I heard the Kef Blade and really liked them. I was quite surprised at how low they could go.
I also liked the Kef demonstration last year, with their £12,000 floorstanders.
Personally, I think one of the reasons both speakers sound so natural, effortless etc is because they use relativley large bass drivers. I'm not sure the exact size used, but I think they are 8 - 12".
People think large bass drivers will give too much bass, but more offten that not, this extra bass is hardly intrusive. Large PMC speakers are a perfect example.
The problem with small drivers is that they sound fast and punchy, but they go artifically low, through the design of the crossover and cabinet etc.
Using a large driver, gives bass that natural, effortless quality that far too many speakers are lacking.
I've be brought up on Leak's 2075's with 15" bass drivers and they really did sound effortless.
As for the Blades, they are only a concept product. the £1m figure, has kept countless people in the job developing the technology and will no doubt be used in future speakers for many years to come. If the product were to be sold, then its retail price would be much lower, but still in keeping with "highend" prices. Manufactures and Dealers do deserve to make a living, after all, how many people could actually have one in their home.
£1m to develop a product is cheap, to put this into perspective, the original mondeo cost ford $6 billion dollars.