KEF Reference 1 Meta Review

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My written review can be found here: soundnews.net/speakers/passiv...
00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Build Quality
01:50 - Tech Inside Them
03:13 - Sound Performance
05:49 - System Matching
07:45 - Soundstage
08:16 - Detail Retrieval
09:55 - Transient Response
11:14 - Bass
12:20 - Midrange
13:01 - Treble
13:40 - My Conclusion
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
📱 www. Soundnews.net/
📷 / soundnews.net_
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Desktop headphones I’m using:
🎧 Hifiman Susvara: bit.ly/3a39pm2
🎧 Hifiman HE1000SE: bit.ly/3gwkXRW
🎧 Hifiman Arya Stealth: bit.ly/3HORBss
🎧 Audeze LCD-5: bit.ly/3nb5KbD
🎧 Audeze LCD-4: bit.ly/35LFYAK
🎧 Kennerton Rognir: bit.ly/3zD1IxT
🎧 Erzetich Phobos V2021: bit.ly/3HMWBhf
🎧 Apos Caspian: bit.ly/3nab1QO
Portable headphones I’m using:
🎧 Sennheiser Momentum 3: amzn.to/2SrzzWf
🎧 Sony WH1000XM4: amzn.to/3xkU0ph
IEMs I’m using:
👂 7Hz Timeless: bit.ly/3q7RNgm
👂 Meze Rai Penta: bit.ly/3j2EhVa
👂 FiiO FH9: bit.ly/3zSWka5
👂 FiiO FH7: bit.ly/3iwZeqm
Loudspeakers I’m using:
🔊 KEF Reference 3: amzn.to/3qZKbMm
🔊 Natural Sound NS17: bit.ly/2TuUXx3
🔊 Sound Of Eden Crescendo UNO: bit.ly/3f5jO1X
Integrated/Power Amps I’m using:
💪 Benchmark AHB2: amzn.to/37jcR9M
💪 KECES S300: bit.ly/2XL8sHT
💪 Kinki Studio EX-M7: bit.ly/3gEoVVJ
💪 Burson Timekeeper 3i: bit.ly/3K514hs
Best DACs I have tried:
🥇 Rockna Wavelight: bit.ly/3hD33xl
🥇 Audiobyte HydraVox: bit.ly/2VXJjZM
🥇 Musician Aquarius: bit.ly/2U9qwwT
🥇 Matrix Audio Element X: bit.ly/2xU6hbC
🥇 Matrix Audio X-Sabre 3: bit.ly/34oBFyG
🥇 Gold Note DS-10 Plus: bit.ly/3f7pYie
🥇 Gustard X26 PRO: bit.ly/2ORB7Ko
🥇 SMSL VMV D2: bit.ly/3q9lIF7
🥇 Topping D90SE: bit.ly/3gC5FcO
Best Mid-Fi DACs:
🥈 Musician Pegasus: bit.ly/2OvCOgn
🥈 Matrix Mini-i Pro 3: bit.ly/3t97FkN
🥈 Topping D30 PRO: bit.ly/3taPWcE
🥈 Gustard X16: bit.ly/3JU3pLN
🥈 SMSL VMV D1SE: bit.ly/3nbaTjT
🥈 SMSL M500 MKII: bit.ly/3F4qLe5
🥈 SMSL SU-9N: bit.ly/32U7qj3
🥈 Soncoz SGD1: bit.ly/36IUQ5r
Best Entry-Level DACs:
🥉 Soncoz LA-QXD1: bit.ly/3gf8ONt
🥉 Topping E50: bit.ly/3q9e6CE
🥉 Topping D10S: bit.ly/3r1hWNh
🥉 SMSL SU-6: bit.ly/3FdRghk
🥉 SMSL M200: bit.ly/3cCtFsw
Best DAC + Headphone Amp combos:
🎶 Flux Lab Acoustics FCN-10: bit.ly/2Y74daK
🎶 Burson Audio Conductor 3: amzn.to/2xcfSKx
🎶 Audio-GD D.28 Full: bit.ly/359E6S5
🎶 xDuoo XA-10: bit.ly/39UsS7K
Best Headphone amps:
💣Ferrum OOR + Hypsos: bit.ly/3tbjNSn
💣Burson Soloist 3X GT: bit.ly/3q7nrus
💣Flux Lab Acoustics Volot: bit.ly/3fJegep
💣Benchmark HPA4: bit.ly/2xb6hn5
💣Sparkos Labs Aries: bit.ly/2xcOps1
💣SMSL SP400: bit.ly/3sAUEO2
💣Topping A90: bit.ly/2YBwCnZ
💣Singxer SA-1: bit.ly/3eI6aCC
Best DAPs:
🎵 FiiO M17: bit.ly/34pgo84
🎵 Shanling M9: bit.ly/3r4swDh
🎵 Hiby RS6: bit.ly/3t9mUKw
My Video/Photo Gear:
📷 / 🎥 (1): amzn.to/2ToU9de
📷 / 🎥 (2): amzn.to/2VHeNnf
🔍 (1) amzn.to/3eTCsZp
🔍 (2) amzn.to/2UTAG4R
🔍 (3) amzn.to/2yPR6A5
🔭 amzn.to/2zAuGn1
💡 amzn.to/2VEDC3l
☂️ amzn.to/2VETyT6
🎤 (1) amzn.to/3yeeS2h
🎤 (2) amzn.to/3aLjYXv
These are my honest opinions in different categories. Some of them are affiliated links that help me manage this KZfaq channel at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#KEF #reference #meta

Пікірлер: 105

@hhsymons3866 2 жыл бұрын

Great job! That was an amazing review. I don't think there is a reviewer out there who can so eloquently describe speaker characteristics. Every time I watch one of your reviews, I learn something new. Thanks! I have a pair of R500s and your description of what these drivers do and don't do well are spot on!

@Soundnews 2 жыл бұрын

Hi mate...you made my day. Thank you!

@tlr5457 2 жыл бұрын

I ordered the Blade 2 Metas over three months ago and am still waiting. Like you, I had Ref 3s for 5 years and loved them - and so did everyone else that actually heard them. I am so looking forward to when the day finally arrives.

@Soundnews 2 жыл бұрын

Blade2 Meta...I can only dream about them, congrats on the purchase! ;)

@marcus1970 2 жыл бұрын

Hope the Mrs is well from her surgery.. Sandu another great video 👍🏻

@Soundnews 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Marcus, thanks for you kind words. She started walking again and it's recovering well

@albertorbinati5511 Жыл бұрын

An excellent review. Thank you!

@N02tradamus 2 ай бұрын

Looking to buy those. I like your ears and how you love Susvara.

@Michael-xz1nk Жыл бұрын

I'm totally with you. White cabinets with electric blue Uni-Q drivers are the bomb. Just like my LS50's, which I love. I just would never spend $9,000 on any speakers.

@tcc5750 Жыл бұрын

Have you compared these to Kef Reference 1 (non-meta)? I am curious as there is about a $3000 price difference between them ($5999 vs $8999).

@rustygates3367 Жыл бұрын

Hi Sandu, I am thinking of getting the KEF Reference 1 Meta for using in a semi small room and have the Enleum AMP-23R; would you recommend that paring?

@wavesnowaves 2 жыл бұрын

I really wonder how these would compare to the new LS60’s.

@mustipso 8 ай бұрын

Which cable do you use with ? Do you suggest Chord Cable Or Audioquest and cable model? Thanks

@siddharthjaiman4712 2 жыл бұрын

How can I find the music you listen to?

@Baturay4658 8 ай бұрын

Which amplifiers do u recommend with reference 1 meta ? Are you happy with white colour?

@De132an 5 ай бұрын

In terms of the Reference 1 Meta, being a Uni-Q 3 way driver speaker how would you address toe in? Manual says between 0 to 15%, with what looks like a preference zero toe in. What was your findings when trying to place in room with toe in? Please share, thank you.

@unityoc 9 ай бұрын

12:52 you mention Spendor as a warm sounding loudspeaker brand, are you refering the A / D-line or the Classics? The voicing is quite different between those two.

@bryanfurys Жыл бұрын

hi i have nad m33 and kef r3, which speakers i should get, should i go with kef reference 1 meta ,or focal utopia diablo evo colour, or focal sopra 1, or bowers and wilkinsons 805 d4?

@DH-og5yr Ай бұрын

Well the diablos are twice the price of those options so…

@valentinladin8047 2 жыл бұрын

How is low level listening?

@trubadyr99 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this review. I am afraid these excellent speakers are out of my budget. They would require an excellent and very costly power amp to match. For this or an even lesser amount of money, I would choose the Genelec 8361A - self-powered speakers also available in white, and their excellent Genelec GLM SAM Loudspeaker Management System allows to save some money on room treatment costs. What do You think?

@Soundnews 2 жыл бұрын

Tried their G series (G One and G Two) and I do believe they sound close to end-game material. Amazing little speakers for a near-field setup

@briancampbell7712 11 ай бұрын

i have been chasing speakers for a while...i now have epicons 2...maybe i should keep these and just replace the intigrated amp i'm using...i'm presently using the Vincent sv 737...would a Pathos inpol2 intigraded amp make my speakers sound a lot better?...or should i continue to search for different speakers...maybe a diamond or Bervilium tweeter...the silk tweeter in my epicon is ok but i'd like more detail...

@Soundnews 11 ай бұрын

You should experiment at your place...or better yet in a HiFi showroom (that won't cost you money) where you can use the same model of speakers you have at home with various amplifiers, sources and so on.. It's difficult assessing what will work and what wouldn't in your room, there are too many variables.

@briancampbell7712 11 ай бұрын

@@Soundnews you probably know that dali epicon 2 is top standmount from dali...quality speaker...however i wonder if changing to a Pathos inpol2 could make my epicons sound even better and i may like them more...then not have to look for a diamond tweeter speaker like usher be 718 dmd?

@briancampbell7712 11 ай бұрын

@@Soundnews I don't have good places to test equipment...the one audio store here says they don't have the equipment and if i want to try, i have to pay for the shipping to and from there wharehouse...if i buy somthing, I can't return it...🙄

@richwiskin4860 Жыл бұрын

So you prefer the reference 3 (non meta) on balance?

@Soundnews Жыл бұрын

All my systems are working in balanced config via XLR, with the exception of Enleum AMP-23R that is only a SE unit. If you could be a little more specific, I didn't quite get your question.

@richwiskin4860 Жыл бұрын

@@Soundnews You prefer the Ref 3 to the Ref1 meta?

@SerG4862 2 жыл бұрын

On most export channels, it has become a good tone to post audio recordings with the sound of what they are talking about.Everyone should be interested to hear the sound of the model and it is of little interest to hear only the words of an expert about the sound.

@trun1979 2 жыл бұрын

What I've always asked myself is how can a video can work when you're listening to those compressed recording through your laptop speakers .

@volpedo2000 2 жыл бұрын

I am really curious to audition the new Ref Meta and Blade Meta, although the latter might be to much for my wallet. I disagree with your approach though from a philosophical perspective. I’d rather have a super neutral chain and let the speakers colour the sound rather than viceversa. Ultimately speakers will always be the weakest link in the chain so might as well leverage their shortcomings to tailor the sound.

@-MarkWinston- 2 жыл бұрын

Its great that KEF stayed neutral; any warm sounding speaker will make everything sound warm, any cool sounding speaker will make everything sound cool. Spendors, Harbeths, Dynaudios are one of the biggest offenders.

@morespinach9832 2 жыл бұрын

Offenders in that category yes. But they create music. ATC too. Genelec maybe more your bag but that clinical precision is not for everyone. It’s like saying everyone should have pure white walls at home. Any other colour is offensive. Which would be just as silly.

@-MarkWinston- 2 жыл бұрын

@@morespinach9832 illogical comparison. We ate not talking about walls here, we are talking about high fidelity and the definition of high fidelity is to reproduce sound as accurately as possible. You can play with MY fidelity all you want, just dont claim its high fidelity. They 'create music'. Yeah, thats a good one. White walls. Blah.

@morespinach9832 2 жыл бұрын

@@-MarkWinston- missing the point entirely. But sure, enjoy your music the way you want to. People buy electronics for various reasons. Yours is not the only valid one.

@-MarkWinston- 2 жыл бұрын

@@morespinach9832 do what you want with MY fidelity. No one is stopping you. Your money, your life, your choice. Just dont start claiming its high fidelity.

@morespinach9832 2 жыл бұрын

@@-MarkWinston- it is high fidelity with a different tuning and I pay for precisely that. You don’t get to define high fidelity. What you mean without knowing it, in technical terms, is high fidelity with no or neutral tuning. Learn a bit about audio tech. Now please focus on meaningful discussions elsewhere.

@Flavius7 2 жыл бұрын

That moment when you don't really care about bookshelf speakers, it's too expensive anyway even if you would be interested BUT YOU STILL WATCH BECAUSE SANDU!😉

@ianjohnhorwood2605 Жыл бұрын

The KEF REFERENCE two way or 3 way are not as good as my old modded and upgraded and now a two way year 2000's+ special edition MONITOR AUDIO GR20 MONITORS . My MONITOR AUDIO'S, are far more revealing of everything within the music, that the KEFS cannot match or touch, even at their elevated price point .

@DH-og5yr Ай бұрын

Prob not

@Spierdalajyoutube 10 ай бұрын

9k it's a con. Max 4k should be.

@d.nakamura9579 2 ай бұрын

Nope. Try used if you can only spend $4k

@Freedom89984 2 жыл бұрын

Blue speaker units… not my cup of tea.

@sneakyp1484 2 жыл бұрын

There are other finishes without the blue!

@Freedom89984 2 жыл бұрын

@@sneakyp1484 yeah I know, same as my LS50 meta’s.

@johnnygohard315 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like your 'play to pay '

@sneakyp1484 2 жыл бұрын

What?

@ryanschipp8513 2 жыл бұрын

one of the biggest rip-offs in high-fi is thousands and thousands of dollars spent on bookshelf speakers. it's not a smart move to buy them. for $9,000 you can get some absolutely killer Tower speakers that will sound better in every Department. more dynamic and more Bass. simply put, Towers will offer closer to full range than any bookshelves for the same price. in fact I'd put a pair of $5,000 Tower speakers against the kef bookshelf speakers and it's a better buy. then you have a bunch of money left over for electronics.

@johnnygohard315 2 жыл бұрын

Yes , very silly , much better with much less money

@johnnygohard315 2 жыл бұрын

3 way , or no way

@nd4spdvn 2 жыл бұрын

@@johnnygohard315 these ARE 3 way btw:)

@tlr5457 2 жыл бұрын

@Ryan Schipp & @johnny gohard - it is absolutely idiotic to judge something without ever having tried it. You have no credibility at all - just speculation and opinion.

@tlr5457 2 жыл бұрын

@@nd4spdvn yes they are three way. On the other hand, these two numpties are one way - simply ignorant.

@artarealmblazer8452 6 ай бұрын

Hilariously overpriced trash fires.

@johnnygohard315 2 жыл бұрын

Please, Your other reviews are more convincing, kef im sorry is rubbish compared to others

@subbot8077 2 жыл бұрын

Lol, what makes you say that?

@-MarkWinston- Жыл бұрын

This troll again

@-MarkWinston- Жыл бұрын

@Terry Jom not only KEF, Revel, Focal, Magico and a few others along with the usual Genelec and Neumann have generally measured well although all of them have different ways in achieving that goal.

@-MarkWinston- Жыл бұрын

@Terry Jom that boils down to personal preference, I thought tue Blade One and Two Meta were rather boring sounding compared to speakers Im used to.

@-MarkWinston- Жыл бұрын

@Terry Jom I wouldnt say the Blades are technically perfect, Genelecs and Nuemanns measure WAY better but still not perfect. If you are a totally objective person, there are no other speakers for you except Genelecs and Neumanns, the Blades dont come close to how 'perfect' The Ones measure, especially the 8351 and 8361.