KEF Reference vs Reference Meta

[Groovemandel]

I have a KEF Reference 3 and it really puts a smile on my face every time I start listening to it. Yesterday I listened to the Reference 3 Meta and I feel the treble on them feels more open and less bity. Also vocals sound less boxy somehow. Probably the meta driver is doing a great job that I felt like it’s really a better speaker. I still like mine for it’s different sound, with more warmer mids. I didn’t feel the bass to be any different. Is there any change in woofers and cabinet between the References and Reference Metas? From the pictures I can see the arrangement of damping materials is not the same between Reference 5 and 5 meta(I couldn’t find any pictures of Reference 3 and 3 Meta).

Since I couldn’t try them in the same room may be the judgement on bass is not right, and probably the new one has better bass but my old one sounded good because of better damping in my room.

 

[Ciobi69]

honestly i wouldn't have an opinion on it if listened in a different room, thats the main factor, i wouldn't draw any conclusion, the improvement is there, but its worth it? maybe 5% better but at what cost

 

[dogmamann]

The reference 3 meta is on another level, with better bass. Improvement should be on the woofers and cabins too. Not just on uniq.

 

[Matias]

Is there any change in woofers and cabinet between the References and Reference Metas?

There are a lot of changes in the Reference Meta generation described on their white paper.

https://assets.kef.com/documents/reference/KEF_Blade_Ref_Meta_Tech_Paper.pdf

 

[dogmamann]

There are a lot of changes in the Reference Meta generation described on their white paper.

https://assets.kef.com/documents/reference/KEF_Blade_Ref_Meta_Tech_Paper.pdf

Yes and woofers should be new and even cabins should be redesigned as I understand.

Unfortunately they did not mention the woofers and the cabinet improvements in this document. I guess there is another document about them.