At a thickness of only 11mm it sits directly behind the Uni-Q basket and magnet surface, to reduce the back wave output from the driver that would otherwise cause-in KEF’s words-“undesirable” cabinet resonances. Visually, it appears as a disc of a few inches in diameter with a maze-like uneven surface. KEF rethought this concept and came up with something unique- Meta or Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT). Typically, loudspeaker interiors are lined with absorptive materials (bracing, woolen stuffing, etc.) that damp the cabinet in order to reduce resonances in key frequency ranges and smooth mid and treble frequencies. So, what exactly is up with Meta? Acoustic analysis directed KEF engineers to focus their attention on improving the damping characteristics of the LS50. The taper of its profile reduces turbulence at high levels, sources of compression and distortion. The elliptical reflex port is offset in the upper corner of the rear panel. The novel curvature and composition of the baffle reduce diffraction effects and reflections.
Still, this is an 85dB-sensitive speaker and benefits from robust amplification with solid power reserves.Ĭabinet construction, as non-resonant as any knuckle rap will tell you, is all MDF, bolstered by optimized internal bracing and constrained-layer damping placed between the struts and the inner walls of the cabinet. The crossover point is 2.1kHz and impedance (nominally 8 ohms) never dips beneath a reasonable 3.2 ohms. According to KEF, the distinctive segmented or “tangerine” waveguide uses “radial air channels to produce spherical waves up to the highest frequencies-and this allows for a deeper ‘stiffened dome’ diaphragm, which raises the first resonance, culminating in response that extends beyond 40kHz.” Collectively, these technologies enhance dispersion while reducing driver interference.
#Kef ls50 meta for sale series#
The 1″, vented aluminum-dome tweeter first seen in the vaunted KEF Blade series uses a similar waveguide design, known as “optimal dome waveguide geometry,” to extend high-frequency response over a wider axis. It is installed with aluminum magnet rings to reduce flux modulation, a source of distortion. The mid/bass diaphragm of Uni-Q measures 5.25″ and is made from a magnesium-aluminum alloy. Now in its twelfth generation, it’s positioned dead center in a sensuously curved one-piece front baffle. Per KEF tradition, the focus of the LS50 revolves around its iconic rose-gold, Uni-Q, coincident tweeter/woofer, a driver that was specifically designed for duty in the LS50. To go beyond, and thus, Meta.įirst, let’s revisit the pre-Meta original. Rather than taking a winning formula and starting from scratch, KEF chose to innovate its way to a better LS50. KEF engineers were aware that its competitors haven’t stood still, either. A decade later, the success of this Editor’s Choice/Golden Ear/Product of the Year recipient has morphed into a full-blown collection that now includes center channels and active/wireless versions.īut ten years is still ten years and a lifetime in the world of audio-product cycles. Plus, the superb fit and finish of its enclosure made an ideal platform for the space-saving Uni-Q, KEF’s proprietary coincident driver. You simply couldn’t beat the looks of this squarish two-way, bass-reflex design. The popular LS50 compact appears as fresh as it did the day it first rolled off the production line in 2011, in celebration of KEF’s 50 th anniversary (founded 1961). D oes this speaker look familiar? It should.
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