KEF 203

Type: Bookshelf loudspeaker
Drive units: Bextrene-cone bass/midrange
Crossover: Computer-designed
Impedance (average): 5.1 ohms
Sensitivity: 93.5 dB SPL (2.83V/1m)
Dimensions: 11 × 18.5 × 13.4 inches (front H×W, depth)
Finishes: Walnut or teak veneer
Price (1982): $600 per pair

Name: KEF 203
Brand: KEF

Little is documented about the KEF 203. The record shows a bookshelf loudspeaker system from the early 1980s, sold as a high-technology compact speaker with a premium price to match. A 1982 advertisement in Audio (April 1982, p.9) compared it to a Maserati Bora - both modestly sized packages with genuinely advanced engineering inside, and priced accordingly. The ad touted a computer-designed crossover network and advanced Bextrene-cone drive units, promising "exceptional realism and precise stereo images."

High Fidelity (June 1982, p.28) published a full lab and listening report. The reviewer noted that KEF's claims were unusually sober. The 203 was designed to produce 86 dB SPL at 1 meter in average rooms, and the reviewer praised the candor. Measured sensitivity came in at 93.5 dB SPL (2.8-volt pink noise, 250 Hz to 6 kHz), with an average impedance of 5.1 ohms. The cabinet measured 11 by 18.5 inches on the front and 13.4 inches deep. Price was $600 per pair in walnut or teak veneer. The review called the 203 a serious, well-engineered bookshelf monitor with the refined midrange and imaging KEF was known for.