KEF R Series with MAT white paper

[quattro98]

When will KEF update KEF-CI3160RL-THX to have metamaterial technology? The reference line is way too expensive!

I'd love to see a revised line of the in-wall and in-ceiling speakers.

 

[Descartes]

I'd love to see a revised line of the in-wall and in-ceiling speakers.

Me too maybe at CES 2024?

 

[quattro98]

Me too maybe at CES 2024?

I was hoping we’d see something at Cedia, but it didn’t happen. In a world of multichannel, having a full set of updated CI options is important. Both Perlisten and Revel updated/expanded their lineup.

 

[Descartes]

Release November 2023

Ci3160RLM-THX

The Ci3160RLM-THX is an in-wall architectural speaker featuring the 12th generation Uni-Q driver array with KEF’s groundbreaking Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™), refined to maximise its full potential and proudly carries the THX Certified Ultra designation. Together with two 6.5”...

us.kef.com

Ci5160RLM-THX

The Ci5160RLM-THX is an in-wall architectural speaker featuring the 12th generation Uni-Q driver array with KEF’s groundbreaking Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™), refined to maximise its full potential and proudly carries the THX Certified Ultra designation. Together with four 6.5”...

us.kef.com

 

[nick-v]

Hi folks, I'd like to share with you the white paper for the new KEF R Series with MAT (the newly released Meta models).

Big apologies for the delay we've had in publishing it, as I know some of you have been awaiting it since the market launch of the series. We've been a bit busy in R&D but I've made sure to include lots of interesting data and figures.

We've tried to go into as much detail as possible on the new technology in this iteration as well as adding new explanations on existing technology, so that you can have a global view of what we've achieved.

I sincerely hope you'll find it an interesting read and enjoy flicking through the pages.

Any chance there's a white paper with measurements coming for the new Ci Meta (R and Reference series) speakers?

 

[ngiac]

Any chance there's a white paper with measurements coming for the new Ci Meta (R and Reference series) speakers?

@davidbosch - would you be able to share any more in depth details on the changes between the ci5160rl and the new ci5160rlm? I've been struggling to get any specific information other than 12th gen and new xover. Have all r meta series hf and mf uniq technologies made it into the new ci rlm series? Any additions beyond what we see in the r meta white paper that have been applied to the ci rlm? Thank you!

 

[davidbosch]

Hi @ngiac. The Meta RL Ci speakers have a new Uni-Q and new crossovers. The Uni-Q has a new tweeter and new midrange. The tweeter has a new motor (including voice coil) with a much bigger bore (to connect to the conical waveguide leading to the MAT), has the rear waveguide and the MAT, new stiffened tangerine waveguide and tweeter gap damper. The midrange has a new motor with a large undercut and large aluminium rings inside and outside (lower inductance and inductance modulation with displacement), new voice coil, new 2nd gen cone neck decoupler, and I think that's about it. I seem to remember we changed the surround stiffness. Two things from R Series that didn't make it into the RL Ci Uni-Q are the flexible decoupling chassis and the dual gap geometry for the midrange motor. The crossovers are better both in terms of component selection to reduce distortion and the network design, which results in a much better off-axis response since we now have a very nice mic array for horizontal and vertical outdoor 2pi measurements, where we put the Ci speaker in the car park floor to have a huge 'infinite' baffle as well as a much better software suite programmed by ourselves where we design the crossover.

 

[ngiac]

@davidbosch Thank you so much for confirming. No changes to bass drivers or baffle I assume (other than anodize color)? I thought there were some optimizations to bass drivers in 2018 r series but recall original rl was released I think in '14?

 

[Goldhamster916]

@davidbosch

I will buy a reference series speaker and a main deciding factor has been Kef's white papers compared to the lack there off from other brands. If i spend that kind of money i do want to understand what i get. It also makes me appreciate the speaker much more. Thought you might want to know the extra effort on publishing those has tangible impact on your sales.

 

[fcracer]

@davidbosch

I will buy a reference series speaker and a main deciding factor has been Kef's white papers compared to the lack there off from other brands. If i spend that kind of money i do want to understand what i get. It also makes me appreciate the speaker much more. Thought you might want to know the extra effort on publishing those has tangible impact on your sales.

Me too! I recommended three friends to buy KEF products due to their white papers. Two bought the R3 Meta and one bought the LS50 Meta. I greatly appreciate the sharing of this data!