Short answer: the KEF Reference 203 for better sound quality, the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez for the lower price. The KEF Reference 203 ranks #11 of 54 floorstanding speakers at $5000. The Triangle Esprit Antal Ez ranks #53 at $1799, $3201 cheaper.
What the KEF Reference 203 offers: An unusually accomplished 4-way design for its era: excellent on-axis linearity (within about +/-3dB), genuinely good directivity both horizontally (~55 degrees) and vertically (~40-50 degrees), and an estimated in-room response that closely matches what the reviewer actually heard. Watch for: This is a 20+ year old, long-discontinued speaker only findable secondhand (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, audio forums) - condition, driver matching, and component aging vary by unit, so audition before buying if at all possible.
What the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez offers: Predicted in-room response sums rather nicely aside from the resonance and bass issues. Watch for: Resonance around 260Hz and a number of other resonances show up on-axis, along with a dip in bass response.
Buy the KEF Reference 203 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez. It ranks near the bottom of the 54 floorstanding speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Reference 203 | Triangle Esprit Antal Ez | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5000 Discontinued | $1799 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #53 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Dimensions | 1067H mm (42" tall) | 43.9"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1115.0 x 300.0 x 400.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.6 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 3.2 ohms per manufacturer spec) | 8 ohms nominal (2.7 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90.7dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1x 0.75" supertweeter, coaxial 1" dome tweeter + 6.5" midrange, 2x 6.5" woofers | 2x 6.5" (160mm) fiberglass cone woofers, 1x 6.5" (160mm) natural cellulose midrange, 1x 1" (25mm) titanium dome tweeter |
| Weight | 58 lbs / 26.3 kg (58 lb) | 98.5 lbs / 44.7 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, with switchable flat/cut/lifted bass ports for wall placement | ported, front |
| Crossover Frequency | 400Hz, 2.7kHz, 15kHz | - |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 55kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 50-200W | - |
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- JBL HDI-3800 vs KEF Reference 203
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Reference 203: $5000 Discontinued
Pros: An unusually accomplished 4-way design for its era: excellent on-axis linearity (within about +/-3dB), genuinely good directivity both horizontally (~55 degrees) and vertically (~40-50 degrees), and an estimated in-room response that closely matches what the reviewer actually heard. Distortion is excellent - under 1% harmonic above 80Hz at both 86dB and 96dB, and multitone stays around 1% even at 96dB. Bass reaches a real F3 of 51Hz (F10 37Hz), with in-room extension into the low-mid-40s. The reviewer’s overall listening notes were essentially “nothing stood out bad or good” - a genuinely neutral, accurate speaker with a distinctive rounded-baffle look that avoids the diffraction issues a flat baffle this wide would normally have.
Cons: This is a 20+ year old, long-discontinued speaker only findable secondhand (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, audio forums) - condition, driver matching, and component aging vary by unit, so audition before buying if at all possible. Demands a robust amplifier: impedance dips to about 3.6 ohms with an EPDR of 2.2 ohms. The small supertweeter shows minor breakup artifacts at the extremes of the vertical polar plot and some compression at very high output in the top octave, though neither was audible in normal listening. Discontinued.
Full KEF Reference 203 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 400Hz, 2.7kHz, 15kHz |
| Dimensions | 1067H mm (42" tall) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 0.75" supertweeter, coaxial 1" dome tweeter + 6.5" midrange, 2x 6.5" woofers |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 55kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.6 ohms minimum, measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 3.2 ohms per manufacturer spec) |
| Recommended Power | 50-200W |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 58 lbs / 26.3 kg (58 lb) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, with switchable flat/cut/lifted bass ports for wall placement |
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Triangle Esprit Antal Ez: $1799 Discontinued
Pros: Predicted in-room response sums rather nicely aside from the resonance and bass issues. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±50 degrees is reasonably controlled.
Cons: Resonance around 260Hz and a number of other resonances show up on-axis, along with a dip in bass response. Two distinct distortion sources - one around 250-300Hz, another around 3-4kHz - already cross the reviewer’s audibility threshold even at moderate output, and get much worse at 96dB SPL/1m, where distortion broadly exceeds 50% relative level across large parts of the spectrum. Directivity is not great overall. The reviewer does not recommend it. Discontinued.
Full Triangle Esprit Antal Ez review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 43.9"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1115.0 x 300.0 x 400.0 mm) |
|---|---|
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (160mm) fiberglass cone woofers, 1x 6.5" (160mm) natural cellulose midrange, 1x 1" (25mm) titanium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.7 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 90.7dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 98.5 lbs / 44.7 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons