KEF Metamaterial now available on Reference and Blade speakers
What is KEF Metamaterial?
Along with the release of the LS50 Meta last year and the 12th edition of their renowned Uni-Q driver KEF have now added Metamaterial technology to their entire Reference and Blade range of speakers. When the LS50 Meta first surfaced it was immediately apparent that after 8 years KEF had made significant improvements to the original LS50 by improving their ability to reproduce an even wider, deeper and clearer sound and with a more sustained and engaging soundstage. That technology is now available to a wider range of products available today with the Reference 1, 3 and 5 and Blade 1 and 2 all now with Metamaterial included.
Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) is described by KEF as a maze-like structure that eliminates unwanted sound from the rear of the tweeter driver and when you see one of their circular MAT discs you will understand the maze reference.
The MAT is formed into a disc around 75mm in diameter that incorporates 30 quarter wave absorbers spread out across the frequency range of the tweeter with the intention of absorbing 99% of the unwanted sound coming off the back of the tweeter (most other speaker designs only achieve around 60% absorption). Each of these 30 channels or tubes is designed to work with and absorb a specific frequency. At this time only the tweeters benefit from Metamaterial because to do this with mid and bass drivers would need discs to be much larger and complex making them costly and impractical for domestic speakers. The MAT disc fitted to the back of the tweeter could be replaced by a tapered tube filled with absorption material but to be as efficient as the MAT disc the tube would need to be over half a metre long, again not practical in a domestic speaker.
The intention of the MAT disc is to remove virtually all the sound coming from the rear of the tweeter and therefore reducing colouration in the cabinet that would otherwise be created by unwanted sound bouncing around and back into the tweeter driver. It works by absorbing sound from around 600Hz up to around 40khz. Having listened to some of the new Reference range with Meta technology and to the new Blade Meta’s I can confirm that it is a significant upgrade giving a much more open and clear sound and seemingly more midrange dynamics.
The new Reference and Blade speakers are now available for audition at Reference Audio.
Bob at Reference Audio
February 2022