CEDIA NEWS: KEF launches revised XQ and Reference ranges

This really rather gorgeous looking standmount speaker is one of the new models in KEF's revised XQ range, launched at the CEDIA Expo 2007 in Denver, Colorado, along with a complete new Reference range.

And while our man is still doing the 'big silver bird fly over water' bit on his way to the mountain venue, we can bring you a sneak preview of the two line-ups, which come in new finishes and use all-new Uni-Q drivers.

The revamped XQ range runs from the little XQ10 pictured and runs right up to the XQ40 floorstander, and all of the speakers use the new hybrid titanium Uni-Q driver with an aluminium elliptical dome tweeter at its centre.

The design of the new driver means the speakers no longer have the 'hypertweeters' of the old models: the main driver now goes right up into the very high frequencies possible with SACD, DVD-A and the new HD audio formats, and uses a 'crown-waveguide' to protect the tweeter and give a smoother, more extended frequency response.

The speakers come in a choice of 'furniture grade' natural wood finishes - birds-eye maple and the khaya mahogany shown above, and also in piano black.

The new Reference series, denoted by a '.2' on the end of the model numbers, also use the new Uni-Q driver, along with ultra-low-distortion bass drivers, and decouples all the drive units from the enclosure.

The speakers also have new two-position bass adjustment and four-setting high-frequency controls, and come in a choice of real wood veneers - cherry, satin sycamore or American walnut - or piano black.

No fewer than nine models will be available, with four stereo speakers running from the 201.2 standmount model up to the 207.2 floorstander (the 205.2 is shown left), a choice of two all-new centre channel speakers, the 206.2 surround speaker and two new subwoofers.

UK prices and more details will follow when we have them.

Technorati Tags: 5.1-channel, KEF, Uni-Q

Andrew has written about audio and video products for the past 20+ years, and been a consumer journalist for more than 30 years, starting his career on camera magazines. Andrew has contributed to titles including What Hi-Fi?, GramophoneJazzwise and Hi-Fi CriticHi-Fi News & Record Review and Hi-Fi Choice. I’ve also written for a number of non-specialist and overseas magazines.