KEF

October 2, 2011 marks KEF's 50th Anniversary, and to celebrate, the company just announced its new R Series – high performance loudspeakers boasting technologies found in the KEF Blade— but at a more affordable price point.

The KEF R Series consists of nine models - three floorstanding, two bookshelf speakers, two fully-specified and timbre-matched center channels, dipole surrounds and a powerful twin driver, 500 Watt subwoofer. Attendees of next weeks' CEDIA trade show will be the first to experience the new R Series.

The KEF R Series includes:

Floor-Standing Loudspeakers

• R500 – R500 – Three-way floor-standing speaker; Uni-Q driver array consists of 1" HF, 5" MF; Two 5.25" LF drivers. Retail: $1,299.99/each
• R700 – Three-way floor-standing speaker; Uni-Q driver array consists of 1" HF, 5" MF; Two 6.5" LF drivers. Retail: $1,799.99/each
• R900 – Three-way floor-standing speaker; Uni-Q driver array consists of 1" HF, 5" MF; Two 8" LF drivers. Retail: $2,499.99/each

Today, KEF announced it is bringing its Concept Blade loudspeaker to market in the form of the all-new KEF Blade.

Available now for $29,999, KEF Blade offers the highest quality sound reproduction available through KEF's Single Apparent Source technology. Single Apparent Source technology ensures the entire frequency range (bass, midrange and treble) radiates from one point in space, creating a sound picture that is virtually indistinguishable from a live performance. KEF Blade is further enhanced by a glass-reinforced composite cabinet that matches the speaker's high performance sound quality with elegant design.

KEF Blade is available in Gloss White and Gloss Black, but will also be available in custom colors including Garnet, Sapphire, Grigio, Racing Red, Racing Blue, Pale Gold, Orange Sorbet, Graphite, Stardust, Lemon Sorbet, Lime Sorbet and Snow White. KEF Blade has an MSRP of $29,999. Read more

KEF introduced an all new speaker line at CEDIA this week. Designed for use with flat-panel TVs, the T Series features a large, vented tweeter and an ultra-low profile bass driver which is said to have the performance of a 75mm-deep four-inch driver but in the space of just 27mm.

The T Series is sold as individual components, or in package systems:

• T101 and T101c: satellite speakers with a 25mm vented tweeter and a 100mm low-profile LF. The T101 sells for $499.99 per pair, and the T101c center-channel speaker is priced at $249.99 each.
• T301s and T301c: features a 25mm vented tweeter and two low-profile LFs. The T301s has an MSRP of $699.99 per pair, with the T301c center channel available for $349.99 each.
• T-2: a subwoofer featuring a 10-inch driver. It is not sold separately, only comes in the packaged systems.

When purchasing new loudspeakers for your home theater system, you want to be sure to get the best sound possible. KEF has made that easier than ever with its new KEF Ci Speaker Placement Tool, a software program designed to help you with the proper placement and layout of KEF Ci loudspeakers.

Made for both consumers and professional installers, the program can accommodate both 70V/100V projects as well as stereo music systems. The KEF Ci software will graphically show room sound coverage, show speaker layout, and provide you with wiring diagrams. Room layouts can be saved, printed, exported, and even retrieved for future reference.Read more

Have you wanted to add some color to your home theater system? Now you can (to your speakers, anyway). KEF, well known for its reference-quality loudspeakers, yesterday announced that the company's Reference Series loudspeakers will be available in twelve finishes. Don't like the finishes offered? No problem…KEF will even custom build to order by special arrangement.

Each color has a high gloss finish with multiple layers of lacquer, each one polished to a mirror finish by hand before applying the next one. The company states that "the result is a rich and brilliant shine that meets or exceeds that of most luxury automobiles."

The service takes approximately three months to fulfill, and the cost is 15% over the standard piano black finish. Sample swatches of the 12 new colors are available at KEF Authorized Reference Dealers. Read more

KEF just announced that they will formally unveil Concept Blade for the first time in North America at the 2010 CES trade show January 7-10.

Concept Blade is a loudspeaker that was created after three years of testing, expert analysis and experimentation by the company.

Highlights include:

• Single Apparent Source technology represents a tenth generation Uni-Q design
• All components and cabinet materials were specially designed for this product
• Critically curved cabinet of carbon fiber and balsa wood was inspired by race cars

KEF cut the wires to their latest subwoofer. The new wireless HTB2SE-W is a marriage of two KEF products – the HTB2 subwoofer, and the Universal Wireless kit.

Simple to set up and easy to operate, the HTB2SE-W has CD quality sound with latest technology for real-time audio with no loss or dropouts. Using the design from the HTB2SE, the subwoofer's 250W Class-D amplifier powers a 250mm (10in.) driver which, together with an auxiliary bass radiator produces deep, excellent sounding bass. And, the subwoofer's automated signal processing means there are no buttons or dials to get in the way of enjoying great sound.

Featuring HFADPCM wireless technology, the sub can be positioned vertically or horizontally with no worries of wires getting in the way. It also features SmartBass with easy to use bass boost and phase controls. Read more