KEF R11 Meta

KEF continues to use aluminium dome tweeter, embedded in the centre of aluminium midrange driver, their Uni-Q concentric driver that has been perfectioned over years. The tweeter is said to improve its dispersion through tangerine like structure. For the same purpose the surround of the Uni-Q driver is slightly convex. KEF calls it Shadow Flare. In the last couple of years, KEF also continues upgrading all their models into the “Meta” versions. The Meta attribute indicates the way KEF uses to disperse the rear pressure from the tweeter dome. It is a labyrinth of channels folded into a disc that is placed behind the Uni-Q driver. The idea is that the sound enters the labyrinth and is absorbed, rather than reflected, thus the distortion of the Uni-Q is lowered. The four woofers that surround the Uni-Q driver looks like aluminium too, but the cones are paper and only have aluminium caps glued to them. KEF calls it a hybrid design. All the woofers are crossed over at 400Hz and convey the same information. Both upper and lower couple of woofers has its own reflex port, slightly oval and placed off-axis, with flexible walls to prevent turbulent airflow and noise.  If need be, the ports can be closed by foam plugs that come with the speakers.

Around the back there is a plastic panel with 2 pairs of speaker binding posts and two knobs, that (by turning) interconnect/disconnect the woofers and the concentric drivers for bi-wiring if needed. On one hand it is a smart and a convenient solution, on other hand you must rely on rather subpar connection on the back side of the terminal plate. I would prefer a hardwired solution with the usual jumpers instead.