The KEF R5 Meta is the largest column model in the R Series. For an impressive listening experience, its combination of 12th generation Uni-Q transducer array with MAT and two 5.25" (165 mm) aluminum hybrid bass drivers ) allow you to pick out the subtle details of a recording, while delivering raw power and agility.
A set of class-leading technological innovations drawn from The Reference for exceptional acoustic performance. Absorbs 99% of unwanted sound for pure, natural sound.
Hybrid aluminum bass drivers with increased driver excursion for tight, deep and controlled bass. It acts as a single point source to widen the "sweet spot" and disperse sound more evenly.
Developed for KEF's flagship The Reference, a suite of the latest technologies has now made its way into the new generation of the R Series. Whether in stereo for music or a home theater setup, the R Series makes exceptional acoustic performance more accessible. Now, with innovative metamaterial absorption technology, the R Series reveals exquisite detail and incredible vision – truly an experience to savour.
Since 1961, KEF's quest to reproduce impeccable sound has led to many acoustic innovations. The Reference is an example of this. Distilling decades of experience into acoustic performance that is nothing short of exceptional, it is a design that continually sets the benchmark for speakers and sound reproduction. Now, the latest technological innovations have also made their way to the R Series.
At the heart of the R Series is metamaterial absorption technology (MAT). MAT is a highly complex labyrinth-like structure that absorbs 99% of unwanted noise from the rear of the transducer, eliminating the resulting distortion and delivering a purer, more natural sound.
A truly revolutionary tool in KEF's acoustic arsenal, Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) is a highly complex labyrinth-like structure that removes unwanted sound from the rear of the speaker, resulting in a smoother performance. pure and natural.
Metamaterials are specially developed structures that use existing materials in such a way that they exhibit new properties. MAT's tuned channels absorb 99% of unwanted sound from the rear of the transducer, compared to about 60% absorption for speakers using different approaches.
KEF always pushes technological boundaries in its mission to create the best sound possible; MAT is the physical manifestation of that impulse.
As a result of a joint development project with Acoustic Metamaterials Group, MAT breaks new ground in loudspeaker design.
A 12th generation Uni-Q transducer array with MAT is found on all seven R Series models. The Uni-Q driver array acts as a single point source to disperse sound more evenly throughout the room. The result is the elimination of the limited "sweet spot", allowing everyone, wherever they are in the room, to experience and enjoy the same natural, detailed sound.
KEF's many pioneering innovations are aimed at delivering natural sound; sound that allows you to enjoy music as it was meant to be heard. Of all these pioneering developments, it is the Uni-Q driver array that lies at the heart of almost all of our loudspeakers.
Uni-Q technology places the tweeter precisely at the acoustic center of the bass/midrange cone, so the two act together as a single point source to disperse sound more evenly throughout the room. The result is the elimination of the limited "sweet spot", allowing everyone sitting at different points in the room to experience and enjoy the same natural, detailed sound.
In conventional speakers, the mid and high frequencies radiating from different locations interfere with each other. Uni-Q places the tweeter in the center of the bass/mid cone, dispersing these different frequencies from a single point source, so interference problems are avoided and the sound is less distorted.
With Uni-Q's single point source design, all frequencies reach your ear at the same time. Therefore, the sound is more accurate and realistic than with conventional speakers, where the output of each separate transducer arrives at slightly different times, making the sound fuzzy and less natural.
The current 12th generation Uni-Q transducer array is the result of more than three decades of continuous innovation by the KEF engineering team. The initial concept that all sound coming from the same place delivers enhanced sound is as true now as it was then, and the set is a masterpiece of modern acoustic engineering.
The R Series is designed to be acoustically exceptional. Each design element has been precisely tuned to provide more detail and deeper insight, recreating the euphoria of hearing an original musical performance, with all the emotion and nuance that accompanies it.
Derived from The Reference, Shadow Flare is an innovative way to reduce harmful cabinet diffraction in the high frequency. It is a carefully profiled transition that extends the waveguide effect of the Uni-Q array. The treble escapes naturally because the "shadow region" prevents it from reaching the edges of the enclosure. The result is greatly improved detail.
A solid platform is a must for great sound. The R Series benefits from constrained layer damping, a system that uses internal reinforcements joined by a "lossy" interface. This material converts unwanted vibrations into heat, ensuring that the enclosure emits the only sound it needs: the sound of silence.
The R series bass drivers have a two-part construction with a shallow, concave aluminum skin over a paper cone. This rigidity, combined with the unique geometry of the cone, achieves piston-like motion for power and speed. The magnetic system of the transducers creates a wide, uniform magnetic field that results in more impressive and impactful bass.
We only want to hear the transducers, not the resonances or turbulence created by a bass reflex port. R Series ports have innovative flexible walls. Using computational fluid dynamics, the flare and profile of each port are calculated to delay the onset of turbulence, and the flexible port walls prevent resonances from coloring the midrange.
The R Series offers a selection of column speakers, monitor speakers, center channel speakers, and accompanying home theater models. Each delivers the best sound KEF has ever delivered in its category, regardless of room dimensions or system configuration.
The R Series consists of a trio of column speaker models and a monitor speaker model to reproduce high-fidelity stereo sound for your favorite music. Discover depth and detail you never knew existed, from the touch of a pick on a guitar string to the excitement and atmosphere of a live performance.
For the ultimate home cinema experience, KEF offers architectural speakers and modular HiFi speakers, such as the R Series, that do not require custom installation. With three column speaker models, one monitor speaker model, and two center channel speakers to choose from, plus the additional Dolby Atmos surround speaker, different home theater setups can be easily configured with the R Series. Complete setup with KEF's class-leading subwoofers for the most immersive movie experience, from the deepest rumble to the softest whisper.
Driven solely by acoustics, at KEF we believe there is a certain beauty even in internal engineering fixings. The R Series has been created to be beautiful on the outside, and these finely tuned mechanisms are protected behind a minimalist exterior designed to fit seamlessly and elegantly into any interior scheme, whether traditional, modern or contemporary.
Three hand-selected finishes include the elegant Black Gloss, White Gloss and classic Walnut, while special edition finishes include Titanium Gloss and Indigo Gloss for the R7 Meta and R3 Meta respectively.
The R Series has been designed to work with or without grilles. The dedicated microfiber vents are made from multiple layers of material and have a suede-like feel. With 1,801 precision-cut holes for each transducer, performance is guaranteed even when the transducers are covered. Magnetic fixations provide a secure and precise fit, in keeping with the clean styling of the R Series.
Characteristics:
- 3-way/4-speaker system with rear bass reflex port.
- Tweeter: 1 x 1" with ventilated aluminum dome in Uni-Q matrix with MAT metamaterials.
- Media: 1 x 5" with aluminum cone.
- Woofer: 2 x 5.25" with hybrid aluminum cone.
- Frequency response: 52Hz to 28kHz (+/-3dB).
- Maximum bass extension: 29Hz (+/-6dB).
- Sensitivity: 87dB.
- Impedance: 4 ohms.
- Sound pressure level: 110dB.
- Recommended amplification: From 20 to 200W.
- Measurements: 107.2 cm (Height) x 27.2 cm (Width) x 34.4 cm (Depth) (with terminals and base included).
- Accessories included: Microfiber grille, decoupling tips, bass reflex port plugs, user manual and warranty information.
Price per pair.
