Description
KEF Reference 4 Meta Centre Channel Loudspeaker
The Benchmark of Centre Loudspeakers
The KEF Reference 4 Meta is the flagship centre channel loudspeaker of The Reference Series, the last word in absolute quality for movie lovers seeking total immersion and the most demanding home theatre enthusiasts who will accept no compromise at the heart of their soundstage. Featuring four 165mm aluminium bass drivers and the 12th Generation Uni-Q driver array with Metamaterial Absorption Technology, the Reference 4 Meta is a revelation for clarity, detail, and emotional depth, anchoring the front soundstage with an authority and precision that transforms the home cinema experience. It can also be deployed in a full LCR (Left-Centre-Right) configuration for those building a complete Reference-level system. Designed, engineered, and handcrafted at KEF’s home in Maidstone, Kent, every Reference 4 Meta can be matched within 0.5dB of the laboratory-maintained reference standard.
12th Generation Uni-Q with Metamaterial Absorption Technology
At the heart of the Reference 4 Meta is the 12th Generation Uni-Q driver array, positioning a 25mm aluminium dome tweeter with Metamaterial Absorption Technology at the acoustic centre of a 125mm aluminium cone midrange driver. This coaxial configuration allows both drivers to radiate from a single acoustic point source for inherent time alignment, phase coherence, and a listening sweet spot of exceptional breadth and consistency across every seating position in the room. MAT absorbs the unwanted rearward sound energy of the tweeter that would otherwise introduce coloration and distortion into the acoustic output, delivering a purity of dialogue reproduction and musical detail that is simply beyond the capability of conventional centre channel designs. Crossover frequencies of 450Hz and 2.1kHz ensure a seamless and coherent transition between the Uni-Q array and the four bass drivers throughout the full frequency range.
Four Bass Drivers for Flagship Centre Channel Authority
Where the Reference 2 Meta employs two 165mm bass drivers, the Reference 4 Meta deploys four, doubling the bass driver complement for a low-frequency capability of genuinely flagship scale in a centre channel configuration. With a selectable port configuration offering a frequency range of 43Hz to 45kHz with the short port or 40Hz to 45kHz with the long port, and a typical in-room bass response of 33Hz at minus 6dB, the Reference 4 Meta delivers the full weight and impact of cinematic low-frequency effects with remarkable precision and control. A frequency response of 48Hz to 35kHz within plus or minus 3dB, harmonic distortion held below 0.1% from 2kHz to 20kHz, and a maximum output of 116dB ensure the Reference 4 Meta performs at a level commensurate with the finest floorstanding loudspeakers available. With a sensitivity of 88dB at 2.83V/1m and a recommended amplifier power range of 50 to 400 watts, the Reference 4 Meta scales to the most powerful high-end amplification in any system configuration.
Designed, Engineered, and Handcrafted in the United Kingdom
Since 1961, KEF has been creating award-winning loudspeakers at its home in Maidstone, Kent, and the Reference 4 Meta continues this tradition as the most ambitious centre channel loudspeaker KEF has ever produced, handcrafted with the care and precision that the Reference name demands. At 45.2kg and 205 x 1,090 x 463mm with grille and terminal, the Reference 4 Meta is a substantial and commanding presence beneath any display, available in five distinctive finish combinations including High-Gloss White with Champagne, High-Gloss White with Blue, Satin Walnut with Silver, High-Gloss Black with Grey, and High-Gloss Black with Copper for seamless visual integration with any Reference Series floorstanding speaker.
KEY FEATURES:
- Flagship three-way bass reflex centre channel loudspeaker of The Reference Series, designed, engineered, and handcrafted in Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom
- 12th Generation Uni-Q driver array: 25mm aluminium dome tweeter with MAT and 125mm aluminium cone midrange driver
- Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) for exceptional sonic purity and elimination of unwanted tweeter rearward energy
- Four 165mm aluminium cone bass drivers for flagship-level low-frequency authority and dynamic impact
- Crossover frequencies: 450Hz and 2.1kHz
- Frequency response: 48Hz to 35kHz (plus or minus 3dB)
- Selectable port configuration: short port 43Hz to 45kHz, long port 40Hz to 45kHz (minus 6dB)
- Typical in-room bass response: 33Hz (minus 6dB)
- Harmonic distortion: below 0.5% from 40Hz to 100kHz, below 0.2% from 200Hz to 2kHz, below 0.1% from 2kHz to 20kHz
- Sensitivity: 88dB (2.83V/1m), maximum output: 116dB
- Nominal impedance: 4 ohms (minimum 3.2 ohms)
- Recommended amplifier power: 50 to 400 watts
- Suitable for use as a centre channel or in a full LCR configuration
- Every unit matched within 0.5dB of the laboratory-maintained KEF reference standard
- Available in High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss White/Blue, Satin Walnut/Silver, High-Gloss Black/Grey, and High-Gloss Black/Copper
- Dimensions: H 205 x W 1,090 x D 463mm (with grille and terminal), weight: 45.2kg
