Post by Slinger on Feb 7, 2023 13:15:42 GMT
WTAF? New speakers from KEF with "MAT™" which stands for Metamaterial Absorption Technology apparently. Allow me KEF to explain...
There is more info on the KEF website, right down to the "Dedicated microfibre grilles". Prices start at £1,899.00 (according to Sevenoaks...) for the bookshelf model, rising to £5499.00 for the KEF R11 Meta Floorstanding Speakers, with £2999.00 and £3999.00 floorstanders in between. You can also get KEF R8 Meta Dolby Atmos Enabled Speakers (wedges) and two flavours of Centre speaker priced at £1199.00 and £1599.00. I lost the will to live before I could be arsed to work out the differences.
The R Series is a direct beneficiary of the technological innovations developed for The Reference, the class-leading series that continually set the benchmark for loudspeakers and sound reproduction. Combining with bespoke technologies, the R Series delivers an exceptional acoustic performance. The revolutionary Metamaterial Absorption Technology1 (MATTM) has been incorporated into the latest iteration of the R Series, and the 12th generation Uni-Q® driver array has been refined to maximise the impact of this technological advance and ensure the best possible performance.
The result is an exceptional seven-model range of loudspeakers, engineered to deliver with exquisite detail and incredible insight. Whether your taste lies with traditional two-channel HiFi, multi-channel home theatre or both, the R Series reveals levels of detail that must be heard to be believed.
Revolutionary sound absorption with MAT™
At the heart of the latest R Series is Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), a revolutionary innovation that takes the performance of the 12th generation Uni-Q driver array to another level in terms of accuracy and clarity.
MAT is a highly complex maze-like structure, where each of the intricate channels efficiently absorbs a specific frequency. When combined, the channels act as an acoustic black hole, absorbing 99% of the unwanted sound that comes from the rear of the tweeter, eliminating the resulting distortion and providing a purer, more natural acoustic performance.
Superior KEF sound
A bespoke 12th generation Uni-Q driver array with MAT is found in all seven models of the R Series and delivers an incredibly detailed 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 R Series’ exceptional performance.
The Uni-Q driver array has been redesigned to maximise the performance improvements that MAT delivers. The conical waveguide that couples the tweeter dome to the new metamaterial absorber has been specially designed for the bespoke driver based on its depth. The re-engineered tweeter gap damper strategically places two rings of porous material to tame the resonances and imperfections effectively, thus greatly improving detail and clarity
The ultra-low distortion midrange motor design uses a copper ring embedded into the motor gap to minimise inductance and variation of inductance with coil position. This lowers the midrange THD and reduces thermal compression, leading to improved efficiency
The Flexible Decoupling Chassis first used on the latest Blade and The Reference loudspeakers is employed on the Uni-Q driver array to dramatically reduce coloration of the sound caused by midrange vibration transmission to the cabinet, while also solving the problem of additional sound created by the driver basket that occurs with traditional decoupling methods. It works by decoupling the massive midrange motor from the Uni-Q chassis, dissipating its vibration before it can travel to the cabinet and be radiated as unwanted sound.
The surround on the 12th generation Uni-Q driver array allows for longer excursion without causing diffraction and extending the frequency range of the midrange. The contours of tweeter dome, midrange cone and surround are all computer-optimised to ensure a perfectly smooth transition to the cabinet.
These innovations combine to ensure the R Series sound even more transparent and life-like than previously heard on this already exceptional range.
Shadow Flare is another feature originally designed for The Reference. It reduces harmful cabinet diffraction, allowing the 12th generation Uni-Q with MAT to work to its highest potential. Shadow Flare is a precision designed surface that extends the waveguide effect of the Uni-Q driver array. This means the tweeter no longer has line of sight of the cabinet edges, creating a ‘shadow region’ at the points where the potential for diffraction is highest, minimising the acoustic impact to negligible levels. The result is improved clarity and the reproduction of the fine details that make listening such a thrilling experience. The subtle nuances of plucked strings, the changes of vibrato in a voice, all of these are clearer on the R Series...
The result is an exceptional seven-model range of loudspeakers, engineered to deliver with exquisite detail and incredible insight. Whether your taste lies with traditional two-channel HiFi, multi-channel home theatre or both, the R Series reveals levels of detail that must be heard to be believed.
Revolutionary sound absorption with MAT™
At the heart of the latest R Series is Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), a revolutionary innovation that takes the performance of the 12th generation Uni-Q driver array to another level in terms of accuracy and clarity.
MAT is a highly complex maze-like structure, where each of the intricate channels efficiently absorbs a specific frequency. When combined, the channels act as an acoustic black hole, absorbing 99% of the unwanted sound that comes from the rear of the tweeter, eliminating the resulting distortion and providing a purer, more natural acoustic performance.
Superior KEF sound
A bespoke 12th generation Uni-Q driver array with MAT is found in all seven models of the R Series and delivers an incredibly detailed 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 R Series’ exceptional performance.
The Uni-Q driver array has been redesigned to maximise the performance improvements that MAT delivers. The conical waveguide that couples the tweeter dome to the new metamaterial absorber has been specially designed for the bespoke driver based on its depth. The re-engineered tweeter gap damper strategically places two rings of porous material to tame the resonances and imperfections effectively, thus greatly improving detail and clarity
The ultra-low distortion midrange motor design uses a copper ring embedded into the motor gap to minimise inductance and variation of inductance with coil position. This lowers the midrange THD and reduces thermal compression, leading to improved efficiency
The Flexible Decoupling Chassis first used on the latest Blade and The Reference loudspeakers is employed on the Uni-Q driver array to dramatically reduce coloration of the sound caused by midrange vibration transmission to the cabinet, while also solving the problem of additional sound created by the driver basket that occurs with traditional decoupling methods. It works by decoupling the massive midrange motor from the Uni-Q chassis, dissipating its vibration before it can travel to the cabinet and be radiated as unwanted sound.
The surround on the 12th generation Uni-Q driver array allows for longer excursion without causing diffraction and extending the frequency range of the midrange. The contours of tweeter dome, midrange cone and surround are all computer-optimised to ensure a perfectly smooth transition to the cabinet.
These innovations combine to ensure the R Series sound even more transparent and life-like than previously heard on this already exceptional range.
Shadow Flare is another feature originally designed for The Reference. It reduces harmful cabinet diffraction, allowing the 12th generation Uni-Q with MAT to work to its highest potential. Shadow Flare is a precision designed surface that extends the waveguide effect of the Uni-Q driver array. This means the tweeter no longer has line of sight of the cabinet edges, creating a ‘shadow region’ at the points where the potential for diffraction is highest, minimising the acoustic impact to negligible levels. The result is improved clarity and the reproduction of the fine details that make listening such a thrilling experience. The subtle nuances of plucked strings, the changes of vibrato in a voice, all of these are clearer on the R Series...
There is more info on the KEF website, right down to the "Dedicated microfibre grilles". Prices start at £1,899.00 (according to Sevenoaks...) for the bookshelf model, rising to £5499.00 for the KEF R11 Meta Floorstanding Speakers, with £2999.00 and £3999.00 floorstanders in between. You can also get KEF R8 Meta Dolby Atmos Enabled Speakers (wedges) and two flavours of Centre speaker priced at £1199.00 and £1599.00. I lost the will to live before I could be arsed to work out the differences.
) however the R&D scope has arrived a few days earlier than anticipated along with the last special probe I require for the aerospace work we are involved with. 
