KEF 304 Series II bookshelf speakers front-on as a pair, grilles fitted

KEF 304 Series II speakers angled to show the cabinet depth

Pair of KEF 304 Series II speakers from above and behind, black cabinets

KEF 304 Series II bookshelf speakers side by side, front-on

KEF

Pair of KEF 304 Series II Bookshelf Speakers – Made in England

Name: Pair of KEF 304 Series II Bookshelf Speakers – Made in England
Brand: KEF
SKU: 11423
Price: 395.00 CAD
Availability: InStock

$395.00

A 2.5-way closed box: two B200 paper-diaphragm bass drivers with only the upper one carrying on through the midrange, and a T33 tweeter above that. The bass chassis are mechanically decoupled from the cabinet, which was a first for KEF at the time. 87dB sensitive, so a 30-watt amplifier drives them properly. Very good condition, fully tested.

1 in stock

Compare

Add to wishlist

Description

Pair of KEF 304 Series II Bookshelf Speakers – Black Finish, Very Good Condition, Tested

Discover the refined British engineering of the KEF 304 Series II (Type SP1148)—capable bookshelf speakers from the 1980s that deliver remarkable clarity and musicality. Based on the legendary KEF Concord IV design, these speakers combine sophisticated acoustic engineering with elegant simplicity. Fully tested and sounding excellent, this pair is in very good condition and ready to enhance any audio system.

British Engineering Legacy:
The KEF 304 II represents KEF’s commitment to bringing high-fidelity sound into the home. This 2½-way design employs dual B200 bass drivers (paper diaphragm, mechanically isolated from the cabinet—a KEF innovation) coupled with the T33 tweeter and a sophisticated crossover network. The dual bass drivers operate together at low frequencies but only the upper unit continues through the midrange, creating what KEF calls a 2½-way system—delivering higher maximum output and reduced distortion compared to conventional 2-way designs.

The paper diaphragm bass drivers were revolutionary for their time, offering lower moving mass than traditional cones while maintaining excellent consistency and durability. This contributed to the system’s high sensitivity (87dB SPL @ 1m/1W) and the ability to play loudly from modest amplifier power.

Sophisticated Acoustic Design:
The closed-box enclosure with moulded plinth and top caps provides:

Mechanical isolation of drivers from cabinet resonance (early KEF decoupling technique)

Reduced distortion through optimized driver mounting

Clean, articulate midrange with minimal cabinet coloration

Efficient bass loading from the well-engineered cabinet size

The B200 bass drivers feature a three-sided chassis specifically designed to decouple from the cabinet—a first for the KEF range at the time and still effective today.

Sound Character:
Users consistently praise the 304 II for its clear, natural presentation. One long-term owner noted these speakers are “quite sensitive” and perform excellently even with modest 30W vintage amplifiers, playing “loud” without strain. The speakers deliver excellent musicality while remaining honest to the source material—neither euphoric nor analytical, but truthful and engaging.

Key Specifications:
Type: 2½-way bookshelf/stand-mount loudspeaker

Enclosure: Closed box

Drive Units:

2 × B200 bass drivers (SP1069), paper diaphragm, mechanically isolated

1 × T33 tweeter (SP1074)

Crossover: SP1137 (sophisticated network)

Frequency Response: 60Hz – 20kHz (±3dB)

Sensitivity: 87dB SPL at 1m for 1W input (pink noise)

Maximum Output: 107dB SPL on program peaks

Nominal Impedance: 8Ω

Rated Maximum Power: 100W program

Amplifier Requirements: 10–100 watts per channel into 8Ω

System Resonance: 68Hz, Q=0.8

Dimensions: 680 × 280 × 315mm (26.75″ H × 11″ W × 12.4″ D)

Weight: 14kg (31 lbs) per speaker

Finish: Black (satin plinth)

Grille: Black fabric

Era: 1980–1981 (KEF 300 Series II)

Made in: England

Practical Advantages:
✅ Easy to drive – Works beautifully with modest amplifiers (10–100W)
✅ Sensitive design – Doesn’t require expensive, powerful amplification
✅ Durable construction – KEF’s solid British engineering ensures long service life
✅ Natural sound – Paper drivers age gracefully and maintain their character
✅ Stand-mount flexibility – Designed for dedicated speaker stands or substantial shelving

Condition:
These speakers are in very good condition with the black finish and grilles presenting cleanly. All drivers and tweeters are intact and functioning perfectly. Fully tested and ready to perform.

Summary:
The KEF 304 Series II represents an excellent example of 1980s British speaker design—substantial, efficient, and musically engaging. Whether you’re seeking speakers for a vintage system, a secondary listening room, or a budget-conscious audiophile setup, the 304 II delivers remarkable performance and timeless British craftsmanship.

Purchase with Confidence
Includes Radique Audio Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty

Perpetual Trade-Back Program—upgrade or swap with peace of mind

British precision and musicality—tested, very good condition, and ready to perform.

$395.00

Additional information

Weight	65 lbs
Dimensions	16.4 × 28 × 30.75 in

About brand

KEF at Radique

We service KEF, too. Bring us your own KEF speakers and subwoofers for repair, servicing or restoration (speakers up to 80 lbs each), with a 90-day warranty on the work. See our Audio Service page

KEF was founded in 1961 by former BBC engineer Raymond Cooke, in a Nissen hut on the Kent Engineering & Foundry site in Maidstone, England, which gave the company its name. We carry KEF satellite systems, bookshelf speakers, towers, centre channels and subwoofers. We've had more than 70 KEF listings so far, covering nearly 40 different models. Every used KEF here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Don't see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we'll email you when one arrives.

The KEF models we've sold most often include the HTS1001.2 satellites and HTC1001.2 centre from the KHT1005.2 system, the KUBE-1 subwoofer, the C75 towers and the Q95c centre.

The KEF story, 1961 to today

Raymond Cooke, a former BBC engineer, founded KEF in 1961 in Maidstone, Kent, and named it after the owner of the site, Kent Engineering & Foundry. Its first speaker, the three-way K1, used a tweeter with a Melinex diaphragm, and the compact Celeste followed.

BBC monitors and Reference. KEF drive units were used in the BBC's LS3/5a mini-monitor of 1975, and KEF built it under licence. The Reference Series followed from 1977.

Uni-Q. In 1988 KEF introduced its Uni-Q driver, which puts the tweeter in the centre of the midrange cone, first in the C Series. Uni-Q went on to the Q Series, the KHT satellite systems of the 2000s such as the "Egg", the LS50 of 2012 and the LS50 Meta of 2020.

Today. KEF belongs to Hong Kong's Gold Peak group, through GP Industries, which also owns Celestion, and it is still based in Maidstone.

Which KEF is which?

1960s and 1970s classics: the K1, Celeste, Concord, Chorale, Cantata, Calinda and Corelli.

Reference Series (from 1977): such as the 103, 104/2 and 105, and the Model 100 centre of the 1990s.

C Series (1985 to about 1991): the first C models, then Uni-Q models from 1988, such as the C35, C95 and the C75 tower.

Q Series (from 1990): several generations, including the Q15 to Q95c of 1997 to 2000.

KHT satellite systems (2000s): the KHT2005 "Egg", the KHT1005 and KHT1005.2 (with HTS1001.2 satellites, an HTC1001.2 centre and the KUBE-1 subwoofer), and the KHT5005.2.

T Series (2010) and LS50 (2012 on): the slim T101 speakers for walls and stands, and the LS50 and LS50 Meta.

Buying used KEF: what to check

Satellites need their sub. KEF's small satellites hand the bass to a subwoofer, so buy them with one or make sure you have one.

Uni-Q drivers. The tweeter sits in the centre of the midrange cone. Check the cone for dents, and make sure every tweeter plays.

Subwoofers. Play a KUBE-1 or PSW subwoofer at volume, and check the surround on the KUBE-1's passive radiator.

T Series. The cabinets are only 35 mm deep and were designed for walls or KEF's own stands, so check that the brackets or stands come with them.

Older models. C Series and Reference models are now 35 to 40 years old, so inspect every surround.

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.