KEF Reference 5 META Floorstanding Speaker

Since 1973, The Reference has continually set the benchmark for loudspeakers and sound reproduction. Pioneering the use of digital technologies to achieve the highest levels of audio accuracy, every pair is meticulously matched within 0.5dB to a laboratory-maintained reference standard, ensuring absolute fidelity and consistency. From the very first Reference speaker, KEF engineers have relentlessly pushed the boundaries of possibility. Ground-breaking in its original form, each new generation has advanced our global understanding of acoustics, introducing innovations that have redefined what loudspeakers can achieve.

Since 1961, KEF has been designing and manufacturing award-winning loudspeakers in Maidstone, Kent. As our flagship HiFi range, The Reference is still designed, engineered, and handcrafted in the UK today. This commitment to in-house development ensures the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship, preserving KEF’s legacy of British engineering excellence.

Innovation in Form

For those seeking the ultimate in sound reproduction, the Reference 5 Meta exemplifies the innovation at the heart of The Reference design philosophy. This three-way floorstanding loudspeaker combines four powerful 165mm (6.5 inch) bass drivers with KEF’s 12th generation Uni-Q point source driver array, which integrates a 125mm (5 inch) midrange cone and a 25mm (1 inch) aluminium dome tweeter featuring MAT™ technology.

The patented tangerine waveguide acts as an acoustic lens, optimising the wave front and creating a soundstage with exceptionally wide and even dispersion. The seamless, unbroken design avoids surface discontinuities that can muddy the sound, resulting in clarity and detail far beyond what is possible with conventional speaker arrangements. The four bass drivers provide a combined radiating area equal to a 12-inch subwoofer, delivering deep, powerful low frequencies with far lower distortion than typical systems.

These low frequencies are reproduced with remarkable agility and control, blending perfectly with the output from the Uni-Q driver to create an immersive, highly accurate soundfield.

MAT technology absorbs 99% of unwanted sound from the rear of the tweeter, virtually eliminating distortion and delivering a more natural, transparent performance. Whether used for music or film, the Reference 5 Meta is nothing short of a revelation.

Specifications