Pulling the hefty audio system from their packaging, you’ll discover a pair of port bungs, microfiber speaker grilles, and rubber ft. Behind every speaker is a pair of rugged terminals permitting for discretely bi-amping the bass and higher drivers. I requested KEF in regards to the want for bi-amping, as I solely deliberate to connect with the decrease terminals, and was advised there’s no actual firm “voice” on the topic however the implication is that there’s minimal sonic profit in doing so.
The audio system’ 4-ohm nominal impedance means they’ll probably be tougher to drive than 6-ohm or 8-ohm audio system, however impedance is a fancy topic and it varies by frequency. KEF claims the audio system could be powered by as little as 15 watts per aspect, however for greatest outcomes, I nonetheless counsel a comparatively brawny amp with good readability, just like the Naim Uniti Atom I employed.
Let It Glow
As gleeful as these audio system are to play, it’s no straightforward job to inform a narrative as wealthy and expressive as what the R3 Meta inform your ears minute by minute, beat by beat. You’ve simply gotta hear these items. They’re extremely nuanced, dynamic, and clear, providing energy and lyrical musicality on a degree that few audio system their dimension can accomplish. Each tune you play is a brand new chapter, as their chameleonic sound signature units the stage for every new combine.
That’s to not say the audio system don’t provide their very own distinctive sonic taste; they definitely do. However what the R3 deliver to the desk is so clear, so candy, and so effortlessly expressive—particularly when powered by a clear amplifier just like the Uniti Atom—they lend themselves to each topic with sympathetic supply. This implies they’ll discover all the failings in your music, after all, however as a rule, it’s offered extra as a stylistic selection. That lets your ears separate the manufacturing wheat from the chaff in the whole lot you play, whereas nonetheless having fun with lo-fi recordings.
Older Seashore Boys songs can sound just a little skinny and even tinny on many audio system, however songs like “In My Room” and “Wouldn’t It Be Good” soar with the R3 Meta, with well-struck percussion that pops out from the immersive soundstage, satiny harmonies, and easy guitar tones that appear to drag you to the nice and cozy Pacific seashores. Flipping to topflight fashionable manufacturing like The Weeknd’s “Starboy” resets the stage fully. The R3’s magnified readability offered one of the best efficiency of the tune I’ve heard but, with laser synths, columns of bass, and swelling results echoing out the edges and skimming previous my face for an nearly surreal expertise.
The phrase “luminous” stored arising repeatedly as I moved by way of dozens of compressed and hi-res tracks over a number of days. Each string and horn participant, each synth impact, vocal, or guitar tone appears to bloom with its personal intrinsic mild when handed by way of the R3, for chill-inducing performances. When cymbals sparkle, the audio system mild that sparkle with an additional shot of vivid shimmer. When reverb trails cling, the audio system prolong and draw them out, letting them fade solely simply in time for the following musical entrance. And when bass bumps, it hits with marble-hard authority and musical vitality.
