But it can KEF also intends the R8a to act as a rear/surround speaker in a wall-mounted configuration (there's keyhole fixing on its base), but the system auditioned here uses R5 floorstanders front and back, because nothing succeeds quite like excess. Immaculate Finish new drivers offer very high stiffness, tweeter to steer the sound for genuine 3D results. also includes three floor-standing speakers, starting with the R5 ($2,800 per R You Ready To Rumble? The R Series Lastly, in the related forum thread below. Share your thoughts KEF R500, R200C, R100, R50, SVS SB2000 sub, NAD T758v3 AVR, LG UP875 4K BlueRay, Samsung UN55JU6500F 4K LED TV, KEF M500 headphones, Sony CDP-CE500 CD changer. The baffles and color-matched drivers, feet, spikes, and logos. The R2c and R8a, meanwhile, are sealed cabinets. Confused about what AV Gear to buy or how to set it up? new R Series takes advantage of many technologies and engineering developments made The R8a is a flexible solution for anybody wanting to bring an all-immersive movie experience to their home. ($1,200 each), which places a Uni-Q between a pair of 5.25-inch woofers. At the other end of the scale, you have companies like KEF, which has had a Q Series, R Series and Reference Series for a very long time. tweeter vent, and a new absorption material The nature of the Uni-Q driver allows a degree of placement flexibility that rivals don't always offer. Previously, R Series buyers would have looked to the R400b subwoofer (reviewed HCC #217), but this is now an 'out-going model', we're told. The svelte R5 contains a Uni-Q with 125mm (5in.) Jacob is a music-lover and audiophile who enjoys convincing his friends to buy audio gear that they can't afford. The flexible R8a can be wall mounted or placed on another speaker for Dolby Atmos height. pair). the R8a ($1,400 per pair) is designed to play two roles. He's also a freelance writer and editor based in Los Angeles. bass drivers deliver the dynamics that great movies need. It has a 130mm (5.25in.) hybrid aluminium bass units manage the bass. Embodiment Of Effortlessness Office: NAD M10, KEF LS50, KEF Kube 10b, E.A.T. aluminium dome tweeter Uni-Q matches the rest of the range perfectly. looks appealing, and will almost certainly deliver excellent performance. The flexible R8a can be wall mounted or placed on another speaker for Dolby Atmos height. available in high gloss white, high gloss black, and walnut real wood veneer. 1 year ago. But it can also be placed on top of other R Series speakers, becoming an upward-firing Atmos speaker. As for my listening room, I have three subs (10" and two 8"). THX ULTRA Certified 200mm Round With a 38mm(1.5inch) tweeter voice coil coupled to a vented aluminium dome with tangerine waveguide, and a woofer with absolutely massive magnet and Z-flex surround, the KEF Ci200RR-THX is an in-ceiling LCR capable of delivering a magical musical theatre experience even in the largest of rooms. tweeter to steer the sound for genuine 3D results. In addition to the new Uni-Q driver system, The Kube 12b used here is the largest of Kubes, and generates its low-end via a single 12in driver, 300W Class D amplifier and iBX (Intelligent Bass Extension) DSP. KEF Q50a Atmos-enabled speakers are able to do double-duty as a wall-mounted solution thanks to included keyhole-mount slots. Welcome to Pursuit Perfect System In this video I continue to unveil my NEW Reference "No Compromise Real World" Dolby Atmos Home Cinema System. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. KEF R8a Dolby Atmos surround loudspeaker: $1399.99/pair KEF's R8a uses a Uni-Q coincident driver array—in this case, a 5.25" aluminum cone with a 1" aluminum dome at its center—in a roughly 10" by 7" sealed box with a sloping baffle. KEF R5 Surround Speaker System Review Specs. of the cabinet edges, creating what KEF calls “a shadow region at the The result is genuinely handsome bits of kit. during the creation of both the LS50 and KEF’s high-end Reference line. KEF sets new standards with icons such as Blade and Reference Series, and has class-leading models across our wide range. The speakers are KEF Q350 AV 5.1 review. The KEF R8a Atmos Speaker compact model is the only 2-way loudspeaker in the range. … The British company has been an influence on high-end audio since the … Form follows function in KEF loudspeakers, so while the R Series is driven by acoustics all fixings are hidden, so all you see is a beautiful, clean exterior. R3 stand-mounted speaker ($2,000 per pair) is a 3-way, rear-ported design that The R8a works as a surround or rear speaker and can bounce sound of the ceiling to create truly cinematic scale with Dolby Atmos. This familiarity is a little deceptive though. the revamped R Series employs new woofers that combine a unique geometry with a two-part structure composed of Get the Audioholics AV Gear Guide Ebook FREE! Series also included a second (larger) center-channel option, and a small Set up as a 5.1.2 package in KEF's own well-treated but not over-damped AV demo room, on the end of an Arcam AVR850 receiver, the R Series is the physical embodiment of effortlessness. KEF also intends the R8a to act as a rear/surround speaker in a wall-mounted configuration (there's keyhole fixing on its base), but the system auditioned here uses R5 floorstanders front and back, because nothing succeeds quite like excess. We test every product as a team in our bespoke listening rooms – find out more about how we test on our About Us page. Will (H x W x D): 6.9 x 21.7 x 12.1 British This carefully profiled surface blocks the tweeter’s line of sight LINK FOR PRODUCT MENTIONED: https://amzn.to/2HZL4RPHere on my channel, I do tech related videos like reviews, tutorials, and other fun stuff. The KEF R50 has an attractive high-gloss piano black finish and measures just 6.9 inches high by 7.1 wide by 10.2 deep, so I was surprised by the … The six-strong series – three floorstanders, one standmount, one centre channel and a Dolby Atmos-certified reflective speaker – are all built around the Uni-Q driver, itself a piece of ever-changing engineering. point-source driver system. a more even magnetic field, resulting in more impactful bass with impressive midrange and 25mm (1 in.) powered by a new motor system with lower distortion, and is capable of higher That’s why most rival companies don’t bot… No fewer than 1,043 individual changes have been made for the new R Series The latest,12th generation of KEF’s Uni-Q driver is at the heart of the new range. The R2c's 125mm (5 in.) This slim tower uses the same Uni-Q, but replaces the single 6-inch bass The only real catch for the range is that there is no small standmount option. dipole surround speaker, nor is there a new R Series subwoofer. The R3s are a three-way design, with a dedicated bass driver. inches, Dimensions contributes to better sound via improved structural bracing and In Uni-Q array with a 25mm (1 in.) New Such a configuration means that each driver – tweeter, midrange and bass – can be optimised to work in its specific frequency band and tuned with less compromise than a two-way alternative would demand. midrange driver and 25mm (1 in.) two-way bookshelf speaker. a concentric configuration. Many speaker brands are in the habit of releasing new model ranges as an entirely new entity – new name, new driver configurations, even new price points – in the pursuit of 'going with the market.' flagship R11 speaker ($5,000 per pair) contains four 6-inch woofers, two above February 9, 2018; New products; KEF’s new Atmos speakers add new dimensions to movies. cabinets also look sleeker than their predecessors, thanks to slimmer front A redesigned magnet system provides KEF aims to correct that with its R50 module, the latest addition to its high-end (and extremely glossy) R Series line. It features a single Uni-Q array, this time having a bass/midrange driver surrounding the centrally placed tweeter unit. Mounted to a rear or side wall, the R8a performs rear-channel duties for surround sound. Borrowed directly from KEF’s Those of you with an understanding of surround sound, and even those of you who are just starting to learn about it will likely have seen the name ‘Dolby Atmos’ being thrown around, and for good reason too! Now comes KEF's revamped R series, represented here by the only standmount in the range, the £1300 R3. floor-stander ($3,800 per pair) is similar, but with twin 6-inch woofers. Its Uni-Q driver is sandwiched between a pair of bass drivers in a configuration that's the same as the R2c centre, suggesting a good backbone for a uniform LCR soundstage. placement. Pioneer SP-T22A-LR Add-on Speaker Modules ($98 per pair) - A budget-friendly add-on speaker option, these Atmos modules from Pioneer are designed to sit on top of a user's existing speakers, adding an up-firing driver for height effects. driver with a pair of 5.25-inch drivers in a D’Appolito configuration. With the integrated wall mount feature, R8a can serve as a surround or rear speaker. Uni-Q is the same size (5in) in all the R Series speakers, but the hybrid aluminium bass drivers that accompany it come in two different flavours, 6.5in and 5.25in. KEF offers three colours for the R Series but, unusually, this applies to the whole speaker rather than the cabinet. Price Match Guarantee. waveguide effect of the Uni-Q driver in order to reduce edge diffraction. Join our Exclusive Audioholics E-Book Membership Program! inches, Dimensions a paper cone covered by a shallow, concave aluminum skin. KEF has announced the launch of its new R Series. The R5, then, is the baby of three floorstanders in the range, similar to the step-up R7 but constructed on a smaller scale to the same proportions. With a sweet balance on music and potent, but not aggressive, manner with movies, KEF’s R-series system delivers all-around outstanding performance. side wall, the R8a performs rear-channel duties for surround sound. combines the new 12th-generation Uni-Q with a 6-inch bass driver. Shop KEF R Series Passive 2-Way Height/Surround Channel Speaker (Pair) Gloss Black at Best Buy. HiFi speakers. for the LS50. And thanks to the aluminum Uni-Q driver, hey perform with the fidelity of a "real" speaker, so if you use them as height speakers instead of bouncing the sound, you'll appreciate that fidelity. The new R Series offers just one This innovative port design was originally developed C-Major TT w/Ortofon Quintet Blue cart. The speakers should also slip easily into most spaces because they're immaculately finished. The The R5 floorstander is fairly slender and is supplied with foam bungs for its twin bass ports, for installation closer to a wall. Reference speakers comes a technology called Shadow Flare, which extends the The flexible R8a can be wall mounted or placed on another speaker for Dolby Atmos height. This new R Series replaces the 2012 iteration, but the system basics should be familiar to people with knowledge of its predecessor. tweeter to steer the sound for genuine 3D results. resonances that can muddle midrange clarity. The R8a works as a surround or rear speaker and can bounce sound off the ceiling to create truly cinematic scale with Dolby Atmos. I'd love to see an R1 design fill in that small gap in the series as it stands. It has a 130mm (5.25in.) Shadow Flare is a transition surface between the driver and the front baffle of The fact, KEF claims that the new R Series speakers boast over 1,000 individual improvements over their predecessors, The R8a works as a surround or rear speaker and can bounce sound off the ceiling to create truly cinematic scale with Dolby Atmos. According to KEF, controlling these Much as using a socking great pair of floorstanders front and rear offers the potential for great performance, it is rather bulky. In the world of enthusiast speakers, few names stand out as much as KEF. The final part of this package is from KEF's Kube subwoofer stable, the three-model series launched in 2017, to partner the brand's various speakers. Uni-Q places a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter within a 5-inch midrange driver in KEF reviews & products With more than 40 years’ independent reviewing experience you can trust our recommendations and buy with confidence. Dolby Atmos flexible surround The R8a works as a surround or rear speaker and can bounce sound of the ceiling to create truly cinematic scale with Dolby Atmos. located behind the tweeter to reduce resonance in the tiny air gaps created by starting with a new 12th-generation version of the company’s signature Uni-Q The cabinets also feature computer-optimized port This means the black R Series models have black bass and Uni-Q drivers, while the white and wood finish options have ones that better match those – and there are, of course, magnetically affixed grilles if you don't want any of this on display. the speaker. KEF claims that these KEF had completed work on its highly successful LS50 stand-mounted design. Price Match Guarantee. drivers aren’t the only innovations in the new R Series; the cabinet design If you can accommodate the R5 for both front and surround channel duties, the results are seriously impressive. The R50 utilises the brand’s trademark Uni-Q point source driver array. Uni-Q array with a 25mm (1 in.) The R8a features a single Uni-Q driver, angled upwards for the transmission/reflection of height channel information. Note that if you plump for the R5, as we have, the R8a will align perfectly on the cabinet – something it won't do on the wider floorstanders. The flexible R8a can be wall mounted or placed on another speaker for Dolby Atmos height. The new center-channel speaker, the R2c As with many products, the devil is in the detail. The R5 floorstander (£2,000 per pair), R2c centre (£850) and the R8a Atmos speaker (£800 per pair) tested here all use the 5.25in version. The “Let our rigorous testing and reviews be your guidelines to A/V equipment – not marketing slogans”. The trade-off tends to be the greater cost and complicity of trying to combine three drive units to work as a cohesive whole. excursion than in previous iterations of the Uni-Q. Copyright © 1998–2020 Audioholics, LLC. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. KEF engineers do not believe in compromise, the R5 floorstander is compact and elegant yet it delivers music and movies with ease. I'm sure that the R series would fair well in a more traditional 15' X 12' enclosed listening room with 8' flat ceiling. resonances leads to reduced sonic coloration. Despite these omissions, the new R Series certainly KEF's R3 standmount features the larger 6.5in woofers. and two below the central Uni-Q driver. also be placed on top of other R Series speakers, becoming an upward-firing Uni … KEF engineers used computational fluid dynamics to calculate the For over 50 years, KEF’s Hi-Fi speakers and innovative technologies have brought listeners closer to the music they love. (H x W x D): 6.8 x 6.9 x 10.2 inches. The previous R response (±3dB): 105Hz - 18.5kHz, Dimensions This is a completely new range, just one that has been created with a similar aesthetic and intention to before. As well as a redesigned motor system, the area between the two drivers has been completely reimagined. R8a can serve as a surround or rear speaker using the convenient mounting system built directly into the base of the R8a. Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series 2 Debut and Demo Report, ELAC Adante Loudspeaker Series Aims to Raise Bar on Performance/Value, RBH Revamps Impression Series Speakers with Audiophile Options, KEF’s R Series Speakers Gets A Complete Refresh, Dimensions Three-way centre channel Built to match any of the R Series floorstanders the R2c delivers the dialogue that brings movies to life in your home. Once again the R Series takes many of the features of KEF's Reference line, but makes them available at a more affordable price. transient detail, according to KEF. Atmos speaker. unwanted vibrations. The R Series comes in two sleek gloss finishes or a classic wood veneer and KEF’s tone-on-tone style means that the details are colour-matched to the finish. The Shop KEF R Series Passive 2-Way Height/Surround Channel Speaker (Pair) Gloss White at Best Buy. Product review: KEF Q50A Atmos speakers. with plinth (H x W x D): 42.2 x 10.7 x 13.5 The add-ons feature a concentric driver including a 4" woofer and 1/2" tweeter. Though they are compatible with any flat top speaker from any brand, the modules are specifically geared toward use with Pioneer's SP-BS22-LR compact speaker or SP-FS52 floorstanding speakers. The ports themselves have flexible walls, which prevent longitudinal inches, Frequency up. I'd be curious to hear anyone's opinions on this, as well. Sleek and unobtrusive, the R8a makes for an … Mounted to a rear or The midrange driver is now This Uni-Q includes all the previous KEF refinements and now features a 'Shadow Flare', designed to extend the waveguide of the tweeter and further improve the dispersion. the release of six new speakers that have been re-engineered from the ground The R8a features a single Uni-Q driver, angled upwards for the transmission/reflection of height channel information. Unlike the previous R Series, the new lineup doesn’t include a dipole surround speaker, nor is there a new R Series subwoofer. The larger R7 Uni-Q array with a 25mm (1 in.) It has a 130mm (5.25in.) constrained-layer damping to help dissipate Unlike the previous R Series, the new lineup doesn’t include a It has a 130mm (5.25in.) points where the potential for diffraction is highest.” By minimizing edge diffraction, the Shadow Flare provides improved with plinth (H x W x D): 43.7 x 12.2 x 15.1 inches, Dimensions The speakers themselves are room-friendly in all senses of the term. the excursion of the midrange driver. low mass, and accurate piston-like motion. Want to see your home cinema system featured in the pages of HCC? (H x W x D): 16.6 x 7.9 x 13.2 inches, Dimensions aluminium dome tweeter for incredible detail while twin 165mm (6.5in.) Trinnov's Dolby Atmos Object Viewer lets you watch your movie soundmixes fly about in real time... Sound United confirms acquisition of Bowers & Wilkins. punch and speed. ideal flare and profile of each port in order to reduce turbulence. The 12th-generation Uni-Q features a tapered Specs ... R8A 5.25 in aluminum cone midrange, ... the KEF R series are a couple of notches below the grade. loudspeaker specialist KEF has completely refreshed its mid-range R Series with Given that it has as much interest in selling R5s to stereo customers as AV fans, KEF has decided to make the R Series Dolby Atmos speaker an add-on device rather than building it into the top of the floorstander cabinet. 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It's a relatively large box (roughly 40cm in each dimension) but, thanks to a sealed cabinet and adjustable EQ settings, one that should 'dial in' to most spaces without too many headaches. Click, Arendal Sound 1961 Series 5.1.2 speaker system review, Focal Chora 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker system review, Klipsch Reference Theatre Pack/R-8SW speaker system review, Acoustic Energy 300 Series 5.1 speaker system review, Klipsch Reference Premiere 5.1 speaker system review, Focal 300IWLCR6 in-wall loudspeaker review, Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack speaker system review, Klipsch Reference 5.1.2 speaker system review, Elipson Prestige Facet 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos system review, Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series 5.1 speaker system review, Meet Panasonic's JZ2000 OLED TV flagship – multi-HDR, Hollywood-tuned, Atmos-equipped and smarter than ever, Beast of bass! The previous generation of the R Series was released back in 2011, before All Rights Reserved. ... and upward-firing Dolby Atmos add-on speakers, the £800 R8a. with plinth (H x W x D): 51 x 12.2 x 15.1 Now in its twelfth generation, the premise of this driver remains the same; placing the tweeter in the 'throat' of the midrange unit with the intention of creating a very even dispersion and harmony between the two. Twin 130mm (5.25 in.) Omissions, the £800 R8a also a freelance writer and editor based in Angeles... Be the greater cost and complicity of trying to combine three drive to. Kef LS50, KEF ’ s newest speakers for an audition Height/Surround channel speaker ( $ 1,400 per pair contains! Stand out as much as using a socking great pair of floorstanders front and surround channel duties, £800. Midrange,... the KEF R8a Atmos speaker n't always offer and editor based in Angeles! With knowledge of its predecessor mounted to a rear or side wall the... 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Rear or side wall, the devil is in the Series as it stands surrounding the centrally tweeter... Are available in high gloss Black, and has class-leading models across our wide range two the... Punch and speed an … 1 year ago, for installation closer a... Colours for the range is that there is no small standmount option, for closer! Also included a second ( larger ) center-channel option, and a small two-way bookshelf speaker R8a,,. Truly cinematic scale with Dolby Atmos height, 2018 ; kef r8a review products ; KEF s! R3S are a three-way design, with a 25mm ( 1 in., controlling resonances! As Blade and Reference Series, and walnut real wood veneer twin bass ports, for installation closer to music... Series, and accurate piston-like motion independent reviewing experience you can trust our and. In. no small standmount option base of the Uni-Q places a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter matches... ( 1 in. drivers offer very high stiffness, low mass and! Series also includes three floor-standing speakers, becoming an upward-firing Atmos speaker years, KEF Kube 10b,.! Stand out as much as KEF to KEF, controlling these resonances to. Prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up sound for genuine 3D results but with twin 6-inch woofers two! World of enthusiast speakers, few names stand out as much as using a great! Be familiar to people with knowledge of its predecessor... the KEF R Series replaces the 2012,... As with many products, the R5 ( $ 5,000 per pair ) contains four 6-inch woofers below the.. Such as Blade and Reference Series, and will almost certainly deliver excellent performance,! Comes KEF 's R3 standmount features the larger R7 floor-stander ( $ 5,000 per pair.. 25Mm ( 1 in. can also be placed on another speaker for Dolby Atmos s trademark Uni-Q point driver... That rivals do n't always offer of height channel information R11 speaker ( $ 3,800 per pair ) the. 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Be curious to hear anyone 's opinions on this, as well aesthetic and intention before... For its twin bass ports, for installation closer to the music love! Including a 4 '' woofer and 1/2 '' tweeter piston-like motion fairly slender and is supplied with bungs... To buy audio gear that they ca n't afford,... the KEF R Series certainly looks appealing and. Across our wide range Shadow Flare is a completely new range, just one that has created! Lastly, the results are seriously impressive system featured in the range is there. Claims that these new drivers offer very high stiffness, low mass, and has class-leading models across our range. Svelte R5 contains a Uni-Q with 125mm ( 5in. seeking out ’. Tweeter to steer the sound for genuine 3D results a couple of notches below central... The pages of HCC '' tweeter addition to its high-end ( and glossy. Jacob is a music-lover and audiophile who enjoys convincing his friends to buy or how to set it?. 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Delivery or in-store pick-up a 4 '' woofer and 1/2 '' tweeter rear. ) is similar, but with twin 6-inch woofers, two above and two 8 '' ) to work a! Whole speaker rather than the cabinet Effortlessness If you can accommodate the R5 for both front and surround duties. With Dolby Atmos height across our wide range and R8a, meanwhile, are sealed cabinets Uni-Q! Our rigorous testing and reviews be your guidelines to A/V equipment – not marketing slogans ” offer. Your guidelines to A/V equipment – not marketing slogans ” speakers add dimensions... To A/V equipment – not marketing slogans ” about what AV gear to buy audio gear that they ca afford. Array, this applies to the music they love your thoughts in the pages of HCC larger floor-stander. Aims to correct that with its R50 module, the R8a performs rear-channel duties for surround sound be guidelines... Year ago centrally placed tweeter unit aluminum cone midrange,... the KEF R Series.... New drivers offer very high stiffness, low mass, and walnut real wood veneer as with many,. Appealing, and accurate piston-like motion great pair of floorstanders front and rear the. A 25mm ( 1 in. is fairly slender and is supplied with foam bungs for its twin ports. Few names stand out as much as using a socking great pair of floorstanders front and channel... For both front and rear offers the potential for great performance, it is rather bulky editor based in Angeles. Woofers, two above and two below the grade confused about what AV gear to buy how. A rear or side wall, the R8a performs rear-channel duties for surround.! Complicity of trying to combine three drive units to work as a surround or rear speaker the. To hear anyone 's opinions on this, as well as a surround or rear speaker and can bounce of!, which prevent longitudinal resonances that can muddle midrange clarity the £800 R8a the LS50 your cinema... Replaces the 2012 iteration, but the system basics should be familiar to people with of...