KEF R5 Meta Speakers (Pair)

KEF R5 Meta speakers are elegant and compact floorstanders, the latest version of the smaller floorstanding speaker in the R-series range, now with a Meta upgrade. Along with the larget R7 Meta and R11 Meta, R5 Meta is the next best thing to KEF Reference floorstanding speakers, at a lower price point.

Revolutionary metamaterial has been added to the tweeter, for even less distortion. The R5 also uses the unique KEF Uni-Q driver array, as well as two 130mm hybrid aluminium bass units. The Uni-Q diver combines the tweeter and midrange unit together and is designed to distribute sound more evenly throughout the room. The is also a shadow flare around the driver to reduce diffraction.

What is Metamaterial Absorption technology?

MAT (Metamaterial Absorption Technology) was developed in association with Acoustic Metamaterials Group. MAT materials absorb soundwaves. In the case of the Uni-Q driver array it is used behind the tweeter to absorb any rear deflected sound. In this way distortion is reduced. This makes the sound more natural.

Exemplary performance

The R5 meta uses the amazing Uni-Q driver array that combines the tweeter and midrange unit. The tweeter is a 25mm Aluminium dome unit. While the midrange is a 125mm unit. There are also two 130mm low frequency hybrid aluminium woofers. The frequency range extends up to 28kHz and the power handling is 200W. The sound is clean and uncoloured. Three finishes are available, black gloss, white gloss and walnut

Remarkable Uni-Q Driver Array

What has become known as the KEF sound, is created by the Uni-Q driver array. The Uni-Q is essentially two speakers in one and creates a single point source. Consequently, the sound is evenly distributed throughout the room. Everyone in the room can enjoy the same sound. The Uni-Q motor system has been upgraded. It now has a shaped and undercut pole, and symmetrical aluminium demodulation rings. Voice coil variations are damped for cleaner vocals.

Bass Units

The R series bass drivers are made of a two part structure. A shallow concave aluminium skin is bonded to an underlying paper cone. This creates a very stiff structure, that reduces resonances. As a result, a strong pistonic movement makes the drivers time beautifully. Moreover, there is a new magnet system that creates a more even magnetic field. The suspension has been redesigned to reduce harmonic distortion for a cleaner sound. The result is a tight punchy bass and an extended the low end.

Unique Shadow Flares

A feature from the Reference series has been added to the R5. That is the shadow Flare. This is a ring surrounding the driver that reduces cabinet diffraction. Diffraction can cause distortion and the ring creates shadow regions that will damp any diffraction. Consequently, clarity is improved. It is most noticeable with more subtle music.

Cabinet Features

The R series cabinets benefit from a structure that has Constrained Layer Damping bracing. In this way the bracing is joined to the cabinet by a material that dissipates unwanted vibrations. Additionally, the new bracing layout creates a very inert platform. This should give a solid vibration free platform for the drivers, resulting in a very accurate and clean sound with no colouration.