Single Apparent Source - mesurements

[slaweks]

Some KEF speakers are said to have Single Apparent Source feature. How could this be measured?

 

[fpitas]

The polar pattern is good in both the horizontal and the vertical.

 

[slaweks]

Are polar graphs available e.g. for Blades?

 

[fpitas]

Are polar graphs available e.g. for Blades?

Not sure. If Amir or Erin measured them with the Klippel, then definitely.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Some KEF speakers are said to have Single Apparent Source feature. How could this be measured?

I wonder if they mean not just symmetrical dispersion, but also time alignment?

Would a step response show this? The mid/tweeter in the Blades is ahead of the woofers though, so I doubt they’re time aligned.

 

[fpitas]

I wonder if they mean not just symmetrical dispersion, but also time alignment?

Would a step response show this? The mid/tweeter in the Blades is ahead of the woofers though, so I doubt they’re time aligned.

Good question, but the crossover can help patch that up.

 

[sweetchaos]

Are polar graphs available e.g. for Blades?

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

 

[Matias]

Single Apparent Source AFAIK is a concept, not a model name. It is the design intention to have all frequencies originating from the same point in space, from the listeners perspective, which they implement with the Blades as a coax surrounded by side woofers.

 

[gnarly]

Some KEF speakers are said to have Single Apparent Source feature. How could this be measured?

It's just marketing buzz substitution for point-source.
Don't get me wrong .... best speaker design goal there is, imo.

Best way to measure, would be measure anechoic/(or quasi anechoic for us mortals)....
looking for polar consistency both horizontal and vertical.....AND at varying distances (in the acoustic far-field)

 

[aarons915]

It's just marketing buzz substitution for point-source.
Don't get me wrong .... best speaker design goal there is, imo.

Best way to measure, would be measure anechoic/(or quasi anechoic for us mortals)....
looking for polar consistency both horizontal and vertical.....AND at varying distances (in the acoustic far-field)

Exactly, it's not a true point-source but close enough to name it an "apparent point-source". I listened to the Blades a few years ago and they are good but you can tell it's not all coming from the UniQ driver, the vocals sound like they're coming from everywhere, which is cool but not as natural as vocals on the LS50's in my case. The Reference series gets a bit closer with lower crossovers and front drivers but still not quite like the 2-ways.