KEF 104/2

KEF's 104 series began in the 1970s, and the 104/2 model appeared in the mid-1980s as a later evolution of that line. KEF itself is a British loudspeaker maker founded in 1961 by Raymond Cooke and based in Kent, England.

It is a three-driver design: two bass/midrange drivers working in a coupled-cavity cabinet paired with a treble unit, giving it the warm, full midrange British speakers of this era were known for. The twin-driver loading approach was a KEF signature that helped the smallish cabinet produce deeper bass than its size suggested.

Like most British monitors of its generation, the 104/2 has moderate sensitivity and rewards a solid-state or high-current amp with decent power. Many vintage enthusiasts pair it with period British amplifiers from NAD, Arcam, or Audiolab for a classic warm match.

The 104/2 leans warm and relaxed with rich midrange, while modern KEF models such as the LS50 (introduced in 2012) are more forward, detailed, and analytical. Buyers choosing between them usually come down to whether they want vintage musicality or modern resolution and imaging.