The KEF Reference 1 is the latest incarnation of KEF's incredible reference series, and is designed for the enthusiast who demands nothing but the best from their hi-fi and AV system - seeking accuracy, musicality and to feel the emotional range, depth and detail of the original performance. The Reference 1 is the bookshelf/standmount model of the series, and proves that you don't need a large cabinet to enjoy expansive, premium-quality sound. The Reference 1 is ideal for a smaller system or for use in a surround sound speaker system.

The Reference 1 features the staggering performance levels and innovative engineering which were pioneered for the venerable and critically-acclaimed LS50, and takes it to a completely different level. Unlike the old Reference range, the Reference 1 utilises a version of KEF's proprietary Uni-Q driver array to drive a compelling, immersive and holographic soundstage which belies its diminutive stature. When mounted on a shelf or stand, the Uni-Q's dispersion and imaging is so wide and immersive that they are suitable as both stereo speakers in a traditional hi-fi setup, and the ideal rear channel in a reference home theatre system for the AV enthusiast who wants to experience their films how they were meant to be watched.

The Reference 1 look and feel a premium, reference-quality product; available in three stunning wood finishes - piano black, satin american walnut and luxury gloss rosewood. It is fair to say that these speakers can be as much furniture as they are an incredible piece of hi-fi, and are sure to be a talking point wherever they are put.

Uni-Q Driver Array

At the heart of The Reference is a stunning new iteration of KEF’s landmark innovation: the Uni-Q point source MF/HF driver array. With a state-of-the-art 25mm (1in.) vented aluminium dome tweeter at the exact acoustic centre of a highly sophisticated 125mm (5in.) midrange driver, both act as a single source that floods the listening space evenly with a flawless natural soundfield, no matter where you sit. Capturing all the nuances of the human voice, whether whispered, spoken or sung, it sounds as if the person were right there with you in the room.

Bass Drivers

Clean, rich and articulate bass grounds your enjoyment of stereo or multi-channel sound, and like everything else about The Reference, KEF’s new 165mm (6.5 inch) LF driver is in a class apart. With a massive vented magnet assembly and a large aluminium wire voice coil driving an exceptionally light, stiff and strong alloy cone, the dynamics and power handling are superb. Played loud or soft, in delicate passages or for full-on bass effects, the combination of advanced materials and clever engineering delivers deeply rewarding lows that blend seamlessly with Uni-Q’s immaculate midrange and treble response.

Composite Front Baffle

The Reference drivers are set in a smooth, strikingly distinctive front baffle engineered to eliminate response anomalies caused by diffraction. Made from an exceptionally strong laminated aluminium/resin composite and secured via high-loss pads and high tensile bolts, it adds tremendous rigidity to the inert cabinet.

Flexible Port Technology

The Reference has innovative adjustable ports for fine-tuning the bass output to your personal taste and the room characteristics. The flexible port technology pioneered for the multi-award winning LS50 is used to reduce midrange port resonance, with the flare and profile of each port calculated by computational fluid dynamics to avoid turbulent air noise that might colour the sound.

Crossover Design

KEF engineers computer-modelled the ideal crossover networks before exhaustively auditioning every high grade component, individually and together, to select those with the lowest distortion and the smoothest response. Perfectionism takes time, but the difference is plain to hear. Nothing is overlooked - Reference crossovers are even mounted on separate boards and decoupled from the cabinet walls to minimise vibration and crosstalk.

Cabinet Design

Finished by hand in pair-matched wood veneers to complement the composite front baffle, the shape and bracing geometry of the cabinets are computer-optimised to minimise secondary radiation from the cabinet walls and distortion from standing waves. With constrained layer damping to absorb residual vibrations, they’re engineered to eliminate any panel resonance, stray reflections or box colouration effects that would compromise the purity of the sound.