I have a pair of Celef Studio Professionals - SPT/113 and SPT/114. I bought them from a friend about 20 years ago. I am more music addict than hi fi specialist and they have a beautiful warm and detailed sound and tend to really come into their own with the jazz and classical bits of my collection. The only downside is that they've never been that popular as furniture with some of the women in my life......
Here are some pics - I'd love to know a bit more about them.
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p484/jeank3/P1000485.jpg
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p484/jeank3/P1000484.jpg
Hi there Jean K and other Celef Pe1 thread followers,
I've only recently found/joined this web site and the Celef Pe1 thread especially to share my experiences with these speakers.
Firstly, I must say You are NOT alone I have a pair of matched Celef Studio Professional speakers
Ser Nos. SPT/141 and SPT/142.
They were bought from new in autumn 1976 from Radlett Audio in Hertfordshire [UK]. Stewart Tyler personally delivered and set up the speakers. If my memory serves me correctly after some 40 odd years, he said he went to considerable effort to ensure that the drivers in both speakers of a given pair were matched as closely as possible for performance characteristics.
I didn't buy them on a whim, but as a result of pretty exhaustive listening tests conducted at several retailers. The main competition was from Spendor BC-1 and a pair of Tannoy and JBL speakers of which I cannot remember the names, were also assessed.
My musical tastes varied from Rock'n'Roll thro' R'n'B; Country; Heavy Rock to Classical. So, finding a pair of speakers as a best fit to those genres took some time. The JBL's were fine for the Heavy Rock but far too bright for the rest of my musical tastes and were declined. The Tannoys were a better bet, but for me didn't seem to make my music involving enough.
So, final major listening tests were between the Spendor BC-1's and the Celef Studio Professional's. Both about £400 per pair in 1976.
I took the same selection of Vinyl LP's
. including Rock'n'Roll
Everly Brothers, Buddy holly and Elvis etc ... Full Orchestral works plus Piano and Violin Concertos ... Joan Baez and Janet Baker for female voices. Also listened to the Spoken human voice.
There was little to choose between them, but the Celef's with the large flat faced 8'' x 10'' Kef Bass drivers definitely put out a smoother more powerful and natural bass. While in a showroom trying to encourage a pair of Spendor's to output a bit more bass one of the speaker pairs gave up and died ! The Song was Boredom by The Lovin' Spoonful. So, the Celef's came out top for me.
The Celef's have been in pretty much daily use since 1976 outputting FM Radio, CD's and most importantly Vinyl Records both 45's and LP's.
After a few years one of the 8'' Diameter Mid Range AUDEX units packed up. By then Radlett Audio had moved to nearby St. Albans and although Stewart Tyler had left for pastures new an unused Driver was found in their stock room
Onward another few years and the other 8'' Mid Range AUDEX unit started to make very unmusical Tizzy noises. This time no replacement could be found. However, as in those days I used to run at pretty high sound levels for Rock'n'Roll, I thought perhaps the driver cone surround may have become fatigued. So, I turned the driver upside down through 180 degrees. Problem solved and both speakers have been running faultlessly ever since
I could never part with my Celef Speakers and I love their, to me, very natural relaxed sound and effortless Bass that does not sound as Boomy as does, at times, my Home Cinema Surround Sound Woofer.
Hope the above is of some interest to you all. I'm pretty sure somewhere I have a Hi-Fi News or perhaps Hi-Fi Sound magazine with them reviewed. IF I find a review I'll try to post it on online.
Roland J