Restoring a KEF Cantata
Restoring a KEF Cantata
One of Jerry's favourite speakers the KEF Cantata (SP1056) is a classic 3-way vintage loudspeaker system introduced in the late 1970s. Renowned for its natural tonal balance and smooth audio performance, it features a sealed box design housing KEF's iconic drive units: the flat-piston B139 bass woofer, the B110 midrange driver, and the T52 high-frequency dome tweeter. Crafted with audiophile-grade computer-designed crossover networks, the Cantata delivers deep, articulate bass, transparent vocals, and refined highs. Its solid cabinet construction and timeless British engineering make it a prized gem among vintage Hi-Fi enthusiasts.
The Missing Component
The T52, despite being a lovely tweeter, is no longer in production and replication would be prohibitively expensive. For this part you'll need to go to the second hand market.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model / System Part | KEF Cantata (SP1056) |
| System Type | 3-way, 3-driver floorstanding speaker |
| Enclosure Type | Closed box (Acoustic Suspension) |
| Frequency Response | 35 Hz – 20,000 Hz (±3 dB) |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 Ohms |
| Program Rating | 150 Watts |
| Recommended Amplifier | 15 – 150 Watts per channel |
| Sensitivity | 8W for 96 dB SPL at 1m (400 Hz anechoic) |
| Bass Driver | KEF B139 (SP1044) flat-piston woofer |
| Midrange Driver | KEF B110 (SP1057) cone driver |
| Tweeter Driver | KEF T52 (SP1049) dome tweeter |
| Crossover Frequencies | 250 Hz, 3,000 Hz |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 818 mm × 340 mm × 392 mm (32.2" × 13.4" × 15.4") |
| Weight | 31.7 kg (69.9 lbs) per speaker |
| Cabinet Finishes | Teak or Walnut veneer |
KEF Cantata replacment components
We can't replicated the KEF SP1057 due to legal restrictions on the use of plasticizers nowadays however, our KEF B110 SP1003 REPLACEMENT can be used as a very similar match.
