Reproducing most of the soundtrack narrative, the centre speaker is by far the most important in any home theatre surround sound system, and the Q200c and Q600c are engineered accordingly.
With a new generation 130mm (5.25in.) and 165mm (6.5in.) Uni-Q driver array respectively, flanked by a low distortion bass unit and an ABR of the same size, they combine raw power with the subtlety to convey moments of great delicacy.
What you notice is how convincingly the larger new metal dome tweeter captures the emotional range of the human voice – mood and character shine through with real clarity.
Technology with soul
The brilliantly innovative engineering of the new Q Series surrounds you with a spacious sonic image of astonishing purity.
A groundbreaking new Uni-Q array that conjures up a fluent, spacious and incredibly realistic 3D sound stage you can enjoy wherever you sit. A spectacular new high performance LF driver that delivers deeper, cleaner and more accurate bass. And a ‘total design’ approach, with obsessive attention to detail and the pleasures of ownership. These are the qualities that set the new Q Series apart.
All new Uni-Q array
Thanks to the latest computer modelling techniques, years of painstaking development and a dash of design genius, the new iteration of the Uni-Q concept packs a formidable complement of design innovations. Based on the state-of-the-art HF driver developed for Concept Blade, the new Q boasts a much larger (25mm/1 in. dome) tweeter for increased sensitivity and distortion-free power handling. It plays as loud as it plays true.
The vented tweeter design allows upper registers to be reproduced with startling clarity and smoothes the transition to midrange frequencies. The dome assembly is cleverly braced, pushing the first breakup beyond the audible range so that the sound you hear is flawlessly accurate. And to make sure everyone in the room enjoys the benefit, KEF’s distinctive ‘tangerine’ waveguide over the dome maximises Uni-Q’s exceptionally wide dispersion characteristics.
At lower frequencies, the superlight new aluminium cone of the LF/MF drive unit delivers noticeably faster, cleaner response. This is enhanced by KEF’s unique Z-flex surround, which allows the extreme excursions needed to deliver a truly visceral thump while also maintaining a seamlessly smooth surface to disperse the high frequencies from the tweeter.
The ensemble is a masterpiece of modern acoustic engineering. Vocals suddenly seem much more immediate – more open and natural. Surrounded by sound of such clarity, you start hearing things you never did before. Nuances in the way an instrument’s played. The sound of a distant cricket in an outside scene. A breath, even. And best of all, you don’t have to be in a little ‘sweet spot’ to experience it. With KEF Uni-Q, you can sit where you want and not miss a thing. All you hear is what the artist intended.
Advanced bass technologies
Featuring rigid new aluminium cone technology just like the Uni-Q array, the new Q Series advanced bass driver is a tour de force in its own right. A die-cast aluminium chassis rigidly locates the high efficiency vented magnet assembly to prevent unwanted resonance, and the large (50mm) voice coil ensures impressive power handling. Its musicality is impeccable: seductively tuneful and well controlled, and on the floorstanding models, complemented by dedicated front-firing auxiliary bass radiators (ABRs).
Deep, fast and powerful, this outstanding bass response is enhanced by new enclosures with massive internal bracing to eliminate resonance – and importantly, over 30% more volume than their predecessors. For movie effects, this noticeably enhances the realism of the sound when combined with the newly assertive midrange.
Total system design
The performance envelope of these sensational new drive units is so generous that the signal needs minimal intermediation – simple first order crossovers are all that’s required, as you can tell from the transparency of the sound and the inaudibly fluent transitions.
You can see KEF’s legendary attention to detail everywhere. Gold plated bi-wire terminals for the clearest possible signal transmission, for example. Or the spikes on the floorstanders – they’re adjustable from the top instead of the bottom to make levelling easier. Thoughtful touches.
As you might expect from a company of perfectionists, we see more to the ownership experience than simply luxuriating in the best possible sound. We think about the environment too. When you unpack your new Q speakers, you’ll find that the packaging that protects them is ecologically sound. Because the crossover circuit boards are smaller, the materials impact is reduced.
And when you admire their sumptuous finish – in Black Oak, English Cherry or European Walnut – you can do so in the knowledge that what looks like a fine exotic hardwood veneer is in fact recycled wood fibre. This total design approach is another aspect of the difference with KEF. It’s all about weaving truly great sound into the fabric of the lives we live now.