Напольная акустика — KEF Q7 Meta

The KEF Q7 Meta is a floorstanding loudspeaker from the Q Series Meta range, which KEF announced on 26 September 2024 with general availability from 10 October 2024. Of the two tower models in that range it is the more compact, positioned under the Q11 Meta, and its launch price was USD 900 per speaker. Compared with the earlier Q Series floorstanders it moved from a two-way layout to a three-way design.

Key specs that matter

KEF lists it as a ported three-way speaker. Its 12th generation Uni-Q array puts a vented 19 mm aluminium tweeter, backed by MAT, inside a 100 mm aluminium midrange cone, and two 165 mm hybrid aluminium cone woofers cover the bass. Crossover points are 440 Hz and 2.3 kHz. Response is 46 Hz to 20 kHz within plus or minus 3 dB, the free field range at minus 6 dB is 39 Hz to 20 kHz, and in-room bass reaches 28 Hz at minus 6 dB. Sensitivity is 87 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m, and maximum output is 110 dB. Nominal impedance is 4 ohm with a minimum of 3.2 ohm, and the amplifier range is 15 to 200 W. Harmonic distortion stays under 2 % from 35 Hz up and under 1 % from 38 Hz to 20 kHz, measured at 90 dB and 1 m. Without the plinth the speaker measures 950 x 210 x 315 mm, and with it 1001 x 317 x 315 mm. Weight is 18.4 kg per unit.

Engineering and use context

In the three-way layout the Uni-Q driver handles the midrange and treble while the newly designed bass drivers are dedicated to low frequencies, which lets the smaller midrange cone work only above the lower crossover point. Metamaterial Absorption Technology sits behind the tweeter - a maze-like structure in which each channel absorbs a specific frequency, and KEF says the combined channels act as an acoustic black hole that absorbs 99 % of the unwanted output from the rear of the dome. For crossover design KEF engineers took more than 1,000 measurements per model in an anechoic chamber with a custom reference microphone array. Colour-matched grilles with magnetic fixing come in the box.

Pairing

Because impedance dips below the nominal figure, any partner amplifier should handle low loads, though the modest lower power limit shows the Q7 Meta does not need very high power. For home cinema the same range offers the Q6 Meta centre and Q8 Meta surround models. Walnut is offered next to Satin Black and Satin White. The range also includes the Q1 Meta, Q3 Meta and Q Concerto Meta bookshelf models and the Q4 Meta on-wall speaker.

Alternatives

The KEF Q11 Meta steps up in size within the Q Series Meta towers, listed at USD 1,100 each at launch.