KEF R3 META - PAIR

Kef R3 Meta are the 3-way bookshelf speakers of the renewed R Series. With the twelfth generation Uni-Q patent – which includes 25 mm tweeter and 125 mm midrange – a 165 mm woofer, combined with the revolutionary Sound Absorption Technology Metamaterials Kef R3 Meta is the new reference in the acoustic field.

Excellent from every point of view, very elegant, complete, musical, balanced. The new undisputed benchmark for bookshelf speakers also comes in a special edition livery: in addition to the classic white or black lacquer and real walnut, an eye-catching Indigo Glossy finish is available.

Description

Kef R3 Meta: the new Benchmark of bookshelf speakers

Kef R3 Meta is the shelf model of the new R Series, which has always been the most desired and purchased by the famous English brand. With R3 Meta the great manufacturer of Hi-Fi speakers once again redefines the performance of bookshelf speakers, further raising their level.

No surprise, since already at the previous renewal of 2018, this line of speakers brought with it 1,043 individual changes.

Each speaker in this line shares the same Uni-Q® as the top-of-the-line Kef R 11 Meta. That's right: the most compact model equipped with the speakers of the most famous model.

But now the highly acclaimed R-series drivers, now in their 12th generation, finally also include the revolutionary Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™) for an even more detailed and highly accurate performance.

Despite its relatively compact size, the Kef R3 has always been a true three-way loudspeaker, with a 25mm aluminum dome tweeter, 125mm aluminum cone midrange driver and a 165mm hybrid aluminum woofer that pushes the performance of the low frequencies to new levels.

The entire engine group, suspension and transmission unit have been redesigned in order to reduce distortions to a minimum and further refine performance.

The new Meta technology also arrives in Kef R3

Since 1961 Kef has always sought, through acoustic innovation, a reproduction of pure sound, of only the original musical signal. Decades of experience now flow into the revamped Meta R-series to deliver a result with even more detail and a level of depth that will make you love every recording and draw you into the emotion of live performance.

The feeling that music gives us, moving our souls, is the driving force behind Kef's relentless pursuit to create the ultimate loudspeaker.

The Meta R Series is in fact a direct beneficiary of the technological innovations developed for The Reference, the class-leading series that continuously sets the benchmark for loudspeakers and sound reproduction.

Kef R3 Meta now offers exceptional acoustic performance thanks to the improved 12th generation Uni-Q driver and above all the revolutionary Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™), incorporated in the latest renewal of this acclaimed line and winner of the Innovation of the Year 2020 award according to What hi-fi?

Together with the Acoustic Metamaterials Group Kef has developed new materials characterized by unique properties and a highly complex labyrinth structure, where each of the channels efficiently absorbs a specific frequency, acting like an acoustic black hole: the R series loudspeakers manage to absorb 99% of the unwanted sound that comes from the rear of the tweeter, thus eliminating the resulting distortion and returning a purer and more natural acoustic performance.

Kef R3 – the twelfth revolution of the famous Uni-Q

Concentric drivers make up the Uni-Q, identifying character of the Kef sound. By positioning the tweeter exactly at the acoustic center of the cone, the emission source acts in a punctiform manner: all frequencies are thus reproduced from the same point in space. As a result, the sound propagates evenly throughout the room, eliminating the so-called 'sweet spot' and allowing everyone to enjoy the same naturalness and detail at the same time.

The elegant and contemporary style of the small R3 Meta does not lead to error: these speakers are equipped like the bigger brothers R7 and R11 Meta of the same 12th generation Uni-Q. The result of decades of acoustic experience, however, it has now been redesigned to maximize the improvements that MAT™ technology brings. The conical waveguide that couples the dome of the tweeter to the new metamaterial absorber has been specifically designed for the driver. The tweeter damper positions two rings of porous material to effectively tame resonances, dramatically improving detail and clarity.

Also derived from the British brand's Reference Meta series, Shadow Flare technology has become a typical refinement of Kef, carefully designed to drastically reduce the diffraction that would inevitably be created in a diffuser with edges and corners. This patent makes the curve that connects the ultra-performing driver to the cabinet (albeit characterized by a regular shape) more progressive and soft.

All these innovations combine to ensure an even more transparent, realistic and convincing sound than the previous edition. The performance of Kef R3 Meta is incredibly detailed and the angular dispersion is unrivaled, an absolute peculiarity of Kef.

Find out more about all the acoustic innovations brought to this R3 on the R Meta series page – a bookshelf speaker that is fully part of the world of High Fidelity.

For excellent but more convenient sonorizations, we recommend contacting the Q Series.

Patented magnetic grids

The stunning Kef R3 Meta reveal at every glance a build quality that is unmatched in the audio industry. One of the most evident innovations is the front protective grille, created with as many as 13 die-cast layers of composite materials and microfibre.

The new Meta R series grilles are extremely elegant, thin, rigid and always in tone on tone with the specific finish of the diffuser and give a sensation to the touch similar to that given by suede.

With 1801 precision cut-outs for each driver these accessories, supplied with every speaker in the line, perform fantastically even when the drivers are covered, which is great news if you feel the need to protect them.

The magnetic fastenings also offer a secure and precise fit, in line with the minimal look of the Meta R series.

Forget the old black screens mounted on plastic frames. These new grilles are the first real revolution in the sector for 3 decades and do not hinder the acoustic emission of the speaker in any way.

They are not just an accessory but an identifying element of this renewed series, they represent to all intents and purposes the new peak in the design of protections for loudspeakers.

Recommended amplifiers and cables

The Kef R3 Meta are truly incredible HiFi bookshelves, a real entry proposal - and we are talking about a triumphal entry - by Kef into the world of high fidelity. To make these speakers express themselves at their best, it is necessary to drive them with valid amplifiers, possibly equipped with good current control.

Clearly they always sound very good, but with a suitable engine the result is amazing! For those who want an official recommendation, Kef has for several years approved and recommended Hegel Audio amplifications, in this case the H120 model is a valid starting point while the superior model Hegel H190 is the ideal choice.

The best value for money is undoubtedly Cambridge Audio's CX A81 integrated amplifier which offers 80W per channel.

Another excellent sonic and power combination can be found with the new integrated Cyrus Classic line, such as the reference model Classic AMP.

For those who want something ultra modern and “designed for digital streaming” we recommend Cambridge Audio's Lyngdorf or Evo amplifiers.

As speaker cables, we undoubtedly recommend the Chord Company brand, one of the most awarded and respected specialists in the world, from the Clearway series upwards.

Do you want to improve the sound result?

The R3 Meta loudspeakers are speakers of the highest level – to parallel a high-end sedan. And as a complex and refined product today, the result they can achieve is very high, but the surrounding details make a big difference.

First of all, the positioning of the speakers is fundamental. Placing them on a piece of furniture or a desk is acceptable, and in this case a notable upgrade can be obtained by adding IsoAcoustics' Aperta decouplers to the setup. The result? Dryer bass and rumbles (accumulations of reverb and bass) largely attenuated, and last but not least even more defined and transparent mid-highs.

But if you want to enhance the performance of these speakers, the best result is undoubtedly obtained by placing the speaker on a dedicated stand.

Kef offers the stand specially designed for the R3 Meta: the S3 Floor Stand model available in Mineral White, Ardesia and Indigo Satin finishes which allows you to make classic but also more daring combinations, giving these speakers an incomparable look!

And in this case, however, the ideal solution provides, starting from the bottom: a set of IsoAcoustics Gaia III, Stand Kef S3 and finally Kef R3 Meta.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

WEIGHT 12,4 kg

DIMENSION (H X W X D) 422 x 200 x 336 mm

DESIGN Three-way bass reflex

FREQUENCY RANGE 38 Hz – 50 kHz (-6 dB)

TYPICAL IN-ROOM BASS RESPONSE 30 Hz (-6 dB)

FREQUENCY RESPONSE 58 Hz – 28 kHz (±3 dB)

SENSITIVITY (2.83V/1m) 87 dB

HARMONIC DISTORTION (90 dB, 1m): <1% 73 Hz and above; <0.5 % 90 Hz – 20 kHz

MAXIMUM OUTPUT 110 dB

AMPLIFIER REQUIREMENTS 15 – 180 W

NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 4 Ω (min 3.2 Ω)

DRIVE UNITS Uni-Q Driver Array: HF: 25 mm vented aluminium dome with MAT, MF: 125 mm aluminium cone

BASS DRIVER LF: 165 mm hybrid aluminium cone

CROSSOVER FREQUENCY 400 Hz, 2.3 kHz