KEF Blade Two Meta Review

[Kal Rubinson]

Do you think the AHB2 is better (or more to your preference) than the ATI you reviewed?

I cannot say because I had the ATi only briefly and long ago. OTOH, I bought the AHB2s almost immediately. Since then, I've heard a few that measure up audibly but not had one to motivate me to change

 

[madFloyd]

I cannot say because I had the ATi only briefly and long ago. OTOH, I bought the AHB2s almost immediately. Since then, I've heard a few that measure up audibly but not had one to motivate me to change

I appreciate your response… and your reviews!

 

[boatheelmusic]

Just love my Blade Ones!!!

 

[prerich]

Just love my Blade Ones!!!View attachment 480813

I love them as well!!!!

 

[Keith_W]

And I love your mature indoor plants! How long did it take for them to look like that?

 

[boatheelmusic]

Thanks - they're faux, providing some diffusion.....

 

[Billy Budapest]

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

And the acoustics of the venue.

 

[Billy Budapest]

I have a pair of Blade 2 Meta speakers in a fairly small room. However the room is not your usual one. It's square, and all horsehair plaster on lath walls and ceiling, about 110 years old. There's heavy insulation behind it, angled for the roof line fore & aft. The floor is plush carpeting with a thick synthetic pad. There is a few sound absorbing panels behind them, to the sides at the first reflection point on the walls, and behind the main listening position. There are two JL Audio E-112 subs to hit the lowest octave .

It's heavenly here.

EDIT: BTW, the only people paying full list price for these are those who order online or don't try negotiating. I have a 10+ year long relationship with my dealer and have brought them a few good customers. The margins on those is such that significant discounts are possible, I just cannot reveal exactly how much.

View attachment 470350

If a person doesn’t get a healthy discount on any piece of gear, they just are not trying hard enough. Even for brands that “do not allow discounts.” It’s a bit harder there but still possible. There are always floor models, demos, B-stock, etc.

And if you are paying with cash—I personally think buying hi-fi on credit is a really dumb idea, but a lot of people do it—expect at least a 3% discount on “do not allow discounts” brands to cover the credit card surcharges that are built in to MSRP prices.

I’ve found that 20% discounts are the norm. If you can get “industry accommodation prices,” the discounts are usually 50%.

Of course, a lot of gear is provided to the press on so-called “long term loan” which oftentimes means you never have to return it. I personally think that’s a way to avoid paying taxes and/or currying favor from reviewers more than anything else.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Seam line between the injection molded halves?

I thought they were made of aluminum?

 

[Billy Budapest]

View attachment 470757Absolutely gutted…

Contact KEF and see who can repair.

 

[staticV3]

I thought they were made of aluminum?

KEF Blades are made of glass reinforced plastic. I'd wager nylon.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

And the acoustics of the venue.

That was presumed in the original statement: "Personally I think live venues suck 90% of the time when it comes to sound quality, but compensate for it with the immeraove experience."

 

[Billy Budapest]

That was presumed in the original statement: "Personally I think live venues suck 90% of the time when it comes to sound quality, but compensate for it with the immeraove experience."

Got it.

 

[Billy Budapest]

KEF Blades are made of glass reinforced plastic. I'd wager nylon.

A.k.a. fiberglass.

 

[staticV3]

A.k.a. fiberglass.

Fiberglass usually refers to this stuff infused with epoxy:


Whereas the Blades appear to be injection molded, out of (I suspect) glass filled nylon.

 

[Audio Science Pal]

"Made from an ultra-high density polyurethane composite, the acoustically inert cabinets’ complex parabolic curves are cleverly engineered to eliminate standing waves that might blur the sound."

https://assets.kef.com/product-support/blade/blade-meta-brochure-en.pdf

 

[staticV3]

Thanks for the correction!

 

[Digital_Thor]

"Made from an ultra-high density polyurethane composite, the acoustically inert cabinets’ complex parabolic curves are cleverly engineered to eliminate standing waves that might blur the sound."

https://assets.kef.com/product-support/blade/blade-meta-brochure-en.pdf

Oh, I love the honesty, by using the word 'might', rather than claiming it as something you most certainly would hear

 

[Audio Science Pal]

Thanks for the correction!

I am always interested in manufacturing processes and the comments on this thread were making me curious, so I scrolled through all the brochures until I found the answer!

 

[Audio Science Pal]

Oh, I love the honesty, by using the word 'might', rather than claiming it as something you most certainly would hear

I am impressed with their design. Looking forward to listening to a pair someday and hearing for myself.