Product Datasheet/Brochure

ManualsBrandsKEF ManualsAudioREFERENCE META - WHITE BLUE

Now with Metamaterial Absorption Technology

The Reference has continually set the benchmark for loudspeakers since its launch in 1973. The perfect

reproduction of recorded sound is what The Reference has always stood for. Pioneering the use of digital

technologies to achieve the highest audio accuracy, every pair of The Reference series can be matched within

half a decibel to the laboratory-maintained reference standard. Exact pair matching delivers perfect stereo

reproduction, so these revolutionary speakers won acclaim for the superior acoustic precision. Hence the

method became the name: The Reference.

Since the first generation, The Reference has been continuously enhanced by new innovations and

technological developments. In the latest evolution, The Reference incorporates our latest innovation:

Metamaterial Absorption Technology

(MAT™) and continues to be the supreme expression of KEF’s

philosophy, where advanced engineering meets inspired design.

The Reference are loudspeakers for serious audiophiles who aspire to the perfect enjoyment of music and

movies. Whether used in a traditional two-channel HiFi or a multi-channel home theatre, listeners will be able

to experience the realistic, immersive sound with breath-taking dynamics, and levels of accuracy that reveal

details never noticed before.

A class apart

The Reference range encompasses two three-way floorstanding speakers, a formidable three-way

standmount speaker, and two three-way centre speakers that can be used as Left-Centre-Right (LCR)

speakers. The Reference combines phenomenal high-fidelity performance with complete multi-channel

versatility.

And now new technological advances make The Reference range even more impressive. At the heart of The

Reference range now sits a bespoke 12

generation Uni-Q with MAT driver array. This new addition truly

puts The Reference range in a class of its own.

Revolutionary sound absorption with MAT™

A truly revolutionary tool in the KEF acoustic armoury, Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) is a highly

complex maze-like structure, where each of the intricate channels efficiently absorbs a specific frequency.

When combined, the channels act as an acoustic black hole, absorbing 99% of the unwanted sound that

comes from the rear of the tweeter, eliminating the resulting distortion and providing a purer, more natural

acoustic performance.

A result of joint development with the Acoustic Metamaterials Group, using MAT breaks completely new

ground in loudspeaker design, and once again demonstrates KEF’s unrelenting passion for developing new

technologies to improve your listening experience. Metamaterials are specially developed structures that

use existing materials in such a way that they exhibit new, desirable properties that are simply not found in

naturally occurring substances.

Generation Uni-Q with MAT™ delivers

The 12

generation Uni-Q with MAT in The Reference is a bespoke driver array engineered to deliver pristine

performance across this exceptional range of loudspeakers. It’s the result of decades of accumulated in-house

knowledge and the application of cutting-edge simulation and analysis tools. The developments are many and

all play a part in The Reference’s pristine performance.

As a starting point, KEF engineers re-engineered the tweeter gap damper to maximise the space at the back

of the tweeter for the new metamaterial absorber. Optimising the cavity shape and strategically placing two

rings of porous material effectively tame the resonances and imperfections, thus greatly improving detail and

clarity.

A new ultra-low distortion midrange motor design uses a copper ring embedded into the motor gap to

minimise inductance and variation of inductance with coil position. This lowers the midrange THD and

reduces thermal compression, leading to improved efficiency.

The Uni-Q driver array is fully decoupled to prevent unwanted vibrations from muddying the sound. A new

flexible decoupling chassis is designed to reduce vibration and remove coloration. It ensures that any vibration

generated by the mid and high-frequency motor system is not transmitted to the loudspeaker cabinet.

THE REFERENCE

HiFi Speakers

Metamaterial Absorption Technology is a joint development with Acoustic Metamaterials Group.

Summary of features

• Metamaterial Absorption Technology eliminates

99% of high-frequency distortion for pure, natural

sound

• Bespoke 12

generation Uni-Q with MAT driver

array for exceptional acoustic accuracy

• Enhanced crossover design fine-tuned the signal

path for maximum clarity

• Optimised cabinet design for best acoustic

performance

• Five models: Reference 1 Meta, Reference 3 Meta,

Reference 5 Meta, Reference 2 Meta, Reference 4

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
THE REFERENCE HiFi Speakers Now with Metamaterial Absorption Technology Summary of features The Reference has continually set the benchmark for loudspeakers since its launch in 1973. The perfect reproduction of recorded sound is what The Reference has always stood for. Pioneering the use of digital technologies to achieve the highest audio accuracy, every pair of The Reference series can be matched within half a decibel to the laboratory-maintained reference standard.
PAGE 2
A new driver surround is designed to allow longer excursion without causing diffraction and extending the frequency range of the mid-frequency. Plus, the contours of the dome, midrange horn and surround are all computer-optimised to ensure a perfectly smooth transition to the cabinet. KEF’s patented tangerine waveguide technology manages the airflow to recreate the wide, even spread of a natural sound field, dispersing the astonishingly pure high-frequency imaging throughout the room.
PAGE 3
Specifications Model REFERENCE 1 Meta REFERENCE 3 Meta REFERENCE 5 Meta Design Three-way bass ref lex Three-way bass ref lex Three-way bass ref lex Drive units Uni-Q driver array: HF: 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT MF: 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone Bass units: LF: 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone Uni-Q driver array: HF: 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT MF: 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone Bass units: LF: 2 x 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone Uni-Q driver array: HF: 25 mm (1 in.
PAGE 4
Model REFERENCE 2 Meta REFERENCE 4 Meta Design Three-way closed box Three-way bass ref lex Drive units Uni-Q driver array: HF: 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT MF: 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone Bass units: LF: 2 x 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone Uni-Q driver array: HF: 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT MF: 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone Bass units: LF: 4 x 165 mm (6.5 in.