KEF Blade Two Meta Review

[Frank Dernie]

Why on earth would anyone want a concert sound at home. I work in live sound and compared to a well executed home audio system, live sound kind of sounds terrible. Most acoustic instruments by themselves don't sound great. Do people actually want the sound of an un-mic'd unprocessed drum kit in their home? Home audio reproduction has always been about creating an engaging illusion. The entire art of mixing is there to create and aid the illusion.

I mainly listen to classical music at home so I do want a concert sound at home for that.
I don't expect a "concert sound" for popular music though, most amplified concerts I have been to have been pretty mediocre for sound quality and an "engaging illusion" is fine...

 

[Somafunk]

What's a better speaker than the Blade at around the same price?

If I had the money for the Blades in my country (Scotland) I imagine i’d be perfectly content with them, however……if I had the choice I’d rather have a Kii 3 BXT setup as they can be bought for around the same price, if i didn't spend any of my current disability benefits/income on anything at all I could afford to buy them in around 20 months time………..hmmm…….i wonder? ……..could I live on dried pasta for 20 months

Kii THREE BXT System | High-End Floorstanding Active Speakers

Kii THREE BXT adds a 16‑driver bass extension to Kii THREE, creating a powerful floorstanding active speaker with cardioid control for serious high‑end home audio.

www.kiiaudio.com

 

[pablolie]

If I had the money for the Blades in my country (Scotland) I imagine i’d be perfectly content with them, however……if I had the choice I’d rather have a Kii 3 BXT setup as they can be bought for around the same price, if i didn't spend any of my current disability benefits/income on anything at all I could afford to buy them in around 20 months time………..hmmm…….i wonder? ……..could I live on dried pasta for 20 months

Kii THREE BXT System | High-End Floorstanding Active Speakers

Kii THREE BXT adds a 16‑driver bass extension to Kii THREE, creating a powerful floorstanding active speaker with cardioid control for serious high‑end home audio.

www.kiiaudio.com

I'd be happy with the Kii Three without the BXT.

 

[Somafunk]

I'd be happy with the Kii Three without the BXT.

Yeah, that’s actually a good point as my room is only 4.5m x 3.6m x 2.4m so the BXT would be overkill, the Kii three on their own would be perfectly sufficient for my room

 

[pablolie]

Yeah, that’s actually a good point as my room is only 4.5m x 3.6m x 2.4m so the BXT would be overkill, the Kii three on their own would be perfectly sufficient for my room

On top, they come in red. That is a requirement of mine.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Yeah, that’s actually a good point as my room is only 4.5m x 3.6m x 2.4m so the BXT would be overkill, the Kii three on their own would be perfectly sufficient for my room

Why not 8C?
The Kiis just feel too slim to me

 

[RexrothPigeon]

There’s nothing wrong with adding subjective impressions here with the obvious caveats attending such impressions. And plenty of people give subjective impressions of loudspeakers on this forum, given and received with well-known caveats.

Of course this is true, but it has nothing to do with what I was addressing, which was your persistent requests for subjectivity, something that you can find everywhere else on the internet where audio is discussed. Something that is the absolute norm and mainstream approach to sound equipment.

Most of them do not offer measurements, nor educated discussion of measurements.
That’s what I can get here. (As well as having a break from the pseudoscience and woo woo on the other sites).

So get the measurements and educated discussion of measurements here & go elsewhere for the subjective stuff instead of loudly and persistently asking for cheese in the kosher deli.

 

[MattHooper]

Of course this is true, but it has nothing to do with what I was addressing, which was your persistent requests for subjectivity, something that you can find everywhere else on the internet where audio is discussed. Something that is the absolute norm and mainstream approach to sound equipment.


So get the measurements and educated discussion of measurements here & go elsewhere for the subjective stuff instead of loudly and persistently asking for cheese in the kosher deli.

I already spoke to all those points.

 

[Somafunk]

Why not 8C?
The Kiis just feel too slim to me

I don’t have anything against the 8C, from what I’ve read online they are rather good (understatement?) but whilst I have no experience nor seen in real life the Kii……..my mate who helped set up my room has had quite a bit of experience with Kii three + BXT setups in mastering studios and sings their praises.

And as Pablolie mentions…..colours!

 

[Pearljam5000]

The dream setup

 

[Ktacos]

A combo of one company that understands room acoustics, and one that doesn't. I guess it balances out.

 

[pablolie]

A combo of one company that understands room acoustics, and one that doesn't. I guess it balances out.

I'd never pay too much for a sub. Stuff under 70Hz to me is mostly rumble & noise. Important noise to a certain degree, don't get me wrong. But I have never heard any "finesse" there, it is a filler. And it is often abused to ridiculous levels for FX garbage, IMO, which I'd rather cut off. And I know someone will claim you can't hear the 16Hz from about 12 cathedral organs world wide... but I don't like organ music (and some other instruments), sorry, never going to listen to it so I don't "miss" anything I want or need. One or two 1k subs suffice for the job for me.

 

[wgb113]

I’m curious to hear how different the Blade 2 Meta will sound compared to my Reference 3 non-Meta, with and without subs and ARC. They’re due to arrive this week but it will be at least a week before I’m able to give them a listen.

 

[pablolie]

I’m curious to hear how different the Blade 2 Meta will sound compared to my Reference 3 non-Meta, with and without subs and ARC. They’re due to arrive this week but it will be at least a week before I’m able to give them a listen.

I look forward to your report. They are all phenomenal speakers. Enjoy!

 

[Pearljam5000]

I’m curious to hear how different the Blade 2 Meta will sound compared to my Reference 3 non-Meta, with and without subs and ARC. They’re due to arrive this week but it will be at least a week before I’m able to give them a listen.

How can you wait one week?
I couldn't sleep in that situation

 

[wgb113]

Trust me, it’ll be brutal, but life happens.

 

[pablolie]

I mainly listen to classical music at home so I do want a concert sound at home for that.

This is a debate that will never ever be satisfactorily settled.
Personally I think live venues suck 90% of the time when it comes to sound quality, but compensate for it with the immeraove experience.

I think I get a far more balanced and curated delivery at home, with far more detail... but yes, it is a bit more sterile.

I am not sure either my ears or my neighbors would appreciate the true experience.

There are preciously few live albums I enjoy from my favorite artists. Waltz for Debbie (Bill E) and Weekend in LA (George B) come. to mind. Oh there's a brilliant Sadao Watanabe album... One For You or so? I love those but they are rare exceptions all in all. And they don't really represent the true live experience.

I don't expect a "concert sound" for popular music though, most amplified concerts I have been to have been pretty mediocre for sound quality and an "engaging illusion" is fine...

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Personally I think live venues suck 90% of the time when it comes to sound quality, but compensate for it with the immeraove experience.

Frankly, that depends on the type of music you are listening to.

 

[MarkS]

Yes. Most indoor classical venues in my experience are good to very good (for decent seats that are not too close to side and back walls).

 

[pablolie]

Frankly, that depends on the type of music you are listening to.

In my experience it includes classic, jazz and big salsa bands. And I will defend that opinion.

And that's even when you get the best seats in the house.

It depends on personal preferences. I often need ear plugs in live concerts other than classical.