Kef Blade to Blade meta?

You currently own Blades?

I have heard the original Reference 5, Reference 5 meta and the Blade on different occasions with different equipment, never got to hear the Blade Meta. You are not going to get too much of a sonic upgrade once you get past this price bracket just by getting the Meta version, especially with the same manufacturer and what they claim they improved (that metamaterial whatever, otherwise known as tech saturation).

So...if we're thinking about other manufacturers, I got to hear the Reference 5 meta against some much more expensive Sonus Fabers and a flagship B&W in the same room. The KEF was just a superior speaker sonically for just around 23k, walked all over them. The only true competitor i can think of in terms of bang 4 buck around that price is the Borresen X6.

You could keep the Blade and get a Borresen X6, which would leave you with 2 pairs of very different speakers & different flavors...instead of listening to the same 1 pair of speakers over and over or chasing some miniscule upgrade that may or may not be worth it/audible. It might be a better way to spend your cash...

Since the X6 is also cheaper than the Blade Meta, you could add some some very high quality subwoofers with the cash saved.

Haven't heard the Blades but when it comes to the little LS50 compared to the newer LS50 Meta... I felt like the Meta was just a bit different, not really any better or worse. Not sure how that translates to the Blade though.

I like the idea posted above about trying a set of very different speakers sharing space in the same room. Not everyone can pull this off due to space or lack of family approval. But if you can it might be a great option. All sorts of very fun monitor speakers for example, that would give a different take on your music than the Blades, and not cost a ton of cash.

@deep_333 

which B&W model did you compare them with?

Bwguy,

I listened to the blade 2 metal again a few weeks ago and thought they lacked detail in the mids and highs. A consistent trend for me when I hear Kef speakers. Having owned B&W and listening to the latest 802D4 I would say the 802D4 is a lot more detail but has a much rougher frequency response. Both would be a pass for me, and I really wanted to like the kefs. 

@deep_333

which B&W model did you compare them with?

801D4, the lack of tonal balance is a no-go for me..it could appeal to guys who’re into the V-curvy thing perceptively however. I am not accusing it of a hot tweeter. It did have a hint of spatial qualities at relatively higher spls (as if one wore spatial headphones momentarily), which i very much like, but not to the extent of something like the big Borresens or even the JBL DD67000.

Older KEFs have always lacked perceived dynamics to the degree i like, but, the bigger and newer the KEF, the better it seems to get... especially when you get to the size of the Reference 5 meta, probably even better than the non-meta Blade.

seriously, what's happening when someone posts and question and disappears. What's going on?

@steve59 He likely has not seen the new responses. Steve59 is usually posting interesting audio info.

BTW - I find the Reference 5 sounds a lot different than the Blades. I was rather disappointed in the Reference 5 since it did not have the placement and soundstage of the Blades. Then again, no other speaker I have heard does that as well as the Blades.

hey guys. yyz called iy iot. I was on my way to a 'Last ride of the year adventure group on mixed gravel/dirt roads and got my lower leg and foot crushed by a jeep. Today is my first chance to check in. I'm leaning towards deep_333's suggestion. When I gut frustrated with my R/105-3 I added a pair of VA beethoven's and enjoyed the totally different presentation of music.

But in reality I'm not going squat-diddly for awhile

yyz called it right,

I have to start reading the dosage on these edibles.

 b4 ingesting.

Steve59,

truly sorry to hear about your injury. I hope you have a full recovery. 

Yyz’s comment about the Reference 5 sounding different matches the measurements I have seen. Stereophile has in room measurements of both laid on top of each other and the reference 5 had a lot more in room high frequency roll off. 
 

I feel the Referance 3 on up to include the blades have the same house sound. The blades image and stage better but the Reference line is still good.  As a whole both speakers lacked that last bit of detail to my ear. 

@steve59 A speedy recovery.

The last bit of detail is what I also feel the KEF aluminum drivers lack with respect to something like a Paradigm Persona's Beryllium drivers. Definitely more detail but you need a warm amp.

My Yamaha NS5000 with the Zylon drivers are just as detailed as the Persona but not fatiguing. 

Saying all of that the Blades are still by all-time fav speaker because of the soundstage. I can actually buy the Blade now since my kid is old enough and the wife and dog are not as crazy in the audio Livingroom when they play. However, I am staying with the NS5000 since I love those Zylon drivers and always am happy when I hear the system.

Had the Blade 1s (non meta). They were great. Heard the meta afterwards. My old ears couldn't hear any difference. Got rid of the Blades for a pr of hORNS Universum MK4s. Much happier 😀💲💲😀

I resolved this detail sensation you guys are describing with other gear... NOT changing the speakers themselves.

I made a bunch of tweaks, suspended them on townshend isolation, and matched them up with silver speaker cables from stealth audio

The cables swap from copper to silver made the biggest difference of all.

I never ask for more detail now. Very satisfied

james633, yyz, Thanks for the well wishes I've always found kef speakers to have lots of detail, but not the micro detail that others manage so well. I did wonder if the new meta tweeter addressed it. audiojacks, i'm starting to think either will be the kef house sound. questforhifi, I haven't heard enough from cables i'm willing to pay for to think the whole of my system is dialed in enough yet. i'll keep cables in mind

Coming up for air. Am I allowed to plug a local hifi shop? I had an appt to listen to the latest Epikore to land in the USA the day after my crash. Several days later I sent a text to let them know why I missed the appt and the shop owner I was talking to wanted to bring me a system from their shop so I'd have music while I was confined to a couch in the living room. I declined the offer, but they should get a shout out SS in Palatine, thank you.