KEF Reference R1 Rackmount Speaker
Three Rackmount Speakers
Produced with the smart use of KEF's innovative technologies, Reference 1 clearly says that you don't need a big and expensive cabinet to enjoy high performance sound.
ABOUT KEF
Founded in 1961, British speaker manufacturer KEF has been a proud pioneer of audio excellence in its industry from day one. KEF, which was born with Raymond Cooke in Kent, England, as an abbreviation of the words Kent Engineering & Faundry, and has spread its quality all over the world, is a manufacturer of Hi-Fi audio products that continues its activities under the roof of GP Acoustics as of 2018.
Reference 1 uses the latest Uni-Q driver array in KEF's 125 mm (5 in) size MF/HF build to create an impressively realistic, large-scale soundstage. In addition to these drivers, a new 165 mm (6.5 inch) bass driver with a sensational cone/cone design is included in the system. Uni-Q's inherent wide-stage sound character and its structure that distributes the sounds evenly shows that the Reference 1 will also take on the role of a serious rear channel speaker in the home theater system.
Everyone in the room can enjoy a rich, environmentally lifelike soundstage/image. This structure puts them at the heart of the magnificent performance. Thus, you become a sound enthusiast who listens to music in the concert hall, not at home.
The Reference series is the embodiment of KEF's " Integrated Systems Design " philosophy. Each component is optimized both internally and as part of the whole, while giving each drive unit the chance to showcase its talent at its highest efficiency. Conclusion; It's a loudspeaker that performs far beyond what small parts can do together.
Designed in Maidstone, UK So KEF's Home
The reference series was a bold move for KEF in 1973. The series broke new ground in terms of computer aided design and high performance. The Reference series is still today inspected and manufactured directly by KEF engineers in Maidstone, UK.
Designed To Be Only The Best
The reference series is the heart of KEF. It is KEF's expression of an absolute obsession with audio performance, where decades of innovative technological research have become physical. Each Reference speaker is designed and manufactured from the ground up by a single KEF technician for harmony and flawless performance .
Dual Driver & Single Point Audio Distribution
At the heart of the Reference series is the Uni-Q™ point source driver array. Located right at the acoustic center of a highly sophisticated mid-frequency driver, the state-of-the-art ventilated aluminum dome tweeter creates a wider listening area and seamlessly disperses the most natural sound into this wide area.
Design with a Strong Foundation
Clean, rich and clearly felt bass is the foundation of great stereo and multi-channel sound. KEF's Reference Series bass driver features a massive vented magnet/magnet, a large aluminum voice coil and an extremely light and hard alloy cone/cone. Sound volume and dynamics are also excellent, regardless of power consumption.
Even the smallest details are in the middle
Shadow Flare greatly reduces in-cab sound diffraction, allowing Uni-Q to operate at peak efficiency. Precisely designed surfaces allow Uni-Q's sound wave effect to expand. So when it comes to hearing finger-played guitar arpeggios one by one and distinguishing even the tiniest nuances of other percussion instruments, rest assured they will all come true one by one.
Computer Modeled Perfection
The Reference series handcrafted cabinets with double matched wood veneers feature a computer-optimized geometry to minimize secondary vibrations from the sides and Constrained Layer Damping to convert the remaining little vibration into heat.
Even the smallest details are in the middle
KEF engineers use advanced software to model the ideal crossover. Each component used is selected according to the final unit of measurement, the human ear. Perfection takes time, but when it's achieved, the results are obvious. Even the crossover feature is separated from the cabin on the Reference series to minimize vibration and interference .
Great Effort to Eliminate Noise
Flexible port technology is used to reduce port resonance. Each port can be adjusted to allow the sound to be tailored to suit the room users are in. The profile structure of each port is calculated with the " Computational Fluid Dynamics " / Computational Fluid Dynamics system to avoid turbulent air noise that can color the sound.
Push the limits…
For nearly 50 years, KEF engineers have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in acoustics with the Reference series. The groundbreaking first incarnation of the Reference series, and each subsequent new model, has been successful enough to contribute to the science of acoustics.
Standardized "Standards"
How does each new model in the Reference series maintain its 'Achievement' status against the many loudspeakers it's compared to? For prototypes kept in the laboratory, a perfectly matched loudspeaker is obtained through double matching (1 pair of speakers) within 0.5dB tolerance. These compatible speakers always maintain the status of “Success” with the continuous development of groundbreaking technologies, superior craftsmanship.
Four Major Focal Points
The Reference series has four major acoustic purposes that form the basis of KEF's entire acoustic philosophy. If you want to understand our engineering and acoustic ideas in detail, please don't forget to take a look at the KEF Reference Technical Report written by our R&D team.
A Home Cinema Experience Without Borders
While producing an extraordinary dynamic sound and bass power, the Reference series will transform your movie experience by bringing music notes and soundtracks to life. The KEF Reference series is equipped to meet many different needs, such as THX Ultra certified architectural in-wall models.
A Glorious History
For more than 50 years, the Reference series has been recognized with awards from major sound authorities around the world. Praised for its realistic sound performance and the consistency maintained across all models of the series, this latest Reference series continues to impress experts.
Kent Engineering and Foundry Version
In 1961, Raymond Cooke founded KEF in a Nissen cottage formerly owned by Kent Engineering and Foundry. To celebrate this legacy we have created a very special edition of the Reference series. The Kent Engineering & Foundry version combines the latest Reference technology in a new style that elegantly showcases KEF's rich pedigree.
EXPERT COMMENT:
Product of the Year (2018)
Founded in 1976, What Hi-Fi? is the world's leading independent guide to Hi-Fi and home entertainment products. What Hi-Fi? For almost 40 years, it has honored brands and their products with awards such as "Product of the Year" and "Best Product to Buy", considered the "Oscars" of the Hi-Fi audio and home theater industry.
TECHNICIAL SPECIFICATIONS
DESIGN Bass Reflex
KEF Reference R1 Rackmount Speaker
Three Rackmount Speakers
Produced with the smart use of KEF's innovative technologies, Reference 1 clearly says that you don't need a big and expensive cabinet to enjoy high performance sound.
ABOUT KEF
Founded in 1961, British speaker manufacturer KEF has been a proud pioneer of audio excellence in its industry from day one. KEF, which was born with Raymond Cooke in Kent, England, as an abbreviation of the words Kent Engineering & Faundry, and has spread its quality all over the world, is a manufacturer of Hi-Fi audio products that continues its activities under the roof of GP Acoustics as of 2018.
Reference 1 uses the latest Uni-Q driver array in KEF's 125 mm (5 in) size MF/HF build to create an impressively realistic, large-scale soundstage. In addition to these drivers, a new 165 mm (6.5 inch) bass driver with a sensational cone/cone design is included in the system. Uni-Q's inherent wide-stage sound character and its structure that distributes the sounds evenly shows that the Reference 1 will also take on the role of a serious rear channel speaker in the home theater system.
Everyone in the room can enjoy a rich, environmentally lifelike soundstage/image. This structure puts them at the heart of the magnificent performance. Thus, you become a sound enthusiast who listens to music in the concert hall, not at home.
The Reference series is the embodiment of KEF's " Integrated Systems Design " philosophy. Each component is optimized both internally and as part of the whole, while giving each drive unit the chance to showcase its talent at its highest efficiency. Conclusion; It's a loudspeaker that performs far beyond what small parts can do together.
Designed in Maidstone, UK So KEF's Home
The reference series was a bold move for KEF in 1973. The series broke new ground in terms of computer aided design and high performance. The Reference series is still today inspected and manufactured directly by KEF engineers in Maidstone, UK.
Designed To Be Only The Best
The reference series is the heart of KEF. It is KEF's expression of an absolute obsession with audio performance, where decades of innovative technological research have become physical. Each Reference speaker is designed and manufactured from the ground up by a single KEF technician for harmony and flawless performance .
Dual Driver & Single Point Audio Distribution
At the heart of the Reference series is the Uni-Q™ point source driver array. Located right at the acoustic center of a highly sophisticated mid-frequency driver, the state-of-the-art ventilated aluminum dome tweeter creates a wider listening area and seamlessly disperses the most natural sound into this wide area.
Design with a Strong Foundation
Clean, rich and clearly felt bass is the foundation of great stereo and multi-channel sound. KEF's Reference Series bass driver features a massive vented magnet/magnet, a large aluminum voice coil and an extremely light and hard alloy cone/cone. Sound volume and dynamics are also excellent, regardless of power consumption.
Even the smallest details are in the middle
Shadow Flare greatly reduces in-cab sound diffraction, allowing Uni-Q to operate at peak efficiency. Precisely designed surfaces allow Uni-Q's sound wave effect to expand. So when it comes to hearing finger-played guitar arpeggios one by one and distinguishing even the tiniest nuances of other percussion instruments, rest assured they will all come true one by one.
Computer Modeled Perfection
The Reference series handcrafted cabinets with double matched wood veneers feature a computer-optimized geometry to minimize secondary vibrations from the sides and Constrained Layer Damping to convert the remaining little vibration into heat.
Even the smallest details are in the middle
KEF engineers use advanced software to model the ideal crossover. Each component used is selected according to the final unit of measurement, the human ear. Perfection takes time, but when it's achieved, the results are obvious. Even the crossover feature is separated from the cabin on the Reference series to minimize vibration and interference .
Great Effort to Eliminate Noise
Flexible port technology is used to reduce port resonance. Each port can be adjusted to allow the sound to be tailored to suit the room users are in. The profile structure of each port is calculated with the " Computational Fluid Dynamics " / Computational Fluid Dynamics system to avoid turbulent air noise that can color the sound.
Push the limits…
For nearly 50 years, KEF engineers have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in acoustics with the Reference series. The groundbreaking first incarnation of the Reference series, and each subsequent new model, has been successful enough to contribute to the science of acoustics.
Standardized "Standards"
How does each new model in the Reference series maintain its 'Achievement' status against the many loudspeakers it's compared to? For prototypes kept in the laboratory, a perfectly matched loudspeaker is obtained through double matching (1 pair of speakers) within 0.5dB tolerance. These compatible speakers always maintain the status of “Success” with the continuous development of groundbreaking technologies, superior craftsmanship.
Four Major Focal Points
The Reference series has four major acoustic purposes that form the basis of KEF's entire acoustic philosophy. If you want to understand our engineering and acoustic ideas in detail, please don't forget to take a look at the KEF Reference Technical Report written by our R&D team.
A Home Cinema Experience Without Borders
While producing an extraordinary dynamic sound and bass power, the Reference series will transform your movie experience by bringing music notes and soundtracks to life. The KEF Reference series is equipped to meet many different needs, such as THX Ultra certified architectural in-wall models.
A Glorious History
For more than 50 years, the Reference series has been recognized with awards from major sound authorities around the world. Praised for its realistic sound performance and the consistency maintained across all models of the series, this latest Reference series continues to impress experts.
Kent Engineering and Foundry Version
In 1961, Raymond Cooke founded KEF in a Nissen cottage formerly owned by Kent Engineering and Foundry. To celebrate this legacy we have created a very special edition of the Reference series. The Kent Engineering & Foundry version combines the latest Reference technology in a new style that elegantly showcases KEF's rich pedigree.
EXPERT COMMENT:
Product of the Year (2018)
Founded in 1976, What Hi-Fi? is the world's leading independent guide to Hi-Fi and home entertainment products. What Hi-Fi? For almost 40 years, it has honored brands and their products with awards such as "Product of the Year" and "Best Product to Buy", considered the "Oscars" of the Hi-Fi audio and home theater industry.
TECHNICIAL SPECIFICATIONS
DESIGN Bass Reflex