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24999.99
REFERENCE 5 Floorstanding Speaker Pair
CA $ 24,999.99
Flagship three-way floorstander
If you're serious about experiencing the ultimate in sound reproduction, the magnificently authoritative Reference 5 exemplifies the passion for innovation that underpins The Reference design philosophy.
Available Finishes: Copper Black Aluminium, Blue Ice White, Silver Satin Walnut
Product Features
A CLASS APART
The Reference is the physical embodiment of KEF's Total System Design philosophy. Every component is optimised both within itself and as part of the whole, while every drive unit is given the chance to perform to the best of its considerable ability. The result is a loudspeaker that performs far beyond the sum of its parts.
SOUND
This three-way floorstander aligns four powerful 165mm (6.5 inch) bass drivers with KEF's latest 125mm (5 inch) Uni-Q array and the new vented 25mm (1 inch) aluminium dome tweeter. Lows are reproduced with consummate agility and control, integrating with the midrange to create spine-tingling accuracy and depth.
Two drivers, a single point
At the heart of The Reference is the Uni-Q™ point source driver array. A state-of-the-art vented aluminium dome tweeter at the exact acoustic centre of a highly sophisticated midrange driver that delivers flawless natural sound across a wider listening area.
A strong foundation
Clean, rich and articulate bass is the foundation of great stereo or multichannel sound. KEF's Reference Series bass driver has a massive vented magnet assembly, a large aluminium voice coil and an exceptionally light and stiff alloy cone. Whatever the volume, dynamics and power handling are superb.
The smallest details, revealed
Shadow Flare drastically reduces harmful cabinet diffraction, allowing the Uni-Q to work at its highest level. A precision-designed surface extends the waveguide effect of Uni-Q for improved clarity, particularly when it comes to the subtle nuances of plucked strings and other percussive sounds.
Computer-modelled perfection
Hand finished in pair-matched wood veneers, The Reference cabinets have computer-optimised bracing geometry to minimise secondary radiation from the sides and Constrained Layer Damping to turn what little vibration is left into heat.
Fighting turbulence
Flexible port technology is used to reduce port resonance. Each port is adjustable to allow users to modify the sound to suit their room. The flare and profile of each port is calculated by computational fluid dynamics to avoid turbulent air noise that might colour the sound.
Hand-picked components
KEF’s engineers use advanced software to model the ideal crossover. But every component is auditioned by the ultimate measure: the human ear. Perfection takes time, but the results are plain to hear. Reference crossovers are even decoupled from the cabinet to minimise vibration and crosstalk.
MADE IN MAIDSTONE
Since 1973, Reference has been designed, engineered, and crafted in Maidstone, Kent. When you experience The Reference, you don't just experience the best: you experience all of the history that has gone into the creation of the benchmark.
Reviews
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Spec
| Model | REFERENCE 5 |
| Design | Three-way Bass Reflex |
| Drive Units | Uni-Q driver array: HF: 25mm (1in.) vented aluminium dome MF: 125mm (5in.) aluminium Bass units: LF: 4 x165mm (6.5in.) aluminium |
| Frequency range free field (-6dB) | Short port: 35Hz - 45kHz Long port: 32Hz - 45kHz |
| Frequency range typical in room bass response (-6dB) | 25Hz |
| Frequency response (±3dB) | 40Hz – 35kHz |
| Crossover frequency | 350Hz, 2.8kHz |
| Amplifier requirements | 50-400W |
| Sensitivity (2.83V/ 1m) | 90dB |
| Harmonic distortion 2nd & 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m) |
<0.5% 40Hz – 100kHz <0.2% 200Hz – 10kHz |
| Maximum output (peak sound pressure level at 1m with pink noise) |
116 dB |
| Impedance | 8Ω (min. 3.2Ω) |
| Weight | 60.2kg (132.7 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) (with grille and terminal) |
1350 x 205 x 470 mm (53.1 x 8.0 x 18.5 in.) |
| Dimension (H x W x D) (with grille, terminal & plinth) |
1397 x 349 x 470 mm (55 x 13.7 x 18.5 in.) |
| Available Finishes | Silver Satin Walnut, Copper Black Aluminum, Blue Ice White, Deep Gloss Black |
** KEF reserves the right, in line with continuing research and development, to amend or change specifications. E&OE. **
Press and Awards
| Stereophile Recommended Component 2019 |
| "Like its stablemate, the demiflagship Blade Two (see elsewhere in Recommended Components), KEF's Reference 5 uses a Uni-Q coincident driver array to cover most of the audioband, plus four 6.5" aluminum-cone woofers for the lowest octaves. The most apparent distinction is in the Reference 5's enclosure: whereas the woofers in the Blade Two are fixed to the sides of a parabolically curved, narrow-fronted enclosure of high-density polymer, the Reference 5's woofers are mounted on the front of a conventional-looking floorstanding enclosure, its greatest departure from convention being KEF's choice of aluminum for the front baffle." |
| Year: 2019 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: Stereophile |
| Country of Publication: United States |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| REFERENCE 5 Review |
| "I very much enjoyed my time with the KEF Reference 5. It may not be a more affordable, less visually idiosyncratic Blade Two—that speaker stands alone in KEF's line—but it offers its own balance of strengths: a neutral, uncolored midrange; weighty but well-defined lows; sweet, smooth highs; and superbly secure, stable soundstaging." |
| Year: 2017 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: Stereophile |
| Country of Publication: United States |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| REFERENCE 5 Review |
| "This system is British surround high-fidelity at the utter state-of-the-art. And it’s easily worthy of its Reference name." |
| Year: 2016 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: Home Cinema Choice |
| Country of Publication: United Kingdom |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| Grand Prix Award |
| Year: 2015 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: HiVi Magazine |
| Country of Publication: Japan |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| Audio Excellence Silver Award 2015 |
| Year: 2014 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: Magazine / Issuing Body: Audio Accessory Magazine |
| Country of Publication: Japan |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| The Best of the speaker in 2014 |
| Year: 2014 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: Stereo Magazine |
| Country of Publication: Japan |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| Best Buy 1st Place by Category |
| Year: 2014 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: HiVi Magazine |
| Country of Publication: Japan |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| Visual Grand Prix Gold Award 2015 by Category |
| Year: 2014 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: AV Review Magazine |
| Country of Publication: Japan |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| Outstanding Product |
| "They create a soundstage effortlessly disengaged from the boxes that are producing it… On vocal tracks especially, the REFERENCE 5s seemed to get out of the way completely and let the singer’s performance become as intimate and heartrending as you could wish… This is clearly an outstanding product." |
| Year: 2014 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: Hi-Fi News and Record Review |
| Country of Publication: United Kingdom |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
| REFERENCE 5 EISA Award |
| "…its above‐average sensitivity, excellent bass extension and handsome appearance earns the Reference 5 EISA’s High‐End Audio accolade." |
| Year: 2014 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: EISA Award |
| Country of Publication: United Kingdom |
| Product: REFERENCE 5 Floorstander |
Downloads
| THE REFERENCE Brochure | • Open In New Window • Download |
| THE REFERENCE Manual | • Open In New Window • Download |
| THE REFERENCE Information Sheet | • Open In New Window • Download |
| THE REFERENCE White Paper | • Open In New Window • Download |
| THE REFERENCE 5 Product Drawing | • Open In New Window • Download |
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