KEF Q Meta is Coming

[Robert-Hifi]

Some more pics with the help from Google.

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

A shop in the Netherlands has received a pair:

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

They ask €1198/pair.

Oops, forgotten: https://overgaauw.com/net-binnen-en-waarschijnlijk-de-enige-in-europa/

 

[terryforsythe]

Can’t help but feel it looks a bit cheap. Let’s hope the measurements make up for it.

It looks like a lot of finger prints around the concentric driver, and a scratch on the front baffle. I wonder if those are demo units?

 

[Rednaxela]

Yeah not sure. Sorry for the negativity. Removed the comment.

 

[terryforsythe]

Yeah not sure. Sorry for the negativity. Removed the comment.

No need to apologize or remove the comment. If those aren't demo units, and that is how the look from the factory, then your comment was spot on.

 

[juliangst]

That’s quite the price increase over the last gen Q Series.
The build quality still looks like Q Series but the performance could possibly be more like the R Meta.

 

[Zwepp]

The finish is probably vinyl instead of veneer. Seems like Kef took a Q series woofer and a (smaller) R series Uni-Q driver and threw them into the blender! I don't like how the logo is sticking out on the top/front of the cabinet. It reminds me of the 1st gen R series (R300 etc..) and it looks cheap te me. Still, I wonder what they sound like!

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

It looks like a lot of finger prints around the concentric driver, and a scratch on the front baffle. I wonder if those are demo units?

My first thought was that it is a large protection sticker - on the 'shadow flare'.

 

[terryforsythe]

My first thought was that it is a large protection sticker - on the 'shadow flare'.

Good point. Perhaps it is.

 

[Opal]

That’s quite the price increase over the last gen Q Series.
The build quality still looks like Q Series but the performance could possibly be more like the R Meta.

hmm i think the direct replacements would be the Q1 and Q3 which we dont know the price yet

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

That’s quite the price increase over the last gen Q Series.
The build quality still looks like Q Series but the performance could possibly be more like the R Meta.

Then it would be real value for 1200 euro's ('intro price'). According to Erin the r3 meta is 'best in class' and, with sub, I find it endgame-like: Just music - not much reason to listen to the performance anymore, just enjoying it..

 

[terryforsythe]

Then it would be real value for 1200 euro's ('intro price'). According to Erin the r3 meta is 'best in class' and, with sub, I find it endgame-like: Just music - not much reason to listen to the performance anymore, just enjoying it..

The new Q series probably are going to be a step down from the R series in terms of drivers and cabinets. How audible will be that difference? I don't know.

Take a look at the exploded view of the driver in post #21. IF that is the driver for the new Q series and IF that image is showing all of the driver components, the driver appears to be lacking shorting rings for the magnetic gaps.

Attached is an image of the R series coincident driver from KEF's R series white paper. In that driver there is copper shorting ring for the midrange and, if my eyes are not deceiving me, also one for the tweeter.

Copper rings are used to reduce distortion. Thus, if the image above is correct, I suspect that the new Q series will have higher distortion than the R series. Also, IF the Q series cabinets are not built as solid (e.g., bracing, etc.) as the R series cabinets, that also can lead to higher distortion.

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

Attached is an image of the R series coincident driver from KEF's R series white paper. In that driver there is copper shorting ring for the midrange and, if my eyes are not deceiving me, also one for the tweeter.

On my computer-monitor the midrange-ring has a messing-like color, the one of the tweeter looks yellowish and, if I'm not mistaken, is not especially mentioned in the white paper. Anyhow there will be more differences, like perhaps the motor being 'damped-elasticly' connected to the chassis, etc.

But a very good speaker doesn't have to be very expensive, take the US speakers Ascend Acoustics Sierra1-v2 (not exported to Europe) or the Revel M16 (€1400 in a shop in my town Groningen) Hopefully the Kef Q concerto is of comparable quality.

Edit: About relax-and-then-bed-time for me. Peace.

 

[terryforsythe]

if I'm not mistaken, is not especially mentioned in the white paper.

I also did not see a shorting ring for the tweeter discussed it in the white paper. Maybe that piece in the tweeter magnet structure isn't a shorting ring. It looks like one, but it is does not extend all of the way to the gap. Perhaps it is something else. I don't know.

I suspect that the new Q series will sound good, and probably be a good value for those who prefer concentric drivers (I do).

Peace.

 

[Ktacos]

I wish they'd ditch the logo that sits outside of the cabinets on the top. For that matter any company with a front facing name on the speaker should just stop. I like how genelecs sounded but I really didn't need to see the companies name every time I used them, do these companies think that users forgot what brand they bought?

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

I wish they'd ditch the logo that sits outside of the cabinets on the top. For that matter any company with a front facing name on the speaker should just stop. I like how genelecs sounded but I really didn't need to see the companies name every time I used them, do these companies think that users forgot what brand they bought?

In many cases such a logo doesn't attract attention, but here it could have been more modest. On the other hand it looks like saying: Hey, I'm a modest speaker, but real KEF!

 

[Vacceo]

Yeah not sure. Sorry for the negativity. Removed the comment.

Well, Q series is the entry level...

 

[Rednaxela]

Well, Q series is the entry level...

Yes.

The similarity with R3 Meta created expectations with me regarding both looks and performance. Should the latter be reasonably met, the former in all honesty would not be a show stopper for me, as all in all they seem to look decent enough.