KEF Reference 1 Meta is a 3-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by KEF. It features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter, 1 x 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz and a sensitivity of 85 dB. KEF Reference 1 Meta has an MSRP of 9000$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the KEF Reference 1 Meta is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)
KEF Reference 1 Meta Lifestyle
KEF's Reference META Series of Loudspeakers
Reference 1 Meta is a member of KEF's Reference META series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
KEF Reference META Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the KEF Reference 1 Meta Speaker
KEF Reference 1 Meta has a Frequency response range of 45-35k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 50-200 watts. With a minimum frequency of 45 Hz, Reference 1 Meta delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available subwoofer options.
Here we have a comparison of how Reference 1 Meta's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 10000$ (Pair), there is only one Passive Bookshelf speaker that have the deeper bass levels than the KEF Reference 1 Meta's 45Hz:
Crossover frequency of the KEF Reference 1 Meta?
Reference 1 Meta is a 3-way speaker and its crossover frequency between the woofer and the midrange set to 450Hz and the Crossover frequency between the midrange and the tweeter is set to 2100Hz.
Impedance and Sensitivity
KEF Reference 1 Meta's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.2 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
85 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the KEF Reference 1 Meta is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the KEF Reference 1 Meta with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 85 dB, KEF Reference 1 Meta is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps.
Minimum Impedance of the KEF Reference 1 Meta
Even though the nominal impedance of the Reference 1 Meta is 4 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to KEF is 3.2 ohms KEF Reference 1 Meta so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the KEF Reference 1 Meta:
Input Type
Reference 1 Meta has Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
KEF Reference 1 Meta Back View
KEF Reference 1 Meta External Dimensions and Weight
KEF Reference 1 Meta has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 17.3 x 8.1 x 16.6 (440 x 205 x 422 mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of KEF Reference 1 Meta is approximately 865.1cm2 / 134.1inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of KEF Reference 1 Meta, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
KEF Reference 1 Meta Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the KEF Reference 1 Meta virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
KEF Reference 1 Meta Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe KEF Reference 1 Meta weighs 18.20kg / 40lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Reference 1 Meta's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $10000
KEF Reference 1 Meta on a Stand
Cabinet type and Materials
KEF Reference 1 Meta has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Port Position
KEF Reference 1 Meta is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
KEF Reference 1 Meta is available in High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper and Satin Walnut/Silver.
KEF Reference 1 Meta Colors
Wall Mounting
Reference 1 Meta doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Speaker Stands
KEF sells a dedicated speaker stand for the Reference 1 Meta with a model name
KEF S-RF1. You can check the latest price and availability of these stands at
B&H PHOTO and
Amazon.
KEF S-RF1 Speaker Stands for KEF Reference 1 Meta
KEF Reference 1 Meta with Grille
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the KEF Reference 1 Meta.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the KEF Reference 1 Meta, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for KEF Reference 1 Meta
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the KEF Reference 1 Meta speaker:
Official Brochure for KEF Reference 1 Meta
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the KEF Reference 1 Meta speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for KEF Reference 1 Meta
Warranty
5 years of parts warranty and 5 years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.
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