KEF Reference 3 Meta Speakers

About The KEF Reference 3 Meta Speakers

The floorstanding Reference 3 Meta is capable of delivering a sensational sound stage for a wide range of listeners. At its heart sits the 12th generation Uni-Q® driver array with MAT™, the latest technological development from KEF, and one which puts you solidly at the heart of the action.

Revolutionary Sound Absorption with MAT™: A truly revolutionary tool in the KEF acoustic armoury, Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) is a highly complex maze-like structure, where each of the intricate channels efficiently absorbs a specific frequency. When combined, the channels act as an acoustic black hole, absorbing 99% of the unwanted sound that comes from the rear of the tweeter, eliminating the resulting distortion and providing a purer, more natural acoustic performance.

12th Generation Uni-Q with MAT™ Delivers: The 12th generation Uni-Q with MAT in The Reference is a bespoke driver array engineered to deliver pristine performance across this exceptional range of loudspeakers.

As a starting point, KEF engineers re-engineered the tweeter gap damper to maximise the space at the back of the tweeter for the new metamaterial absorber. Optimising the cavity shape and strategically placing two rings of porous material effectively tame the resonances and imperfections, thus greatly improving detail and clarity.

A new ultra-low distortion midrange motor design uses a copper ring embedded into the motor gap to minimise inductance and variation of inductance with coil position. This lowers the midrange THD and reduces thermal compression, leading to improved efficiency.

The Uni-Q driver array is fully decoupled to prevent unwanted vibrations from muddying the sound. A new flexible decoupling chassis is designed to reduce vibration and remove coloration. It ensures that any vibration generated by the mid and high-frequency motor system is not transmitted to the loudspeaker cabinet.

A new driver surround is designed to allow longer excursion without causing diffraction and extending the frequency range of the mid-frequency. Plus, the contours of the dome, midrange horn and surround are all computer-optimised to ensure a perfectly smooth transition to the cabinet.

KEF’s patented tangerine waveguide technology manages the airflow to recreate the wide, even spread of a natural sound field, dispersing the astonishingly pure high-frequency imaging throughout the room.

The result of these innovations and developments is that this bespoke 12th generation Uni-Q with MAT offers a sound that is more transparent and life-like than previously possible.

Reference Quality Bass: High and mid-range frequencies are only part of the story though, and The Reference is also blessed with clean, rich, highly articulate bass. That’s because The Reference’s 165 mm (6.5 inch) low frequency driver perfectly complements the new 12th generation Uni-Q with MAT driver array. Smart engineering and meticulous attention to design detail enables the bass to blend seamlessly with the immaculate midrange and treble response.

The Reference’s bass driver also benefits from a massive, vented magnet assembly, a large aluminium voice coil and an exceptionally light and stiff alloy cone. As a result of all these technologies volume, dynamics and power handling are superb.

Engineered To Be Flexible: The speakers in The Reference range are also welcomingly undemanding in terms of positioning, and are easy to fine-tune for your listening area by using KEF’s innovative Flexible Port Technology, which can reduce port resonance. There are two options of port tubes, allowing users to modify the sound to suit their room. Plus, the flare and profile of each port has been calculated by computational fluid dynamics to avoid turbulent air noise that might colour the sound, another part of the complex jigsaw that is The Reference’s breath-taking performance.

Total Attention To Detail: Every speaker in The Reference range exudes the sense of sheer quality that comes from being hand-built by KEF’s master craftsmen in Maidstone, Kent, UK. The expertly engineered cabinets are finished in a sumptuous high-gloss or richly detailed, pair matched wood veneers to complement the strikingly distinctive front baffle, which is designed to eliminate anomalies caused by diffraction.

Our Review

The KEF Reference 3 Meta speakers are a bit of a marvel, really - meticulously crafted and effortlessly stylish, they manage to deliver a soundstage that’s nothing short of sublime. At the heart of it all is KEF’s 12th generation Uni-Q driver array with MAT, a clever bit of engineering that uses metamaterials to soak up unwanted sound like an acoustic black hole, leaving behind audio that’s startlingly clear and natural. The mids and highs are handled with incredible finesse, and the bass - thanks to the hefty 165 mm drivers - is tight, articulate, and deeply satisfying. Every inch of these speakers, from the decoupled driver array to the beautifully finished cabinet, screams quality without making a fuss about it. And with KEF’s flexible port tech, you don’t need to live in an acoustically perfect space to enjoy them. Built in Maidstone, UK by skilled hands, these are speakers that don’t just play music - they make a proper event of it.

Main Feature & Specifications

• Design: 3-Way 4-Driver Floorstanding Speaker
• Metamaterial Absorption Technology eliminates 99% of high-frequency distortion for pure, natural sound
• Bespoke 12th generation Uni-Q with MAT driver array for exceptional acoustic accuracy
• Enhanced crossover design fine-tuned the signal path for maximum clarity
• Optimised cabinet design for best acoustic performance
• The Reference Series Grille Set available as separate item
• Three-Way Bass Reflex
• Drive Units
  • High Frequencies: 25mm (1”) Aluminium Dome with MAT
  • Midrange: 125mm (5”) Aluminium Cone
  • Bass: LF: 2 x 165mm (6.5”) Aluminium Cone
• Frequency Range Free Field (-6dB)
  • Short port: 38 Hz - 45 kHz
  • Long port: 35 Hz - 45 kHz
• Frequency Range Typical In Room Bass Response (-6dB): 28 Hz
• Frequency Response (±3dB): 43 Hz – 35 kHz
• Crossover Frequencies: 450 Hz, 2.1 kHz
• Amplifier Requirements: 50 - 300 W
• Sensitivity (2.83V/ 1m): 86 dB
• Harmonic Distortion 2nd & 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m)
  • <0.5% 40 Hz – 100 kHz
  • <0.2% 200 Hz – 2 kHz
  • <0.1% 2 kHz - 20 kHz
• Maximum Output (peak sound pressure level at 1m with pink noise): 113.5 dB
• Impedance: 4Ω (min. 3.2Ω)
• Available Finishes: Satin Walnut/Silver, High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper
• Dimensions with grille and terminal (WxHxD): 205 x 1,155 x 462mm
• Dimensions with grille, terminal & plinth (WxHxD): 323 x 1,207 x 467mm
• Weight: 51.3 kg
• Manufacturer’s Warranty: 5 Years + 1 Extended Year when Registered at KEF.com

Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.