KEF REVEALS LATEST BLADE META FLAGSHIP FLOORSTANDING SPEAKERS

The new KEF loudspeakers put their Metamaterial Absorption Technology into the KEF Blade One Meta and KEF Blade Two Meta.

British HiFi brand KEF has announced the launch of the new KEF Blade Meta Loudspeakers.

The new generation KEF Blade Meta One and Two

KEF BLADE META

KEF has been making loudspeakers in Kent, UK, since the 1960s, they first introduced the KEF Blade in 2011, a very different looking floorstanding loudspeaker that has become an iconic design. This was followed by the KEF Blade 2 in 2014, a more compact and less expensive version of the original.

KEF Blade One Meta

Acoustics dictate Blade’s sculptural design. The gentle front radius tapers gracefully from top to bottom and from front to rear. The complex parabolic curves of acoustically inert cabinets are engineered to eliminate standing waves that might blur the sound.

KEF Blade Two Meta

UNI-Q DRIVER

At the heart of KEF Blade lies the Single Apparent Source technology. Single Apparent Source extends the 12^th generation Uni-Q driver array, the building block of the KEF signature sound. The technology aims to achieve the acoustic ideal of a point source, where low, mid and high frequencies radiate from one point. A new ultra-low distortion midrange motor design lowers the total harmonic distortion (THD) in the midrange and reduces thermal compression, improving efficiency.

Cross section of the KEF Uni-Q Driver

BLADE BASS DRIVERS

Blade’s four low-frequency drivers are integrated with the Uni-Q and MAT to deliver clean, bass. In line with the original Blade concept, decoupling the voice coil from the diaphragm allows low order crossovers to be used. These drivers are mounted back-to-back to avoid exciting the cabinet when playing loud to cancel out kinetic forces that might otherwise colour the output. Each pair occupies a separate chamber to reduce the need for damping.

KEF BLADE META CROSSOVER

The crossover design has been enhanced in the latest KEF Blade to fine-tune the signal path. Plus, two pairs of audiophile-quality WBT connectors allow bi-wiring or bi-amping for lossless transmission.

KEF Blade Two Meta in Red

MAT

The developments in the latest Blade floorstanding speakers are many, including the addition of Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT). MAT is a revolutionary tool in the KEF acoustic armoury because each of the intricate channels is designed to efficiently absorb 99% of unwanted sound.

KEF Blade One Meta in blue

A result of joint development with the Acoustic Metamaterials Group, using MAT has been said to break new ground in loudspeaker design. 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.

CUSTOM COLOURS

The KEF Blade Meta are available in a palette of eight finishes, created by blending five cabinet finishes with six driver cone colours. If that isn’t enough, customers can also create their customised speaker cabinet colour scheme by supplying a Pantone of their choice for a truly unique Blade.

Side of the KEF Blade One Meta Loudspeakers

KEF BLADE META COLOURS

Eight finishes are available by blending five cabinet finishes with six driver cone colours: Piano Black/ Copper, Piano Black/Grey, Frosted Blue/Blue, Frosted Blue/Bronze, Charcoal Grey/Red, Charcoal Grey/Bronze, Racing Red/Grey Arctic White/Champagne. Customised finishes are available upon request starting from June.

KEF Blade One Meta Loudspeakers

KEF BLADE META SPECIFICATIONS

KEF BLADE META PRICES

KEF Blade One Meta: £30,000

KEF Blade Two Meta: £22,500

Available from February 2022.

KEF has also given The Reference series a Meta makeover…read more here!

HiFi Pig Says: The KEF Blade has become a modern icon of loudspeaker design, this new generation brings it up to date with KEF’s technologies.

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