics either.

Enjoy!

Just need to add a sub now!

MO

 

[Rory]

if u want to know the shape at the rear, just look at the bottom of the stand- they are teardrop shaped, like the new Wharfedale Evo 10s, as I said

light was on
camera (Fuji MX2200) is pretty rubbish 2.1 MP job
20k file restriction is a bummer

those are my excuses, anyway