KEF Unveils Cutting Edge Acoustic Technology with KEF Blade, the World’s First Single Apparent Source Speaker

KEF, the renowned manufacturer of innovative, reference-quality loudspeakers, today unveiled the global availability of KEF Blade, a revolutionary loudspeaker combining unmatched precise sound imaging and elegant design. KEF Blade, which is the result of five years of intensive R&D efforts, will be branded as the first product for KEF’s 50^th anniversary which KEF celebrates this year.

(Online Press Kit: http://bit.ly/kefblade)

KEF Blade is the evolution of KEF’s widely acclaimed Concept Blade which was first shown in 2009.  It offers the highest quality sound reproduction available through KEF’s Single Apparent Source technology. Single Apparent Source technology ensures the entire frequency range radiates from one point in space, creating a sound picture that is virtually indistinguishable from a live performance. KEF Blade is further enhanced by a glass-reinforced composite cabinet that matches the speaker’s high performance sound quality with elegant industrial design.

“KEF Blade is truly a ground-breaking revolution in loudspeakers design and sound performance,” said Alec Chanin, president of KEF America. “KEF’s unique Single Apparent Source technology allows KEF Blade to deliver sound from a single point source, giving listeners a one-of-a-kind experience that puts them right into the recording studio. From its outstanding sound performance, to its modern stylish design, KEF Blade is the perfect representation of 50 years of engineering excellence and innovation.”

KEF’s Single Apparent Source ensures that individual driver sections – for bass (LF), midrange (MF) and treble (HF) – of a multi-way loudspeaker work together and produce sound-fields that appear to come from the same point and place, which is especially important at the crossover frequencies where the sound output switches between drivers. The Single Apparent Source is a perfect extension of the new, fully pistonic KEF Uni-Q® MF/HF array, and includes the bass drivers for the first time. Together they combine to form a seamless point source driver array that can handle the entire frequency range.

Four 9” (22.5 cm), newly developed bass drivers deliver the KEF Blade’s distortion-free low frequency response. The engineering principle behind their configuration is simple – let the huge forces of each moving cone cancel each other out by arranging them in opposed, symmetrical pairs – but its effective implementation is fraught with engineering obstacles. The force produced by the bass drivers is so strong that the massive rear magnets have had to be bonded directly to each other to obtain the full benefit of this technology. They are side firing so their acoustic center coincides with those of the all-new, latest generation Uni-Q midrange driver and tweeter – forming the ground breaking Single Apparent Source technology.

KEF Blade incorporates many of the core aspects of the award winning Concept Blade, which was created through a partnership with KEF and Eric Chan of New York based ECCO Design. The design team was challenged to effectively accommodate KEF’s Single Apparent Source configuration without making the cabinet’s upper portion look too bulky. The solution was to produce a cabinet that grows gradually from the base, expands in the middle then tapers to the top. The cabinet’s graceful curves are enclosed in an exceptionally rigid and heavy cabinet made from polished glass reinforced composite. The parabolic curvature of the enclosure increases cabinet rigidity even further and the drivers are fully decoupled, meaning that sound is only generated from driver movement and not from the cabinet. The resulting design gives KEF Blade its elegant sculptural form, epitomized by the single key line that emanates from the base, around the drivers and over the apex.

KEF Blade is available in a standard Gloss White and Gloss Black, but will also be available in an array of custom colors including Garnet, Sapphire, Grigio, Racing Red, Racing Blue, Pale Gold, Orange Sorbet, Graphite, Stardust, Lemon Sorbet, Lime Sorbet and Snow White with a MSRP of $29,999.

For more information about KEF technologies and Concept Blade, visit http://www.kef.com/us/release/bladeloudspeaker/blade

About KEF

For 50 years, KEF has created technology that delivers the best listening experience for people who are passionate about natural sound. Founded on October 2, 1961 by Raymond Cooke O.B.E., KEF continues to maintain its flair for unusual and controversial speaker engineering, design and material use. KEF flourished during the 1960s, and in 1970 received the first of two Queen’s Awards for Export Achievement. Ten years of worldwide growth followed, solidifying KEF’s reputation as one of the international leaders in speaker engineering. The Gold Peak Group acquired KEF in 1992, backing KEF’s British heritage with new ideas, a new personality and new products, leveraging its deep R&D and global manufacturing capabilities, and building on the company’s core strengths in acoustics, design, distribution and quality. With the celebration of its 50^th anniversary, KEF will continue to build on its strong heritage to define listening experiences for the next 50 years and beyond. www.kef.com

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

Tel: 954-925-1511

Email: scott@marketingmatters.net

Web: http://marketingmatters.net

Company Contact:

Stephanie Scola, Marketing Manager

KEF America

Tel: 732-683-2356 x123

Email: sscola@kefamerica.com

Web: http://www.kef.com