The Technology

‘Sit anywhere’ Uni-Q Technology

KEF's patented Uni-Q driver configuration

The midrange cone now produces smoother

uses aerospace technology to mount the

 

sound thanks to radial reinforcing ribs

tweeter in the acoustic centre of the

 

 

for more ‘piston-like’ behaviour1,

bass/midrange

cone.

This

allows

 

 

and its rubber surround has been

both to act as a

single focused

 

 

re-profiled to deliver superior

source that disperses the sound

Typical loudspeaker

bass extension.

 

cone

 

 

image

evenly

throughout

the

 

 

 

 

 

 

room, so you experience the same

 

 

The images left show scans from

3D effects wherever you sit.

 

 

KEF’s Laser Doppler Vibrometer2

The

all-new

Uni-Q

driver

array

KEF home theatre

illustrating

how speaker cones

of the 3000 series has been

3000 series cone

deform

in

normal

operation.

 

 

comprehensively

engineered for

even

The difference is plain to see, the KEF 3000

cleaner response.

 

 

 

 

series suffers less break-up and hence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

produces cleaner sound.

 

Sealed Suspension Technology

KEF’s unique new Sealed Suspension

 

 

 

 

Technology – SSTTM (patent

applied

Grilles

 

 

 

for) dramatically improves

sound

The grilles on the

centre

and

satellite

quality at higher volumes as

it

speakers are held in

position

by

magnets,

provides the most effective

seal

of

 

 

 

 

giving a high quality, tactile feel, and because

the gap between the moving mid-range cone

it’s a closed loop magnet system, they won’t

and tweeter (see diagram).

interfere with your TV or any other nearby

electronic equipment. Very KEF - a typically

“Improving upon the already near perfect

ingenious touch.

design wasn’t easy. We had to make a rubber seal that was light enough to move with a speaker without affecting the sound, it’s a genuine innovation.”

KEF Research Engineer, Jack Oclee-Brown.

2.5

[%] Amplitude, Distortion (2nd + 3rd harmonics)

 

 

 

 

An element of loudspeaker design is

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the ability to produce sound which is

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

as close as possible to the original

1.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

source. Distortion is the main factor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

that impacts upon the quality of the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sound reproduced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A distortion below 2% is considered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

excellent.

The

KEF

3000

series

0

100

200

500

11K

2K

5K

10K

performs

within

a 0.3-0.8%

band,

 

Frequency [Hz]

 

 

 

 

Frequency [Hz]

 

 

 

 

 

 

KHT2005.2 satellite distortion

 

 

 

 

 

considerably better

than

this

 

KEF 3000 series satellite distortion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

benchmark. See the distortion chart3

right, which shows the distortion measurements of the KEF 3000 series (green line) against its predecessor, the award winning KHT2005.2 series (red line).

1A piston-like motion of a speaker cone, with less deformation and break-up produces cleaner, less distorted sound.

2The KEF Laser Doppler Vibrometer is a scanning laser device that measures the precise diffraction of light from a moving device (in this case the midrange speaker cone). Using this technique very small vibrations, normally invisible to the naked eye, can be recorded, amplified and then viewed on a computer. (Measurement taken at 1500Hz).

3Distortion measured at 90dB.

Stands

The standard elliptical shelf stands (supplied with each satellite and centre speaker double up as unobtrusive wall brackets, and allow your satellites to be stably oriented in any direction. The elegantly simple optional floor stands (right) complement the satellite speakers in both form and function.

Finishes

When you're buying audiophile quality sound, you want your system to look the part. The 3000 series comes in a choice of High Gloss Black or High Gloss Silver finishes; whichever you choose, you'll find that the surface reflections echo the distinctively smooth contours of the enclosures. If you think the look makes a statement, wait till you hear the sound.

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KEF Audio 3000 Series specifications Technology