Overview
The Kestrel speakers have an almost cult like following among audiophiles. Regardless whether the audiophile is a budget, mid-price or high end user, they all share one common sentiment about the Kestrel, that it is such an excellent sounding speaker for a measly $1,250. The speakers do offer one of the best bang for the buck deal when it first launch and is still an amazing, ridiculously good sounding speaker for under $500 now. Meadowlark Audio (Pat specifically) put some serious technology and design into the speakers. The sloping front baffle is not because they want to save on wood but rather a calculated design to match a time coherent response from its 1″ fabric dome tweeter and 6.5″ cast frame mineral filled poly cone long excursion woofer. Speakers stand 36″ tall, 8″ wide and 9″ deep which would have been the same “physical space” of a monitor speaker on stands. As a first order transmission line design, the speakers exhibit impressive frequency response – 38Hz to 20kHz with a nominal impedance of 8 ohm and a sensitivity of 89dB. Meadowlark Audio recommends a minimum of 10W to drive them but we ran them with 80W and even 100W and the higher output made a nice difference to its soundstage and presence. With more power, the Kestrels showed more authority, bass was tight and fast, soundstage was well placed and imaging 3D like. They were particularly impressive with vocals and jazz. Light orchestra and rock was good too but we like what they did with vocals and jazz. Grille cloth is a slip on so there are no grille frames or pegs to meddle around with. Just carefully slip them over the speaker baffle frame and you are all set.
Speakers look presentable for its vintage. There is a bit of “sun tanned” lines on the top 1/5th of the rear panel but this can be easily rectified with a matching Minwax wood stain. Some scuff marks can be found here and there and a bit of wear on the bottom edges but nothing really bad. Speakers are shipped in two boxes so factor x2 on the final shipping cost.
