Blade and The Reference get Meta versions

[jeffhk]

Blade and Blade Two | KEF (https://us.kef.com/speakers/flagship-hi-fi-speakers/blade.html)

The Blade and Reference lines have been refreshed with MAT and an associated price hike. USA pricing puts the Blade One at just over 50% more than the Reference 5, but here in Hong Kong the Blade One is almost double the price of Reference 5. 😲
I wonder if they are twice as good? I think I'll have to book a demo and find out for myself.

[audio.bill]

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/kef-reveals-latest-blade-flagship-floorstanding-speakers-and-pioneering-the-reference-models

[joeinid]

Good news!

[steve59]

My initial reaction was to list my blades, but after a long listening session and some basic arithmetic I decided to wait and hear the new blade meta's first.

[jeffhk]

I'd be interested to hear your impressions and a comparison of yours vs the blade meta. It might be a good opportunity to grab a bargain if there are some run out specials of the old stock.

[steve59]

I had the first gen uni-q in the R105/3 and there's def an upgrade in the blade, but now it looks like a feature or two were dropped to make room for mete. the 3'' voice coil and vented mid and tweeter magnet now share the driver in the reference line. there's a couple half price deals on audio mart for blade and blade 2 spealers right now.

[audio.bill]

For a reviewer's impressions on the difference from the original KEF Reference 5 to the new Meta version, here's the first review of the new updated model I've found. I think he likes them! :exciting:
(You'll have to translate it from Swedish to English.) TEST: KEF Reference 5 Meta – Chockerande ljudupplevelse (https://www.ljudochbild.se/test/hogtalare/kef-reference-5-meta/)