KEF Reference 1 speakers are high-end in a beautiful and effortless package

WhatHiFi has tested KEFi Reference 1 speakers. They convinced me so much during the delivery that they got five stars. These are high-end speakers that cost between 7,000 and 7,500 euros depending on the finishing options. The finishing options include piano finish, matte walnut finish and glossy rosewood finish.

Reference 1: sets are three-way floorstanding speakers featuring the manufacturer's familiar Uni-Q coaxial driver. It has a 12.5 mm midrange with a 25 mm tweeter. There is a crossover filter at 2.8 kHz. The bass frequencies below 350 Hz are handled by a 165 mm element with a large aluminum speaker. All drivers are made of aluminum.

The front panel is made of aluminum composite and is attached to a metal frame made of dense wood. There is a reflex port at the back of the speaker. The length of the reflex port can be adjusted, which is a rarity, so the frequency range can be adjusted to either 40 Hz or 37 Hz. This allows the speakers’ bass reproduction to be adjusted to the listening environment. The speakers require a lot of power from the amplifier due to the rather modest sensitivity of 85 decibels, if they are to be heard in a large room.

According to WhatHiFin, the Reference 1 speakers differ from many high-end speakers in that they are not particularly picky when it comes to placement, playback sources, and the material being listened to. Thanks to this, for example, the wide projection of the Uni-Q elements is evident.

According to the assessment, the sound has an authoritative tone that is usually found in floor speakers. The bass has power, punch, and precision. From the mid-range upwards, there is a seamless, well-focused sound with subtlety and expressiveness. The treble remains well-focused and consistent with the rest of the sound.

Reference 1: According to WhatHiFin, they are not merciless but they are not even decorative. The speakers handle the wide dynamic range with ease, the sound image is a spacious sound image, and the instrument placement is precise. Additionally, they sound energetically and entertainingly even at low volume levels.

Overall, according to WhatHiFi, the speakers work brilliantly with a wide variety of music and are easy to install. The appearance, construction, and finish work complete the package. The only downside is the expensive stands that cost a thousand pounds each.

WhatHiFin review can be found here from here.

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