KEF Concept Blade Floorstanding Speakers First Look

[admin]

The KEF Concept Blade floorstanding speakers sport four 9" side-firing bass drivers, the backs of each pair are bonded and bolted at the magnet. It has a fully pistonic KEF Uni-Q MF/HF array with an injection molded LCP cone with a 3" voice coil and an 1" titanium dome tweeter. The enclosure is constructed out of glass-reinforced composite material over a balsa wood core which has a parabolic curve to the walls to increase rigidity. There is an off-board crossover and rear facing port. All this is to provide a Single Apparent Source presentation making each of the drivers indistinguishable from each other. And the price for this price is not an issue speaker pair? Only $30k. And we do mean only.

Discuss "KEF Concept Blade Floorstanding Speakers First Look" here. Read the article.

 

[kevon27]

The question to ask is: If us non audiophile people got loads of money to do what every we like, will we still purchase these upper end audio gear or would be still be practical and shop wisely?

$325,000 Wilson Audio speakers or some Axiom speakers?

 

[westcott]

I am glad to see a review of KEF speakers. It may just open some peoples eyes to the theory behind speaker design and lead to more questions as to why a single point source speaker is such an admirable goal. I have listened to KEF speakers and I am a believer. Just wish I was filthy rich to enjoy them.

 

[scott911]

what's with the speaker's feet.

I woudn't be so sure they are making money on each pair.
Once you factor in research, it's more than likely a similiar case to a car brand making a super sports car. They sell that sport's car, sometimes at a loss, in order to inject some excitement into the regular four door commuter cars which are the real money makers.

As a real word example, the half million dollar Porsche CGT shocked the industry by supposedly actually making money. Most flagships don't - in nearly all industries.

But my real question is what's with the speaker feet? The diagram seems to show that they've incorporated something interesting/cool down there - levers? Is any additional information available?

Thanks for covering this guys. I'm a big, big fan of the coherent source concept (tweeter within the midrange) - that's my idea of chocolate baby!

 

[scott911]

Just wish I was filthy rich to enjoy them.

well, that's the benefit of trickle down technology!

I own both KEF and THIEL - both coherent-source type speakers.
And both at a tiny fraction of the cost of these reviewed speakers cost.

 

[ratso]

for a long time these were not for sale, "concept only". kind of surprising that they put these out for sale. will be interesting to read the first reviews.

 

[astarkman]

first look articles

There are some first look articles I look at as an opportunity for fun. I go into them knowing I'm just going to slam the company for putting out such a ridiculous product at such a ridiculous price point.​

In his first look at the Triton 2 speaker from Goldenear Technology Tom also discussed "esoteric audio companies". I assume that this preview does not fall into the category described above. It's posted on the company's website. Can we expect a full review of that speaker?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The question to ask is: If us non audiophile people got loads of money to do what every we like, will we still purchase these upper end audio gear or would be still be practical and shop wisely?

$325,000 Wilson Audio speakers or some Axiom speakers?

I would buy some ultra-expensive speakers, but they would have to measure almost perfectly.

 

[GranteedEV]

I would buy some ultra-expensive speakers, but they would have to measure almost perfectly.

I would just Salk or Selah Audio or Funkywaves to build em

Custom PC based FIR crossover with 400db/octave slope and +/- 1db anechoic response equalization

The fronts woould be like.. a five way active omni with a

1/2" berylium super tweeter in a low diffraction location firing upwards
1" berylium tweeter in a low diffraction location
3" Accuton ceramic midrange in a low diffraction location
6.5" seas magnesium midwoofer
Acoustic Elegance 15" woofer sealed

and like... six 21" Maelstroms spaced throughout the room

And the room would be custom built too.

All that, and it would still be cheaper than a Wilson.

 

[zieglj01]

Put them in an aquarium museum, to play background music -

 

[GranteedEV]

I love KEFspeakers, but those are butt ugly IMO.

They look like a damn fish - or should I say whale:[/IMG]

It's all about performance.

I bet you with that shape, diffraction is completely removed.

The imaging is probably SCARY

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

It's all about performance.

I bet you with that shape, diffraction is completely removed.

The imaging is probably SCARY

The image I have of this speaker in my mind is SCARY.

Well, if they measure perfectly on HTM, S&V, Stereophile, & Soundstage, I will bow down.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

I am sure they sound good, but 30k of good? Doubt that

 

[zieglj01]

I am sure they sound good, but 30k of good? Doubt that

Well, you have a speaker that looks like a foreign fish - and a
Waterfall one, made out of diamond glass - The world of sound
is a strange one.
http://www.amazon.com/Waterfall-Audio-Niagara-Standing-Loudspeakers/dp/B002BSH27I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1306257906&sr=1-1

http://www.cinenow.co.uk/videos/1499-waterfall-niagara-unique-new-design-high-end-glass-speaker-high-end-2008

 

[cpp]

I guess it all depends on the sound and how deep your pockets verses looks;

I like these if I had the extra cash.

MOON AUDIO: Titan speakers

or for $2 mil per pair the 'Transmission Audio Ultimate System'

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Well, you have a speaker that looks like a foreign fish - and a
Waterfall one, made out of diamond glass - The world of sound
is a strange one.
http://www.amazon.com/Waterfall-Audio-Niagara-Standing-Loudspeakers/dp/B002BSH27I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1306257906&sr=1-1

Oh, crap. So if I order those speakers from amazon prime today, I could get them prime shipping by June 2nd!

I swear, if I were a billionaire, I would do that just to say that I bought some $54K speakers from amazon.

Why the hell can't I buy Revel Salon 2 speakers from amazon?

 

[zieglj01]

Oh, crap. So if I order those speakers from amazon prime today, I could get them prime shipping by June 2nd!

It may be best to not buy it - Something like that, could give
someone an idea to remodle the home!

 

[scott911]

but amazon is so useful - when buying the $53K speakers, they recommend a pair of dayton bookshelves at $39.50 a pair! -- presumably the perfect match for rears!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This $54,000/pr speakers?

29% buy Sony SSF-5000 Floor Standing 3-way Speaker $94.99

22% buy HDMI Cable $2.11

18% buy AmazonBasics Toslink Digital Audio Optical Cable $5.66

17% buy Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer $99.91

I placed those $54K speakers in my shopping cart for a few minutes. It felt pretty good.

 

[Michael]

Having heard the blade in Munich show a year ago, I was not impressed..
But yet, the room is not optimal, too many people, noise...
These are big speakers, not for every room.