AXPONA 2016 Show Report -- Audio Expo North America
KEF Blade Two, Ultimate 1 Bookshelf, And Muo Bluetooth Speaker

   First stop during AXPONA 2016 was the free breakfast thanks to the great folks at KEF. As a longtime lover of KEF speakers since having owned the 104/2 floorstanders, am always happy to see how the company is moving loudspeaker technology forward.

Stephanie Scola graciously posed for this photo of KEF's more personal audio gear including their EGG wireless digital music system, Muo Bluetooth battery powered speaker and M Series headphones. i feel a bit ashamed as have a pair of KEF's outstanding Muo speakers ($350 each) and they are truly outstanding! Not just in their ability to produce wonderful sound, yet with two i stereo pair them and they throw an impressive stereo image! Not a fake and highly manipulated stereo imaging as you find with single-speaker solutions; this is a true two-channel aural experience from a pair of extremely high quality and closely-matched Bluetooth speakers.

Unique driver technology for pure KEF sound with CD-like quality wireless streaming. KEF engineers developed a mini version of their Uni-Q 'point source' driver array. With the central tweeter dome decoupled from the outer cone by a flexible membrane, the whole diaphragm is free to pump out midrange frequencies as powerfully as a conventional driver while allowing the tweeter dome to move independently. Upon receiving the KEF Muo they appeared a bit larger and heftier than the 3.1" x 8.3" x 2.3" (HxWxD) and 1.8 lbs. spec says. You also will enjoy a very high-end metal cabinet and not low-fi plastic. Hope to write a review about the KEF Muo at some point, yet with three shows and three magazines to get online i the next three months, well, please allow me to simply say the KEF Muo and sonic miracles! When used as a stereo pair they deliver a great soundscape that lesser single-box Bluetooth speakers can only hint at.

Then we have the KEF Blade Two floorstander ($24,000 per pair), which is a real looker with sound to match. Since the larger Blade may not be suitable for smaller rooms, the R&D department whipped u the Blade Two for those with more normal listening spaces. Here we have a unique synthesis of cutting edge audio technology and groundbreaking design. KEF’s Uni-Q driver array and side-mounted subwoofers deliver a delicate sound during soft passages, yet can pump out the tunes with the latest pop and dance hit.

As a music lover who started his KEF exploration decades ago with the KEF 104/2, am always impressed with KEF's evolution in Uni-Q driver technology and overall speaker designs. Oh, and their Reference 1 Ultimate ($8000) and smaller sibling LS50 Limited Edition ($1500) also small wonders. We all know about the LS50 and have a pair here, yet during breakfast KEF was using the Reference 1 Ultimate with most impressive results considering the large size of the room. Go check 'em out at your local KEF dealer and bring your fave music. Get ready to be amazed!

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