Напольная акустика — KEF Blade Two Meta

The KEF Blade Two Meta is the smaller of the two Blade models, announced on 18 February 2022 as part of a launch that also covered the Blade One Meta and the new Reference Meta speakers. KEF says it shares the design principles of the Blade One Meta on a slightly smaller scale and intends it for smaller listening environments. The launch price was USD 28,000 per pair, and assembly is done by hand in Maidstone, England, with each pair tested to match within 0.5 dB.

Key specs that matter

Three ways in a ported box centre on a 12th generation Uni-Q array, where a 125 mm aluminium midrange cone surrounds a 25 mm aluminium tweeter dome fitted with MAT. Low frequencies come from four 165 mm aluminium cone force-cancelling bass drivers, and the crossover points are 450 Hz and 2.2 kHz. Typical response is 33 Hz to 35 kHz within plus or minus 3 dB, the free field range extends from 30 Hz to 45 kHz at minus 6 dB, and in-room bass reaches 25 Hz. Sensitivity is 86 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m, and nominal impedance is 4 ohm with a 3.2 ohm minimum. KEF lists a 50 to 400 W amplifier range and 116 dB peak output at 1 m with pink noise. Distortion is under 0.5 % between 40 Hz and 100 kHz, under 0.2 % between 200 Hz and 2 kHz and under 0.1 % between 2 kHz and 20 kHz. With its plinth the cabinet is 1461 x 338 x 475 mm, and it weighs 35.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

Blade places the Uni-Q array alone on the narrow front face while the four woofers sit on the sides, mounted in opposed pairs and braced to each other so that their reaction forces cancel. KEF calls this a Single Apparent Source layout. Behind the tweeter dome, the MAT disc is a maze of channels, each absorbing a specific frequency, and KEF states that together they remove 99 % of the unwanted rear radiation. The Meta update brought a new decoupling method and motor systems for the Uni-Q unit, plus crossovers rebuilt with low-distortion parts. The curved enclosure has no acoustic discontinuities across its front.

Pairing

Given modest sensitivity and a low nominal load, the Blade Two Meta is best matched with transistor amplification that can supply high current and sits in the upper half of the rated power window. Eight two-tone finishes are listed, including Frosted Blue with Bronze and Charcoal Grey with Red.

Alternatives

The Blade One Meta is the larger sibling, using four 225 mm woofers in a 1590 mm tall cabinet weighing 57.2 kg.