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KEF Reference 1 META Bookshelf Speaker Review by Erin's Audio Corner

I have the Reference 3 Meta and I'm trying for a suitable amp below 2000 Euro. The only diff seems to be the max power rating: 300W instead of 200W (Kef Ref 1 Meta). Sandu from soundnews is driving them with dual mono AHB2s.

- Considering that drop below 4 ohm between 40Hz and 300Hz, what would you recommend: dual mono NCx500 or Nilai500 or 1ET7040 or 1ET400?
- Will there be any audible difference between any these Hypex amps? What would a dual AHB2 setup bring to the table in addition?
- If all the Hypex amps sound the same as many confirmed already (but using what speakers?) and it comes down only to output voltage/current, which one is the best bet considering the Kef's FR?
 
I bought the Starkrimson gan-fet mono blocks (1.8k) for my refference 1s and they sound amazing, but their max power is only 150 watts. Not sure if the 500 watt mono blocks would fill them in more but they cost 5k.
 
kazsud said:
I bought the Starkrimson gan-fet mono blocks (1.8k) for my refference 1s and they sound amazing, but their max power is only 150 watts. Not sure if the 500 watt mono blocks would fill them in more but they cost 5k.
Click to expand...
Depends on the room size /listening distance, you should be fine if it's a good amp
 
soerenssen said:
...The only diff seems to be the max power rating: 300W instead of 200W (Kef Ref 1 Meta). ...
Click to expand...
Just in case, doubling (!) the amp power will yield only 3dB of more output from the speakers. A rise from 200W to 300W would only give 1,8dB more. This little would be identifiable in direct comparison, but not without a reference, e/g when you just step into a room.
 
I was not sure where to ask (maybe in the subwoofer comparison thread?) and didn't want to open a new thread, so I ask it here: What subwoofer would you recommend pairing them with in a medium-large room (35m2 but open to other rooms via a corridor), primarily for music and for an occasional action movie? (Side note: In my room the KEFs with my current sub apparently cannot go down to 30Hz - although I didn't measure it, I found a 30Hz test track found on Tidal and it only moves the membranes but it's not audible anywhere in the room.)

Budget is around 3000EUR:
- The original idea was 2x large sealed SVS subs, but then I started looking into other directions.
- 1x KF92 for music + 1x large ported sub for HT (e.g. Monolith M15 V2 or SVS SB16 or something smaller because we live on the 4th floor with neighbors around)
- 1x KF92 for mixed use and add a second one later. I don't need insane sound pressure levels for music, I prefer bass quality.

I could get the KEF used from a demo room for 1400EUR here in Germany and the Monolith costs 2000EUR at Audiophonics. I've read a lot of good feedback from other forum members who use the KF92 in combination with KEF R / Ref series speakers. I also watched Erin's review and I have a feeling that a single KF92 would be more suitable for smaller rooms. Plus I won't be able to use it with XLR outputs (custom-made cable required) and if I have to place them behind the couch, there will be RCA cable lengths up to 10-12m.
 
Do these sound metallic?

Metal for reproducing music has never done it for me before.
 
keenly said:
Do these sound metallic?

Metal for reproducing music has never done it for me before.
Click to expand...
I haven’t heard them, but no, they don’t.

soerenssen said:
I was not sure where to ask (maybe in the subwoofer comparison thread?) and didn't want to open a new thread, so I ask it here: What subwoofer would you recommend pairing them with in a medium-large room (35m2 but open to other rooms via a corridor), primarily for music and for an occasional action movie? (Side note: In my room the KEFs with my current sub apparently cannot go down to 30Hz - although I didn't measure it, I found a 30Hz test track found on Tidal and it only moves the membranes but it's not audible anywhere in the room.)

Budget is around 3000EUR:
- The original idea was 2x large sealed SVS subs, but then I started looking into other directions.
- 1x KF92 for music + 1x large ported sub for HT (e.g. Monolith M15 V2 or SVS SB16 or something smaller because we live on the 4th floor with neighbors around)
- 1x KF92 for mixed use and add a second one later. I don't need insane sound pressure levels for music, I prefer bass quality.

I could get the KEF used from a demo room for 1400EUR here in Germany and the Monolith costs 2000EUR at Audiophonics. I've read a lot of good feedback from other forum members who use the KF92 in combination with KEF R / Ref series speakers. I also watched Erin's review and I have a feeling that a single KF92 would be more suitable for smaller rooms. Plus I won't be able to use it with XLR outputs (custom-made cable required) and if I have to place them behind the couch, there will be RCA cable lengths up to 10-12m.
Click to expand...
If you haven’t made a decision yet, 2x large (12“+) SVS subs sounds like a good way to go. This might seem reductive, but they are „just“ subwoofers. All they need is enough headroom in the lower frequencies and to be dialed in via DSP in your particular room, not much else, imo - and you should be set with two long term. I wouldn’t say the KEF is better suited for smaller rooms, it just has less output, which is rarely desirable from a sub, space constraints notwithstanding
 
jeffaegrim said:
I haven’t heard them, but no, they don’t.


If you haven’t made a decision yet, 2x large (12“+) SVS subs sounds like a good way to go. This might seem reductive, but they are „just“ subwoofers. All they need is enough headroom in the lower frequencies and to be dialed in via DSP in your particular room, not much else, imo - and you should be set with two long term. I wouldn’t say the KEF is better suited for smaller rooms, it just has less output, which is rarely desirable from a sub, space constraints notwithstanding
Click to expand...
How do you know?

Every metal tweeter I have ever heard sounds sharp and somewhat bright, none sound natural thus far.
 
keenly said:
How do you know?

Every metal tweeter I have ever heard sounds sharp and somewhat bright, none sound natural thus far.
Click to expand...
The general consensus on this forum is that chosen driver material doesn’t inherently have any influence on potential sound quality - it’s all in the implementation - and that things such as „metal dome = metallic sound“ are an often observed psychoacoustic phenomenon
 
keenly said:
How do you know?

Every metal tweeter I have ever heard sounds sharp and somewhat bright, none sound natural thus far.
Click to expand...

The Kef Reference series does not sound sharp or bright.

And as others say, driver material does not have an inherent sound like that.
 
keenly said:
How do you know?

Every metal tweeter I have ever heard sounds sharp and somewhat bright, none sound natural thus far.
Click to expand...
This problem has been solved for larger manufacturers via 2 methods:

Pushing the resonant notes/breakup out of audio range via either:

using exotic materials (beryllium/ carbon)
https://audioxpress.com/article/Voice-Coil-Spotlight-The-Beryllium-Advantage

Or now more commonly, using variable geometry domes and advanced CAD physics engines (typically made from aluminium)

I'm not sure how much info is public on this, but modern press machines for KEF etc are accurate within a couple of microns. They are not the simple stamped dome found 15 years ago.
 
On the audibility of driver membrane materials please have also a look at this:

www.audiosciencereview.com

The effect of materials employed in drivers re loudspeaker performance

I noticed in one of Amir's speaker reviews a newer member made an allusion to driver materials having some salutary influence on the reproduced sound of a speaker. All things being equal, I wonder how true this assertion really is. I know it's a great marketing point for some of the companies...
www.audiosciencereview.com www.audiosciencereview.com
 
sigbergaudio said:
The Kef Reference series does not sound sharp or bright.

And as others say, driver material does not have an inherent sound like that.
Click to expand...
I have had SVS, Monitor Audio and Kef at home and all were sibilant. I switched to PMC and no sibalance. I think I have been biased since then. I use SVS elevation as height speakers now, and they are bright, but not sibilant. I probably need to here some more modern designs.
 
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