KEF Reference 8b Subwoofer Hand-built in Maidstone, UK. KEF REFERENCE 8b delivers exceptional bass precision and control with zero distortion. Only a truly great subwoofer could do justice to THE KEF REFERENCE standards of home theatre, and it does. For power with accuracy the Reference 8b sub has two 500W Class D amplifiers, each driving a 228mm (9 inch) long-throw, ultra-low distortion driver. These are connected back-to-back in a heavily braced, acoustically inert cabinet. The result is low distortion bass with effortless body and weight. Bass definition and control are as important as extension in order to experience the full impact. Detail remastered.An icon redefined for tomorrow. The essential for any audiophile. Hand built by the masters who set the standard for audio quality, The Reference has been the benchmark for loudspeakers and sound reproduction. The Reference is an embodiment of KEF’s philosophy and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Now with Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™). The benchmark of benchmarks Since 1973, The Reference has continually set the benchmark for loudspeakers and sound reproduction. Pioneering the use of digital technologies to achieve the highest audio accuracy, every pair can be matched within 0.5dB to the laboratory-maintained reference standard. Always innovating Since the first Reference speaker, KEF engineers have continuously pushed the boundaries to discover what is possible with The Reference. Ground-breaking in its first incarnation, each subsequent iteration of The Reference has added to the world’s knowledge of the science of acoustics. So pure. So KEF. The latest version of The Reference benefits from our latest acoustic innovation: Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™). MAT™ is a highly complex maze-like structure that absorbs 99% of the unwanted sound from the rear of the driver, eliminating the resulting distortion and providing purer, more natural sound. Sit anywhere, hear every detail Refined through iterations, Uni-Q® driver array for The Reference is the 12th generation Uni-Q® with MAT™. Uni-Q® acts as a single point source to disperse sound more evenly throughout the room. The result is the elimination of the limited ‘sweet spot’, therefore allowing everybody sitting at different spots in the room to experience and enjoy the same natural, detailed sound. Total attention to detail Every speaker in The Reference range exudes the sense of sheer quality that comes from being hand-built by KEF’s master craftsmen in Maidstone, Kent, UK. They are designed to be acoustically exceptional, attractive to look at, and each speaker is meticulously built to KEF’s exceptional standards. Reference quality bass The Reference’s 165mm (6.5 inch) low frequency driver perfectly complements the new 12th generation Uni-Q® driver array. Smart engineering and meticulous attention to detail enables the bass to blend seamlessly with the immaculate midrange and treble. Engineered to be flexible The Reference speakers are welcomingly undemanding in terms of positioning and are easy to fine-tune for your listening area by using KEF’s innovative Flexible Port Technology. The smallest details, revealed Shadow Flare drastically reduces harmful cabinet diffraction, allowing 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 cabinet The Reference’s cabinets are designed using finite element analysis to determine the ideal shape and bracing geometry to minimise secondary radiation. Constrained Layer Damping is then applied to turn what little vibration is left into heat. Designed, engineered, handcrafted in Maidstone, UK Since 1961, KEF have been creating remarkable award-winning loudspeakers at our UK home in Maidstone, Kent. As their high-end speakers, The Reference is still designed, engineered, and hand-built in Maidstone today. Finished to Perfection The expertly engineered cabinets are finished in a sumptuous high-gloss or richly detailed, pair-matched wood veneer to complement the strikingly distinctive front baffle. Five finishes are available, a combination of three cabinet finishes and five drive unit colours: Satin Walnut/Silver, High-Gloss Black/Copper, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss White/Blue, and High-Gloss White/Champagne. Specifications COLOUR Deep Piano Black DESIGN Force cancelled closed box DRIVE UNITS LF 2 x 225 mm (9in.) FREQUENCY RANGE Free Field: 18Hz (-6dB) FREQUENCY RESPONSE 24Hz at 90dB output in free-space mode (±3dB) MAXIMUM OUTPUT 110dB (peak sound pressure level at 1m 50Hz) INPUTS RCA phono sockets Analog XLR socket Speaker level inputs AMPLIFIER TYPE 2 x 500 W Class D with switched mode power supply and DSP based control section VARIABLE LOW PASS FILTER Variable frequency: 40Hz to 160Hz Variable slope: 12dB/oct, 18dB/oct, 24dB/oct LFE mode: 350Hz, 18dB/oct LINK OUT RCA phono socket NET INTERNAL VOLUME 23L POWER REQUIREMENTS 100V - 120V / 220V - 240V ~50/60Hz POWER CONSUMPTION 1000W DIMENSIONS H x W x D : 398 x 365 x 429 mm WEIGHT 34kg (75lbs.) FINISHES Deep Piano Black
