As promised by the company in its 60th Anniversary announcement, KEF launched the Blade Meta and The Reference Meta updated high-end loudspeaker models, adopting some of the most cutting-edge innovations introduced recently. These two ranges demonstrate how KEF’s approach to innovation and design is able to deliver a superior listening experience, described as "accurate, lifelike, and utterly engaging."
"Blade is about perfecting a ground-breaking concept to delight people with the ultimate listening experience, with the philosophy of innovating in pursuit of the most accurate and realistic sound. The Reference, one of the industry’s longest standing and respected ranges, mirrors the KEF story. From the pioneering use of computers in 1973, The Reference has always guided how KEF redefines the benchmark, demanding awe and reverence in the hearts – and ears – of many a distinguished audiophile," says the company to characterize these two important KEF models.
Both the Blade and The Reference speakers are still hand-assembled in Maidstone, England with each pair painstakingly put together by a master craftsmen. Each pair is then tested to match within 0.5dB of each other and the laboratory-maintained line standard, ensuring that what leaves the factory matches what KEF's engineers have designed.
The new models benefit from the company's strong commitment to R&D using computer simulation and analysis tools that have resulted in important breakthroughs. The latest versions of Blade and The Reference benefit from KEF’s brand new, high-end 12th Generation Uni-Q, Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) and completely redesigned crossovers. KEF says this latest generation of Uni-Q is "simply the greatest yet produced."
A ground-up design including a novel approach to decoupling, state-of-the-art motor systems and a slew of other new features ensures that the new Uni-Q drivers reproduce sounds with utmost clarity. Like the LS50 Meta, the integrated MAT technology absorbs 99% of unwanted sound and eliminates the resulting distortion, providing a more natural acoustic performance. A result of joint development with the Acoustic Metamaterials Group, MAT breaks completely new ground in loudspeaker design using specially developed structures that exhibit new, desirable properties that are simply not found in naturally occurring substances.
For both loudspeaker series, the crossover has also been fully reworked with new, low distortion components with an eye to ensuring signal integrity. With Blade, further work has been carried out to enhance the benefits of the original Single Apparent Source driver arrangement, the defining technology of this unique range. Single Apparent Source extends the iconic Uni-Q driver array, the building block of the KEF signature sound, by closely following the acoustic ideal of a point source. This makes Blade incredibly coherent across all audible frequencies.
Another benefit resulting from this arrangement derives from the positioning of the bass drivers, braced against each other, cancelling out damaging vibrations that would otherwise excite the cabinet. The sculptural design of the Blade is informed by both technology and acoustics. The gentle front radius tapers gracefully from top to bottom and from front to rear, and presents no discontinuity to mar sound clarity.
The Reference range now benefits from a massive, vented magnet assembly, paired with a huge aluminum voice coil and a stiff, yet cleverly damped alloy cone, ensuring extended low-end performance. As KEF describes, thanks to this improvement, the standmount Reference 1 stands its ground against many floorstanding speakers.
The Blade range is headlined by the commanding Blade One Meta ($35,000/pair), with Blade Two Meta ($28,000/pair) suited for smaller listening environments. Both are available in four standard, and four special order finishes. For those who really want to elevate their ownership of Blade, KEF will also be offering custom finishes, with orders starting in June 2022.
The KEF Reference range includes two floorstanding models (Reference 5 - $22,000/pair, Reference 3 - $15,000/pair), a standmount (Reference 1 - $9,000/pair) and two LCR models (Reference 4 - $8,000/each, Reference 2 - $6,000/each). The redesign of the Reference 2 and Reference 4 makes them ideal for use as LCR speakers, creating more possibilities for great sound for those with custom cabinetry or designing for a home theatre. All speakers will be available in three standard finishes, and two special order finishes.
Also available is the brand-new S-RF1 Floor Stand ($1,200 /pair), a dedicated stand for Reference 1 featuring bolting points and cable management. The S-RF1 stand is available in both Carbon Black and Mineral White.
www.kef.com
