The Kef Reference thread

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gowiththeflow

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Jima4a said:
The Munich show is coming up. I wonder if we will see the next Reference line since the R and Q have replaced their respective lines.
hifikrazy said:
Yea, they're certainly due for replacement but I think not, otherwise we would have got wind of it already unless Kef is really that good at keeping a secret.
CnoEvil said:
It is my understanding that the Reference line is remaining as it is, for a while yet.....could be wrong though.
David@FrankHarvey said:
At the moment, all things point to no...

New Reference series announced today along with the new "baby" Blades.

.
 

gowiththeflow

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hifikrazy said:
Wow, what a nice surprise and the new Reference models are stunners too! Never liked the dumpy looking old Reference series.

They are very good looking, especially in the Hi-Tech looking "Copper Black Aluminium" and "Blue Ice White" finishes.

Even the "Piano Black" and two wood finishes (Satin Walnut and Gloss Rosewood) look very contemporary with the metallic grey composite front baffle

http://www.kef.com/html/gb/showroom/hi-fi_series/THE_REFERENCE/overview/

.
 

Frank Harvey

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ErikM said:
I wonder if they're made in China, like the R series?

The R Series is at a very competitive price point, and to stand out like the R series does, KEF had to move production to their Chinese factory. Reference and Blade are made in England, and I would hope, always will be. I can understand at the more budget end of the market, but once you shift all of your production overseas, a company loses its home grown identity.
 

Frank Harvey

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gowiththeflow said:
Jima4a said:
The Munich show is coming up. I wonder if we will see the next Reference line since the R and Q have replaced their respective lines.
hifikrazy said:
Yea, they're certainly due for replacement but I think not, otherwise we would have got wind of it already unless Kef is really that good at keeping a secret.
CnoEvil said:
It is my understanding that the Reference line is remaining as it is, for a while yet.....could be wrong though.
David@FrankHarvey said:
At the moment, all things point to no...

New Reference series announced today along with the new "baby" Blades.

I was honestly telling the truth - I had no idea until 9am this morning!
 

CnoEvil

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gowiththeflow said:
New Reference series announced today along with the new "baby" Blades.

Thx for the heads up.

Also, WHF update here: http://www.whathifi.com/news/kef-unveils-new-baby-blades-reference-series-and-upgraded-muon-speakers-at-high-end-show
 

hifikrazy

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Credit where credit's due, Kef and all their staff and suppliers are darn good at keeping a secret. Unlike Apple and the dozens of leaks they allow to escape before every product launch. Of course high end speakers don't have quite as much interest as mobile phones though.

The Reference 3 would suit me just nicely... I want!!!
 

CnoEvil

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matt49 said:
Cno, credit where credit's due: you got half of it right!

CnoEvil said:
It is my understanding that the Reference line is remaining as it is, for a while yet.....could be wrong though.

:twisted:

Matt

Half right and half daft......that's me in a nutshell (bad pun intended). :p
 

WishTree

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I like the outgoing reference series a lot better! The new Reference looks more like R Series (and remind me of Piega speakers - may be the aluminium front baffle)
 

Frank Harvey

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WishTree said:
I like the outgoing reference series a lot better! The new Reference looks more like R Series (and remind me of Piega speakers - may be the aluminium front baffle)

Me too. I remember seeing a pic of the R Series for the first time - and wondering what KEF were thinking! Of course, in the flesh, things are quite different. I'll get to see them next month, so I'll be in a better position to see just how weel they're built - I'm expecting big things!
 

Frank Harvey

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hifikrazy said:
Credit where credit's due, Kef and all their staff and suppliers are darn good at keeping a secret.

You have to in this industry. Dealers who have a web presence are just dying to brea the news before anybody else, and if the reps went around telling us all in January that Reference was coming later in the year, it'd have been on a forum or twitter before the rep stepped out of the store. I believe they even keep the reps in the dark for as long as possible in case they say anything.
 

matt49

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KEF in Munich:

IMG_3032ss.jpg
 

CnoEvil

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Titbits of goss garnered from dealer today (IIRC):

- Ref 1/3/5 available around end June

- Sub and Centre to follow

- Non standard colours / finishes +20%

- Current Refs available for 6 months

- Kef quietly pleased with the new Refs...which all give better detail / resolution than current 207/2s

- Bass units same type as those in Baby Blade

I'm sure David will correct any details that I have got wrong....which is highly likely, given my memory.
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CnoEvil

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lpv said:
Really like new Ref series.. did they use Arcam electronics on show?

Yes according to WHF: http://www.whathifi.com/news/arcam-unveils-new-universal-disc-player-and-amps-at-munich-high-end-show
 

Tarxman

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Got to see and hear the new reference floorstanders today in Munich, very impressed! They are gorgeous speakers! The gloss white with blue Uni-Q and blue trim was especially special!
 

lpv

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CnoEvil said:
lpv said:
Really like new Ref series.. did they use Arcam electronics on show?

Yes according to WHF: http://www.whathifi.com/news/arcam-unveils-new-universal-disc-player-and-amps-at-munich-high-end-show

Shame Munich is not on my usual way to work :wall:
 

Jima4a

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I spoke to Kef US about the new Reference line and the Baby Blades yesterday but forgot to ask if the new Reference have grills or not. Not sure I would want that shiny surface for home cinema. I sure they wouldn't have done this without sonic benefits. It will be interesting to see how the new line compares to the 20X/2s and the price competition. Got to admit a pair of Blade IIs in blue would be pretty sweet.
 

CnoEvil

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Jima4a said:
I spoke to Kef US about the new Reference line and the Baby Blades yesterday but forgot to ask if the new Reference have grills or not. Not sure I would want that shiny surface for home cinema. I sure they wouldn't have done this without sonic benefits. It will be interesting to see how the new line compares to the 20X/2s and the price competition. Got to admit a pair of Blade IIs in blue would be pretty sweet.

I too was wondering about the grills, and like you have the 205/2s......which leads to more wondering.

The new range are very heavy and have some amazing looking specs for their size, especially the standmount;

Ref 1 205/2

Freq. Response (-3dB) 45Hz - 35kHz 45Hz - 60kHz

In room (-6dB) 30Hz 35Hz

LF 1 x 6.5" 2 x 8"

Size (HxWxD) Ins 17.3 x 8.1 x 16.9 43.5 x 11.2 x 17

I will be doing some dems as soon as the dealer has some in (R Series vs 205/2s vs Ref 1s)....just out of academic interest, of course!
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