Kef Coda 3 Speakers Review Coda III, How they sound, 1985 British budget, Vintage HiFi stereo audio

A look inside and my thoughts on how this 1985 British budget speaker sounded. Compared to a Wharfedale Delta 70

[@dkmi]

The Coda III was my first pair of speakers. I paired them with an Onkyo TX-35 receiver. I paid $175 for them, and I think my receiver was $199. It was a long time ago, so my recollection may be off. I still have the receiver and the speakers. I simply couldn't part with them. There's nothing great about the speakers or the receiver, however, together they were really pleasing to the ear. You wouldn't believe how many compliments I got on that system. I bought them when I was 17. I would describe these speakers as having nice midrange. The bass isn't great, but with proper placement, they have enough to be enjoyable. The tweeters are sweet. Your ears will never fatigue from them. My ears needed to listen to these for a while in order for me to fully appreciate them. They do have a different sound signature than most speakers. I recently found a pair of Klipsch KG 2 speakers at a thrift store. The Klipsch were a little wider, and they had a huge passive radiator on the back of them. I'd say the sound wasn't that terribly different, but the KEFs had a more pleasing high end. I sold the KG2s for $150. Kept my trusty KEFs even though I never listen to them anymore.

[@sosonic12000]

Great review. Keep up the good work..

[@ampheat]

One pair is bass reflex the coda III are acoustic suspension which are 2 different technologies. I personally prefer the acoustic suspension type and the coda III sound very good all round including the bass and drums with clear snare sound (if we'll recorded obviously) for a small speaker

[@RandyDream12]

I pair these with new D class amp DAC best on the market and i can tell WOW! Im having a feeling like i am in professional studio...new experience

[@radioman1170]

I've recently picked up a pair of these (donated) and paired up with Denon RCD35DAB system and they sound great. Speakers are a very very personal thing and how we perceive how they sound. For me, the Coda 3 are a nice natural sound.

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks for the comment Leigh, Pretty well said I think. Also I find that some speakers really suit a certain amp/receiver and become a really nice match. Maybe like rolling a pair of dice to get a double

[@CM-dw3gh]

@@MichaelYates I'm going to be linking these up with the NAD 3020A at some point this week..hopefully a match made in heaven. Knowing my luck, in hell :)

[@MichaelYates]

@@CM-dw3gh I had the Nad 3020e many years ago, a very nice little amp, please let me know how they team up together.

[@CM-dw3gh]

@@MichaelYates yes will do. Haven't even plugged it in yet. The same seller contacted me last night and sold me the kef coda 3's for £30. Only slight concern is the scratch sound that came from one of the drivers when pressed gently. I took out the driver and repositioned it (a trick I heard may help align the voice coil). Sounded ok on my marantz pm4001 ose but couldn't have it at a good testing volume. Fingers crossed it's ok. Worst case I'll see if anyone has a driver they might want to sell..

[@CM-dw3gh]

@@MichaelYates managed to get some time to link the amp up but got a terrible crackle when changing volume. Sellers told me it hasn't been used in four years. Lots of dust inside. Read it could be the volume pot is full of dust. But it played the music bad too, tinny. I'm hoping it is just dust cos this is looking like an expensive problem

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

I had these and they were alright, entry level speakers I would say

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks for the comment Audio Electronics , I was looking forward to these speakers , especially after some good reviews, quote "Oldies but goodies These were top of the range in their day and still blow away many modern speakers that cost 5 times the price expect to pay between £30 and £60 for a set i have 2 sets set up to my receiver and the sound is clear bass is deep and highs are high" unquote. Was one such review. I know some you can take them with a pinch of salt and in fact were their budget speaker , but did get my expectations going. I think at some stage I will replace the caps in the crossovers as they are 3 in each, this might spring a little more life in them.

[@randomweirdyoutubechannel8955]

Got a pair last weekend they dont have the stock tweeters some skytronic silk domes but paired with the denon udra 70 they are the best ive heard and easily out perform the cyrus one linear bookshelfs

[@randomweirdyoutubechannel8955]

Update built some subwoofers to go with them to bring out the lows a little more and take the load of those little 8's works great

[@soundsnice8363]

Had these ages ago, was not impressed. Keep the good work up Michael

[@dennisvandewinkel1295]

I have the Kef coda 3 also. I wan’t to dismantle them. But the driver is glued.. how did you get these loose? Greets Dennis

[@MichaelYates]

Both of mine did not have any glue. Could be a bit of a nightmare if glued in, could easy pull off or tare front Veneer

[@dennisvandewinkel1295]

@@MichaelYates thanks for reaction. Maybe only the first generation of these where glued.. my back side of the coda is a litle different. In this article i found that they glued the driver.. www.google.com/amp/s/www.whathifi.com/amp/features/11-of-the-best-kef-products-of-all-time

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks for the link Dennis, maybe they wanted to make sure they were air tight buy gluing all around driver. Mine have screw bolts into a metal brace/bolt in cabinet so can get them really tight. Or maybe just save time and missed out the gluing part in later models. A possibility of using glue remover but using on wood could cause more problems.

[@CM-dw3gh]

I used a flat screw driver. I wasnt too worried as I use the grills. But surprised they glued as well.

[@Akstergrind]

Hi mate, I'm currently looking at a pair of Kef Coda 7s. If you've had any experience of those, how would you rate them, given that you didn't seem too enamoured with the 3s?

[@MichaelYates]

Hi, sorry I cannot comment on the 7's, might be worth given Stereo Review X or Ditton works a message as both would have gone trough a lot more speakers than me and both know their stuff. So sorry I can not help you here.

[@Akstergrind]

@@MichaelYates No worries, mate. I ended up buying them anyway, and they sound really nice, especially with my sub! Maybe Kef did a bit of work on them between the IIIs and the VIIs, eh?

[@MichaelYates]

@@Akstergrind That is good to hear, pleased you got a nice pair of speakers. I will keep my eye out if a pair comes up cheap

[@Akstergrind]

@@MichaelYates I think I've been watching too many "Audiophile" videos, to be honest. I only bought those Kefs to see what they sounded like, having swapped out a beautiful pair of Q Acoustic 3030i speakers! Having a great time, swapping and changing my system!

[@Akstergrind]

@@MichaelYates Hi again, Michael. I hope you don't mind me asking, I wonder if you have a video that covers connecting a sub to an amp with no Sub Out socket, please?

[@jonahwhale9047]

I read somewhere that these were made down to a price for Richer Sounds so, yes, I'd probably file under "trading on the name". From a buyer's POV, the fair question to answer would be, how do they compare to a £30 pair of new budget speakers made today?

[@MichaelYates]

I think I have read this myself some ware

[@silvarc1552]

I found myself a pair of these, they are sounding good, but I’ve came to learn on the last few days that they should need maintenance on the following: tweeters have ferrofluid, that should be replaced - probably it’s dry (after all they are from 1983-85), check that the components on the crossover are not tired and are actually within the 10% range when measured and I’d replace the binding posts - in my case is not a big issue because I use cables terminated with banana plugs but they are a nightmare to clamp the unterminated cable. That’s my 2p and my wishes of what I want to do on mine. I think if all that is checked they will sound much better and as intended in 1983-1985

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks for your comment. Yes you are right about the ferrofluid and that it in fact can dry out and effect the operation of the tweeter, something that I should have brought to light in this video. Be interested to how yours sound after the maintenance.

[@silvarc1552]

@@MichaelYates I’ll do my best, this is all quite new to me, it may take me a bit to get around everything I mentioned

[@alancastillozarate]

Hi mate what kind cable do you use ?to protect yu speaker or do I have to buy just banana conector thanks 🙏 I got kef coda 3 so I love them

[@longlist1421]

A little surprised, thought these would sound ok being KEF, but maybe why they are cheap to buy on eBay around £45. While other similar KEF's are much higher in price.

[@CM-dw3gh]

You should see how much they're going for now on there. Starting at 70 quid. Bid ones a little lower but end up around the same.

[@boogiewoogie9770]

Found a pair in the street today and took them home. They look bigger than the ones in this video. Visually they are in really nice condition however the tweeter is not working on one and the woofer sounds distorted. Not sure why this would be as looks ok inside.

[@MichaelYates]

Might be worth woofers over to see if its the crossover making one sound distorted, could also be the speaker coil getting stuck of rubbing againts the magnet. Worth checking and swapping tweeters as well.

[@boogiewoogie9770]

@@MichaelYates Yep good advice thanks. Will try that this eve.

[@adestickbaby]

I have just found an excellent looking pair in the street with a similar looking pair of shoes on top. I got rid of my last stereo though. Sigh.

[@charlesscottkelly]

I have just got a pair of those kef coda 3 s on ebay , one is very dull any idea what the problem is. The other sounds great.

[@MichaelYates]

I would check the tweeter first, then the crossover

[@charlesscottkelly]

@@MichaelYates thanks Michael, I have just bought my first amp, cd player and speakers, coming for years of using standard mini hifi systems. I will have a careful look inside today. Cheers 🍻

[@MichaelYates]

If you turn the treble up on your amp and just put your ear the the tweeter to see if there is any sound coming out and if its the same level as the working speaker

[@charlesscottkelly]

Got it fixed took the front off just a loose wire on tweeter . Cheers for the help.

[@MichaelYates]

That is good to hear

[@audiodimensions5255]

I had a pair of these as well, found them average and a bit bass lacking.

[@CM-dw3gh]

What type of music do you play through them? And what amp are you using..