KEF Reference 2 Meta is a 3-way Passive Sealed Center Channel speaker by KEF. It was released in 2022. Center channel speaker is an important component of a home theater system set-up as it delivers the listener significant part of the on-screen dialogue from your television. It features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter, 1 x 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 80-35k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. KEF Reference 2 Meta has an MSRP of 6000$.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the KEF Reference 2 Meta is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Are you nuts? |
| Small Room | Bad |
| Mid-size Room | Poor |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | Good |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)
KEF Reference 2 Meta Lifestyle
KEF's Reference META Series of Loudspeakers
Reference 2 Meta is a member of KEF's Reference META series of Passive speakers. The Reference Meta range is KEF's flagship passive line, with the latest Uni-Q and MAT technology. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 5 KEF Reference META models compared »
KEF Reference META Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the KEF Reference 2 Meta Speaker
KEF Reference 2 Meta has a Frequency response range of 80-35k Hz and Power Range of 50-300 watts.
Here we have a comparison of how Reference 2 Meta's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 10000$ (Pair), there is only one Passive Center Channel speaker that have the deeper bass levels than the KEF Reference 2 Meta's 80Hz:
Crossover frequency of the KEF Reference 2 Meta?
Reference 2 Meta is a 3-way speaker and its crossover frequency between the woofer and the midrange is set to 450 Hz and the crossover frequency between the midrange and the tweeter is set to 2100 Hz.
Impedance and Sensitivity
KEF Reference 2 Meta's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.2 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
86 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the KEF Reference 2 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 2 Meta with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, KEF Reference 2 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. Work out how loud the KEF Reference 2 Meta plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
Minimum Impedance of the KEF Reference 2 Meta
Even though the nominal impedance of the Reference 2 Meta is 4 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to KEF is 3.2 ohms KEF Reference 2 Meta so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
What amplifier does the KEF Reference 2 Meta need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
38–300 W
per channel into 4 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? See every integrated amplifier we cover.
Input Type
Reference 2 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.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
KEF Reference 2 Meta Back View
KEF Reference 2 Meta External Dimensions and Weight
KEF Reference 2 Meta has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 8.1 x 24.8 x 13.2 in (205 x 630 x 335 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 2 Meta is approximately 2110.5cm2 / 327.1inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of KEF Reference 2 Meta, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
KEF Reference 2 Meta Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →
WeightThe KEF Reference 2 Meta weighs 22.80kg / 50.2lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Reference 2 Meta's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Weight
Center Channel Speakers under $10000
How does the KEF Reference 2 Meta compare to the KEF Reference 4 Meta?
One of the natural alternative to the KEF Reference 2 Meta is the Reference 4 Meta which is located one step higher in KEF's Passive Center Channel selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of KEF Reference 2 Meta and KEF Reference 4 Meta Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of KEF Reference 2 Meta vs Reference 4 Meta for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
KEF Reference 2 Meta has a
Sealed type cabinet.
Available colors
KEF Reference 2 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 2 Meta with Grille
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the KEF Reference 2 Meta.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the KEF Reference 2 Meta, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for KEF Reference 2 Meta
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the KEF Reference 2 Meta speaker:
Official Brochure for KEF Reference 2 Meta
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the KEF Reference 2 Meta speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for KEF Reference 2 Meta
Warranty
5 years of parts warranty and 5 years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.
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