Recently I got the bug to try to build a dedicated 2 channel listening space in my home, and there was one speaker manufacturer top on my list to put as the star for that kit: KEF. I kinda put that on the back burner for a bit, but then the opportunity to review KEF Q speakers came to the HTF hardware reviewers and I jumped at the chance to give the Q Concerto's a spin. That review is ongoing (aka I'm LATE posting it), but in the meantime I had reached out to a number of outfits looking for KEF owners to demo some others in their lineup, when a poster at AVS asked me why I didn't just go visit them in NJ. I was floored. I have loved KEF products since my neighbor got a high end pair in the mid 80s and I never knew their American distributor headquarters were in the next town over from where I grew up. So I reached out to them to see if I could invite myself to their home, and to my surprise they doubled down on my ask: how about I bring a pack of HTFers with me? I was ecstatic and put the call out, figuring a dozen folks on the eastern seaboard would want to come.
www.hometheaterforum.com
To my surprise I only had 3 takers (all of them HTF lurkers not posters!), and one of them had to bail on the last minute. But for those who went we had an afternoon of being treated like royalty, got to demo all of the lineup from modest in walls and in ceiling speakers to the gigantic Blade models, to the amazing 3000 square foot demo theater.
First up was lunch including local Pizza and Italian food, and for me NJ pizza > all. While we ate, our host Mr. Ben Hagens began demoing their in ceiling line, and we were much impressed. The ability for all of their speakers to line up well with each other, regardless of price, was pretty eye opening. We could recognize the value higher level models added but never felt like we were missing anything while enjoying the entry levels.
We then demoed the Q Concerto and R3 Meta bookshelf speakers and they matched my experience at home. Sneak peek on my review but I think the Concerto is a great bang for the buck, with its use of both the Uni-Q driver and Metamaterial internals.
us.kef.com
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They demoed the Blade next for us, and if you have $35k+ to spend you should check them out. Not in any of our group's price range tho:
We did not get to see or hear any Muons on this trip tho =) At $225k they are right out for us.
us.kef.com
Then it was time to visit their epic demo theater. 3 rows of seating, with dozens of speakers big and small lining the room, full Dolby Atmos. Also featuring an Epson LS 12000 and fed by a full Kaleidoscape server.
It was heaven! And while it didn't have a $100k barco laser projector or Waveforming bass tech, I didn't feel it was second to my recent visit to the Trinnov theater in any way once the movies got rolling. We actually spent close to 2 hours jumping into our favorite movie and demo scenes and loving the quality in each.
Hans Zimmer, John Wick, and Mad Max Fury Road were favorites, but the demo of a concert scene from The Greatest Showman blew us away.
Sadly we had to eventually leave, but we left with a nice goodie bag of tchotchkes on the way out. Can not thank Ben and KEF enough, we had an awesome time and they were amazing and gracious hosts giving up half a day to let us nerd out in their candy store. THANK YOU for real!
RESCHEDULED! Hey you! Yeah YOU! Wanna visit the KEF factory in NJ April 18
So I’m at the start of reviewing some incredible KEF speakers and I mentioned to the rep that I never knew their factory was really close to my home town. What they did next was incredible: they invited me to visit their headquarters in Marlboro NJ and said I could invite a few of you to join...
To my surprise I only had 3 takers (all of them HTF lurkers not posters!), and one of them had to bail on the last minute. But for those who went we had an afternoon of being treated like royalty, got to demo all of the lineup from modest in walls and in ceiling speakers to the gigantic Blade models, to the amazing 3000 square foot demo theater.
First up was lunch including local Pizza and Italian food, and for me NJ pizza > all. While we ate, our host Mr. Ben Hagens began demoing their in ceiling line, and we were much impressed. The ability for all of their speakers to line up well with each other, regardless of price, was pretty eye opening. We could recognize the value higher level models added but never felt like we were missing anything while enjoying the entry levels.
We then demoed the Q Concerto and R3 Meta bookshelf speakers and they matched my experience at home. Sneak peek on my review but I think the Concerto is a great bang for the buck, with its use of both the Uni-Q driver and Metamaterial internals.
Metamaterial Absorption Technology
Metamaterial Absorption Technology Metamaterial Absorption Technology WHAT HI-FI? AWARDS 2020 - 'INNOVATION OF THE YEAR' “KEF has taken an excellent speaker and made it even better with its innovative Metamaterial tech. The LS50 Metas are now the class leader at this level.” - September 2020...
us.kef.com
Q Concerto Meta
Experience exceptional audio with the Q Concerto Meta HiFi Speaker. These bookshelf speakers deliver exceptional sound clarity and deep bass.
us.kef.com
R3 Meta
R3 Meta redefines bookshelf speaker’s performance. Sharing the same drivers as the range-topping R11 Meta, the R3 Meta is a true three-way design. It has a 12th generation Uni-Q® driver array with MAT™ and a powerful 6.5” hybrid aluminium bass driver that pushes performance to new extremes.
us.kef.com
They demoed the Blade next for us, and if you have $35k+ to spend you should check them out. Not in any of our group's price range tho:
We did not get to see or hear any Muons on this trip tho =) At $225k they are right out for us.
MUON
A triumph of form marrying function, MUON is perhaps the most extraordinary loudspeaker ever conceived. MUON is the result of KEF engineering prowess combining with world-class industrial design by Ross Lovegrove. The Muon is limited to an edition of 100 pair. ENQUIRY WHERE TO BUY
us.kef.com
Then it was time to visit their epic demo theater. 3 rows of seating, with dozens of speakers big and small lining the room, full Dolby Atmos. Also featuring an Epson LS 12000 and fed by a full Kaleidoscape server.
It was heaven! And while it didn't have a $100k barco laser projector or Waveforming bass tech, I didn't feel it was second to my recent visit to the Trinnov theater in any way once the movies got rolling. We actually spent close to 2 hours jumping into our favorite movie and demo scenes and loving the quality in each.
Hans Zimmer, John Wick, and Mad Max Fury Road were favorites, but the demo of a concert scene from The Greatest Showman blew us away.
Sadly we had to eventually leave, but we left with a nice goodie bag of tchotchkes on the way out. Can not thank Ben and KEF enough, we had an awesome time and they were amazing and gracious hosts giving up half a day to let us nerd out in their candy store. THANK YOU for real!
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