New Kef in wall speakers

[Sammy135]

A couple months ago, there were pictures teased of the black ls60 and we all thought it was a brand new speaker. Kef bamboozled us.

Yesterday, ever so quietly they launched a new version of their R- series in wall, 3160 (R7 equivalent?) and 5160 (R11 equivalent?) with META. In Canada, the 3160 also looks to be cheaper than the US model and also outgoing model.

Ci5160RLM-THX

KEF CA

ca.kef.com

Ci3160RLM-THX

KEF CA

ca.kef.com

I was waiting for an update on the Q series 4100, but that wasn't updated What do you guys think?

 

[nick-v]

This is great!! I'm excited to start installing some of these for clients.

Quite certain they'll be objectively the very best that's available in their price range.

 

[juliangst]

Nice to see that this lineup finally got the Meta treatment.
Specs look really similar to Reference in walls which are 4 times the price of the R series in-walls

 

[sweetchaos]

Btw, Erin reviewed the 3160’s non-meta:

Kef Ci3160RL-THX In-Wall Speaker Review

Kef Ci3160RL-THX Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Which look excellent already.

 

[Vacceo]

It's curious how these are THX rated while their box cousins are not.

I guess KEF wanted to save the certification, but the rating could still be up to specs.

 

[nick-v]

Btw, Erin reviewed the 3160’s non-meta:

Kef Ci3160RL-THX In-Wall Speaker Review

Kef Ci3160RL-THX Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Which look excellent already.

The 3160s are many generations old, released in 2014. They were based on the previous R Series (R100, R300, R500, R700, R900)

The new updated meta models should be quite a bit better.

 

[Descartes]

Hopefully to be soon tested by Erin or Amir

 

[songOVERsound]

Woofers cross over at 640 hz???

 

[SuicideSquid]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but there are some floor-model 3160RL's (not Metas) selling for less than half the price of the Metas at the moment. I was considering installing the 3160RLM in our living room maybe next year, but tempted to spring for the RL now.

Does anyone have experience with both? I haven't been able to find spinorama/distortion measurements of the 3160RLM to compare to the 3160RL. Based on the other KEF speaker upgrades to Meta models I expect the 3160RLM will be an improvement, but not sure if it's an improvement that warrants spending an additional $1000 per speaker.

 

[nick-v]

KEF Ci3160RLM-THX data sheet (only measurements I could find)
KEF Ci3160RL-THX from Erinsaudiocorner

I'd suggest the RLM are certainly better, but the RL are probably a pretty damn good value at half the price. The value proposition is up to you to decide.

 

[SuicideSquid]

KEF Ci3160RLM-THX data sheet (only measurements I could find)
KEF Ci3160RL-THX from Erinsaudiocorner

I'd suggest the RLM are certainly better, but the RL are probably a pretty damn good value at half the price. The value proposition is up to you to decide.

Yeah that's what I was thinking... I'm considering maybe picking these guys up and using them as my mains initially, and then moving them to the rear position and putting the Metas up front if I'm not 100% satisfied with them. I think the dimensions are identical so they should be relatively easy to swap out.