I’ve but to meet a pair of KEF audio system I didn’t like. The model’s penchant for offering inflexible and musical bass, a heat and easy midrange, and easy treble extension retains wi-fi fashions just like the LS50 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) and LSX (9/10, WIRED Recommends), and the wired R3 Meta (9/10, WIRED Recommends) amongst my favorites in the marketplace. These trusty sonic hallmarks are current as soon as extra within the new Q Concerto Meta.
Together with nice sound, KEF’s Q Collection goals to provide you extra in your cash, which within the Concerto’s case equates to a bounty of drivers. You don’t usually see three-way bookshelf audio system at this worth, however the Concerto ship the products in an environment friendly configuration. You’ll get a hefty woofer, a midrange driver above, and at its middle, KEF’s signature concentric tweeter that has trickled down from among the model’s greatest, together with the highfalutin R3.
The Concerto instantly evoke the R3, from their design aesthetic to assist for KEF’s “Meta” absorption tech, geared toward eliminating undesirable cupboard frequencies. The similarities finish there; the Concerto’s sound (understandably) can’t method the R3’s lofty heights, whereas their vinyl-wrapped facade feels extra finances than KEF followers may count on. Nonetheless, it is a nice bundle for the cash, providing aggressive sound with a deal with exemplary tonal steadiness and potent bass.
Loaded for Naked
I used to be positively giddy to be unboxing a glowing new pair of KEF’s newest bookshelves, however my pleasure was tempered once I received the Concerto free from their foam properties. The vinyl cupboards (accessible in black, white, and walnut) look clear and comparatively sharp, however most audio system I’ve examined of their class and even a step beneath do higher. In comparison with the luxurious piano gloss of SVS’ Extremely Evolution (9/10, WIRED Recommends), or the Focal Vestia No1’s funky leather-based and woodgrain panels, the Concerto have a extra cut price basement vibe. Attaching the plain-Jane magnetic grilles additional pushes them towards boxy obscurity.
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{Photograph}: Ryan Waniata
In equity, I believe these are purposeful nook cuts to speculate extra on {hardware}, and the Concerto actually have it the place it counts. Their three-pack of drivers per facet features a 6.5-inch hybrid aluminum cone woofer, a 4-inch aluminum cone midrange driver, and a .75-inch concentric waveguided tweeter bearing KEF’s Twelfth-gen Uni-Q design (placing the “Q” in Q Collection).
The drivers cross over at 450 Hz within the bass and a pair of.9 kHz within the treble, with a claimed frequency response of 48 Hz to twenty kHz (extra on that later). Behind the drivers is KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Expertise (MAT), which claims to remove “99% of undesirable frequencies.” It’s cool to see the tech that has unfold throughout the model’s prime hi-fi audio system in approachable fashions. MA apart, most undesirable frequencies will seemingly come out of your listening room, so that you’ll nonetheless need to think about suggestions from our Audiophile Gear Information like acoustic panels, that are each efficient and comparatively inexpensive.
The Concerto are somewhat massive for bookshelf audio system, standing 16.3 inches tall, 8.3 inches broad, and 12.4 inches deep, and weighing over 20 kilos every. You’ll need to safe a strong pair of stands fitted to their sizable footprint. (KEF will fortunately promote you a $700 pair designed for the R3.)
