KEF Blade Two Meta Review

[Sokel]

If they were made out of aluminum they would have felt much more premium
Once you go with metal cabinets you can't go back

It depends, some Rockports are made from alu for example but they hide it in the end.
Purely taste.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Scientifically speaking, Spinorama allows you to compare two speakers by superimposing the different results. (SPL, in room, on axes, etc.)
I never said at any time that it was easy to interpret... But it allows for contrast and therefore helps you in your choices

Well, if you think the SBS.1 and Manta systems measure "very medium", I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, but by all means. You are free to make up your own opinion.

EDIT: This is very off topic in this thread as well.

Both systems have separate threads if you are interested in discussing further (found through the link in my signature).

 

[quocheiser]

Woah, the directivity is really damn nice, "beautiful" as you wrote.
I wonder about the time-domain / step response performance ... aka how tight and punchy are transients across the FR.
I'm guessing that the placement of those woofers would already compromise time-domain especially, without DSP to adjust timing etc.

 

[dfuller]

e. Erin starts his test at 86dB, Nuyes starts his test at 76dB.

Both Erin and Nuyes use 76dB as a reference.

 

[pablolie]

If I had my old large listening room again, I'd have zero doubt about these being end game speakers. I have heard them in a friend's place in a larger room - calibrated and set up, and it is pretty amazing. But I don't live in a 7000 sqft place in Hillsborough CA, so they would not perform the same in my living quarters.
I also brought over my old and now unused speakers (expensive towers), and they were markedly inferior, which I didn't expect. He liked them and bought them, though - not to replace, but to use them elsewhere.

 

[Keith_W]

Both Erin and Nuyes use 76dB as a reference.

You're right. I missed that, sorry.

 

[amper42]

How do you get around how alien and weird they look in a room? They really don't fit the decor of most rooms and you pay $28K for that feature? The value proposition seems underwhelming when equally fantastic sound can be had for less than 35% of that amount.

 

[LumiAudioNut]

Great but seems the Blade 1 meta outperfoms the blade 2

Measurements for speaker KEF Blade 1 Meta

www.spinorama.org

BTW the KEF Reference 5 measure better than the blade 1 and 2 @ $8500

The KEF Reference 5 currently sells for ~$25K:

https://us.kef.com/products/referen...zzo5OWfpjQjmnkGjufRDT3prFz_IpDElnl2FRYt5T-QPz

The Blade 2 at $28K isn’t far off.

The Blade 2 at 78 lbs each is also much lighter than the Reference 5 at 133 lbs. I’m probably in the minority, but I think the Blade 2 looks better.

That said, they’re both incredibly expensive.

I personally went with a pair of R3 Metas along with a pair of KC 62 subs.

 

[xanalog]

Thanks for your hard-work, @Nuyes,

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

Never mind that!
If only, a lot of us bought a previous variant of these KEFs, 20 years ago >> We'd all be laughing all the way to the bank by now!
I am not on the frequent-changer timetable, but I must have swapped out at least 5 pairs of floorstanders in the last 2 decades.

There has been much conversation about the obituaries of 'passive floor-standers'; these Blades prove all that active talk moot or at least muted!
ADD: EQ need not apply.

 

[Tell]

Yeah they really do measure like a dream and probably sound just as good! But even if I had that kind of money they'd never get into my home, they look like some kind of alien egg and would stick out like a sore thumb, no measurements can save them!

 

[daniboun]

The KEF Reference 5 currently sells for ~$25K:

https://us.kef.com/products/referen...zzo5OWfpjQjmnkGjufRDT3prFz_IpDElnl2FRYt5T-QPz

The Blade 2 at $28K isn’t far off.

The Blade 2 at 78 lbs each is also much lighter than the Reference 5 at 133 lbs. I’m probably in the minority, but I think the Blade 2 looks better.

That said, they’re both incredibly expensive.

I personally went with a pair of R3 Metas along with a pair of KC 62 subs.

You re right my bad. Found it @19000€ anyway too expensive....

 

[Blockader]

If they were made out of aluminum they would have felt much more premium
Once you go with metal cabinets you can't go back

I know you’re very interested in discussing enclosure materials, but consider this:

if the enclosure were made of aluminum, it would be more expensive and less accessible for most users. It is true that cabinet resonances can cause variations in the directivity index and add peaks, dips to on-axis response. The key point is simply that if the directivity index is smooth without large peaks or dips, it indicates a well designed speaker overall. Small/moderate variations in DI can also occur due to enclosure design issues or driver non-linearities but in general, a smooth DI means everything from the cabinet to the drivers is working well together. And in that regard, the KEF Blade stands out and has one of the smoothest DIs we've ever seen.

Designing well performing speakers using more affordable materials is a sign of better engineering, not worse.

 

[Keith_W]

if the enclosure were made of aluminum, it would be more expensive and less accessible for most users. It is true that cabinet resonances can cause variations in the directivity index and add peaks, dips to on-axis response.

Not only that, but by far the greatest source of loudspeaker resonances are the drivers themselves. Cabinet resonances are relatively minor. The only value of making the cabinet out of metal is perceived quality and aesthetics. These are important considerations when going for the "high end" market, for sure they would look down on a speaker that was made from injection moulded plastic. But not for us science-minded folk.

Imagine how much the cost would shoot up if KEF decided to make the enclosure from cast aluminium. Each speaker would cost as much as a car engine to cast, probably more because they don't have economies of scale. Then the speakers need to be hand polished. Any speaker with cosmetic casting imperfections needs to be rejected. Then there is the sheer weight of the thing, which means that the cost of shipping will go through the roof. It's not as if it's impossible to create such a speaker, the problem is that it makes the final RRP astronomical without improving performance. And for what?

 

[artishard116]

Subjective experience incoming: I was lucky enough to hear these at a hifi shop in the Bay Area with like $30k of amplification and while they were great, and the room was untreated, I was pleasantly surprised at how well my 8361's at home compare. Especially at around 1/3rd of the price. The shop also had two large subwoofers set up that they let me hear with the kef's which were not well integrated and sounded worse than the kefs alone. On the same day I was able to hear the ls60's in the same room which I thought were a much better value proposition. I think most people would be more than happy with those in any small to medium room. If you have a big room, big amps and money to burn I could see a case for the blades. I preferred the 8361 to both, at least for my space. Can't argue with the engineering though, and I love the look.

 

[Hear Here]

Did I miss something in this Blade review - how do they actually sound? What other equipment were they paired with?

I know this is a measurements-biased forum, but some objective or even subjective feedback on whether these speakers delivered sounds that sounded like music, is surely what music lovers are looking for. If we are not music lovers, why do we consider luxuries such as Blade speakers? I'm confused!

 

[DSJR]

Also an active crossover vs a passive one
Though I'm not sure how much difference it could make

The very best passive crossovers are very effective these days, but if the drivers are properly designed and implemented, I'd still suggest that going active is a far better option for peeps like us! properly done, dsp doesn't need to be heavy-handed either and sonically, I gather that's the best way for our ears and minds to respond to...

The thing is, 'active' as a concept simply hasn't caught on in the great unwashed audiophile-land and dealers don't like all-in-one options as they can't sell up to more expensive amps and so on (it's all about money/profit for most, if not survival in dealerships here in the UK once the pension-pots run dry prior to tax increases and so on).

I mentioned before that the already expensive ATC 100A SE (fancy cabinet, more expensive to make discrete and separated active card and so on at around forty-two grand [£] from memory) is easily better than a Naim/Kudos active set (they claim hearing only in the design) costing upwards of £120k. My local dealer has several clients halfway up the Naim ladder and they'd lose a bomb if they sold or traded it all in for the ATCs say (Genelec and Neumann not available via a domestic network I believe). PMC are now offering active amp plates to replace the passive ones on some of their stylish slimline models but no idea of the takeup here.

ATC SCM100A SE - Signals Hi-Fi

The large active ATC speakers (SCM100A SE) are in the building! We will try to keep these around for a few days. Give us a call if you want to hear what these can do. Hint: it's quite a lot.

signals.uk.com

So, arguably a good thing for KEF to keep these Blades passive, as it opens up the market for buyers. Got to say I was disappointed to read here a while ago about reliability issues with the active LS50s and after-care seemingly not being quite as thorough as I'd have liked...

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

Did I miss something in this Blade review - how do they actually sound? What other equipment were they paired with?

I know this is a measurements-biased forum, but some objective or even subjective feedback on whether these speakers delivered sounds that sounded like music, is surely what music lovers are looking for. If we are not music lovers, why do we consider luxuries such as Blade speakers? I'm confused!

Because speakers that measure like this on average let you hear better how the recording/broadcast is ment to sound, in contrast with speakers that make music themselves. That just isn't the task of speakers, apart from (very complicated) psychoacoustics, enter the investigations of Mr. Toole , amongst others.
Edit: sorry for my English; 'research' would probably be a better word.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Did I miss something in this Blade review - how do they actually sound? What other equipment were they paired with?

I know this is a measurements-biased forum, but some objective or even subjective feedback on whether these speakers delivered sounds that sounded like music, is surely what music lovers are looking for. If we are not music lovers, why do we consider luxuries such as Blade speakers? I'm confused!

Welcome to AudioScienceReview(ForRobots); the one and only audio review site designed for brains more than for ears.

First time here?

 

[Chagall]

Did I miss something in this Blade review - how do they actually sound? What other equipment were they paired with?

I know this is a measurements-biased forum, but some objective or even subjective feedback on whether these speakers delivered sounds that sounded like music, is surely what music lovers are looking for. If we are not music lovers, why do we consider luxuries such as Blade speakers? I'm confused!

Here you go...

The KEF Blades deliver a sound that’s pure velvet—smooth, liquid, and effortlessly airy. The mids bloom with an organic richness that feels almost tactile, while the highs shimmer with a crystalline delicacy, never harsh, always ethereal. Bass flows with a grounded authority, yet dances with nimble grace. The soundscape isn’t just wide; it’s a three-dimensional canvas of sonic magic, where every note breathes with life. Listening becomes less about hearing and more about experiencing the music’s true essence.

 

[staticV3]

Did I miss something in this Blade review - how do they actually sound? What other equipment were they paired with?

I know this is a measurements-biased forum, but some objective or even subjective feedback on whether these speakers delivered sounds that sounded like music, is surely what music lovers are looking for. If we are not music lovers, why do we consider luxuries such as Blade speakers? I'm confused!

If the speaker measures accurately, then it will reproduce your music accurately.

No one's asking about the emotional impact that a certain TV delivers for example.
If it has accurate color and luminance, then it'll faithfully reproduce whatever you're watching.

Same deal with speakers. They're tools, nothing more.