KEF Unveils All New Redesigned Q Series

KEF, the renowned manufacturer of innovative, reference-quality loudspeakers, has introduced the eighth generation of its renowned Q Series loudspeakers. The all new Q Series box speaker range offers a quantum leap in sonic performance due to the clean sheet design which incorporates technology originally developed for the Concept Blade loudspeaker. Established in the early 1990s, the Q Series has become one of KEF’s most important product series worldwide.

“The completely re-engineered Q Series, featuring the perfect blend of aesthetic elegances and superior sound performance, provides listeners with the high end audio experience they have come to expect from the KEF brand,” said Alec Chanin, president of KEF America. “For nearly two decades, the Q Series has been regarded as one of the finest box loudspeakers on the market and this latest evolution is certain to enhance its legacy among audio enthusiasts.”

At the heart of the all new KEF Q Series is the very latest Uni-Q^® driver array, derived from the acclaimed KEF Concept Blade project. This new driver array embraces a new, larger, high performance vented tweeter mounted at the acoustic center of a new metal cone LF/MF Driver and gives the new range the sonic capability of much more expensive speakers. The flagship floor-standing speaker, the Q900, is the first Q Series speaker in 19 years that features a brand new 8” Uni-Q driver accompanied by an 8” aluminum LF driver and two 8” ABR’s. The new lineup also features the return of a dipole speaker, the weighty Q800ds, as well as a 10” front firing 200-W built-in Class D subwoofer with matching finishes, the Q400.

Like the Uni-Q array, the new Q Series’ advanced bass driver is a tour de force in its own right. A die-cast aluminum chassis rigidly locates the high efficiency vented magnet assembly to prevent unwanted resonance and the large 50mm voice coil ensures impressive power handling and output levels. This is complemented on the three floor-standing speaker models by dedicated front-firing auxiliary bass radiators (ABRs) which eliminate the midrange resonances produced by conventional reflex ports.

There are nine speakers in the new KEF Q Series, making for simple and flexible system building with a particular emphasis on home theater systems—easily assembled to suit any room, set-up or budget

Attendees to CEDIA Expo 2010, held September 23-26 in Atlanta, Ga., will have the exclusive first look and demos of the new Q Series by visiting the KEF America booth, #536.

Floor-Standing Speakers:

Q500: 2.5-way Floor-standing, 5.25” Uni-Q driver array with 1” HF unit, 5.25” LF driver, 2 x 5.25” ABR. Quality speaker for music or home theater applications; For smaller rooms and budgets. Retail: $499.99/ea.

Q700: 2.5-way Floor-standing, 6.5” Uni-Q driver array with 1” HF unit, 6.5” LF driver, 2 x 6.5” ABR. Exceptional music and front home theater speaker; For larger rooms and budgets. Retail: $699.99/ea.

Q900: 2.5-way Floor-standing, 8” Uni-Q driver array with 1.5” HF unit, 8” LF driver, 2 x 8” ABR. Outstanding music and front home theater speaker; For the largest rooms or for those customers requiring  exceptional bass response. Retail: $799.99/ea.

Bookshelf Speakers:

Q100: 2-way Bookshelf, 5.25” Uni-Q driver array including 1” HF unit. Z flex surround for good bass with smooth MF/HF performance. Equally great at home as quality ‘mini monitor’ for stereo music or as rear effects speakers in a home theater system. Retail: $499.99/pr.

Q300: 2-way Bookshelf, 6.5” Uni-Q driver array including 1” HF unit. Z flex surround for good bass with smooth MF/HF performance. Excellent music speaker, front speaker in smaller home theater systems or rear speaker in larger ones. Retail: $599.99/pr.

Home Theater Speakers:

Q200c: 3-way Center Speaker, 5.25” Uni-Q driver array with 1” HF unit, 5.25” LF driver, 5.25” ABR. Timbre matched to the Q Series 5.25” models. Entry-level center speaker for smaller home theater systems. Retail: $399.99/ea.

Q600c: 3-way Center Speaker,  6.5” Uni-Q driver array with 1” HF unit, 6.5” LF unit, 6.5” ABR. Timbre matched to the  Q Series 6.5” and 8” models. Top of the range center speaker for larger home theater systems. Retail: $599.99/ea.

Q800ds: 2-way Dipole Speaker, 2 x 5.25” Uni-Q driver arrays with 1” HF units. Timbre matched to the other Q Series models. Rear effects speaker for Q Series home theater system configurations. Retail: $699.99/pr.

Q400b: Powered Subwoofer, 10” long throw LF unit, 200 Watt Class-D amplifier. Discreet closed box design; Can be used in multiples for larger systems. Retail: $649.99/ea.

Resources

Q Series Website (includes images, video, spec sheets and more): http://pressroom.marketingmatters.net/kef/qseries/

Talking Points

• All new Uni-Q driver array:
  • Damped metal cone MF unit with large voice coil and Z flex surround for high output with clean midrange (high breakup frequency and even this is damped out).
  • Vented 1” metal dome HF unit for low distortion, more accurate midrange (operates down to much lower frequencies than before) and extremely smooth treble.

• Bass performance:
  • All new LF units with 50mm voice coils for vastly improved power handling, output level and dynamics.
  • Thirty percent more enclosure volume from new rectilinear cabinets (matching the latest furniture trends) for deeper bass with greater output.
  • Metal cone ABRs for greater bass output without the midrange coloration typical of ported designs.

• Detail:
  • Top-adjustable spiked feet for ease of set up.
  • First order minimalist crossovers with high end components for transparent and lucid sound.
  • Patent-pending for bi-wire system with no links or wires to lose; Simply twist a knob clockwise to link and anti-clockwise to separate.
  • Eco-friendly cabinets, crossovers and packaging along with paper wood veneers.
  • Available finishes: Black Oak, English Cherry, European Walnut.

About KEF

KEF, a division of GP Acoustics, is a UK-based company that has earned a reputation as the premier manufacturer of stunning, audiophile-quality speakers for modern home theater, hi-fi and custom installation applications. KEF products, distributed around the world, have won awards on both sides of the Atlantic. KEF is a brand name long associated with style, quality and technical innovation. Founded in 1961 by a British electrical engineer named Raymond Cooke on the banks of the River Medway, KEF is driven by a passionate belief in the power of innovation and quality. Still occupying the same riverbank site, KEF remains passionate about its patented, proven technologies such as Uni-Q^® and ACE^®. These characteristics, traditions and, above all, quality, secure KEF’s reputation as a world class manufacturer of the best speakers in the world.

About KEF America, Inc.

KEF America, a division of KEF Audio, offers loyal North American audiophiles a line of innovative speakers and components unmatched in the industry for quality and innovation. Headquartered in Marlboro, New Jersey, KEF America shares the same guiding principles as its British counterpart: ground-breaking design, exceptional sound and an unshakeable commitment to excellence. For additional information about KEF and its award-winning products and unique technology, please visit www.kef.com.

Media Contact:

Scott Moody, Director of Public Relations

Marketing Matters

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Company Contact:

Stephanie Scola, Marketing Manager

KEF America

Tel: 732-683-2356 x123

Email: sscola@kefamerica.com

Web: http://www.kef.com