KEF - Blade Two Meta Floor-Standing Speakers (Pair)

Discover the Magic of a Single Apparent Source Design: KEF Blade Two Meta Floor-Standing Speakers Feature Metamaterial Absorption Technology, 6.5-Inch Force-Canceling Drivers, 12th-Gen Uni-Q Driver Array, Sculptured Looks

Let's cut to the heart of the matter: The KEF Blade Two Meta possesses uncanny abilities to disappear into the background, play loud without losing composure, remain fatigue-free even during marathon listening sessions, and thrive with any type of music. And the only differences between it and the bigger-brother Blade One Meta pertains to the size of its bass drivers and overall footprint, along with a few nominal spec variations. All the DNA is the same. Just made to fit in a more compact footprint. What's not to adore?

This Stereophile Product of the Year and Single Apparent Source speaker features a bespoke 12th-generation Uni-Q driver array with Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), two pairs of 6.5-inch force-canceling low-frequency drivers, and an enhanced crossover to leave you amazed. And that says nothing of the head-turning cabinet form, inspired by Brancusi's modernist sculpture "Bird in Space" and seen elegantly tapering from top to bottom, front to rear, the slender proportions turning Blade Two Meta into an artwork worthy of display in the Guggenheim.

The evolved result of KEF engineers being given absolute free reign to underscore the company's acoustic principles, expertise, and innovation, Blade Two Meta aims to achieve the acoustic ideal of a point source wherein low, mid and high frequencies radiate from one point. Not an easy task but one that the hand-built and U.K.-constructed Blade Two Meta achieves. In each speaker, meticulously calibrated drivers that cover the speaker’s entire bandwidth are configured so that all frequencies appear to radiate from one single point. Four low-frequency drivers in symmetrically opposing pairs get tightly packed around a two-way Uni-Q driver (read more below) where the mid-frequency and high-frequency share the same acoustic center.

As a result, you'll experience hyper-precise imaging and accuracy across an incredibly wide area. The 77.8-pound Blade Two Meta remains supremely coherent across all audible frequencies; you'll hear immersive, realistic, naturalistic sonics and perceive details you never knew existed thanks to the stunning clarity. And you'll go down deep thanks to the four vented low-frequency drivers that deliver clean, extended, finely controlled bass. Decoupling the voice coil from the diaphragm permits the use of low-order crossovers for pure, silkier bass response. And to avoid exciting the cabinet when you turn up the volume, the drivers are mounted back-to-back to cancel out kinetic forces that might otherwise color the output. Each pair even occupies a separate chamber to reduce the need for damping.

Blade Two Meta goes degrees further than the original model courtesy of MAT. A highly complex maze-like structure in which each of the intricate channels absorbs a specific frequency, MAT functions as an acoustic black hole by absorbing 99% of the unwanted sound that comes from the rear of the tweeter. Kiss distortion goodbye and prepare for levels of purity and smoothness you might never have thought possible.

Measuring 57.5 x 13.3 x 18.7 inches (HWD) and available in eight sleek finishes, Blade Two Meta has a measured frequency range (free field) of 30Hz-45kHz and 86dB sensitivity. No matter what type of amplifier you choose, it's doubtful you'll ever tire of the sound or the acoustically inert, ultra-high-density polyurethane composite cabinetry whose parabolic curves eliminate standing waves that might negatively impact what you hear.

Sold with a five-year manufacturer warranty and our Satisfaction Guarantee, Blade Two Meta offers relentless joy. To learn more, give us a call at 312-433-0200.

"The Blade Two Metas are consistently rewarding and satisfying and gave me great pleasure with all the recordings I played. They offer a remarkably open, transparent, coherent soundstage and taut, extended bass. Are they flawless? That would be a strong claim, but I have not yet found a flaw. In sum, as of today, the Blade Two Metas are the best speakers I've heard in this room (or perhaps anywhere), and I urge an audition to anyone interested in music reproduction of the highest quality."
—Kalman Rubinson, Stereophile, Product of the Year

"[Strict] neutrality across the audioband, extremely extended highs, and clarity that made me stand up and notice, and the Blade Two is a top-drawer transducer as exciting to listen to as it is to look at. There’s nothing in the world like the Blade Two — except its big brother, the Blade."
—Doug Schneider, SoundStage!

"If you’re seeking speakers that will do the hi-fi deed of transporting you into the time-capsule of a recording, the Blades are waiting to astound you. You’ll be amazed by the design, the finish, the sheer style of this cutting-edge design. But the looks are not for their own sake; they serve the overarching concept of a single point source for sound. So they may look amazing, but KEF’s Blades are absolutely all about the music."
—What Hi-Fi?

"This is an uncompromising piece of engineering brilliance that does things with soundstage, scale, impact and three-dimensionality that are truly exceptional. Anyone lucky enough to own a pair will have a sculpture that’s also one of the most awe-inspiring loudspeakers on sale today."
—Hi-Fi Choice, Editor's Choice Award

12th Generation Uni-Q with MAT
The 12th generation Uni-Q with MAT for Blade is a bespoke driver array engineered to deliver pristine performance. It’s the result of decades of accumulated in-house knowledge and the application of cutting-edge simulation and analysis tools. The developments are many and all play a part in Blade’s sensational performance. For starters, the stiffened aluminum tweeter dome that sits at the center of the Uni-Q driver array is capable of delivering consistently sweet, lucid, and lyrical treble, irrespective of the volume. KEF re-engineered the tweeter gap damper to maximize the space at the back of the tweeter for the new metamaterial absorber. Optimizing the cavity shape and strategically placing two rings of porous material effectively tame the resonances and imperfections, thus greatly improving detail and clarity. A new ultra-low distortion midrange motor design uses a copper ring embedded into the motor gap to minimize inductance and variation of inductance with coil position. This lowers the midrange THD and reduces thermal compression, leading to improved efficiency. The Uni-Q driver array is fully decoupled to prevent unwanted vibrations from muddying the sound. A new flexible decoupling chassis is designed to reduce vibration and remove coloration. It ensures that any vibration generated by the mid and high-frequency motor system is not transmitted to the loudspeaker cabinet. A new driver surround is designed to allow longer excursion without causing diffraction and extending the frequency range of the mid-frequency. Plus, the contours of the dome, midrange horn, and surround are all computer-optimized to ensure a smooth transition to the cabinet. The patented tangerine waveguide technology manages the airflow to recreate the wide, even spread of a natural sound field, dispersing the pure high-frequency imaging throughout the room.